found another cuddy. what do yall think

[taqwache]

Well, I just started getting serious about restoring my dads old 78 cuddy but it needs alot of work. Also with the lack of extra time and money we have on our hands, it will not be done for at least one and a half years. So i have been looking around alot and found another 78 model close by. I was amazed when the guy told me he was the original owner, and that it was garage kept all its life. I went to take a close look at it and found out that it also has the origanal motor (inline 4 mercuser 470), outboard, seats, trailer, banimi top, and even the toliet (gross). Looking at the boat closely, i didnt notice any rot and it sure did look like it was not used very much. The guy also hooked up a water hose and started the motor up and it ran perfect. He is asking $2800 for the boat and tralier and to me this sounds reasonable. right now, this is something that i can afford and use until my other boat is done. the only thing i dont like is that it is a 4 cylinder ib/ob. what do yall think?

[cfelton]

Why dont you like the 470? If taken care of they're good motors! And with gas prices like they are I wouldnt hesitate to buy another one!! Mine is good on gas. You got any pic of it?

[spareparts]

have the motor and drive checked out by a profesional. I have made my career by working on I/O's. If i lived in a different area, thats what I would have. But given the area I run a boat in down here(hot, shallow, salt water) an Outboard works better. An I/O can be a nice set up, but they do have more things that can go wrong, and are generally more labor intensive. You don't get the option of a four bolt tune up(replacing the entire outboard engine) with an I/O. Things like bellows, shift cables, gimabl bearings, u-joints, upper and lower gear case can get expensive. Recently, there have been some lower cost alternatives for outdrive replacemnt that make rebuilding an older drive no longer cost efficient. Just have the boat checked out to avoid any hidden issues. You will need to find someone that is well versed in Mercruiser to check it out.

[Pipe_Dream]

Originally Posted by spareparts

Just have the boat checked out to avoid any hidden issues. You will need to find someone that is well versed in Mercruiser to check it out.

Agreed, and good luck! Can he document "original owner" status, and does he have all the service records? If so, it sounds like quite a find.

[Seacrets]

Original owner is easy. Check the issue date on the title.

[taqwache]

Originally Posted by Seacrets

Original owner is easy. Check the issue date on the title.

That's what I would of figured. The way the guy and his family were talking about the boat and the shape its in, I don't doubt his word. Now that he is older and his kids are all grown up he doesn't use it anymore. I still haven't decided if i want to buy it, but if i do, ill post up pics.

[randlemanboater]

Sounds like a good deal if it all checks out......I'd buy it if I were you.

[cfelton]

Spares right, have her checked out good and if all is well go for it! If ya need any info we'll be here to help you. I'm putting a rebuilt motor (170) in my buddys boat when I get off work in the morning. It was 22 years old and still running but had started blowing a little oil so we pulled it and had it bored .030 over and refitted with new pistons and rings. He had already replaced the head earlier this year. It should be go ta go now!!

[reelapeelin]

Don't hate it just cause it's a 4 cyl...my Honda's a 4 and it runs fine...ask the guy if you can seatrial...then if you hate it, walk...but you won't hate it so take your checkbook...

[taqwache]

Man I am pissed. I got all the money together to get this boat and when I called the guy to tell him i was coming to pick it up, he told me he sold it already. Oh well, back to square one.