They don't want to pay to cut it up! I wouldn't touch that wreck with a 10ft pole, it would be cheaper to find a nice CC for $2k-$3k that only needs a little bit of work.

I don't like the way those things ride.

Does it have a drive?

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

X2 your going to have to cut out the sole, and yank the engine and drive. Chances are the transom and stringers are soft. I have done projects like that a couple of times, its a MASSIVE amount of work, and not that cheap. You also really need to have the boat inside.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

Damn hattie - you gotta rain on my quasi-free parade, don't you?

I'm only kidding - I was hoping you'd chime in, as I knew you had experience with stuff like this.

I have a place to hide it - but I wouldn't have a covered place to work on it, that's for sure.

As I mentioned before, I wasn't really looking for a boat NOR a new project....but as WVO alluded to - a "free" boat in your relative backyard really stokes the imagination.

Thanks all - I'll keep you posted if I decide to run away, scrap or foolishly restore.

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1981 240d - 135k - Arlene

Hey, I know, Jordon. You could save up and buy a "fixer upper" airplane!

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Rain drops keep falling on my he-ead . . . .

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" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Now you’re talk’n !!

Actually, I’ve seen “fixer-upper” airplane projects go for less than that boat would probably cost to get back in the water, reliable and trustworthy.

I was hoping Hatt would jump in too. He’s right. There are cheaper ways to hit the water in a project boat.

Now that you're bit. Go looking. The right project is out there. Trust me.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

For a thousand bucks, you could find a running boat on a good trailer. I paid something like 1200 for my 69 Glaspar with an 85 hp Johnson Electromatic on a good trailer. All like new condition.

Run away from this free boat.

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Thank You!
Fred
2009 ML350
2004 SL600
2004 SL500
1996 SL600
2002 SLK32
2005 CLK320 cabrio
2003 ML350
1997 C280 Sport

That's what I'm talk'n 'bout.

Nice boat.

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1980 300D - Veggie Burner !

First if you are going to fix up a boat it has to be a boat worth saving, those were duds new. Looks like a run of the mill production boat of the late 70's, with a cheap trailer. Its not a 20ft Bertram, or Sweet 16 Donzi, or an old Whaler. You also need a place to work on it, I have never done such a project outside, weather and temperature would make it very difficult. Also sitting in the woods under trees destroy's boats.

Secondly find someone who really knows what they are looking at and have them look it over any boat you want. Just because a boat is free means nothing I could get any number of free boats ever year when I worked at the marina, all of them were duds. Want a 28ft Silverton, 26 Bayliner, 30 wood lobster boat, etc, all cut up. He is giving this thing away so he doesn't have to pay for a dumpster and spend a day with a chain saw cutting it up.

For a couple of grand you can get a really good boat to start with, and don't worry it will need work they all do. Heck you can buy a brand new 19ft Bayliner for $11k, thats one heck of a starter boat and just fine for what you want to do. Look for a little Starcraft, Mako, 4Winns, Boston Whaler, or Chris Craft.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

If it didn't need floors and the transom core, hull and stringers were solid it'd probably be worth it. I'm a sucker for "free" myself. I'd probably glass up the outdrive hole, put a bracket on it and hang an 85/90/100 hp outboard off the back. The were built like tanks back then, the hull is probably quite sound, but it's all of the fiberglass encapsulated wood (stringers and transom) that brings the questions. Depending on how legit you want the trailer to be you can find decent ones for about $600 sans title (for that boat single axle, 2500 lb. capacity would be enough).

If you've got the time and comfort level to tackle the fiberglass work it's probably not a big deal. You won't get your money back. If you take your time and labor out of the equation, you're probably looking at $2000-3000 for a used trailer, replacement motor and outdrive. That'd buy a nice runabout or center console in good shape and ready to drop in the water. As a kid, we had a number of aluminum 14-18' Starcraft cc's for our upriver boat (got bigger as we did). They're lightweight (easy to tow and need a smaller outboard to give comparable performance to fg boat's their size) and sturdy. We beat the hell out of them.

And if you really are just dying for a project, I've got an '83 21' Bayliner cuddy cabin sitting, covered, in my backyard that the Mrs. would really like to see gone. I bought it for the trailer. PO put new floors in it and started reassembling it but lost ambition when the shifter cable froze up. Ran at the time he pulled it and winterized it 4 years ago. I gave it to my brother but he bought a new house and had no where to keep it so back it came. C'mon, it's but a road-trip away.

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1980 300TD-China Blue/Blue MBTex-2nd Owner, 107K (Alt Blau) OBK #15
'06 Chevy Tahoe Z71 (for the wife & 4 kids, current mule) '03 Honda Odyssey (son #1's ride, reluctantly) '99 GMC Suburban (255K+ miles, semi-retired mule) 21' SeaRay Seville (summer escape pod)

The words "free" and "boat" are not allowed in the same sentence.

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MB-less

I would get someone knowledgable about boats of this type to look at it. Guessing about its condition is just guessing.

It is probably as they all say, too much trouble, but you never know.

Tom W

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

Good bet, 'cause they didn't make one

VMRC just auctioned off three '31s though, that have been used in law enforcement--early '80s. Bids are closed as of today and I hear @ $15K for each.

Yep they did, you didn't know that? I see them every once in awhile, usualy go for a bundle. It looks like a 25 just shorter.

$15k for a 31 is a steal unless their is nothing left.




Pretty boats, very well built.

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1999 SL500
1969 280SE
2023 Ram 1500
2007 Tiara 3200

ewwww Never seen one. The 31s actually have diesels but have been hacked up pretty much for law enforcement. There are two fly bridge and one sedan.