Seeking opinions on this Robalo

[awthacker]

Appreciate all the input! So I felt like I had to reach a price I was comfortable at before I start shelling out cash to have a mechanics checking it, and we are there at $15k. I was putting the engine around $10, the trailer around $2, and the hull can be justified at $3... The t-top is nice and the layout is good (for me).

The water line is a good observation... The 4 stroke is much heavier than whatever was on it new. I'll need to see how it floats on Sunday, assuming we get past step 1 with the mechanic. The bottom paint I'm not as concerned with... I think it's ugly, but oh well.

I know this guys not hiding anything, but there could be plenty that he doesn't know about. He's owned for 1.5 years, put 33 hours on it, and can't even launch his own boat. At first I thought he was just sketchy (maybe lying), but I had a talk with the harbor master (boat is on storage yard at local waterfront condos), and he confirmed everything the guy said about his boating skill level.

Good idea to bring the moisture meter, I happen to have one and will use it on the cracks. I couldn't tell that it was paint because it is so thick like a crust... I can fix all that stuff as long as it's cosmetic. According to him the stringers are redone with composite when the transom was capped, so I'm assuming the whole thing was done right with Arjay or something. I don't really know how to inspect it... I'd have to pull the seat to pull the gas tank cover... Thats not really happening. Everything felt very solid... I bounced on it and check all the hatches.

My value of the boat is probably a little higher than some of you guys because it fits my needs and uses perfectly. I am not in the market to buy a boat... Would've sold my V first if I was. Just happened across the ad and I hadn't seen it listed before. It's a bit beefier than my V for sporty conditions; it has reliable, fuel efficient power and greater fuel capacity, which doubles my range; plenty of room for storage of gear, double the rod storage; most importantly... My wife likes all the seating so we can bring friends out tubing and booze cruising. We live on the water so we use it a lot, but the V only has two seats and everybody else is sitting on cooler(s). No good for her.

It's been a great 5 years, but it's time to move on from the V. A nice V21 dual console would do the trick. Or a Grady Freedom 225 ($$$$$). This is in the budget and I think I can get a solid 5 years out of it, then I'll probably be ready to move on again.

So if it rides a little low... Is that a deal breaker? Or could tabs fix it? I will be loading the bow with tanks and gear, but I will almost always have 1-2 guys sitting in the back, as well.

[phatdaddy]

probably the biggest drawback for this era center console was the low freeboard in the stern. especially for divers(four guys, 2 tanks each is a lot of weight). i know of 2 or 3 up here that "turtled" in a rough sea. the combination of shorter anchor scope when diving and divers hanging on the transom is a deadly combo in choppy seas. this hull has been corrected with the closed transom and bracket.

go for it and keep the pictures coming

[THEFERMANATOR]

If your not "in the market", then I wouldn't rush to buy it. I would also be VERY judgemental of how it sits in the water at rest. Tabs will help when running, but not much can help when at anchor or on the drift. From what your talking about doing, I would hold out for something with an 8' 6" beam to it, and is meant for that kind of weight in the stern. From the pics, that one looks like an 8' beam hull, and is definately not meant for the added stern weight. Another thing of note I see from the pics is if that is indeed the waterline of the hull at rest, the bracket is going to be slapping when at anchor CONSTANTLY! You can see the water line is right up under the swim platform portion of the hull, and normally you want the swim platform to be out of the water a few inches. All you can do is check it out and see, but at this point in the season I wouldn't be rushing to buy anything. Unfortunately most of the good boats won't be on the market until spring when the sellers know buyers will be willing to spend the money to get out on the water.

[bgreene]

No one here trying to rain on your parade..... just watch out for over enthusiasm about a particular boat.

There are LOTS of good to excellent boats in your price range for sale. LOTS.

I've found the used boat market to be the most " buyer beware " of all used stuff !

From little things to more major.

I'd still recommend you check on the Yami corrosion issue - from Yami and other sources.

If the motors heavy for the hull think about when the fuel tank is full, and you have 3-4 people on board !!

Stay cool and judgemental.....as if you're looking at the boat for a 3rd party.
That said, good luck.

[ssiredfish]

Originally Posted by bgreene

No one here trying to rain on your parade..... just watch out for over enthusiasm about a particular boat.

There are LOTS of good to excellent boats in your price range for sale. LOTS.

I've found the used boat market to be the most " buyer beware " of all used stuff !

From little things to more major.

I'd still recommend you check on the Yami corrosion issue - from Yami and other sources.

If the motors heavy for the hull think about when the fuel tank is full, and you have 3-4 people on board !!

Stay cool and judgemental.....as if you're looking at the boat for a 3rd party.
That said, good luck.

Its got 100 hours and change on it I seriously doubt its got corrosion issues. Ive got close to 600 on my Yami and the only corrosion issue ive run into is the $15 trim sensor armiture. I will also mention outta the dozen of dozens of yammi's that are ran here in the heat and salt Ive not heard of one having corrosion issues, its not a suzuki.....

That engine is more than likely fine with the limited use and storage its seen. The 30+ year old hull for someone who spends the majority of his time offshore making the 70+mi round trips would be more of a concern for me.

My F20 dropped an inch in the back when I put my 4stroke and it actually greatly improved the stability and kept the hull from flying out of the wave. I can run 30+ in a following 3-4' sea w/o lurching out. Not saying the added weight will always help but it did in my case

[bradford]

Any boat you buy you'll end up spending money on, so if you're gonna pull the trigger I would offer your original $12,000 if you feel it's worth that, because you'll eventually end up spending the difference on her anyway plus it's still the off season.

The money spent on a survey would be very well spent on an older hull at that price.

Would a V20 bench seat and newer power fix your qualms with your V20? If so you might save some bucks and keep a hull that you know.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Originally Posted by ssiredfish

Its got 100 hours and change on it I seriously doubt its got corrosion issues. Ive got close to 600 on my Yami and the only corrosion issue ive run into is the $15 trim sensor armiture. I will also mention outta the dozen of dozens of yammi's that are ran here in the heat and salt Ive not heard of one having corrosion issues, its not a suzuki.....

That engine is more than likely fine with the limited use and storage its seen. The 30+ year old hull for someone who spends the majority of his time offshore making the 70+mi round trips would be more of a concern for me.

My F20 dropped an inch in the back when I put my 4stroke and it actually greatly improved the stability and kept the hull from flying out of the wave. I can run 30+ in a following 3-4' sea w/o lurching out. Not saying the added weight will always help but it did in my case

Low hour engines scare me more than high hour engines do. Corrosion tends to be the worst when a boat sits, not when in use. The engine is probably fine, but if the owner is truly that negligent in running a boat, he is probably that negligent in taking care of one(IE flushing an engine). ANY engine can be trashed in just a few years if it's not taken care of internally, and just because it looks good outside, doesn't mean it isn't rotten internally. I'm not saying thats the case here, but it is a possibility(and normally tends to be a greater possibility on low hour engines). I would be CERTAIN the mechanic that checks it out at least pulls the lower zincs in the heads. if it hasn't been flushed properly, it will show on the lower zincs the worst. You should see the ones that came out of my friends engine, and it has been RELIGOUSLY flushed after every use.

[awthacker]

Update: the engine checks out very well. It's actually an '08 that was registered in '10 and it is still under warranty for another year. The F225TLR was built as a 20" (for bass boats), but due to weight it did not sell well, so Yamaha created an extension for it to make it a 25" and move the inventory. It has 124 original hours, and has had no replacement parts. He says the variable cam timing is also a plus and give it better hole shot. NADA for it in its current condition is around $11,500.

The trailer and hull easily justify $15k, for me. It has a very nice console, t-top, and seat. The trailer is in very good condition. I will likely buy this boat after the wet test. The owner did show me a phone video of the boat on plane, taken from the helm, and it appears to ride very nice. Not high in the bow at all. I will check that it is also not high at rest.

[RidgeRunner]

Originally Posted by ssiredfish

Its got 100 hours and change on it I seriously doubt its got corrosion issues. Ive got close to 600 on my Yami and the only corrosion issue ive run into is the $15 trim sensor armiture. I will also mention outta the dozen of dozens of yammi's that are ran here in the heat and salt Ive not heard of one having corrosion issues, its not a suzuki.....

That engine is more than likely fine with the limited use and storage its seen. The 30+ year old hull for someone who spends the majority of his time offshore making the 70+mi round trips would be more of a concern for me.

My F20 dropped an inch in the back when I put my 4stroke and it actually greatly improved the stability and kept the hull from flying out of the wave. I can run 30+ in a following 3-4' sea w/o lurching out. Not saying the added weight will always help but it did in my case

I have a personal friend that had corrosion issues with his 225 Yamaha four stroke. 500 hrs, Flushed EVERY TIME without exception. Boat sits on a lift. Corrosion around the thermostats clean thru the block to the outside in a couple spots where it was leaking water. Owner never did the thermostats nor the anodes. I was taken back. Owner also never had a problem out of the motor until he noticed water leaking out the cowl while flushing the motor.

[RidgeRunner]

I would have lost a bet that his motor would be near perfect/new.

But your gonna have nothing but the BEST OF LUCK with your new rig there AWTHACKER. Not trying to pee on the parade at all. I like it.. LOVE IT!