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What's this boat worth?

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3.7K views 19 replies 9 participants last post by  Russ-n-Brazoria  
#1 ·
Okay guys I might have opportunity to buy this boat from a friend and I'm curious as to what you think it's worth. He never uses it and I'm going to approach him with an offer but not sure where to start. It hasn't been on the water in a while and the last time it was taken out the motor ran fine but the current condition of the motor is unknown. The motor says its a Mercury 25. You can't read it in the pics because it's been painted over.

I'm new to boats and I was hoping you guys could help me out. I'm looking to turn this into a duck hunting boat for next season.
 

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#2 ·
You're gonna have to supply a little more info to get a valid opinion on what you ought to offer. Like: length and width of boat. Welded or riveted. Year of boat. Year of motor. Pull start or electric. Brand of trailer. Painted or galvanized. Condition of all the above and whether the boat runs and how it sounds. We can see that the boat is an Alumnacraft. That's about all that we can tell other than you saying the motor is a Merc 25.
 
#4 ·
Well I can't fill in all of the blanks you have requested but here's what I have found out about the boat. It's an Alumacraft 1457 but is really a 1436. The model number doesn't truly describe the size of the boat. I'm not sure if it's welded or riveted. And as I said before the condition of the motor is unkown. There is no battery or gas tank on the boat so I can't take it out and test it out. It looks like it has a pull start and I don't think it has electric start. The trailer appears to be painted and the brand is unkown. The boat doesn't appear to have any big dents or dings and I would describe the boat and the trailer to be in average condition. It will probably need new tires on the trailer.
 
#5 ·
Topside the boat looks in used but vg condition, now for the engine the prop seems to have worn down the ends of the blades which could mean some bottom end problems ie bent propshaft , leaking seals ( which can be determined quite quickly by removing the bottom end drain plug and see if any milky oil or water comes out ) in addition a compression tester will tell you about the mechanical side of the engine but not the trigger assembly or any of the other electrics.
Without some answer to the questions being asked your range of value is going to be quite wide and probably not very representative of it's actual value. The boat and trailer appear to just have some cosmetic issues but the engine, which is where the major value resides is to hard to put a value on without taking it for a drive.
Around here, in eastern Canada, we have both salt and fresh water and if the engine has a problem it is only worth about $200 but the boat and trailer will go for $1000-$1500. If the engine is ok then $2500-3000 for the whole unit. Plus or minus a few hundred.
Lost
 
#6 ·
I think you're a bit high Lost. Id say 1000 if the motor ran well. The style of the cowl doesnt look like its all that new of a motor. You can buy a new 1436 for under a 1000. A used outboard is certainly not worth 2000 in a 25hp. The trailer is worth 200-300 bucks IMO. Im going by what stuff is selling for right now in my area. I just bought a 1999, 1670 Lowe for $300 and its in great shape.
 
#8 ·
where is the boat LOCATED????????

lost with all the boat in canada, I find it hard to believe you think that boat has the value you put on it..

to me in the northeast forgetting what people ASK for stuff...they trailer isnt woreth any more than $300 on its best day with tires that hold air.

the boat is a small boat....brand new it cant be $1000 used its worth NO MORE than $400 if its perfect....

the motor is the big unkown...it could be a $1000 money pit...and worth $100 max.... if it has good compression and runs good as is...it could be worth $700-$900....who knows....we dont know the year or condition...from the looks of the prop...its lower unti gears probably have some wear on them... if you cant afford a prop, you probably caqnt afford to install a new water pump...so figure thats shot too....sitting for more than a year...rebuild the carb...do it yourself..$30..... min

pay someone $200

id would offer more than $600 as is...if he caN GET IT RUNNING and the compression is good...then it might go as high as $1200

good luck

again...do we know where the boat is? location locaTION LOCATION

THE TOOL
 
#9 ·
Well tool he is in virginia, most of the guys around here head to Maine, Mass, Ct for their boats and motors and trailers, used will cost less for the whole unit than the motor costs here. Stuff is expensive here.
25 lbs lead shot $25.00
WIn209 and Fed 209 $60.00 /1000
Benelli super Vinci $2400.00
SBEII $1900.00
In 2003 I paid $53,000.00 for a Ram diesel 6 spd std quad cab 4x4
Gas is $1.25/ltr or $4.73/US gal
25 rds of Blindside 3" $30.00, Hypersonic $40.00 and Black Cloud 3.5" #35.00
2.5 hp 4 stroke Yamaha $1195.00
50 hp Yamaha $7600.00
In 2006 the best price I could get on a Merc 30 4S tiller electric pt/pt $6440.00
all the above subject to 13% sales tax
Perhaps I am a bit high on the estimate but I think I could sell that unit here if the engine is ok for at least $2500.00

Lost
 
#10 ·
Lost do you live in NOVA? :lol3:

I just bought a '99 1670 Lowe for $300. Used 30-40hp tillers go for $500 or less and the trailers like that can be picked up all day for $300 or less. Everyone I know buys local or goes to Ed's Marine in Ashland to buy boats. I don't know a soul that has ever gone north to buy a boat. Gas is 3.38/gal and non ethanol is still $4.05....where is it almost $5?

Must be an engineer's estimate....Im sorry I couldnt help it. :lol3: :lol3: :lol3: :lol3: :lol3:
 
#11 ·
There are a lot more places in this world than Virginia Gun, LOL.
I am in New Brunswick, Canada, on the shores of the Bay of Fundy which has the highest tides in the world and the World Famous Reversing Falls on the major St. John River that passes through the city of Saint John.
I trust you found my local prices of various products interesting, as I said too a lot of guys here will go SOUTH to Maine or New Hampshire or even further south and buy relatively new , used boat motor and trailer units because doing so the price all in is generally less than the cost of that same motor alone locally.
Boats in the 14 foot range will command a fairly high resale value around here and as I said if the motor on this unit checks out ok I'm sure I could get over $2g's for it locally. There are of course bargains everywhere and obviously to me yours, in your part of the world, was one of them, it would be rare indeed to find that kind of a bargain in my part of the world.
Lost
 
#14 ·
Good post, Coot!
That's the kind of reserarch you need to do, Ctowntex. Make some comparisons on Craigslist, ebay, etc. Shop around. See what similar rigs are selling for. At worst, I'd drive to Fla & get the listed 17 footer for around 2 grand rather than buy that 'pig in a poke' that you are inquiring about not knowing if it runs. I wouldn't offer more than 800 bucks tops unless I knew the motor ran well and if it did, $1000 would be a generous offer. Any reason you want that small of a boat? There should be loads of rigs for sale right now. If you are a DIY'er, great! If not, that outfit you pictured may be a large headache without being able to run it and take it for a spin. I'd suggest you take a knowlegeable "boater" with you on any potential buy for some back-up on a decision.
Good luck and shop around and research. You can increase your chances of a successful buy with knowledge, assistance and more opportunities. There are always boats, motors and trailers out there that somebody wants to get out from under!
 
#16 ·
lostknife4 said:
There are a lot more places in this world than Virginia Gun, LOL.
I am in New Brunswick, Canada, on the shores of the Bay of Fundy which has the highest tides in the world and the World Famous Reversing Falls on the major St. John River that passes through the city of Saint John.
I trust you found my local prices of various products interesting, as I said too a lot of guys here will go SOUTH to Maine or New Hampshire or even further south and buy relatively new , used boat motor and trailer units because doing so the price all in is generally less than the cost of that same motor alone locally.
Boats in the 14 foot range will command a fairly high resale value around here and as I said if the motor on this unit checks out ok I'm sure I could get over $2g's for it locally. There are of course bargains everywhere and obviously to me yours, in your part of the world, was one of them, it would be rare indeed to find that kind of a bargain in my part of the world.
Lost
My bad, given the amount of posts you have in the VA forum I made an assumption. Sounds like it would be cheaper for you to drive to VA then buy a boat up there though.