msbhammer...quickest way is about 14hrs up through 70...on the way back i would come straight down 65 to louisville,ky and then hit 64 east to norfolk...i'm hearing less mountains...the weather forecast is looking good for entire trip..no snow..48 degrees in IL on friday..60's rest of the way home during day...i'll prob travel at night..less traffic...i'm off work from 1pm thursday till monday at 3pm..so i got the time...i'll like to be in his yard friday morning...the road trip will suck.. going solo.
he wont meet me halfway..the guy is like a 20yr old kid..selling it for his mom, he's kinda like its a $1k ..take it or leave it.....flying to check it out is too much extra $$ into the deal. if its really bad i'll just turn around and just lose gas money.
hammerhead i would wait till i get to Fl.(august 07) but these dually's dont come around much,its a good winter project and i want one cuz they offer the open fishing space of a center console and the ability to have a full enclosure like a cuddy....in the year i've been watching for v20's for sale i might have seen a couple ..and they was expensive...but your prob right ... prob more headache than its worth...but i cant say i've had a stellar year with my
8 :)..i'm also hoping for a simple fix on the motor. its basically a big gamble .. could be a big steaming pile of crap or a dirty diamond in the rough.
Tinman.....the guy said there is a small piece of gel coat missing in the front keel..he said it doesnt go into the glass...my 18 has same thing....he also said they keep it in the lake slip for 2-3 months during summer...then when they pull it out he brings it to get muratic acid washed before storage....i think thats why the trailer has those rust spot right under the keel and the engine has those white splotches ..i asked about soft spots and he said there is none.. i asked about if they had cracks on the transom or movement and he said no that the hull was solid everywhere.....i asked about the trailer..he said its in "fair" condition..that he has bearing buddys on them and keep them greased..said it prob needs new tires though....but that the lights worked fine.
gonna talk to him tommorow..if the snow is melted i'll be on the road thursday afternoon.