[Skools Out]

1: Solid Transom No rotten nor soft spots use a rubber hammer to listen for voids in the transom or delamination.
2: Solid Floor
3: Solid Stringers
4: Look out for blistering on the bottom
5: Look out for Spider cracks on the older boats make sure they are only surface / gelcoat cracks and not major glass cracks.

That's what I look for when buying a boat to use with out a lot of major work, on the boat side to me motors don't matter I usually open all mine up to re-seal, re-ring and new bearings myself when I buy an older used boat.

Motor side just see that it has the big 3 items Good Even Compression on all cylinders, Good fire on all holes and Good fuel system. The lower unit no water in oil and no metal.


Here's a great link to a USED BOAT GUIDE.
{http://www.diy-boat.com/Pages/Archives/links/2005_2/safety/usedboats.html}