When you buy a used transportable boat, you often think of it as a package consisting of the hull, the engine and the trailer. However, if the seller rightly considers that these three elements are matched, it is not necessarily in your interest to buy them together. Indeed, they do not all age in the same way and you may want to consider modern equipment for at least some of these elements.
Little risk on the hull
With few exceptions, the hull of a transportable polyester boat presents little risk of irreversible damage. Even if the hull is not as fresh as it should be, a high-pressure wash followed by a gel-coat polish will restore it to a presentable state, even if it means replacing the fittings that need to be modernized. It is therefore this part that is the heart of your purchase.
An up-to-date mechanism
A used engine is not always a bargain, not only because of its state of wear, but also because technology and usage have changed. No longer are 2-stroke engines produced that smoke and burn oil. Even the latest technologies can be overpowered or obsolete compared to our modern uses. Finally, one can also want an electric propeller for his boat, even old. The presence of a motor in the "package" is therefore not necessarily an asset.
A reliable trailer
Trailers of a certain age have often suffered from alternating salt water immersion and long periods of inactivity. It is very rare that everything works: the brakes may be seized, the bearings tired or the tires dried out by years of salt and sunâeuros¦ The wisest way to avoid shaking at every move, will be to consider the acquisition of a modern model or at least to replace the axle, the hitch head and probably the winchâeuros¦
Negotiate on the weakest link
These mechanical components make up a significant portion of the budget and are the single biggest source of failure and disappointment. If you can't buy the boat without these components, find out the cost of replacing them and consider reselling some of them. Above all, avoid overpaying for a set with a questionable component, just because it is complete.
Clearly, it is better to acquire a hull that you will complete with up-to-date equipment and standards, rather than a complete set composed of obsolete elements, even if they are still in working order.
