Posted by mtnsmith on 03/05/07 - 7:51 AM
#1
I am looking at a 1969 16, not sure on model, with a 1993 johnson 115 on it. The boat has been redone and set-up for flats fishing to include a larger front casting deck and trolling motor mount. The question I have is that the top two water intake holes on the lower unit have been plugged with sealant. There are still two open intake holes, but I was wondering if any of you know why the top two would be plugged. My theory is that since the engine is on a jack-plate, it is to keep air from being sucked in when the engine is lifted to cruise the flats. Does this sound right??? The current owner did not do it but says he has never had a problem so he left it like that.
Edited by mtnsmith on 03/05/07 - 8:04 AM
Posted by Jeff on 03/05/07 - 8:39 AM
#2
mtnsmith ,
Is that the boat that was sitting about mile marker 102 on the south bound side of the overseas hwy? The hull was painted green. If not I looked at an old whaler hull in largo back in early Dec that was set up for flats fishing. It had the same thing on the lower unit and I also believed it was because the motor was set up so high on a jack plate. You are right it is done to keep as much air out of the pick up as possible. This is of course not the right was to solve the problem, the correct way is to put a lower unit on that has a water pick up that is on or near the nose cone. When running the motors high on jack plates it is recommend to have a water pressure gauge installed to make sure you are not starving the motor of freshwater. Is there one installed?
Posted by mtnsmith on 03/05/07 - 8:45 AM
#3
It is in Largo and probably the boat you are speaking of. The hull is green so do you think it might have been sitting on the overseas highway also? Is there a reason that I should run from this boat? I think it is a decent price. The fiberglass patches that are on either side look ugly, but seem to be functional. I would probably redo them after the summer. I don't think there was a water pressure guage but I imagine I could install one myself.
Posted by Jeff on 03/05/07 - 2:02 PM
#4
mtnsmith,
Is it dark green with black bottom paint, I think it had black interior also? If so it has to be the same boat. When I looked at that boat back in December they were asking in the high 9 thousands for the boat. The guy selling did not seem very knowledgeable or helpful with details however, he thought he had a real gem on his hands. I thought it was a wreck in need of a complete strip down and start over. The poor fiberglass patch work on the sides and bottom of the hull along with the poor bottom paint lead me to believe the boat would most likely be holding a lot of water in the foam. And god only knows what you would find once you pulled the raised deck and casting platform up. The rigging and wiring was a mess along with plumbing for the live wells. All and all the boat needed a complete strip down and start over which would take a lot of time and money. Personally, I would not have offered more than $1500 AT BEST for the boat. The hull is trashed and if the motor was cared for the same as the hull.....well have to figure it is living on borrowed time. At that point you are buying a hull.
If you want my honest opinion, if you can not get it for $1500 or maybe a little more...take your money else where.
It seems like every person with a whaler for sale down there thought there where sitting on a pile of gold.
I stopped and talked to the guy how owns this heap. I was wondering if he would part with the super console. He said
"Nope, no way...You have any idea what the boat is worth? Hell, I had some guy who tried low balling me just last week. He offered 15 thousand for it. Bastard thought he could steal the boat. If I was to sell anything it would be as a whole package. Offer me mid to upper 20's and we might be talking. Other wise I am going to keep it and clean it up. Hell, with a little work that boat would bring low to mid 30's all day long.."
I walked away in utter dismay...
here is the boat
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc/DSCN2546.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc/DSCN2552.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc/DSCN2544.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v427/jeff_rohlfing/Misc/DSCN2545.jpg[/img]
Edited by Jeff on 03/05/07 - 5:05 PM
Posted by mtnsmith on 03/05/07 - 7:50 PM
#5
I don't think it is the same then. This one is green but has no bottom paint and white topsides. I have it down to $2400 but I think they might go closer 2k. I am going to sit on it for a couple days and see.
Posted by Jeff on 03/05/07 - 8:16 PM
#6
Cool keep us posted....
BTW I have to say I am a bit jealous. I spent 10days in Tavernier during December. I fell in love with the area and can not wait to get back there.
Posted by mtnsmith on 03/06/07 - 6:46 AM
#7
I just realized something, you saw my location as Largo and I bet you thought Key Largo. I am up on Tampa Bay in Largo. It is nice to be on/in the water year round, we were wake boarding the weekend before last. But yes the keys are great, we rented a house on a canal in Big Pine the year before last and it was a lot of fun. I'm beginning to think the chopped up whaler might not be what I want. I think I will plan to spend about $5k and try for something a little more original and wife friendly, she did not like the flats conversion at all. I'll keep on here though and keep an eye out. I was reading your thread on the GSA boat your dad picked up and I am going to keep an eye out on there since a lot of those boats are here in Florida.