Time to sell my Maxum cruiser

[iceman]

This is a tough post for me. I have water intrusion into my boat, as I described here: https://www.maxumownersclub.com/foru...html#post76960

I just spoke with my marine mechanic, and the news is bad. The water is coming in from the transom mount, which is the worst case scenario, a very expensive repair to remove the engine and outdrive, replace/seal the mount, and likely repair a rotted transom. These repairs would likely cost nearly the current value of the boat.

So, after owning the boat for 16 years I reluctantly feel it's time to let it go. I'm looking for advice on the best way to do that. The options I can think of are:

1. List it for sale fully disclosing the problem, probably on Facebook marketplace or some used boat sales site, for a very, very low price.

2. Take it to a boat dealer who will let me store it on their property to sell on consignment, or who will buy it from me and resell it (I'm not sure there is such a dealer near me)

3. Donate it to a charity that accept boats.

I'm not sure if the boat has any sales value given the cost to fix the leak, but my Pacific trailer is fairly new and in great shape, so there's value there at least.

I appreciate the great advice I've gotten on here over the years, you've helped me through some tough problems. There may not be any profound advice for this case, but I'd appreciate any ideas or wisdom you can pass my way.

[mmwjr]

I would first try option #1 as you may find someone who would buy the boat with the plan to do the work themselves. If it doesn’t sell then go with option #3. Option #2 has low probability of finding a dealer who would take it and even if they did wouldn’t offer much if any money. If you’re lucky you’ll get the value of the trailer. Be aware that some may want the trailer but not the boat which would be more difficult to get rid of.

[shrew]

There is no guarantee the transom itself has water intrusion. My 1997 2800 did not when I replaced the transom assembly on my Bravo III. The problem is, you won't know until you get in there.

I'd haul the boat and let it dry out for a couple of days. Then take rigorous moisture readings of the transom and see if it's flagging for water. If not, then removing the engine and transom assembly isn't horrible. If the transom assembly isn't corroded then reseal and mount and replace the shift linkage and the bellows and re-install.

Now would be a good time to paint the engine compartment.

TLDR: Take moisture readings of the transom

[iceman]

Originally Posted by shrew

There is no guarantee the transom itself has water intrusion. My 1997 2800 did not when I replaced the transom assembly on my Bravo III. The problem is, you won't know until you get in there.

I'd haul the boat and let it dry out for a couple of days. Then take rigorous moisture readings of the transom and see if it's flagging for water. If not, then removing the engine and transom assembly isn't horrible. If the transom assembly isn't corroded then reseal and mount and replace the shift linkage and the bellows and re-install.

Now would be a good time to paint the engine compartment.

TLDR: Take moisture readings of the transom

That sounds like good advice. I'll ask the mechanic about moisture readings, see if he's familiar with doing them. He estimated the cost to repair just the transom mount at $5000 labor plus material. The OEM transom mount seems to be about $4000 so I'm looking at $9000 minimum. If the transom itself is damaged the cost of that would be on top of the $9000 and likely get close to the entire value of the boat.

If moisture readings can definitely give us an answer before investing any money that would be great. BTW the boat is stored on a trailer so it's already out of the water.

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by iceman

That sounds like good advice. I'll ask the mechanic about moisture readings, see if he's familiar with doing them. He estimated the cost to repair just the transom mount at $5000 labor plus material. The OEM transom mount seems to be about $4000 so I'm looking at $9000 minimum. If the transom itself is damaged the cost of that would be on top of the $9000 and likely get close to the entire value of the boat.

If moisture readings can definitely give us an answer before investing any money that would be great. BTW the boat is stored on a trailer so it's already out of the water.

A trailered stored boat is less likely to have transom rot. I would do the moisture test and possibly drill a few core samples from the inside around the inner plate. I’ll be surprised if there is rot. Are you certain the $5K doesn’t include the transom repair? Your quote is high IMO, I would get another one from someone else.

[shrew]

Originally Posted by iceman

He estimated the cost to repair just the transom mount at $5000 labor plus material.

The OEM transom mount seems to be about $4000

..so I'm looking at $9000 minimum.

Labor plus materials is BOTH labor AND materials. This reads like you're adding the materials on top of a quote for Labor and Materials.

Moisture levels are measured with a moisture meter which can be purchased for around $50. Is there significant corrosion on the transom assembly? IF not, it can likely be re-used.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by mmwjr

A trailered stored boat is less likely to have transom rot. I would do the moisture test and possibly drill a few core samples from the inside around the inner plate. I’ll be surprised if there is rot. Are you certain the $5K doesn’t include the transom repair? Your quote is high IMO, I would get another one from someone else.

yes it was an estimate not a formal quote but I believe $5000 is right based on other work I've had done over the years. Part of it is being in Northern Calif, where nothing is cheap.

I've asked the mechanic to do the moisture test, but he caught COVID so he's out of pocket for awhile. I'd also be surprised if there were a tremendous amount of rot, being it's trailered and only first leaked after our last launch, over a 2 day period in the water. But, the problem is, I have to invest the $5000++ before I even find that out. If the moisture test can give me 95% certainty that there is no or minimal transom rot, I'd likely go ahead.

[iceman]

Originally Posted by shrew

Labor plus materials is BOTH labor AND materials. This reads like you're adding the materials on top of a quote for Labor and Materials.

Moisture levels are measured with a moisture meter which can be purchased for around $50. Is there significant corrosion on the transom assembly? IF not, it can likely be re-used.

I meant it to read that the labor alone is $5000, and any material would be added to that. The biggest material cost, I think, would be the Bravo 3 transom which is about $4000 for OEM. I did notice corrosion on the mount last I checked, in the engine compartment at the bottom of the mount on the starboard side. I was feeling for moisture (while in the water) and it was wet and also a piece of metal felt loose, like it had broken off. Visually I saw what looked like salt water corrosion, but just in that one area. That, I feel, doesn't mean that the transom is compromised, but probably I'm looking at $9000 minimum to repair.