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.