Looking to buy a used Tournament

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nymark

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I'm looking to buy a used boat to use with my family of 5 on the south shore of Long Island... clamming, fishing, tubing, exploring. I have my eye on an 1988 19 Tournament. The guy says he maybe uses it 10 times a year. I plan to do a compression check on the 1988 Evinrude 125hp - but clearly I will not hold me breath on a 20 year old engine. Besides the general quality of the glass.... what should I look for or be concerned about? Do the gas tanks hold up more than 20 years? Is the non SV2 significant on the model? Thanks so much for any feedback you can provide.
 
Be sure to check the transom for rot. If those are the original gas tanks then you need to really check them out also. Good chance that there are problems with both unless it's really been cared for.
 
The 125 motor may be the lowest hp limit for that boat. Definitely check the transom. If you can find newer one with a SV2 hull it will ride better too than a 88.
 
Thanks all for the fast replies - it is much appreciated as I may pull the trigger tomorrow. I would travel for a deal. The 1988 was listed for 5,900 without a trailer but I just found a 1994 (so I'd get the VS2) plus it has 150 and a trailer - for 9,500. This 1994 looks mint - the boat looks new and does not appear to have bottom paint - looks like he's been using it on a lake and pulling it out after each use. Not sure if I need to worry about the engine seeing salt for the first time. Any thoughts would be appreciated.
 
So I made plans to see the 1994 tomorrow - then the guy tells me someone else is coming and they would have the first opportunity... so I said, I'm fine with a potential bidding war - but I do not plan on driving 2+ hours to be a back up if this other person does not want the boat - after a little bit of back and forth, he agrees..... then he says that the boat is financed and I would need to leave about 4K deposit and come back for the title during the week. So I said, I really don't feel like driving out twice - if the other guy does not buy the boat tomorrow, I'll come out on Monday with cash and do the deal at the bank. It's not so much the drive - I just like the idea of getting a title when I give someone a bunch of cash. RIght?
 
I would say you are absolutely right to get that title signed and in your hands when you pay the man. I had a really bad experience when I bought a boat from a reputable dealer who did NOT inform me that the boat was on consignment and that the owner had the title and he could not be located. It took me two months and a call to the attorney general's office before the problem was solved.
 
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