Boat

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Thinking of going looking at this boat. It is a few hours away. Is it just me or do those back seats look dangerous using them like that? It kind of what I been looking for. It is a 1998 FISHER 17 AVENGER SC ALUMINUM FISHING BOAT MERURY 90

 

[JLeonard]

Good looking boat. I dont know anything about them, but looks like a fun platform to fish off of.

Jim

 

[smokerjim]

there made that way so you could remove them by pressing a button and pulling up on them if you want more standing room, my boat has them and never had an issue with them,

 

[Gonna Smoke]

I'm assuming that you're worried about sitting them with the boat moving. Those seats appear sit low enough below the gunnels in the boat that I wouldn't worry about sitting in them while under way. There's probably deck plates on the front and back decks that they can be moved to for fishing. In South Carolina, it's against the law to sit in them on the deck while under way.

Of more concern to me would be engine hours on a 23 year old boat. If the hours are very low, I'd be worried about the gas used. Is it ethanol free? If not, fuel lines can be compromised. Newer boats were designed to run on today's ethanol gas and it won't really affect a boat that's been used a lot, keeps everything turned over. BTW, I only run ethanol free gas and I use my boat 4-5 times every week.

The pictures make the boat appear to be in good shape, but trailer bearings and hubs would also be of concern as well as wiring especially if the boat has ever been in salt water. Keep in mind the old proverb about putting lipstick on a pig.

Questions that I'd also ask:
When was the last time the water pump was changed? Spark plugs? Lower unit gear lube? Do they have any maintenance records?

Not that the answers to any of those questions would be a deal breaker or maker, but I'd need to know for sure what I'd be getting myself into.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

Not that the answers to any of those questions would be a deal breaker or maker, but I'd need to know for sure what I'd be getting myself into.

I was mainly worried about transom but you gave some others things to consider. Boats are hard to find and pricy right now. He wants over $10,000 for it. I was really wanting aluminum which makes it even harder to find.

 

[Gonna Smoke]

I was mainly worried about transom but you gave some others things to consider. Boats are hard to find and pricy right now. He wants over $10,000 for it. I was really wanting aluminum which makes it even harder to find.

Yes, check the transom for rot if it's wood. A moisture meter will help with this and you'll have to go into the bilge area to check.

Remember, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. That being said and with the price of ALL boats, new and used, sky high in this crazy market, $10,000+ still seems like too much. Without any checking, I was thinking in the $7000-$8000 range depending on options such as sonar, trolling motor, VHF, stereo, etc. and that's still probably on the high side of what its value actually is. But I don't buy boats thinking about what I can get for them when I sell them. It's all about the fun and enjoyment I get from them and I can't put a price on that.

As far as sonar goes(depth/fish finder as most call them), if it has one and it is original, it's not worth anything. With today's rapid advancements in the technology, they're outdated in about a year or 2. Almost all newer units have built-in cartography and chart plotting. That's a must-have in my opinion and something that I would also ask about.

 

[crazzycajun]

when buying a used boat your buying a motor, and they are throwing in seats as a bonus. have dyno done on the motor if your serious

 

[thirdeye]

Do you know what the acronym BOAT stands for?
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Break Out Another Thousand

 

[Gonna Smoke]

Do you know what the acronym BOAT stands for?
.
.
.
.
Break Out Another Thousand

I tell people that a boat is a hole in the water where one throws money. Old adage, but very true. I can't remember a time in my life when we/I didn't have a boat or boats and really can't imagine life without them now.

 

[BrianGSDTexoma]

It sucks I sold a great boat because no time to use and now I retired and boats threw the roof if you can find one!

 

[JckDanls 07]

a boat is a hole in the water where one throws money

A boat is a hole in the water which one SINKS money into ...

 

[chilerelleno]

The Two Happiest Days of a Boat Owners Life.
The day he buys it.
The day he sells it.

Gonna Smoke questions need real answers... Helluva a lot of things to be looked at closely when buying used boats and et cetera.

 

[chef jimmyj]

We had a new Bayliner Fish and Ski in '87 sold in '91 and got most of the original price out of it. What we didn't get was the couple Grand we spent using it! Yes it was a Blast and had some great times on the water. But I'll be damned if something didn't happen EVERY trip, that cost $100+ and another $50+ for Gas, Lunch, Parking, odds and ends. It was mostly affordable when Bev and I were, " DINK's", Double Income No Kids, but our first was born in Feb '91 and one month into the Boating Season, we knew it had to go.

$10K sounds awful high to me too but I really don't know the current market. Our Bayliner had Pedestal Seats for fishing but NO WAY would they support an adult ripping around a lake in at the top speed our 90HP Force Engine made. Hit someone else's Wake or bounce around in rough water and that Pedestal would Snap. Sit in one and see how sturdy it is...JJ

 

[forktender]

Have a leak down test done on the engine if you are thinking about buying it.

 

[Smoking Allowed]

The boat LOOKS to have been taken care of, but you just never know. Go 'kick the tires and look under the hood'. Best case scenario is that the current owner has all maintenance records and maintenance is up to date. If you're handy with that kind of stuff, the basic maintenance items are very easy to do and the internet can be your friend.

That boat appears to be an all-welded hull. I know that Fisher did make riveted boats at some point in the 90's, but there's a reason they switched to welded. Do not buy a riveted hull. And the "SC" stands for "side console". That boat was also made as a "WT" which stands for "walk through" and refers to the window.