Worth keeping? 83 255 sailfish

[joshforms]

Hi everyone, I’m new here. I’m 20 yrs old and picked up an 83 255 sailfish, I’ve been boating for a good portion of my life. The listing was 8800 and I got it for 6500. My question to the experts here is that I missed a crack in the transom on a bolt and it tends to flex a tiny bit when putting weight on one of the motors. Boat is in goodish shape, needs a little work but this is the main concern. I did the hammer test, most of the transom seems to spring it back but there’s 2-3 spots that give sort of a thud. I’m no professional though. Let’s say it needs a new transom, is it worth keeping? Investing money into? One block was replaced and both motors run pretty damn good, other is original though. I’m stuck.... please help!

 

[PointedRose]

IMO that looks like a pretty worrisome crack

Watch this video and consider risks:

Depending on your time, resources and handiness, anything on a boat is repairable.

Couple ideas for you to consider and research:
- who do you know that can help you and give you advice
- can you do this work yourself, do you have the tools, space to store and work on it, can you afford to pay someone else to do it (spendy)
- building a gantry sturdy enough to lift off the engine(s) so you can really see what’s going on
- removing the rotted/cracked transom material and building back up the transom with solid material with no chance of failure. Also inspect stringers and other potential problem areas
- installing an outboard motor bracket to the back of the boat, can be spendy
- does it need a dual engine rig

West marine has a cheap booklet on fiberglass repair and there’s lots of internet research on transom repairs

If you decide to take it on, there will be a lot of work, effort, stress, frustration and probably money. If you see it to the other side, you will learn a lot in the process and hopefully get to the point where you’re a proud owner of a safe quality boat that you can use and enjoy for years.

On the other hand, can probably salvage a lot of what you paid with what you still have with the boat, engines and trailer.

My 2cents

 

[PNW_Drifter]

This guy on youtube got a similar boat in similar shape with rotten transom. Follow his series as he replaces the transome and tanks/stringers. You can get a preivew of what it takes to do series transom work. Hard worth but doesnt' have to be expensive if it's only transom.

 

[Fishtales]

if you can fix it or get it done cheap, go for it.

 

[SkunkBoat]

It all depends on a thousand things...

From the pix and the fact that it wiggles I say 99.9% chance you need transom.
Check stringers. Pull tank hatches. Probably need a tank...
Registration sticker is 21. What is the one underneath it? Was this a 10 year yard queen that was cleaned up?


Where and how do you plan to use the boat? If you are going to dock it and fish hard in the ocean IMO... bail out now!
How long are you going to keep it?
Is it the boat you really want?

If you are going to trailer it to the lake a couple times a season...maybe you can justify it if you do the work and you get enjoyment from doing the work.
Gradys have flat transoms..can be done from outside...cheap paint to make it look nice...

If you want to go boating this year...bail out...

What make/year/model motors....white so I'm thinking Johnson OceanRunners?
How long you think before you have to drop another grand to fix one? and then the other?
What can you realistically sell them for?

IMO as a buyer ....2 strokes over 20 years old start at $0... but I sold my pair of 20 year old Yamaha ox66 225s for $5500 incl gauges/controls to the first guy...
I don't think you'll get near that for Oceanrunners.

What electronics are on it...Dated???

That trailer will nickel & dime you...

My gut says bail out

In that price range start with a 20 footer with single old four stroke. try to stay in this century.

 

[efx]

This is a tough one. That’s a lot of boat for a 20 year old and is going to take a lot of time and money to get running. The transom is shot. The engines look to be around 1980-1985. They are cooked I bet also, may run now but are old and very thirsty. I honestly think it’s a good/ beat idea to sell it with full disclosure and try to get some of your money back and get a 20 footer. Clean it well, sell if for 6500 firm and be done. Enjoy your youth!