Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

Hello Everyone- I am brand new here & I was referred here from another forum, and it looks like maybe this is where I should post my questions??
I am planning to go look at a 1986 Wellcraft 23 Walkaround cuddy, and was looking for some input on the quality or dislikes / problems with these boats. I am not sure if it is the Coastal or Sportsman Model. It has a 200 O/B on it. Were softening decks and transoms an issue with these? What's the difference in the "Coastal" and "Sportsman"? Couldn't seem to find a classic wellcraft site or anything like that. I am stepping slightly "up" from a smaller CC boat.
Any Insight??
Thanks.

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO??
 

The Sportsman had more cabin...the Coastal(my choice) was more open...mucho cuddy space, but not like Sptsman...understanding that hull is 21 years old, you should check it over very closely...not 'cause it's a Wellcraft, but because of time and you don't know how it's been kept...w/motor tilted up, slowly apply your weight to the foot of the motor...lotta crackin' and owner freakin'...transom bad...walk around ALL OVER the floors feelin' for soft spots anywhere, but look closely around hatches and hatch-lids...sea-trial and operate every button/switch on the boat...if he won't sea-trial, CAUTION-FLAGS should go UP!!...

ON MOTOR...COMPRESSION TEST BY CERTIFIED, UNBIASED MARINE TECH ... pay him to go over the motor, run it and LOOK for problems...have him check lower-unit oil for water-intrusion and age (black)

walk around it and push UP the rub-rail to check it and cap
are still fastened in-place...use all the above and buy if ya like...any more specific questions, try to come back w/ pictures...we like pictures :D ...

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

Thanks- I was gonna do the compression test myself. I bought a gauge, was told to get the motor warm, remove all plugs, and test each cylinder with a few cranks each to get a reading. Bad Idea to do myself?
What about gelcoat damage? What would be considered no problem?

Thanks Again!

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

You can do the test if you want, Numbers should be 100 or above and all numbers should be with in 10% of each other!!

Make sure you crack the klower unit drain screw to see if oil or water comes out! Don't laugh, I have seen water just poor out before!

Do eveything reel has said above! and you should be fine! I perfer the Coastal, and I have fished this boat for 5 years (not mine) they are very sea worthy and we offten went 30+ miles of the MA. shore.

Welcome to the site, and return offten!

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

welcome aboard,

we are mostly V20 guys here, but a lot know anything you need to know about boats. good luck I am sure more will be along shortly to help out. ;D

what forum sent you here?

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

Welcome to the site. The guys on this site are great. They know alot. Post pics of what you might be buying. ;)

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

From Previous Advice from "reelapeelin":
"walk around it and push UP the rub-rail to check it and cap
are still fastened in-place...use all the above and buy if ya like...any more specific questions, try to come back w/ pictures...we like pictures ... "


**Gonna TRY to unload some pics** 1st time (any advice?)

I saw the boat today and it's not bad at all (86 230 Wellcraft Sportsman)- Very dirty. So looking throught the dirt I inspected it- The rub rail test: What will this tell?? It seemed OK to me, just one spot midships where it was a little loose, and when I pushed further, there was some seperation of an area only about 3-4 inches long (behind that section of rubber, I could see a screwhole maybe? Is this only needing refastening? Not sure what that test actually is checking for. As far as any softness in the deck, The cover over fuel tank was only a tiny bit "soft" and only over an area smaller than my foot- nothing at all like I've seen in some center console boats in the past. The transom seems solid, the boat apparently has been sitting for a year and is currently tucked in a "back" spot of a yard. The hull itself is actually pretty unscathed, only thing I found was that the bow ring was moved and the old holes sealed (maybe for trailering reasons- I hope!) Should I worry about this???
I found that the front compartment at the forward center of the v berth had some water in it (appeared to be fresh water) and that compartment was also fitted with a bilge pimp- Is that standard? (the switch panel does have 2 switches- 1 for forward, 1 for aft bilge)- and how could this water have gotten in there???
The switch panel itself , I'd like to replace- any shot at one of these from wellcaft??? The wiring is original and still neat- only very slight corrosion to the terminal ends.
The fuel tank looked very clean and "unmarked" from what I could see via the small access plate- there was some "gunk like " substance over the top of the tank- what was that?? Grease or something? When wiped clear the tank was almost shiny. No smell of gas or anything when I took a sniff of that gunk. Could this be a result of a breakdown of sorts from the foam??
There were spots of wear or whatever you'd call it , on the bulkhead where one's feet would be (both sides) if you were sitting - whatever that was coated with is peeling away, but the wood underneath looks 100% OK, Here I'd place a "kickboard" to take the abuse.
The stern also has a board in place which is teak maybe this was factory???

The motor looks real clean (Yammie 200 1986). Next the guy wants to clean it up, get everything 100% and we will ride it on Saturday. It turns out that this boat wasn't for sale, but the owner saw an ad for my boat and now we are talking a trade plus some $ for my CC boat. Seems OK- We have also talked about a list of things to be done before I comes to me, such as rewiring the washdown pump, new fuel hose and primer ball, lower unit impeller and oil, even mounting a new transducer and my electronics and bottom paint. I'm actually shocked at all this help offered, but his reply was its kinda like his hobby and enjoys doing it. He also restores old classic cars and really is interested in my boat as he has a friend with the same boat and has a motor for it already. So maybe this is the right "deal" for me? Hope it's not too good to be true. I guess after running the boat and a final inspection of accessories and such will tell the tale. He said he got the boat form a marina that took it on a trade and he compression checked it (140 across) and found the lower unit all checked out fine so he grabbed it with intent to keep (seems like he got it for a real good price). We will again compression check next week with me there. Really seems like the guy is being straight, and has nothing to hide as he wants me to get it at 100%.

Sorry if I went on and on here- but wanted to try and paint a picture- hopefully the ones I try to post will work too. If for some reason they don't make it up, and you feel so inclined, email me and I can send them that way.
I would appreciate the interest and help.

Mario


http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...ELLCRAFT-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...CRAFT-DECK.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...AFT-SEAT-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...FT-V-BERTH.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...FT-PANEL-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...T-TRANSM-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...RAFT-BOW-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...FT-YAMMI-1.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...FT-YAMMI-2.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...CRAFT-LWRU.jpg

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO??
 

The one thing you said that caused me concern was that the deal seemed too good to be true. My experience is that usually something that seems too good to be true is just that. Don't be too eager. We all know that old boat come with their issues, so I'm sure it won't be perfect. Check NADA guides and BoatTrader.com to get some idea of the value of the boat. If he's priced way under what he should be, figure out why. A 21 year old boat won't be perfect, but a good one should command a fair price. You rarely get something for nothing. Hopefully this guy is as honest as he appears. Trust but verify. Good luck.

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

Yes it is normal to have a pump front and rear, when boat sits on morring, its not tilted back, so the water will sit in front also.
Water in there now, comes from the rain, might leak by the door, front hatch, or if the boat is tilted a bit forward my drain there from the rear??

Gas tank covers always soft and easy fix!

switch pannels are every were and easy to replace.All and all sounds like a good deal!!

Did you try lifting the motor when tilted up?? With motor up lift up and down to see if there is any movement in the transom, should be NONE, and cracking sound or movement means new transom needed!

Just becareful with the motor!
Do conpression test!!,
start see if it idles,
do water test, see how she runs, does it go full throttle 5000 to 5500 rpms
See if its pumping water out the piss hole.
Feel the heads to see if hot when you return
un do the lower unit screw see if oil comes out Not water!

And last, that year Yamaha was made with a steel shifting rod, look down buy the cavation plate and you will see a space, you can see the rod there, They rot there and break!!!
You might beable to see it rotted then again you might not? But to replace you have to remove the power head to get at it.
The replacement will be Stainless, and at most mariners it will cost $500 to $1000 to replace.

I had to do mine, BS changed his own in the yard, but its a lot of work!!
Thank fully I bought the motor from a Yamaha guy and I even asked about it before buying, we both looked and thought it was fine, first time out it broke, the guy replaced for me at cost for the parts. So was like $200 for me.

This was a Yamahs problem till 1994 when they went with the Saltwater series and made them all SS.

Good Luck!!

Re:  Mid 80s 23 Wellcraft cuddy   INFO???
 

Thanks for that lengthy and informative reply Maco- What do you make of the "sludgey" stuff I mentions over the fuel tank? Some sort of lube or an intrusion of sorts ( again when I rub it away, the tank aluminum looks very clean and not pitted at all)?

By the way- I've heard that about the Yamaha shift rods goin- Bummer- Like I'll be waiting for that. Where exactly by the Cav plate should I be looking??? Seen through what / where??

Also- If you look again closer at the 1 st pic above- you can see where I was saying about the bow eye being moved- any need to worry?

I added another pic of the transom top- There is a cap put on the guy caled it a "beauty cover" of something, was this standard? All along the top of the transom looks pretty darn good (outside of this "cap")
Your takes on this??

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w...T-TRANSM-1.jpg


Also- Rick- I am also skeptical about it being too good, but I am proceeding slow and carefully, so far so good, I think this guy really wants my robalo CC and that maybe has something to do with it. Guess next the ride will tell alot more- the other things are easy fixes and routine stuff for a boat of that age that I can see. Thanks Again for listening- I'll be checking for replies and keep you guys posted.
Mario