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Random Quote: Money is a powerful aphrodisiac. But flowers work almost as well. LL
I'm looking to buy this boat but was wondering what you guys thought about the price. it's a 2000 70 hp tohatsu outboard (he assured me that there is very few hours on it) on a 1974 17' proline cc. The guy is very firm with his price at $4500. Ad is below.
I'm really concerned about the hull being 35 years old, anyone know anything about pro-line?
Also, how are tohatsu motors in general?
17' Proline Center Console with 2000 70 HP Tohatsu - $4500
17 feet Proline center console with 2000 70 HP Tohatsu (the motor was purchased new from 3A Marine in 2001). Very low hours used only twice or maximum three time for season. Boat is completed with fish finder/depth finder, compass, VHF radio, bigle pump, two batteries. The motor runs great and is profesionaly maintained and winterized every season. The motor is oil injected, has electric power trim and uses very litlle gas. The boat is in very good shape and very nice looking with nice big flare and very nice to ride.
I'm looking to buy this boat but was wondering what you guys thought about the price. it's a 2000 70 hp tohatsu outboard (he assured me that there is very few hours on it) on a 1974 17' proline cc. The guy is very firm with his price at $4500. Ad is below.
I'm really concerned about the hull being 35 years old, anyone know anything about pro-line?
Also, how are tohatsu motors in general?
17' Proline Center Console with 2000 70 HP Tohatsu - $4500
17 feet Proline center console with 2000 70 HP Tohatsu (the motor was purchased new from 3A Marine in 2001). Very low hours used only twice or maximum three time for season. Boat is completed with fish finder/depth finder, compass, VHF radio, bigle pump, two batteries. The motor runs great and is profesionaly maintained and winterized every season. The motor is oil injected, has electric power trim and uses very litlle gas. The boat is in very good shape and very nice looking with nice big flare and very nice to ride.
Any 1974 boat, any brand name that used wood, your concern would be rot.
We have alot of PRO-LINE product that's as old, and older, in use with no problems, but also have some that developed rot. It's the nature of the manufacturing process that exsisted back then.
We never packaged with the brand of motor that your looking at, although I've never heard anything negative about the outboard motor.
Good luck,
Mike Carrigan
PRO-LINE BOATS
Any 1974 boat, any brand name that used wood, your concern would be rot.
We have alot of PRO-LINE product that's as old, and older, in use with no problems, but also have some that developed rot. It's the nature of the manufacturing process that exsisted back then.
We never packaged with the brand of motor that your looking at, although I've never heard anything negative about the outboard motor.
Good luck,
Mike Carrigan
PRO-LINE BOATS
How do i find out about rot, is it just testing to see if there are any soft spots??
soft spots are a dead-give-away. What a surveyor would do to check it is bring like a 7 oz ball-peen hammer. Hammer all over on the HULL, LIGHTLY. Inside and out. You hear anything that doesn't sound like the rest, BANG , it's ROT or delamination. Either one is very bad. Rot being worse than de-lam, but not much.
Big things to look for is repairs. There will INEVITABLY be stuff that was once installed, and then taken off at another point with a boat of that age. How is the repair? Lots of times you will find screw holes with window-calk shoved in. You see 3-4 of those, fine, it is to be expected. You see 30 of them, you might have big issues with bad hull conditions.
Check flex-points. Look for gel-coat cracking. It will be there, and it is PERFECTLY norma. However, if you see a 12 ft crack going the length of the floor, once again, you have problems. Basically with a hull that old, it is UNDERSTOOD that it won't be perfect. If it looks horrible, chances are that it is. At that price, it is hard to justify a survey.
that old a motor, although tohatsu is noted for being bullet-proof, that old a boat, in this market, I would expect something more like 3500, but it depends on your direct area. The biggest thing, and depending on the guy, or the REAL situation, you can ask that you bring it somewhere and hook a computer up to register hours. I think 2001 is new enough to hook up to a computer and see EXACT hours. If he is not willing to do that, then you may write it into a written contract. Say that you are paying xxxxx amount of money from xxxxperson, to purchase the boat, and motor, with the exception that the boat passes certain qualifications, and one can be that it has under xxx hours. If you and him sign this, and you have proof it doesn't meat those requirements, within 30 days, no judge in the world would dispute that you get your money back.
How do i find out about rot, is it just testing to see if there are any soft spots??
In your area there will be a certified outboard tech re the outboard. Pay him to report to you the condition of the outboard because that's the majority of the money being spent on the package.
He also will know how to check for rot. It's really not very complicated.
I'd be surprised given the age of the boat if some was not found, but generally speaking, if the floor is not spongy, not much play in the transom, your probobly ok.
The tech will also be able to report to you wiring, etc.
A good tech will be about $80.-$90 an hour, it'll take an hour, two at the most. Money well spent.
So long as the owner allows you to transport the boat to the tech, or will do it with you, that's what I'd suggest.
Mike
Proline/ Tohatsu Price Check 
