looking for help as a new buyer

[buck12mm]

Hello Everyone...I am hopefully going to be an owner of a 1988 Sea Ray s23 bowrider. However I noticed that these boats seem to range from 7,500-9500 dollars in great condition! This one I am looking at is asking 4,900.00 and is willing to come down some. He told me he had all the seats re-upolstured and a new floor and carpeting. Didn't do the bow seating yet however. When they purchased it it was sitting in salt water for quite sometime he said! he has been using it in fresh water and salt lately. I am asking for help from experienced owners like yourselves on tips on what I should be looking for when I go to see this boat. There has to be a reason why it is so cheap! HELP!!!

 

[rcknecht]

Hello Everyone...I am hopefully going to be an owner of a 1988 Sea Ray s23 bowrider. However I noticed that these boats seem to range from 7,500-9500 dollars in great condition! This one I am looking at is asking 4,900.00 and is willing to come down some. He told me he had all the seats re-upolstured and a new floor and carpeting. Didn't do the bow seating yet however. When they purchased it it was sitting in salt water for quite sometime he said! he has been using it in fresh water and salt lately. I am asking for help from experienced owners like yourselves on tips on what I should be looking for when I go to see this boat. There has to be a reason why it is so cheap! HELP!!!

I don't think that is cheap for a boat that age... I some guys that have tried to give boats away that were newer, and could not find anyone to take them... There is a lot you need to look at. I would ask for all the maintenance records... When was the exhuast system replaced last? The rubber changed on the oudrive? How often was it used? How old is the gas? When was the shift cable changed? When was the trim sender changed? What does not work? Things like hoses and wiring could cause you problems... My budy's boat sank, with me on it, after he had not used it for five years and hose blew a part... Be very careful, and no the price is not too low...