Conference vicki::boats

    You mean to tell me that with all the years of experience in boating that
    the people in this notes file have no one has never heard of a
    Concorde? Seriously I am going to look at this boat for the second time
    tomorrow night and would like to know something about it. What I have seen 
    so far looks good it is all Fiberglas with the exception of the
    cockpit which is plywood (is a bad or good???) It has twin FWC engines
    with about 300 hour (replace in 1977-78) nice cabin, swim platform,
    trim tabs etc.. all this for $14,500.00 does this sound like a good
    deal?? Any inputs would be greatly appreciated.


    Thanks
    Tom 

    re .0
    
    Yes, Tom I have heard of Concorde. But I haven't heard much from them
    lately - might not be around anymore. They did build smaller size lake 
    boats, some on the high performance side.
    
    You are going to pay $14,500 for a 27' fiberglass boat that is 24 years 
    old? Sounds way too much to me. Why don't you look around at some of
    the newer boats first, and get a feel for their prices...
    
    My advice ...stay away!
    
    								-mike-

    Tom,  it sounds like alot of money.  Take a look thru the Want
    Advertiser and you can find many boats that old that are bigger and
    cheaper.  If you don't mind a little work (alot of work?) the prices
    for wooden Chris-Craft cruisers are really good and they are beautiful
    boats when all restored.  Personally, if I was serious about buying
    that boat, I would have a survey done.  Even though it is fiberglass,
    it probably has wooden stringers that may be rotted out.  Also, a new
    coat of paint may be hiding stress cracks in the fiberglass that will
    only be found by someone who knows where and how to look for them.
    Wayne

    Thanks for the comments, I will have to look closer at this boat and was
    planning to have any boat I was serious about surveyed. I have seen
    many fiberglass boat of various years and almost all of them had little
    cracks what does this mean.
    
    Thanks
    Tom

    I would have replied sooner but I have been out on my boat for a couple
    of weeks. I can't believe all those east coasters don't know what a
    Concorde is. I live in Seattle and own a 1970 31 footer. It is an
    OWENS, built in Baltimore, Maryland. When OWENS switched from wood to
    fiberglass, they called them Concorde. They are a very good riding
    boat. I have owned much bigger boats than my 31 that didn't ride as
    well in rough seas. Mine has a deep forefoot like a Bertram and has
    that classic Bertram, Chris-Craft bulge on the foredeck. It is a very
    deep V. I have rebuilt mine mechanically but the fiberglass is in great
    shape. Things to look at carefully are fuel tanks, filler hoses for
    tanks, wooden floors inside etc.

    Thanks for the reply, I haven't had a chance to check this file but am
    glad I checked today. I looked at the boat again in the day time and it
    looked great. The Fiberglas is in great shape as is the cabin. The
    engines concern me somewhat. From what I have found the boat originally
    had merc cruisers but they were replaced in 1977 with FWC Chrysler. The
    person selling the boat says the only have about 300 hours on them
    which about only 20 hours per year this seems low to me and the boat
    has no hour meters. Well the person selling it is asking $14,500 the
    low book is $7,500 and the high $10,250 the boat is in great shape from
    what I have seen so far. I offered $8,800 which is the mid point. The
    boat basically comes with everything with the exception of electronics
    and fishing equp. The lowest I could get the guy is $11,125 which is
    still a little high to me. The guy said he won't go any lower. I spoke
    to someone how surveys boat and he indicated that it is worth (without
    seeing it) about $9,000 to $10,000.

    any suggestions??

    Thanks
    Tom

    Show him the book evaluations and explain to him that it is almost the
    last half of August and premium spring prices are over. Then be
    prepared to walk away and leave your number should he change his mind.
    I am not too big a believer in book prices since individual boats vary
    so much but they will effect you at resale. However, is the boat worth
    it to you? is the real question.

    One more thing, you can invest $100.00 or so and have the engine
    surveyed. That is, have a mechanic come and run a compression check
    first cold and then hot, and  a general check out, etc. But don't do
    that until you have settled on a price. Then, since they are 1977
    engines, they may be bad anyway, who knows? and you can bargain him
    donw further based on the results of the engine survey. Of course, a
    hull survey is also in order.

    Tom,  Chrysler 318's have been used extensively in the marine industry
    for years.  There have been two different 318 engines over the years.
    As long as they are post '65 engines,  parts will be easy to find and
    new Chrysler engines (including the 360) will go right in when needed.
    I don't find it implausible that someone only used their boat for 20
    hours per season.  They may have been content just sitting around at
    the dock all weekend.  I second the idea of doing (or having done) a
    complete engine check-out.  Being FWC, pay particular attention to the 
    heat exchangers.  Have they been replaced more recently than the
    engines?   If the engines do check out ok, then make a final offer and
    walk away.  Rather than pay to have the boat hauled and stored for the
    winter, the current owner just may come down to your price range in a 
    month or two.  BTW, is the boat in the water now?  Have you been able
    to inspect the hull and props, etc?
    Wayne

    the boat is in the water now I have heard the engines run but have not
    gone for a ride. I think I will wait a little while and call him back. 
    I am also looking at another boat and I have not heard of this one
    either. It is 30 foot Scotticraft, it has twin chryslers with high
    hours 1000 on one 1300 on the other. Is this too may hours for a FWC
    engine?? The boat is a 1970 comes with all electronics except radar.
    has live bait wells, out riggers, bimini, moring cover, etc.... It seem
    real nice except for the high hours he is asking $17,500.00 he had it
    surveyed recently and the value came in at $18,500. I could not find
    the book value on this boat. but originally offered $14,000 he would
    not even consider the offer I waited and came up to $15,000. My
    question is has anyone ever heard of this boat. 
    
    Thanks
    Tom Casey