Used boat advice

Hi All,

I've done quite a bit of searching old threads and I've perused the entire sticky of boat pics over the years. I am hoping to upgrade from a 14 ft Crappie Jon to a larger, nicer, faster boat that will suit my local lakes and taking kids fishing. In recent days, I've started noticing more and more fiberglass boats that are in better condition and cheaper than most of the 17-19 foot aluminums that I'm finding used locally.

I'm looking seriously at a 96 Javelin this week with a Johnson 150. The boat is 1-owner, garage kept, clean and frequent maintenance records, etc. It is pretty much mint condition and the seller has offered to take me for a spin this week. This one is at the top of my list, but there are a couple others that are very comparable as well.

Any reason I should be scared of this boat if everything checks out? Anything I should be aware of when looking at 15-25 year old fiberglass boats for less than 10k? I have never owned a fiberglass boat, but I do think having one on my lakes would be a big upgrade due to frequent rough water.

Thanks!

Look at the transom close....those older boats have wood in the transom....its inclosed in the fiber glass...look for hair line cracks in the fiber glass....that could indicate weakness from dryrot of the wood. Trim the motor up and down and look to see if you can see any flexing in the transom area and back of boat.

fiberglass boat have a lot of wood; I like to take a pick/sharp awl; probe the stringers in the bottom of the hull; base of transom where it meets hull (in boat) etc.

You can wrap transom w/your knouckles externally, and listen for sound / changes in density (youtube for test idea)


If it has been 'dry sailed' (goes back on trailer; not slipped in water all season) as well as "garage kept" it's ENTIRE life, the rot factors are considerably lessened...


BUT-- where there's wood, there's rot if any kind of water got in there.

great tips! Thanks guys!

my top pick was sold today....I should have moved faster!

By the mid 90s most boat manufacturers started going full composite hulls. If it is a full composite it should have a sticker saying so. I have a 93 Sprint that is full composite hull, decks and floor are not. I have a 91 Stratos that is wood encased in fiberglass, transom, floor and decks and all ls solid as the day it was built. Nothing wrong with the old boats, that Johnson 150 is a good engine. Biggest draw back other then potential transom, floor or deck rotting on the older boats is the old 2 strokes are fuel hogs!

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