Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

A proposed trade for a boat...

Warbirds

A guy asked if I would be interested trading my bike for this boat...

It is a 20ft Morgan.

The “seller” said it “most likely needs to be cleaned up and the carbs rebuilt”. I’m guessing that means it does not run. He is valuing this boat/trailer @16 grand. Apart from his original message- we haven’t communicated and he was very brief- as if I don’t jump on this it will be gone...(standard sales chatter).

He wants to trade this boat for my Ducati. I presume he thinks he is getting the better end of the deal.

I kind of want a boat- but I am a full boat novice, but consider myself a very good mechanic.

On a scale of 1-10 how terrible of an idea is this? Im not worried about top dollar for the bike - but if I get a boat I would want it to be able to use at least a few times a month.


I’m not in a pinch to sell the bike or buy a boat. But I like the idea of a cheap boat where I could learn the ropes before buying a larger more capable boat.

What questions do I ask and what would I look for as issues?

Cheers-


0

Comments

36 comments

Date Votes
  • Beagler410


    0
  • Grunt2
    You don't buy a used boat...you buy a motor...I wouldn't touch it with a 10 foot pole...!
    0
  • Grasshopper
    Come on now, lets hear what your thought is now.!! A guys gots to know.
    0
  • Don McManus
    A new Yamaha 90 HP outboard is going to run you around $ 10,000.00.  Not sure what you are going to be doing with the boat, but can't imagine putting anything smaller than 90 HP on it.

    I would not want to get too far offshore with a questionable motor.

    I would pass were I you.
    0
  • Warbirds

    Thanks guys-


    Sounds like a run, don’t walk situation.

    0
  • MrMag00
    Where's your sense of adventure?  What is the duc worth? Is there clear title to boat and trailer, have the property taxes been paid? Depending on your state, depends how they tax that thing. 

    I look at the boat and see a $3,000 boat and trailer if the paper is in order, and I see a $5k duc. If the boat is set up the way you like it for what you wish to do, all bets are off. It might be a cheap way to get into what you want. If the motor turns over with compression, repairs shouldn't be horrible if you do the work, which you say is in your wheelhouse. 

    If you can do paint and fine tuning, you could fix it and get it running and sell for maybe $10k. Lots of work and steep learning curve. Appears to be a fresh water boat. Sometimes free boats are a bad deal. 

    What is the hull? Chopper gun or hand laid fiberglass? Is the fuel tank rusted/corroded? How faded is the dash and upholstery? All that adds up by the thousands. 

    I actually like the boat, but I doubt the paper work is in order. How long did the guy own it? Is he young or an old guy who just gave up on it? Lots of little tells, that might make this a good deal. But yeah, bring a boat guy by for a second opinion and get the wife to sign off on it too. 

    I bought a Bayliner Buccaneer, kept it in the marina in Los Angles area. Never regretted it, stuck lots of money in it and was emotional the day I sold it. I definitely lost money on it, but that thing saved my life by having a place to go when life wasn't fun. Boat people are  an interesting bunch, and you are paying admission to the club.  See if you can squeeze a thousand out of him plus the boat. 
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity