Boat question - Alum boat leaking

[ancosta]

I call on a 18' starcraft boat, circa 1986, ask the guy how the boat is. He said he picked it up from someone who didn't take care of it (red flag), then he removed the rotten floor and waterlogged styrofoam (red flag), put in a new floor with exterior grade plywood (not marine grade - red flag), didn't replace the foam, and rebuilt the motor/replaced steering.

He claims the boat runs like a champ, has 40h on the motor without issues, etc.

I asked about leaks, he says the boat will turn over the bilge pump every 3-4h or so. This tells me the boat is probably taking on about a gallon of water per hour or so. My mind is telling me this is a timewaster of a boat that someone pieced together to make a quick dollar on, but the boat configuration sounds perfect (18' center console) and I am thinking for the money it would be hard to beat / easy enough to fix up over winter.

Anyone have any experience with an aluminum (riveted) hull and the above issues?

[RandyO]

you have some kind of metal eating virus, you can get rid of it with a tunneling nutreno beam

[Stoneman]

You don't mention $$, but it sounds like a total waste to me...

[Currently]

I got 5 pounds of Alumaloy rod and if you are really nice to me, I will share with you.

Let me know ... all we need is a propane torch and we can fix that sucker good as new.

Or you can buy your own ... http://www.alumaloy.com/

[ancosta]

He's asking 3k for the boat....too high IMHO

http://boston.craigslist.org/boa/186249663.html

Stoneman I have been around boats all my life, my last a 25' Grady White with twin 200s, I got out for a reason and I am asking myself if I am going to re-enter, do I want to start with an s-box?

I really would need to see and run the boat to get an idea of what I am working with. As well as see the actual hull out of water.

[Stoneman]

I hear ya, Andrew. My first foray into boats was a basket case. Won't get into the 'make-it-usable' process. But if the hull was damaged, I never woulda touched it...