Should I Buy This Project Aluminum Jet Boat

[schnur07]

Hopefully it's ok to post a link to craigslist (see below). I'm considering purchasing this 20' aluminum boat for a fun project and for my daughters to drive around on the Willamette River, which is in our backyard, without worrying about it. We have a small fiberglass jet boat and this one would be nice because I wouldn't worry as much about hitting river bottom - which is primarily river cobble.

The owner says it ran a few years ago but hasn't tried running it since. It's 175 hp and I assume it's a 2-stroke. I'd want him to run it for me and ideally take it on the water to make sure it doesn't leak and check out the steering. I don't know anything about aluminum boats but wondering if it's relatively thin since it has those vertical bracings. Not sure what else to check out considering there's not much there other than a state of the art seat!

I figured I don't have much to lose for $3000 bucks and maybe talk him down. But if the motor has issues, I have no idea what that might cost. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

20' Aluminum Jet Boat/Work Boat - boats - by owner - marine sale

20' aluminum boat, Merc jet.

portland.craigslist.org

 

[Farny]

Hopefully it's ok to post a link to craigslist (see below). I'm considering purchasing this 20' aluminum boat for a fun project and for my daughters to drive around on the Willamette River, which is in our backyard, without worrying about it. We have a small fiberglass jet boat and this one would be nice because I wouldn't worry as much about hitting river bottom - which is primarily river cobble.

The owner says it ran a few years ago but hasn't tried running it since. It's 175 hp and I assume it's a 2-stroke. I'd want him to run it for me and ideally take it on the water to make sure it doesn't leak and check out the steering. I don't know anything about aluminum boats but wondering if it's relatively thin since it has those vertical bracings. Not sure what else to check out considering there's not much there other than a state of the art seat!

I figured I don't have much to lose for $3000 bucks and maybe talk him down. But if the motor has issues, I have no idea what that might cost. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

20' Aluminum Jet Boat/Work Boat - boats - by owner - marine sale

20' aluminum boat, Merc jet.

portland.craigslist.org

One word ……. PROJECT! Might be fun to create something - personally wouldn’t pay much for that, maybe $500

 

[schnur07]

Forget this idea. The guy said it's a flat bottom - he thinks, but he's not sure. I don't want a flat bottom for the river. Not sure I'd want to buy from this guy anyway. He didn't even answer me when I asked him if I could test drive it or at least run the motor.

 

[Babin Farms]

Flat bottom could be a LOT of fun on the river especially with a jet drive. If there is no way to test the engine though I would steer clear. At the very minimum I'd want to run it in a barrel.