It's a 1998 Nitro 800 LXS with a '95 Mercury Black Max 150hp. Second owner (for two years), garaged, carpet not ripping, seats not ripped, 60lb.motorguide, two hummingbirds, single console, ss prop. The trailer was two long for his garage so a mechanic built a swing tongue on the front to fit in his garage. Few minor chips on hull (less than the size of a penny). Single axle trailer with chrome wheels seems to be in excellent shape. He did add LED lights on it. Single livewell(Can I divide it somehow?)Good tread on tires. Blue and silver metallic. He said the engine was a leftover when the boat was orig. purchased. He is willing to take me out on the water but wants some sort of commitment or agreement that I will buy it if it meets my requirements. Is this normal? He is asking $11,000 obo. He says he would take $10,000 for sure. Overall the boat seems pretty clean. Let me know what you think. I appreciate!

I'll bet he would take $10k for sure.  ;D

Too much.

BTW, resale values on Nitro's are bad enough, resale values on boats where the engine and boat year of manufacture are different are less than if they're the same year. Resale value on this boat would be tough.

Have that engine compression tested.  As for his wanting you to commit to buy the boat if it fits your needs, well, if the boat checks out running wise, compression wise I'd say you should at least make him an offer. Like I said, I wouldn't give him $10k for that boat.  Start at $8500.

 

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Likes: Boat handles rough water great for a 18 footer.  Boat is small enough for sneaking around tule berms and veg mats.  Has enough get up with the 150 Opti to get off the water on bad weather surprises!  Great amount of storage for gear and rods.  Solid boat for the money.

Dislikes: Wish the 800 LXS had more front deck space for two anglers to fish from. WE got the solid green color and it is a bear to keep clean.

 

Personally, for what you've said you want to use this boat for I think it's way too small but hey, it's you're money.

Thanx for the input Cart.  I fished with a boater this year in a BFL who has a new Triton and is selling this boat:  1990 Hydra-sports 19 1/2' w/a 1999 Mercury 200 EFI. Engine has new powerhead on a rebuild. He stated it needs to be broke in still. Also has: 65lb. Minnkota, battery charger, 2 fish finders, single axle trailer, new foam in seats. Haven't seen the boat yet but will take a look next week. He is asking $5000. Don't think he officially has it listed anywhere for sale. He told me about it back in June. Are rebuilds bad or not really? Is it hard to break the motor back in or just time and $ consuming? Thanx for your opinions!

There is major chance of getting the royal shaft when dealing with a "rebuilt" engine, especially one that claims not to even be broke in yet.  A reman'd powerhead by a major, reputable builder that has a warrenty is OK, but when they start saying rebuilt, that can mean anything.  Too many times they are just patched up as cheap as possible to cut expensis, hope it last long enough to get it sold, say it still needs to be broke in so the new owner will take it easy the first few times out.  When you run it hard the first few times it blows.  He says, sorry, you must have not broke it in right.   It's much safer to have one that has 20 - 30 hours and has been run hard many times after a rebuild.  By then, if it's not right you can usually hear those strange little ticks, clicks, rattles and knocks that's not suppose to be there.

Besides what w2s said, that 19 1/2 needs to be on a tandem trailer if you're going to be towing alot to tournies.

Here's a suggestion.  Most tournament trails across the country are winding down right now.  By November there's not much going on.  I'd wait till after the first of the year when guys have dropped some cash on a new rig at the boat show and NEED to move their old boat.  You'll have a better selection.  In the meantime you need to start browsing as many boat sale boards as possible and start getting general ideas of what boats are selling for in general.  You'll have a pretty good idea what an 18 1/2 footer with a 150 should cost, as well as a 19 1/2.  I currently own an 18 1/2 foot Champion.  If I was wanting to get into tourney fishing like you're saying you're wanting to I would definitely move up in boat size and engine HP to a 19 1/2 minimum.  When you're fishing for all the marbles and spending lots of time on the water either fishing a tournament or pre-fishing you need to be prepared for anything that can happen on the lake and that means you're dragging a lot of extra junk along you normally wouldn't if you were just fishing for fun.  You need SPACE!  Not just for the junk either, an 18 1/2 foot boat will seem kinda small after you've been on it all season long fishing.  

One more suggestion.  2 boats that come to mind for fishing are a 295 Stratos and a 195VF Charger.  Both are fairly deep V hulls, the Charger is deeper. Neither is blazing fast but the ride on both is superb in rougher water and most importantly, those 2 boats have some of the best thought out storage I've seen in a bassboat.  Every square inch of the interior is utilized to the max.  You can probably get either of those with a 175-200hp motor for around $10,000.  The boat will probably be a early to middlin 90's model.  If you really wanted to sacrifice speed, I've seen both of those models with 150's on them.  In those cases you could get a slightly newer boat but you will suffer performance issues when fully loaded.

I was thinking a used Stratos originally. Heard they are good in rough water. I assume the 295 is a 19.5 footer? Is a 200 hp still good on a 20 fter?  I agree with the size concerns. I've seen some pretty rough water along the Elk River/Turkey Point area! Bigger is definitley safer. I'm not so concerned about going 75+mph. Thanks again!

If you live in California, offer 9K.  Boats out here are very expensive and that sound like a pretty decent setup.

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I was thinking a used Stratos originally. Heard they are good in rough water. I assume the 295 is a 19.5 footer? Is a 200 hp still good on a 20 fter?  I agree with the size concerns. I've seen some pretty rough water along the Elk River/Turkey Point area! Bigger is definitley safer. I'm not so concerned about going 75+mph. Thanks again!

Yep, a 19 1/2 footer. One of the best boats ever produced by anyone. Nice ride, decent top end speed and great storage and fishability.  There's plenty of them out there so you should be able to swing a good deal on one.

 

Buddy of mine selling a 1999 Ebbtide Dyna-Trak tourney ready w/150 Merc in really good shape. It has a Hot Foot, ProTrim on column, SS prop, Motorguide TM, ready to go. The carpet is pretty worn and has one small seat tear, pass. side windscreen is missing, but for $6500.00 it's a good deal in my book. I've fished out of this boat all spring and it will go into some places that we couldn't get into w/ a 2003 Champion 19ft. That price is his bottom $$. That's what's owed on it right now.  Located in Wichita, KS