Hey all,

I agreed on a price of 26K for the following boat.

-----------------------------
1999 Bayliner 2655 Ciera 26' Express Cabin Cruiser, 5.7L Mercruiser
Bravo 3 I/O w/SS Duo Props - Captain Chair - L-Shape Seating - Depth
Finder - Trim Tabs - Danforth Compass - Jensen AM/FM/CD Stereo
w/Speakers - "New" Horizon VHF Radio - Furuno Color GPS Chart/Sounder -
Shorepower - Dual Alcohol/Electric Range - Sink - Microwave -
Refrigerator - Marine Head w/Holding Tank- Enclosed Shower - Air Cond.
- Dual Batteries w/Switch - Water Heater - Battery Charger - Snap
Carpet - Fresh Water Washdown - Swim Step/Ladder - V-Berth & Queen Size
Mid-Berth Comfortably Sleeps 4 - New Bottom Paint -Includes E-Z Loader
Galvanized Tandem Axle Trailer w/New Brakes & New Tires - Great Family
Cruiser! Owner has new boat coming soon. Looking for offers.
------------------------------

Besides an old beater ski boat, this will be my first boat. I've seen
the boat and it seems to be in excellent condition. The only thing
that may not be working is the A/C and wipers. I'm taking it out on
the water... can you suggest what to look for and what questions to ask
when I'm out on the water?

- I'm also thinking of getting an engine/hull survey, is it worth the
money for a boat this new?
- The boat will be used mostly in the SF Bay, with short trips outside
the Golden Gate. Is this boat big enough for the bay or are the waters
too rough for it?
- My wife is worried about the smell that the marine head will have.
The seller recently replaced the holding tank because of the smell. Is
there a way to properly maintain and clean the head to keep it from
smelling?

thanks for the advice!!!

On 15 Mar 2005 06:31:39 -0800, "sfcarioca"
wrote:

I'm taking it out on
the water... can you suggest what to look for and what questions to ask
when I'm out on the water?

Have a professional boat surveyor and engine surveyor along for the
sea trial. They will notice things that even experienced boaters
would miss.

- I'm also thinking of getting an engine/hull survey, is it worth the
money for a boat this new?

Absolutely. Don't even dream of spending that much money with out a
professional survey of both boat and engine. I've never gotten a
pre-purchase survey that did not pay for its self many times over in
price adjustments.

- The boat will be used mostly in the SF Bay, with short trips outside
the Golden Gate. Is this boat big enough for the bay or are the waters
too rough for it?

Yes to both. Many days will be too rough, especially in the
afternoon.

- My wife is worried about the smell that the marine head will have.
The seller recently replaced the holding tank because of the smell. Is
there a way to properly maintain and clean the head to keep it from
smelling?

Yes but you may have to re-engineer the holding tank, vents and hoses.

thanks for the advice!!!

No problem. Good luck with the surveys and purchase.

Your 26-footer will be a fair-weather boat.

Depending on the weather, you can use it almost anywhere. Running
through the Golden Gate and beyond will require proper conditions,
(with wind and current both considered), and you would be well advised
to stay ready to scoot back into the bay if those conditions begin to
deteriorate.

If you're looking for a boat that can plow safely and comfortably
through truly snarly conditions, most 26-footers, including the one
you're looking at, are not designed for the task.

Yes, get a survey.
There will be a list of things wrong with any used boat of that age.
Few surveys show that a boat is "perfect", and when a survey does come
back without a single exception that might indicate more about the
surveyor than the boat. The trick isn't to find a boat that is free of
defects, but rather to find one that has the defects you will be
comfortable tackling from both a mechanical and financial standpoint.

You marine head shouldn't really have a smell. The leading causes of
stinking waste systems are plugged or inadequate holding tank
ventilation and deteriorated hoses. Some people yank the holding tank,
leave the hoses, and then wonder why the boat still stinks.

On 15 Mar 2005 06:31:39 -0800, "sfcarioca"
wrote:

~~ snippage ~~

- I'm also thinking of getting an engine/hull survey, is it worth the
money for a boat this new?

Yes.

If you don't, you could get really burned.

Later,

Tom

"sfcarioca" wrote:
- I'm also thinking of getting an engine/hull survey, is it worth the
money for a boat this new?


YES

Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
Yes.

If you don't, you could get really burned.


Well, you can still really get burned, but it reduces the odds. Unless
you're buying a boat that costs so little money that you wouldn't mind
throwing it away, you should get a survey. Plus, insurance may demand
one anyway, so get one before you buy.

DEfinitely be present for the survey... don't get in the surveyor's way,
or waste his time with idle chatter, but the surveyor is one of the best
sources of info you'll ever be able to tap about the boat, it's systems,
it's performance characteristics, existing or potential problems, etc
etc. Worth paying for and worth paying attention!

Fair Skies
Doug King

As others have said, definetly have a pro survey done.
You can check a lot of things yourself before spending the money on the
survey if you like.
1. Verify rpms are correct at wide open. Should be 4400 to 4800. Over
4800 and it does not have the correct props. Under 4400 and the props are
too big or you have an engine problem.
2. Check engine compression. Should be within 5 psi of each other on all
cylinders. Look at the plugs while you have them out and verify they are
clean. If oily - there is a problem.
3. Check gearcase oil for water. Remove the plug on the bottom of the
gearcase and let a small amount of oil run out (just a couple of drops). If
there is water it will run out first and/or the oil will be milky white. Do
this after running the boat in the water.
4. Verify everything works properly. Everything to include shore power,
etc...
5. Verify brakes work good on the trailer as you are towing it.
6. Verify there is no wood rot anywhere. Look in all compartments, under
every seat, etc...
7. Verify no water leaks in the cabin. Take a hose pipe and run water over
the boat. Especially around the windows, hatches, etc... If there is a
problem there may be water stains somewhere to indicate this already.
8. Check condition of wiring and verify no corrosion on connections under
dash and in engine compartment.

If all this checks out - then spend the money to have a survey done. They
will check other things that you will overlook. This is not a complete list
above but will give you a good idea of if it is worth the money to have a
survey done.

As for the head/holding tank having a smell. - There should be no smell in
the head area. You may smell the holding tank in the cockpit area or at the
rear of the boat when you first flush the toilet as the smell comes from the
vent of the tank. Use a RV toilet conditioner to help with this. I have
never found a way to completely get rid of it though. The tank has to be
vented.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com
"sfcarioca" wrote in message
oups.com...
Hey all,

I agreed on a price of 26K for the following boat.

-----------------------------
1999 Bayliner 2655 Ciera 26' Express Cabin Cruiser, 5.7L Mercruiser
Bravo 3 I/O w/SS Duo Props - Captain Chair - L-Shape Seating - Depth
Finder - Trim Tabs - Danforth Compass - Jensen AM/FM/CD Stereo
w/Speakers - "New" Horizon VHF Radio - Furuno Color GPS Chart/Sounder -
Shorepower - Dual Alcohol/Electric Range - Sink - Microwave -
Refrigerator - Marine Head w/Holding Tank- Enclosed Shower - Air Cond.
- Dual Batteries w/Switch - Water Heater - Battery Charger - Snap
Carpet - Fresh Water Washdown - Swim Step/Ladder - V-Berth & Queen Size
Mid-Berth Comfortably Sleeps 4 - New Bottom Paint -Includes E-Z Loader
Galvanized Tandem Axle Trailer w/New Brakes & New Tires - Great Family
Cruiser! Owner has new boat coming soon. Looking for offers.
------------------------------

Besides an old beater ski boat, this will be my first boat. I've seen
the boat and it seems to be in excellent condition. The only thing
that may not be working is the A/C and wipers. I'm taking it out on
the water... can you suggest what to look for and what questions to ask
when I'm out on the water?

- I'm also thinking of getting an engine/hull survey, is it worth the
money for a boat this new?
- The boat will be used mostly in the SF Bay, with short trips outside
the Golden Gate. Is this boat big enough for the bay or are the waters
too rough for it?
- My wife is worried about the smell that the marine head will have.
The seller recently replaced the holding tank because of the smell. Is
there a way to properly maintain and clean the head to keep it from
smelling?

thanks for the advice!!!

On 15 Mar 2005 06:31:39 -0800, "sfcarioca"
wrote:

Hey all,

I agreed on a price of 26K for the following boat.

-----------------------------
1999 Bayliner 2655 Ciera 26' Express Cabin Cruiser, 5.7L Mercruiser
Bravo 3 I/O w/SS Duo Props -

I bought one of these for my nephew. He likes it a lot.