which boat?

[PREDATOR]

[size 4]Good luck finding a boat. Its a world of diversity out there. As far as the engine, I recomend asking questions about the maintenance. If the guy doesnt know the answers, he is NOT doing it. Your questions must be loaded and very specific. For example, ask what kind of oil he puts in the lower unit name brand, where he gets it, and about how much it takes. If he doesnt know, he is not changing it every year. Ask him to show you where all the grease points on the engine are and what type of grease he puts in them. Most guys have never put a grease gun on them so they wont have the answers. If you are looking for an outboard, ask about the cylinder fogging he uses, ect. Theres a whole mess of questions you could ask, but in my opinion thats how to determine if the engine is worth buying. If it looks pretty on the outside because the guy waxes the cowling every week, but he has neglected the maintenance, its probably not worth buying even though it looks good on the outside. On the other hand, a scratched up beat up looking motor that has been taken well maintained will likley run forever. If the guy says he doesnt do it but has the local marine shop take care of the maintenance, ask how often, where, and to see the records. Also, you may want to call the shop and ask what they do in a general service to see if they meet your expectations. I am no expert on engines, but buying a boat engine is not much different from buying a car, if you get one that has been taken care of, you will enjoy it. If you get a neglected one that is being sold because the guy was lazy and now his boat has problems, you will inherit his problems. Hope this helps. Also, if I were to buy a newer outboard, I would get a slatwater model. All stainless steel engine parts, very durable and built to handle the elements. I only fish fresh water but if salt water cant hurt it, fresh water wont touch it either. Lund makes a nice fish and ski model boat. But if it was me I would be looking into a fiberglass boat. Also, take the boat out and run it before you buy it. Make sure it has no leaks, the engine runs well, and it fits your needs. Most important, NEVER buy a boat without crawling underneath and closley inspecting the entire hull. Look for gouges, cracks, major dents, anything that suggests the boat has been abused or is about to have a problem. [/size]