I've got my man card, don't listen to rap, don't need attention, am damn good at backing a boat and launching so maybe it's just you've got anger issues?
Oh and when loading the boat it's just like unloading where I put it in the water and wife takes it off and puts it on. She can load a boat better than a lot of men and the wake / ski boats don't steer like a regular boat either. Whole different ballgame.Lots of bass boats have stress cracks.If on the top cap you are usually ok.
Yep,might do that but I wouldn't spend $500 on a marine inspector.Lots of the time if you look over a boat and see how it was taken care of you can tell.Stress cracks to the top cap can been seen in a lot of used bass boats even a couple yr old ones.Stress cracks on the lower half and looking at the bottom will tell you alot.If you lake test it is there water in the bilge,usually just open the back bilge compartment and look.The newest skeeter bass boat I owned leaked,from a quick look I could tell it was a through hull fitting.Some boats have transom problems ,do your research before you buy and all should be good.
I wish you and your wife would come teach classes here because I've yet to see any of these assclowns successfully load/unload a ski boat and dont get me started on the pontoon pilots. As far as "pleasure" boaters needing attention, there's too much evidence to support it. I've got a friend that sells boats for a living. He said when they come in they don't ask how much horsepower, how fast, how many assclowns will it pull, how big a wake does it make, etc. The first question they ask: "How loud is the stereo?" That's straight from the horse's mouth. I don't have anger issues, but I was raised to respect other people. I was also taught where you get your boat ready at the ramp, how to back a trailer, how to launch and load a boat, and how to get the hell out of the next guy's way. Maybe most importantly, I was taught what NO WAKE means. I'm sure you and your wife are the very, very rare exception, but I'm also sure you see the exact same things I do. I'm just thankful I have days off during the week to fish. I won't even go to the lake on the weekends anymore.I've got my man card, don't listen to rap, don't need attention, am damn good at backing a boat and launching so maybe it's just you've got anger issues?
The op asked what age do you have to start worrying about stress cracks. Stress cracks are caused by abuse not age. They are caused by hitting things with the motor as well as things like hitting a wave at a high rate of speed and launching the boat out of water. Your hammer and moisture meter are not necessarily going to catch that.
Good point for sure.
If you are paying $30k for a ranger, unless its got a new engine on it, you are paying too much.
It was a hypothetical, and you probably haven't priced bass boats lately. A new 250HP engine is almost 30k by itself. Nobody is going to sell you a 21 foot Ranger in mint condition with a $25k engine for $30k. But if you find one alert me immediately. I'll take it.
You're wrong. What you are saying is bad advice.... The age of the hull certainly matters + any boat made of wood needs a thorough inspection. Your way will reveal big issues that are already a problem. My way tells you if there is a developing problem.
I price bass boats literally every single day because I like to keep my eye out for good deals. Its what I do when I get board. I love boats. My parents had a boat when I was born, I bought my first boat when I was 15 and I have always owned a boat since. If you look at what I said, I said unless it is a brand new engine you are paying too much. I did not specify the age of the ranger because you had specified 2005 and that is what I was going off of. I guess I should have said 2005 ranger. I am assuming that when you talk about a $25k 250hp outboard that you are not talking about one made in 2005. I am assuming that you are talking about one made in the last couple of years which is what I specifically stated would be the only reason to pay $30k for a 2005 ranger.
I thought it was standard operating procedure that 4 assclowns have to get in the water and guide/push/pull the boat on the trailer. That's what I typically see. You can't make it up.
Stress cracks and rot are 2 different things caused by different forms of abuse. There are literally millions of old boats on the water today that have no issues. Also, even boats with composite floors should be inspected for soft spots. Not all composites are the same. I never said don't inspect the boat or to ignore stress cracks. You are obviously overly sensitive because of your own experiences. You bought an old boat that you knew had bad floors and a bad transom. It turns out it had bad stringers which the people you took it to should have warned you about before they even ripped into the floor. You knowingly bought a money pit which I am guilty of as well because rebuilding boats is therapeutic for me. I have learned over the years not to bite off more than I am willing to chew.
They absolutely CANNOT use one lane of the ramp. They have to use at least 2. And I still see pleasure boaters (pontoon owners seem to be the worst) back onto the ramp, get out, start loading coolers, putting on sunscreen, unstrapping, etc., etc., etc. while blocking at least 2 lanes of the ramp. As much as this is talked about on Fakebook how are they not clued in that it is unacceptable???
If you are looking for a boat and you find a 2005 garage kept 21 foot Ranger in excellent condition with a 2005 250HP motor with less than 300 hours for $30k, you better buy it because it's a unicorn. Is paying $30k for a 20 year old boat overpaying? Maybe, but that's what they are bringing.
Here is a 2008 that you could get for $30k right now but its got a 112lb ultrex trolling, 2-12 inch Lowrance graphs and Garmin live scope which is around $5k more or less in electronics. I am still a little gun shy of optimax's that age. I wouldn't go near a 2005 optimax, going back to the 2005 ranger. I don't care how good a condition its in. 2005 was the first year they supposedly fixed their issues. Until 2004, they had the nickname opti-pop. If I was willing to pay that price then I probably would not buy anything but yamaha if I were to go that old. If you wait a couple weeks, you might be able to get it for $25k, maybe less. I don't think its going anywhere and depending on how long it sits, you may be able to get it closer to $20k. You also mention one with 300 hours. I have seen allot of engines rebuilt with fewer hours. It all depends on the abuse. I would pay to have the engine inspected before I would the hull.
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When I think of stress cracks, I think structural. Stress cracks on the top cap are usually not structural and don't concern me other than being an indicator of abuse. They are typically just cosmetic which can be a deciding factor in buying a boat but you are not going to be riding down the lake and the boat comes apart and sinks on you because of stress cracks in the top cap. They are a sign the boat was left out and not covered much like ripped and fading carpet, torn seats, and an oxidized top cap. The stress cracks on the bottom or the transom would concern me and cause me to walk away.
Like you, I'm scared to death of an Opti-pop.Here is a 2008 that you could get for $30k right now but its got a 112lb ultrex trolling, 2-12 inch Lowrance graphs and Garmin live scope which is around $5k more or less in electronics. I am still a little gun shy of optimax's that age. I wouldn't go near a 2005 optimax, going back to the 2005 ranger. I don't care how good a condition its in. 2005 was the first year they supposedly fixed their issues. Until 2004, they had the nickname opti-pop. If I was willing to pay that price then I probably would not buy anything but yamaha if I were to go that old. If you wait a couple weeks, you might be able to get it for $25k, maybe less. I don't think its going anywhere and depending on how long it sits, you may be able to get it closer to $20k. You also mention one with 300 hours. I have seen allot of engines rebuilt with fewer hours. It all depends on the abuse. I would pay to have the engine inspected before I would the hull.
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