2012 Super Air 230 (team?) $45,000D

[pe4me]

Contact cleaner, tooth brush and dielectric grease oh my. I remember going through the inner workings back in the day and the salt was there, dried and if left to the elements would have continued to corrode. I remember being surprised how even on a 94 vintage boat, all connectors were sealed with a rubber grommet and were free of any moisture. Other areas, esposed metal had what looked like dried toothpaste on the sink drain all over. It was a labor of love and at the time I was happy to do it thinking all the cash I saved. In the end, I also had a sense of ownership that is not there with my current boat. Awesome but not quite the same.
Before making any decision, I would certainly talk with dealer and get a list of things to look for and have long look at the boat.
AZ will be much drier than most marine environments so that helps dry everything out + reduces exposure which makes for a much more marine friendly home for a boat.

[nautiques4life]

Yeah, I shared my insider info with the seller, he denied it or says it wasn't that bad, and because I didn't see it and there aren't any photos I don't really have any advantage in negotiating. Plus he cleaned parts of it up well when the motor was replaced (or I should say whoever did the work did), so its likely the next potential buyer to go and look at the boat wouldn't have my insider info and sadly wouldn't have a clue and might pay his new asking price of 51, which again makes it hard to negotiate.

[DLafont]

Seems to me like you want to be talked into it more than out of it. In any case, the numbers look real good, especially when broken down like Miljack did. Since the seller re-started the discussion, I'd hold for the initial agreed to price and see where this goes. Good luck!

[nautiques4life]

These are a better representation

[swc5150]

Sunk in salt water? Run away. I agree, it sounds like you want to be talked into it, but your gut knows it'll be trouble down the road I sense? It also sounds like a sketchy guy selling a sketchy boat. Run!

[shag]

I would not pay over 40K for that boat.... My .02

[scottb7]

I must be missing something on this...Does everything run and work right now? What do the underside of the seats look like? If they were not replaced then they would either look like crap, or they never got that wet and they are fine, or they have been replaced. He's wanting how much? Like $50k? I can't keep up with this thread.

I would probably buy it because in my situation it would be in my backyard on a small lake and I could tinker with it if something got sketchy. I think it depends on your situation. And what you want. If you want turn key with nothing to worry about down the road, then this is not for you. If you want a potential project for minor things then go for it-again if everything major currently works.

But be reminded that you should also consider how long you will have it, because what you probably figured out from this thread and people comments, is that the market when you sell a boat that has been in salt water (no matter how clean you make it) will be TINY.

[a0128]

Sounds like you are getting emotionally attached. Would you buy a car with a flood title? I would not touch this boat at any price. There will be others out there in much better condition for a similar price. Buy this POS and you will be flushing money away for years to come.

[lucky7t]

These boats hold there value to good for me to buy a flooded boat for a good price . I look at depreciation percentages and I promise you that a flooded boat will drop like a hot potato

[sfjakey]

I live on salt water and have run my Nautiques in salt for 25 years. I am not afraid of salt and boats at all. I also wouldn't touch that boat at any price. It is beat and neglected and you will never see the end of your problems. Run and don't look back.

[nautiques4life]

Well it was a long journey, but yesterday I bought the boat; considering how many of you helped with info, suggestions, and opinions I wanted to thank all of you, and felt obligated to give you all a little closure.

I've just barely started going through it, but having started taking everything apart; I think I got the deal of the year rather than the turd of the century.

One final update to the story, which is probably necessary so that half of you don't rip me apart for buying it- I should have included weeks ago but was kind of over the whole deal and had planned on just walking away, was that I got all of the details on the boat's "sinking" which I (especially now believe) really never happened- I mean it was full of salt water when they called nautiques and had them come pick up the boat- but the plug was still in it- they filled the boat up running the non closed cooling boat with the flush cap off to the point of blowing the engine, and filling the boat with salt water- and then not bothering to flush it or even pull the drain plug once they got back to the dock- so salt water yes, but inches- not feet. When my buddy sent me a text saying "don't buy that boat it is a lemon- think they sank it" it was because he was afraid I was going to pay $70 for it- when he finally got back from Mexico I talked to him and explained the situation, and he said the engine and trans were just done last month and I can go through all the work we've done, so he was on the same page as many of you- he said could be a great deal, and you'll prolly have some issues down the road, but I can help you with any labor you need so long as you let me ride it, plus at that price you've got a lot of wiggle room for when those issues come up. He also knows it will be in freshwater the rest of it's life which will also help. I hired an independent mechanic with a history of working for multiple nautiques dealers- less than 2 minutes into the inspection he confirmed there was no way the boat had ever sank. And I agree, there's probably 100 different things you would see with a boat that had been sunk especially in salt, and this boat- while it has a lot of corrosion and was neglected and not properly cared for, its pretty clear it never "sank."

So I've already spent more time in front of the screen that I wanted, but like I said I felt like we needed some closure, hope this puts this thread to bed, I gotta go work on my new boat!!! Thanks again for everyone's help and insights; so excited, can't wait for summer, cheers!

[Miljack]

Thanks for the update, and good luck with the new boat!

No Risk=No Reward!

[DLafont]

Sounds like a happy ending!! Have fun and enjoy!!