Opinions needed!!!!!

[c1bigocarp]

Man I would not walk away from that boat. I WOULD RUN!!!! I would not buy it! It needs to much work! Thats a boat you take only if they give it to you. Then I would have to think about taking it! Good luck to you! I know you want a boat bad. But keep looking!

I am with him on this one. Run fast as you can! Will be more trouble than it is worth and plenty of boats out there that have been garaged kept and are in great shape.

[brushnjigs]

Take the extra money you will be spending on replacing the transom and other repairs, and put it in a newer boat, then you can have fun and not headaches.

[Don G]

As CatFan and others have said, "beware of transom problems"...With that much weather damage I would not trust the transom...Skeeter was still using wood in their transoms that year....

I would walk away...

[Williefb]

I would steer clear of this one. It looks like a "project" boat for eternity. In other words you will spend more time fixing and less time fishing.

[DRPEPPER]

You can spend $4000 to $5000 for a 10 year old boat that is in much better shape than you could put that one in for the same money. But depends on what you want to do. Fish in it or work on it?
DP

[skeetbum]

I would want to ask a couple of questions before I spent a nickle. I'm not against an ugly boat, and don't know how your money runs. If it doesn't get a good compression check and a transom test, I'd walk away. Floor too. If it runs and checks out with good compression, then get a real small, just a few ounce, ball peen hammer. Go to the transom and lightly tap around the top outside corners where you know the wood to be solid. Then start moving around and keep tapping. You're looking for a change in the sound of the transom, soft wood sounds dull and way different. Around the drain plug might sound a little different but around the bolt holes for the jack plate and such it should tap with a sharp sound. The hull and motor are good uns if they're in good shape. Wouldn't do a real big lake in rough weather in a 15'. Be a good start if it checks out. I remember when a boat like that was a giant step up for me.

[Wannabe...]

Gotta agree, with the fella that said I'd have to think about it if it was given to me. And the only way I'd take it for free is if I had the skills and enjoyed doing this sort of thing on my own.

If I did take it, first thing I'd do is check the motor, if it's in good shape, I'd move to the transom. Only way to check it is going to be to drill it and check for water/rot. That's a minimum of two 1/2" holes. If either of those didn't check out, i'd strip it for spare parts and haul it off. Just to give you an idea, you're looking at an easy 40 hours of work just to get the finish to shine, assuming you can do it yourself. If you can't do it yourself, do you know anybody that refinishes boats for $10 an hour? I don't.

Wannabe...

[skiptomylu]

Got to say I wouldn't take a second look, but that is me. I wouldn't want a motor that old unless I knew the guy really well and knew it was in great shape or it will cost you a ton.

Next the boat, don't know the waters you fish, but if your lake has any waves often to run in I would want a longer boat to start with. Nothing under 17' on this lake I fish and in a bass boat maybe 18' min. I just wouldn't want someones troubles like that look it could be.

It's probably just my attitude in the way I think about boats, but I would need to know so much more especially on one that old. Not sure I would spend the time to look at it very hard.

Skip

[slimeyslab]

Remember the old saying "Nothing works on an old boat but the owner". They are words to live by.

[CrappieKillerJigs]

1997 SeaPro 180 CC

i look for deals like this