Used Rib Advice Requested

[zip]

I am looking at purchasing a 1999 Zodiac YL420, with a blown Honda 40 HP outboard, and a trailer.

The boat appears to be in almost fair condition.

It does not appear to have been covered. There is sun damage and tears in the seat cushions. The tubes are either really dirty, or slightly sun damaged as well. There does not appear to be any patches on the tubes.

The front hatch cover is cracked, and the hatch cover for the fuel tank is missing.

The engine is blown, and i imagine wil need to be replaced at a cost of around $5,000.

The trailer is in fair condition.

The asking price is $3900.

I would not say that the boat is in poor conditon, or a full blown project, but it needs some work.

I definitely feel that it is not worth the asking price.

I would really appreciate any and all advice regarding my possible purchase of this boat.

Thank You.

Zip

[fast fred]

keep lookin, next mo is a good time to find some thing worth buyin

[enwulff]

Bad deal, walk away.

[zip]

is it safe to say that you guys think this thing is a piece of junk?

[fast fred]

thinkin ya can do better.

[prairie tuber]

Originally Posted by zip

is it safe to say that you guys think this thing is a piece of junk?

Far better deals are out there. Stay away from used RIBs any more than 5 years old that have PVC tubing (which includes the yachtlines), otherwise you'll be sinking an additional $ 5000+ into a replacement tubeset. If buying any zodiac more than 5 years old, stick with something from their military/professional line which have hypalon tubes.

This thread would probably be of interest to you;

Zodiac Hurricane - Cherokee 4800

[FedRich]

Originally Posted by prairie tuber

If buying any zodiac more than 5 years old, stick with something from their military/professional line which have hypalon tubes.

I checked the tech manual for my 1998 733 OB and can confirm that the sponsons are hypalon.

[jyasaki]

733's were built for the commercial and military market, which is why they're still hypalon (though there was a rumor about Zodiac changing soon to PU, I think.)

Zodiac changed to PVC for their consumer boats (most SIB's, Yachtline, Pro's, etc) in, I think, 1996.

Lots of problems in the early PVC years. Newer PVC boats carry a 10 year warranty on tubes; older ones were something less, as I recall.

jky

[enwulff]

I think only the Zodiac Hurricane models are the hypalon tubes from what I have been told by the local repair guy I worked with to get the fabric I needed for the repairs.