Pull trigger on deal or let it pass? Opinions..?

[northfork]

I'm in snowy NY looking at a '74 23' CC in Fla. Boat has a '94 250hp Yamaha on a bracket. Going down this weekend to see it - sea trial, surveyor, compression test. Asking price is 20k. Had a friend who lives down there look at it. His opinion was the boat looked well used, with original looking guages and electronics with very old wiring. Said the hull while faded looked good as far as he could tell as it was in the water. Deck was solid. His major concern was the engine. He says a 10 year old engine is old by Fla. standards since they get to use them for 12 months a year down there while we're lucky to get 7 up here.
My boat buying budget will be all shot if I buy it and haul it up here. Can't afford to put a lot of money into fixing an old engine or buying a new one. Am I doing all the right things? So I'm asking for opinions on what you guys would do. Is there anything else you would do if you were in my shoes? My gut feel is I will love the boat once I see it. Deck, live well and a new fuel tank were put in by Hermco 4 years ago. You can see pictures of it on his site at http://www.hermco.net/examples1.htm.
1) Would you pass on the boat because of the age of the engine or 2)go ahead and do the deal if the engine checks out ok and hope the engine stands up or 3) go ahead and do the deal even if the engine doesn't check out? Apppreciate all opinions and comments. Will post here on what my decision was when I get back next week.

Greg

[John R]

Engines are available 12 months down there but how many hours? A 1000 hour motor in FL is no different than 1000 hour motor off of Fisher's Island. Interesting boat in that its had some serious work done by Don - what condition is the rest? Tough call - that's where the survey is. The price isn't all that great when compared to other 23s with a 94 motor but it has had some coin dropped on it. Best to get a survey regardless...

[ScottM]

The boat certainly looks nice in the pics, but only a survey will tell you for sure if it's worth the asking price. If the asking price is at the top end of your budget, this may not be the boat for you. What if the engine craps out this season even after getting a clean bill of health?

Any idea why it has twin binnacle controls for a single engine? Also, that's an interesting, to say the least, finish on the inside. Anyone know what that is?

[hermco]

Boat had a kicker and the other side of the controll was for it. The finish on the interior is three colors of gelcoat webbing. Very unusual and was hard to match. The console is a Contender with all new wiring etc. after I did the deck 4 years ago. I don't know about the house wiring I did not rerig the boat after doing my work. [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[Endeavour]

have you looked at any other 23's to see how the value compares? Sent you a pm but not sure if it went or not. I'm happy to show you my 20' just so you have a level of comparison.

[northfork]

Endeavour, responded to your PM.

Greg