another problem:

owners of "project boats",they tend to believe the boat's worth way more that what reality is.i see this alot - truth is,that rig's gonna need one of everything,and probably 2 of some.
with the current market,it's much easier,along with being cheaper to purchase something in running condition.
seriously,look at that rig - no electronics,engine's wasted - trailer looks a little mickey mouse...
be realistic: you're gonna drop a big piece of change,just for power - your own admission states the deck has soft spots - looking at a deck...puling a deck,might as well repalce fuel system,transom ? wiring ? see where this is going ? you're drop an easy $20k,getting that rig in nice condition,with electronics.you can purchase one,allready done for around the same coin...why go through the hassle ? if you question that number i dropped,than start addign things up - steering,electrical,fuel system,electronics,power,materials...these things add up quickly...

that rig,me,personally,i wouldn't offer more than $1,000...
by the "sound" of this,i doubt he'll take it...if he doesn't,he did you a favor...thank him...

i'm not trying to "talk" anyone out of a project,what i'm doing is,giving the cold hit of reality...

if i were buying that for a project id offer probably $2000 to $2500 at the most.

I hear you pelican and I'm in the same mindset . . . you couldn't pay me enough to take on another project. My personal boat project feelings aside . . . that boat would not last a week on Craigslist priced at $3500 up here. There are enough commercial fishermen and yankee fix it types around here that can't scratch together 20k for a boat or get a loan for 20K, but they have some cash and will cobble together the boat to make it work. I've seen 23 seacraft center consoles in worse shape sell for b/w 4 and 7k . . . in the last year. I'd never buy them, but I know what they sold for. I remember 1 that had moss growing out of the deck core and a frozen 454 . . . that sold for 4k without a trailer. Minty's former owner paid 4k for his boat a few years back . . . ripped it apart and then sold it to wildman.

Just to add a single data point to the discussion, I paid $3500 for my 25 Seafari with a good trailer, but a blown motor. I will have somewhere in the $15K - $20K range into it when all is said and done and I'm doing ALL the work myself. If I took it to a shop to do all the same stuff I'm doing, it would be more like $30K - $35K. Although I'm getting impatient with the work, I've enjoyed doing it.

But boat projects ain't for everyone. If you need proof, just search this forum for the keyword "divorce". I'm lucky, I've got a very understanding wife. Do you?

Like Pelican, I don't want to discourage you if this is something you're passionate about. Just make sure you're truly passionate about it, 'cause if you ain't, you'll find out the hard way.

Good luck whatever decision you make. If you go for it, you'll find great support here.
Dave

very true !

just 2 weeks ago - i had a client,he asked me about a 25 rampone he seen on craigs list - no engine/gear - fiberglass fuel tanks - missing hatches - as in lift out deck section in the cockpit - it had a piece of plywood in place of it - nice huh ? the owner,he "painted" the deck - even painted the plastic hatches he installed - the boat had been sitting for quite a while - t-top was removed,holes in the deck were left open - think about that for a second...
i looked at the pictures,sent to me - gave the customer an honest,realistic opinion,the owner of the boat,he dismissed what i had to say,as "bs"...i sat down with the customer,at my shop,went over all the points i had seen in the pictures,showed him prices - he came to his senses,after he seen it all in black and white...

projects are not for everyone - lots of guys go into projects,believing their abilites far exceed what they truly are,they also go into projects with an unrealistic budget...budgets and abilities are often the most cause of unfinished projects...

Mr. Foolharty,

These are some quite honest, frank and very objective replies. Just in case there is any doubt, the guys that do these "complete" restorations are some real bad dudes. They have my total respect!!! I've done some improvements/repairs all by myself on my SeaCraft and let me tell you it looks much easier on this web site than it is in real life. Good luck!!.

Great post. I`m a lucky slacker.

And that is half of the story. I will be doing a complete break down of an omc fast track rebuild over the next corrosion filled weeks. This is killing me as the run is a sweet time to get it.

Boat 2k
used 250 hp motor 3k
miscellaneous stuff 7k

total 12K

And I'm not talking about a total restore..this is just to get it running soft deck and all with the brand new electronics (radar/gps) like you stated.

You may be better off looking for a used one that is in running condition.

strick

I want it to be a project more than I want it to be a mediocre running 25 y/o boat. I have no problem with the project side/ doing the work myself and am well aware of the costs. I was not going to offer over $1300 for it anyway, but was pretty sure the guy would laugh me off the phone. You guys confirmed that I could come up a bit.

Those are the MAX prices we would offer, I picked up my 'builder' for $1200, and would do it again in a heart beat. Would I have paid $2000 for it? probably not.

The more you can save on the initial purchase the more you can throw at materials to put the structure back in the boat!