New buyer, 08 speedster

[nickyb21]

Hey guys, looking at picking up an 08 Speedster 150 - 155hp for the family, I offered the guy $6k and was wondering if its a good buy at that price?
150 hours, 1 owner. 2 small rips in the seats but everything is very clean for the age of the boat. New battery/oil and comes with trailer.

I got 2 small kids (3 and 6) so this would be a cheap way to get on the lake without having to rely on invitations.

Water does seep in to the engine bay also, couple inches over a day or two. Is this something to be concerned about? I know about the rivets and the carbon seal i could fix but i plan to leave the boat on a mooring while im up at the lake, using it daily untill i pull it out.

 

[Dave burke]

Did you check Nada Guides or Boat Trader? I'd start there.

don't have a feel for current values but I can tell you I paid about $14k for mine in 2009. It was bought new.

 

[nickyb21]

Did you check Nada Guides or Boat Trader? I'd start there.

don't have a feel for current values but I can tell you I paid about $14k for mine in 2009. It was bought new.

i think i have a pretty decent deal, my main concern is the water seeping in.

 

[Acard7]

When you say that water seeps in, 2in over a day or two… Is this the seller trying to be honest about it? If so I’d be willing to bet there’s probably more water seepage than that, unless you have seen it with your own eyes!

 

[Dave burke]

i think i have a pretty decent deal, my main concern is the water seeping in.

I've never noticed water seepage in mine. I'd try and figure out why. I'd ask the seller how he knows it's a couple of inches per day or so. I'm with @Acard7, if he's telling you this, it might well be more.

I'd take it for a sea trial and also lie underneath the boat and see if you can see any damage.

 

[nickyb21]

When you say that water seeps in, 2in over a day or two… Is this the seller trying to be honest about it? If so I’d be willing to bet there’s probably more water seepage than that, unless you have seen it with your own eyes!

Tbh, i do trust him. Hes not pressuring me to buy, and understands if i didnt want it. Hes also a friend of my brothers

 

[Dave burke]

That changes things, but I'd still ask him how he knows to help you try and diagnose the problem. As long as there's an automatic bilge, it's probably not a huge deal.

 

[14SX190]

Hey guys, looking at picking up an 08 Speedster 150 - 155hp for the family, I offered the guy $6k and was wondering if its a good buy at that price?
150 hours, 1 owner. 2 small rips in the seats but everything is very clean for the age of the boat. New battery/oil and comes with trailer.

I got 2 small kids (3 and 6) so this would be a cheap way to get on the lake without having to rely on invitations.

Water does seep in to the engine bay also, couple inches over a day or two. Is this something to be concerned about? I know about the rivets and the carbon seal i could fix but i plan to leave the boat on a mooring while im up at the lake, using it daily untill i pull it out.

I would focus attention to that area. Misaligned drive shaft and bad Carbon Seal to boot will cause water intrusion.
Definitely invest in good bilge. Sea doo carbon seal is a known source of failure.

 

[nickyb21]

I guess my big question is do i buy it knowing this. im 50/50 on it, as is most of my friends that have boats, feel the same way.

 

[14SX190]

I guess my big question is do i buy it knowing this. im 50/50 on it, as is most of my friends that have boats, feel the same way.

Which is?

I would sea trail as a bad carbon seal will cause cavitation and water to come in.
If its moored in water they will leak.

 

[jeffrt]

I used to have a 2006 Sportster with that engine. Always ran great, and had plenty of power for tubing. It was a fun little boat, but got tight once my kids got to be teenagers. Mine always took on a bit of water too, which I assumed was the carbon ring. Never did get around to changing it and told the next owner about it when I sold it.
I sold mine for around 10k Canadian a few years ago, so that price seems reasonable to me.

 

[nickyb21]

I used to have a 2006 Sportster with that engine. Always ran great, and had plenty of power for tubing. It was a fun little boat, but got tight once my kids got to be teenagers. Mine always took on a bit of water too, which I assumed was the carbon ring. Never did get around to changing it and told the next owner about it when I sold it.
I sold mine for around 10k Canadian a few years ago, so that price seems reasonable to me.

Did you ever leave it in water for a week at a time?

Which is?

I would sea trail as a bad carbon seal will cause cavitation and water to come in.
If its moored in water they will leak.

Whether or not to buy it. while its on mooring, i would be on site, it would only be left unsupervised for night time.

 

[nickyb21]

Im leaning towards buying it, i just dont want to wake up and have the thing submerged. Sellers been very honest with me, and said he wouldnt leave it on a mooring for a full week till he was comfortable with it, but a few days should be fine.

I really want the boat tbh, my kids are 6 and 3 and summers running out. Boats in great shape for an 08, small enough to trailer behind my Acura MDX and im mechanically inclined, can pretty much do anything besides an engine rebuild.

 

[Acard7]

I feel ya there, no amount of money can make up for time, and time well spent will last forever.

If you feel comfortable after a water test tackling the issues then don’t let us hold you back. I came from a 19ft crownline initially, seemed like when we packed everything in there was barely any room for us anymore, so be cognizant the boat will feel pretty small and will make you want to upgrade, haha.

 

[jeffrt]

Did you ever leave it in water for a week at a time?

No, I kept mine on a lift. I feel like most of the water that came in was when we were driving it though and not from sitting.

 

[nickyb21]

I feel ya there, no amount of money can make up for time, and time well spent will last forever.

If you feel comfortable after a water test tackling the issues then don’t let us hold you back. I came from a 19ft crownline initially, seemed like when we packed everything in there was barely any room for us anymore, so be cognizant the boat will feel pretty small and will make you want to upgrade, haha.

Oh yea, shes small, but my kids are 6 and 3 so would be nice and short money to actually get on the water with a little bit of water. Just the water seeping in is my only draw back. Going to see if hell let me take it for a bit and test her out.