1985 204 fisherman???

[wiz]

Want to know opionins about a 1985 204 fisherman.

97 150 Johnson Engine is pretty good shape.
Floor has soft spots both sides of console.
Stringers i could get to seemed ok
transom seemed ok
outside hull was pretty nicked up but nothing major

Guys wants 5k but said going lower is no problem. ANy info, tips , tricks are appreciated

 

[Curmudgeon]

Guys wants 5k but said going lower is no problem.

With soft spots on both sides of the console? And he's telling you up front 'no problem going lower'? Stop what you're doing and quickly step away ... :hmm

 

[wiz]

Yeah i know what youre saying there....What if I could get it for 3k and I'm ok with doing the work myself, would that make a difference?

 

[mboyatt]

I agree with Curmudgeon on this one. You are looking at a lot of work, time, and money. To give you an idea of price, I got a mid 90s tournament 192 in fantastic shape for 8k with trailer etc. Absolutely no soft spots, solid and dry transom, 94 evinrude looper than runs like a top - just feed her gas and oil. Even with my boat being in absolutely great shape when I got it, I have still spent several thousand just on projects and improvements. You may be better off looking for a solid and dry Grady and going from there on improvements. I think you would be happier with that option. Do you want to build a boat? If that is your desire, then offer 2k and start working. Good luck!!

 

[wiz]

Yep gotcha! Thanks guys!

 

[GeeDub]

wiz I have an '86 204 and it is a great boat but agree with the other posters - you may want to look around a little more before pulling the trigger. When you say you found soft spots on both sides of the console, was it the port/stbd/fore sides or aft while standing at the helm? If it is just aft of the helm area where the fuel tank is located it might only be the cross bracing under the fuel tank cover that is soft. Lots of older Gradys with that issue - the fix isn't that hard. But if the soft spots are port/stbd/fore of the helm then you might have some bad stringers. If you can get her for 3K or less it might be worth the effort if you really want to restore her, but otherwise save yourself the time and agony and find a better boat to start. For perspective I spent $6K on mine but it had a solid deck, new transom, hull in excellent shape with new bottom paint, two brand new batteries, '98 Merc 175, and a tandem axle trailer. Knowing what I know now I still probably spent a little too much.

 

[NHAngler]

Too many boats out there for sale or worth waiting for a better one at a fair price. If you are looking for a project boat you should be able to find them for free to hundreds of dollars. Motor and trailer value separate of course. So for this one is the motor and trailer worth 3K? The repair will be expensive and/or very time consuming. And once you tear that floor up you may find other things worth replacing. Most that do it go through an entire rebuild with wiring, fuel tanks, etc.

Now, for the love of such a sweet boat, if I keep my Grady long enough and it ever has an issue like this, I will fix her and never think twice about it.