Buddy has a 14' Bayliner from about 1985.. He ran it only a few times and parked it in his garage untill now. It has a trailer, a 55HP Johnson, and some vests and ski stuff. The thing is nearly perfect, hardly used at all.

He wants 3K for it.. Is its condition enough to make it worth this much?

ALL opinions appreciated!

 

Depends on what you want to do with it. You want to pop a 250lb person out of the water a slalom ski or just tool around the lake?

 

If I remember correctly, the 55 hp Johnson is the old design engine from the 60's and requires you mixing the oil with the gas. The newer designed engines have the VRO which mixes the oil at the carb. They offered both engines in 85. One is a price leader engine and the other is a "new" technology engine. The boat itself would be a chopper gun construction boat. Quality issues CAN be a problem in that the thickness of the fiberglas is determined by the guy running the gun. I certainly wouldn't go out of my way to buy a chopper gun boat. I think these boats around here when new, with a trailer, went for somewhere around $6995. They were an entry level boat offering a first time boat owner the opportunity to get into a boat as cheap as possible and if they didn't like- not much lost. They were not built for the long haul. Considering the guy has had it under roof and hasn't used it is a plus of sorts. The carbs will most likely need rebuilding. If there is no dry rot in the floors or seats the boat should last several seasons before age is going to take a toll. My personal opinion, it isn't worth $3,000. If he wanted to negotiate for $1500. and I REALLY liked the boat, it might be worth it but don't have great expectations otherwise you will be disappointed.

 

packrat56, do you have a picture of it?

 

I'd probably offer 2400, If uyou want it

I looked at a 97 cobia with a 90hp force (downside) for 2700 ...I shoulda bought it

 

www.nadaguides.com valuates boats too and it will get you a ballpark estimate. They have bayliners going back to 1971.

I would say 3K is too much. Clean or not, it's a 20 year old boat, and you know how that goes (especially with bayliners)...You can get a brand new 14' bayliner boat/motor/trailer combo for under 10K these days.

 

I recall a friend buying a new mid '80s Bayliner and having problems with the transom pulling away from the frame. According to him, this problem affected a lot of Bayliners at that time. Better check closely before buying, there might be a reason why is has been sitting for so long.

 

1980's Bayliners were not known for thier quality. They were built as a low price offering.

When looking at a boat/ motor/ trailer combo consider the value of the parts.
My insurance agent says a rule of thumb on valuation is 50% motor, 15% trailer, 35% hull.
So for your $3000, are you getting a $1500 motor, $450 trailer, and a $1050 hull?

Also, before you buy, get that motor checked, especially the lower unit. If theres any sign of water in the gear oil at all then don't buy it.
Low use could mean it wasnt properly maintained or stored.

 

Excellent information.. Sounds like it is not worth all that much. It has been in storage because of some "dissagreement" with his wife, he just parked it for all these years to annoy her... I can get a pic on sunday, but it sounds like about a $1500 boat at the most?? There are many for sale around here, should $1500 buy me a safe older boat for fishing and putting around the lake? WHat sould I look for? Allumnium better that glass?

 

Personally, If i was looking for an older boat, I'd go for aluminum. What you see is generally what you get.
Glass boats can be good, but there can hidden rot in the floor, transom, and stringers. I've replaced a rotten transom in a 'glass boat, and from that experience, I know that i don't want to do it again.

 

The two best days of a boat owners lives are; 1) the day you buy the boat and, 2) the day you sell it.

 

Others have said it, I will concur: 80's Bayliners are problemmatic. Newer ones are ok.

 

So, I looked at this boat today. Turn out it is a 1977 bayliner mosqueto. Not made with chopped glass, made with cloth. Looked pretty cool, but still dont think its worth 3K?

 

Crap, and I am looking at buying a boat too.

 

According to NADA, average retail for that boat is $900.00. I retrack the $1500. comment.