Hopeless

[Fr. Frank]

I found a '69 SeaCraft 19' bowrider up in Guntersville, Alabama with a stringer-mount OMC V8 with an early 800 series sterndrive. The 350 ci motor is not original, but an automotive motor with the marine manifolds bolted on according to the owner, who recently inherited the boat. It runs, but sounds like its got imminent rod bearing failure, according to a friend who went to see it for me.
The original windshield was replaced by a windshield from a closed-deck boat with no walk-through, so you have to duck under to reach the bow area.
Steering is frozen, drive tilt is d.o.a., wiring is mostly rotted and eaten by rodents.
Deck is firm as is the transom. The hull has not been wet in over 20 years, and white gel-coat is chalky, but almost completely unscratched and uncracked.

The owner was asking $750 for the boat and trailer.
I haven't got it.
And this morning I learned the priest friend I asked to look at the boat bought it out from under me when I said I couldn't afford it right now.
It's hopeless. I'm addicted to SeaCrafts.