1977 Wellcraft

[Will]

I know a lady who has a 1977 Wellcraft Air-Slot 185 bow rider for sale. It has a 185 hp inboard chevy engine and seats 7 to 10 people. The floor was completely redone last summer as were the seats. It also comes with a 23 ft EZ loader trailer. She wants $600.00 for it all. I am looking for a bigger boat and I do have the $$$. Is Wellcraft a decent boat company as far as quality or are thay just another Checkmate wannabe? What trouble spots should I look for on this inboard? I have never owned an inboard and have only owned an outboard for a month now! Any help would be greatly appreciated. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

[Will]

I know a lady who has a 1977 Wellcraft Air-Slot 185 bow rider for sale. It has a 185 hp inboard chevy engine and seats 7 to 10 people. The floor was completely redone last summer as were the seats. It also comes with a 23 ft EZ loader trailer. She wants $600.00 for it all. I am looking for a bigger boat and I do have the $$$. Is Wellcraft a decent boat company as far as quality or are thay just another Checkmate wannabe? What trouble spots should I look for on this inboard? I have never owned an inboard and have only owned an outboard for a month now! Any help would be greatly appreciated. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/thumb.gif

[JW]

With a boat that old, you're definitely going to want a pro to look at the transom. It's most likely soggy. My sister-in-law had a boat from that era with an I/O, and you could simply push on the transom with your hand and see it move in and out..........

1995 Pulsare 2100BR/1995 Mercury Promax 225 2.5 EFI/ 1.87:1 Torquemaster/ RapidJack Heavy-Duty manual 10.5" setback/ 23" Tempest worked for ski duty

[Will]

A soggy transom is never good! http://www.checkmate-boats.com/6/ws/,s,8626072361/Graemlins/Eyecrazy.gif I did push on the transom and knock on it with my fist pretty hard several times in several places. It felt and sounded pretty solid. (Kind of like a solid wood door.) I did that on the inside and outside of the transom. I really took my time and I think the transom is pretty solid. I appreciate your concern JW. Any thing else I should check before buying? Is Wellcraft a good company or a bad one? http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Hot H2O]

Wellcraft builds the Scarab...which I feel is a good craft........take a look at the ebay site for Wellcraft.........and see whats for sale and the prices.........$600 is not much to pay for anything thet floats plus it has a motor......see if she will let you water test it.......put it in the lake and she if she sinks or floats...and see if the motor will run OK.........

IT "IS NOT" a CHECKMATE but few if any boats are....good luck....and wear a life jacket.......

[Will]

Thanks H2O, she has already told me that I can take it to the lake to test before I buy. It also comes with a 23 ft EZ loader trailer. It is in decent shape: I will have to replace a few of the boards( not sure what they are called but the "Boards" are covered by carpet and is what the boat sits on while on the trailer) Just a few boards on the tandem axel trailer. The floor was replaced last year as well as all new seats and carpet. I hope it works out as well as I am expecting. http://www.checkmate-boats.com/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif

[Will]

Brought the Wellcraft home today. Where should the fluid tank for the hydraulic trim be located and what type of oil should I use if it is low? The bottom of the center V has a long scrape where it hit the trailer when loading one day. Not very deep. How should I fix this? When I ran my hand down the hull, my hand looked almost as if I had ran it across a chalk board. What does this mean? The boat is solid white. Should I just wash the hull thorougly and then apply marine wax? I know it's not a Checkmate, but can you guys give me some of that great advice I know you can give?