Potential 1988 232 Gulfstream owner

[jcupo6]

(Sorry for the long post) Hi, first time poster but have been hanging around here for a while and need some advice. I am in the market for a boat and unfortunately have limited funds so the pickings are slim! I am currently scratching my head over this Gulfstream but am mainly worried about the older hull style. I love Grady's but didn't think a decent one would slip into my $5-$9,000 range. He was asking $8,000, I offered $6,000 which he will accept if I decide to take the boat. Keep in mind I haven't gone to see the boat yet. The owner claims the boat is solid, no rot solid floors and transom. I told him I would be bringing a mechanic with me and he stood by his claims.

I worry about the motors, one has a bad powerhead. The boat is at a marina which his buddy owns and will replace the bad power head for $2,500. Not sure if that's a good price or if I can trust a buddy of someone selling me something. I plan to bring my boat guy with me to go over everything, as he knows a lot more than me.

I also worry about the hull, I boat in the Delaware bay and want something I can take in most conditions. I currently have a 22' aluminum boat and get the crap beat out of me in anything more the 2 foot chop.

I also worry about the transom being open. I know many boats have this, it seems waves would constantly be washing over.

I'm hoping all you Grady White experts can chime in and give some opinions
Negatives:
Twin 1998 175hp Evinrude motors - 1 needs a new power head, the other is solid.
$2,500 for a new powerhead would bring me to $8,500 - still in my budget though.
No trailer
Old style hull - this is a big one for me
Low cut-out transom

Positives:
Price $6,000
New fuel tanks and fuel lines
New full canvas enclosure
New lights and remote control spotlight
All electronics - GPS, Depthfinder, VHF - a few years old
Cabin cushions have been re-done
Outriggers
Since there is no trailer he will deliver the boat to my marina for free with a full 200 gallons of fuel.

Here are some pictures. (He detailed the boat inside and out after the pics where taken)

Do you think this is a decent deal?
Thanks again, any and all opinions (good or bad) are welcome!

 

[paulyjsob]

Definitely have the boat surveyed by a marine surveyor. The boat could be a great buy at $8500 or become a costly headache if there's rot. Those were pretty reliable engines. $2500 doesn't seem out of line for a rebuid.

 

[cgmiller]

JC,

The 23 Gulfstream's are a beast..definitely a good Big D boat...I bought a 1990 230 back in October. I sea trialed her on a nasty day and I was very impressed with the ride. A buddy of mine has a 1989 and he loves it. Mine has twin 150 yammies 4-strokes and his has 150 OX66's..cruise is 25-30 mph..with the 175's she will hump along...I paid 11K for mine..it has original fuel system that I need to replace..it does not have a hard top...it has an issue with the tranny..not sure what yet...sent her to the dealer to have the engines checked over and fix an oil leak..(3200 so far not including water pumps, etc...so your price is looking pretty good....I have owned several boats and I think the Grady is one of the better riding ones so far...I had a 23 Steigercraft (hated it), a pair of 26 Shamrock hardtops (really like them), a 34 Silverton (temporary insanity), 17 Mako (favorite - in family since childhood), 24 Ramage (not too bad, funny ride) and just traded up from a sweet 21 Mako..nice boat but gets small and cold in the fall.....

 

[no problem]

At that price it's definitely buyer beware. I would think a marine survey is a must. People pay that much for just a trailer. If it works out I'm sure you will enjoy it. I can understand money being tight but have you considered what it's going to cost in fuel and upkeep? Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[Workdog]

That's a 230 Gulfstream (open transom). I have a 1989, same boat. Headsea can be a little bumpy... helps a lot to drop some trim tab when heading into a 3-5' chop. I replaced original '89 175hp Mercs with twin 2003 150 Merc EFIs. Top speed is 45 mph, and best fuel flow is 2 mpg.

I don't see a transom gate in the picture. Mine came with one and yours should have one too. It keeps all water out of the boat (with a strip of foam trim around the frame). If you don't have a transom gate, you could make one. They have a piano hinge at the bottom and half way up (bifold door) and have latches on the sides to keep the door up. The verticle sides are trimmed with teak for the door to rest against.

It looks like the bulkheads were replaced (the wall seperating the helm from the cabin); the originals were in a brown surfacing. That's a good thing because the originals had a tendency to rot at the base of the wall.

I love my Gulfstream. My style of trolling works very well with the motors on the transom. I would really dislike a bracket or eurotransom. I spent five years with it in the lower Chesapeake Bay, and the past six fishing Lake Erie. Both have similar water conditions to Delaware Bay (I've been out in 8-10 footers on Erie when a storm blew up, and routinely fish in 3-6 footers).

 

[Grady678]

Don't pay for a full Survey "yet".....until you can find someone that will do moisture readings on the hull and transom. Once this gives you a comfort level...or not...get the remainder of the boat surveyed and an engine mechanic to give you realistic idea of engine/parts replacement costs. You can go from 6K to 26K+++ in the blink of an eye. Good luck!

 

[jcupo6]

Thanks for the replies! I have been talking to the owner over the last few days and I just feel like he is hiding something from me. It's actually too much boat for me right now, even though I really like it. I'm gonna pass and keep looking, have my eyes set on an Overnighter right now...

 

[gradydriver]

jcup06...I have been selling boats for 20 years...I have followed the thread and my gut reaction is this boat looks like a giant headache...something smells fishy...when was it used last? how long has it been out of commission?...If one powerhead is bad chances are there is something going on or going to happen in the other motor also...Why is he giving you 200 gals of fuel?...go very slowly on this one.

 

[jcupo6]

jcup06...I have been selling boats for 20 years...I have followed the thread and my gut reaction is this boat looks like a giant headache...something smells fishy...when was it used last? how long has it been out of commission?...If one powerhead is bad chances are there is something going on or going to happen in the other motor also...Why is he giving you 200 gals of fuel?...go very slowly on this one.

I couldn't agree me, which is why I told him that I was going to pass. He seemed a bit too eager to sell her, kind of pushy. I think there are some big issues, and he knows about them. I have my eye on another boat now anyway, but it's a donzi...

Thanks all!