Help on boat find

[tomschauer]

Yes, rotten stringers are unsafe. The motor mounts will pull out of the stringers while under power, your engine will "lay over" and you will most likely go into a hard right uncontrolled turn until you throttle down. This will also put stress on your gimbal housing (that may be what cracked the backing plate) and the transom. If the transom is weak, it will give way, if the gimbal housing breaks you boots will fail. Either way, water in the boat, boat goes to bottom.

This is of course worst case scenario, but it does happen more often than you would believe.

[Tommy3]

Wow. That is terrible. I never would of thought.

[Tommy3]

In response to the previous post...Mechanic said lag bolts came out of mount with resistance. Is their a point where the stringers can be saved?

[tomschauer]

You need to have any soft areas cut back to completely solid wood. New wood anchored and epoxied in place and then recovered with fiberglass. Remember, these hold a lot of weight and twisting force of the engine, so it needs to be done properly.

So yes it is doable, you just need to decide if its worth the cost and effort.

[Tommy3]

Thanks everyone. I guess I will get a marine survey done. What can I expect in a marine survey and does the previous owner have any responsibility or liability selling an unsafe boat?

[km1125]

You usually buy it 'where is, as is', which is why a pre-purchase survey is recommended. If you know enough about boats and know what to look for, and set aside some money for unexpected issues, you can bypass the survey. A lot of times it really helps though to have an independent set of eyes look things over to point out some things that you might have missed. For the right price though, you can deal with some pretty severe issues, even a stringer problem. Getting the engine out of the boat is the toughest part of fixing a stringer issue.

If you know the transom is solid, then fixing the stringers may be doable, but you might have to shop around for someone who can do a good job for a better price than what you've been quoted (or perhaps have them re-quote if they didn't know the engine was already removed).

[buster53]

Qr Bbpost Thanks everyone. I guess I will get a marine survey done. What can I expect in a marine survey and does the previous owner have any responsibility or liability selling an unsafe boat?

Cut your losses. Don't spend another $500 just to hear it's not worth the time or expense to repair. Not trying to be a hard a.., but everyone told you to get a survey Before buying.
Hopefully, you can part out everything and cover money spent....and yet to be spent - disposal of the carcus.

And no, I'm sure this sale was an "as is, where is" sale. IF you have a written contract signed by the seller saying the boat is in good mechanical AND structural condition, you might have some leverage. I'm guessing you don't, so don't even waste a lawyer's time to see if you have a case for a lawsuit.

[hisservantdavid]

Qr Bbpost Well if anyone needs parts for a 1995 250 mid cabin express let me know. Boat has a full canvas top, mooring cover, camper back with screens,extended swim platform and most of boat in good shape cushions etc

We are about to receive a 1994 as a restoration project and will need STUFF!

[RGrew176]

Qr Bbpost

Qr Bbpost Well if anyone needs parts for a 1995 250 mid cabin express let me know. Boat has a full canvas top, mooring cover, camper back with screens,extended swim platform and most of boat in good shape cushions etc

We are about to receive a 1994 as a restoration project and will need STUFF!

Good luck with the restoration. Hope it works out.

[Tommy3]

Qr Bbpost

Qr Bbpost Well if anyone needs parts for a 1995 250 mid cabin express let me know. Boat has a full canvas top, mooring cover, camper back with screens,extended swim platform and most of boat in good shape cushions etc

We are about to receive a 1994 as a restoration project and will need STUFF!

HI,
What kind of parts do you need? Maybe I can help.
Tom