My friend just recently swapped his 1999 polaris 500 4x4 auto and 500 hundred cash for a 19.5ft cajun bass boat with a 200hp yamaha on it. So he gets home and finds out the front control panel doesnt work and he will have to get most the boat rewired is it still a good swap or not?

the bass boat is a 1990 model

I have an '88 Cajun. If it is like mine, there should be the TM connector with a charge/run switch, the livewell auto/manual switch, and the motor trim switch. Does the TM work? I think the bigger models (mine is 16.5) also have livewell controls at the console and the motor trim as well. If the TM works and he has backups for the other controls, I would look at the additional work as something all boat owners find they need after buying a used boat.

On mine, we ran the motor on the muffs, but the first trip out it would die whenever it was put in gear. Luckily, the local lake mechanic fixed it at the dock for me and I threw him $40 (15 minutes work for him). I also had to restore the seating to the original layout and found huge holes he cut in the fiberglass under his mounts. No TM battery, and some mold on the bimini.

Now that everything is back together, the boat looks and rides sweet. It is also quite peppy for an 85hp. The family loves it, and people comment on how it looks. I complain to the wife about working on the boat, but secretly I enjoy it. If your friend is happy with the boat, and is planning on doing the work himself, I don't think it is a big deal.

One final note: Most Cajuns were built up at the dealers. They were sold as a hull to the dealer who then built them to order. Do not plan on finding any owners manual, or "standard wiring diagrams".

sounds like a good deal as long as the power heads are in good shape and the hull is solid...really need more details to determine what the boat is actually worth

The Cajun, on the open market would probably go for around $4-5k depending on condition and what's on it (electronics wise).  As long as the boat is in good condition and the motor checks out I'd say the ATV + $500 was less than what it's worth.

Not enough details though.  

Well the guages work on the console by the steering wheel but the front panel is totally cut. We got the trolling motor connection working just not sure how the other wiring goes back together. The over all condition of the boat is a 6 or 7 out of ten. It has no leaks live wells work bilge works we got the trolling motor working no rotten wood motor fires right up and runs great. the dash is digital speed tilt degrees everything and it works too.

The one thing we are worried about is getting the 24v to the trolling motor to work cause they had it wired for 12v. Any suggestions? Also the 12/24 run and charge switch getting it to work. What does it exactly do and would anyone consider it very important?

All the wiring for 24 volts should be upfront somewhere.  The 12/24/charge switch was more for back in the day when 24v TM's would run in either 12 or 24 volt mode.  The charge position merely disconnected the batteries so a pair of chargers could be hooked up to the batteries for charging.  Most of todays 24 volt TM's have only a pair of wires for 24v operation.  It really depends on what TM you have.  I will say a 12volt TM is way too small for a 19 1/2 foot boat.  

I also remember those Cajun digital dashes.  They were pretty revolutionary but something that, if it fails, will be impossible to replace.

Get yourself a test light, pull the control panel out and just start trying things.  When I bought my boat the front control panel did not work either.  After replacing a few fuses and a couple of switches it works great.  I am not mechanically inclined at all and with a good test light I had the panel working in a couple of hours.  Can't help on rewiring for a 24 volt TM.  Good luck with the boat!