Help with Maintenace Records

[BradNautique]

I am interested in looking at a boat I found on Craigslist. When I contacted the owner of the boat to ask if he had maintenance records he said he had none. He said he had done all the maintenance himself because he didn't trust anyone else. Is this a concern?

[crobi2]

You know, I do all of my own maintenance and don't write it down either. 'Course I hope I don't ever have to sell our boat.

You will just have to determine how well the boat was cared for.

[AirTool]

I am interested in looking at a boat I found on Craigslist. When I contacted the owner of the boat to ask if he had maintenance records he said he had none. He said he had done all the maintenance himself because he didn't trust anyone else. Is this a concern?

That's whats going to happen if/when I sell my 206. Honestly, I don't even keep the receipt for oil and filter anymore except for my two Fords under factory warranty. I have a 93 Chevy I bought new with now two 2" thick folders of receipts and I wonder wtf do i keep this crap for? My wife thinks I'm insane which might be correct. But for the last few years, the walmart receipts for oil and filters and stuff have gone in the trash.

You'll just have to validate his story with other proof like condition of the boat, his shop, his capability,...etc. Sniff around and ask questions and you'll figure it out. I think if anyone saw where I keep my boat and the tools I keep her up with, they wouldn't worry about receipts. If they do, they can find a buyer that has more money than me and/or was at the mercy or a dealer for service.

PS - For years I 303'd the radiator hoses and waxed the air cleaner on my 93 chevy. Now, as someone on this site pointed out, i don't even clean the bugs off the mirrors. I'd rather be doing something more fun/productive/profitable.

Just sayin'

[AirTool]

You know, I do all of my own maintenance and don't write it down either. 'Course I hope I don't ever have to sell our boat.

You will just have to determine how well the boat was cared for.

more ps - see long note above...but I do write down what I did including filling her with fuel. I just may not have the receipts for everything....and I've never hired for any labor whatsoever.

[MikeC]

A lot of people do their own maintenance, sometimes it's the cost, or the distance to the dealer or that they are picky about how their stuff is cared for. For me it's all of the above. If you want to know if he actually did the maintenance ask him some very pointed questions about how he does it....i.e. where's the oil drain; how do you get to the v-drive drain plug; it must be tough to change the transmission fluid, how do you do that. Basically sound like you don't know anything and you'll find out if he does or not. If you don't know the answers to these questions, just ask, someone on here will have the answers for you.

[shag]

Pretty much the same as the others have said. I do some of my own maintenance, and I know there are plenty that do it all. Like Mike C says, ask specific questions. If he really wants to sell the boat, and does know how to do it, he will have no problem telling you.

[2004196]

Wow, I must be the odd dude out here, I do all my own maintenance but the date and hours are documented in my owners manuals as well as what maintenance was performed, I write the hours on the oil filter as well with a sharpie. OK, I also have a dry erase board in the garage lined out for my truck, car, rv and boat as to all maintenance such as oil, filters, plugs, oil/water & gas filters on boat, gas/oil/pvc on vehicles etc. I also note the stock number of plugs (inc gap) for each vehicle, rotation of tires, size of oil drain plug.............. OK, this might be a little excessive, is there a support group for this stuff? Brad, I guess it would come down to your visual inspection as to whether it looks like the boat has been maintained, is it clean? How’s the oil look? Pull the impeller, pull the gas filter out, do your due diligence!

[jaybird]

Most owners probably do better maintenance than a dealer would.

[obd666]

i am of the opinion that the only way you can KNOW that your boat has been maintained properly is to do the maintenance yourself. i just keep a text file on computer of date, hours, what i did, etc. - is more for me to keep up with what i did than to prove something to a buyer. if i ever sell, buyer can either look at the condition of my boat and trust me, or not ...

i agree, closely inspect the overall condition of the mechanical elements and ask detailed questions about his routine