Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

Hi all,

I've been on the list since last year, learning about Mariahs after a friend bought a 24 or 25 foot open bow. I currently have an 18' Glastron FishnSki with a 115 OB, and it has been great. We use it at least every other weekend in the summer.

For the last year, I've been on the lookout for one of the Zs with the mid-cabin (245, 275, or 302). I'd prefer the 24, but they seem to be the rarest. I've now found a Z275 for sale that is about 1200 miles away yet seems to be a good value, and have a few questions about some things I should do to cover myself:

1. This 2001 boat has a two axle trailer and the 496 mag, anything in particular to look out for (boat or trailer - besides maintenance, maintenance records, more maintenance...)? I see others for sale with a three axle trailer - will there be any issues towing with two fewer tires?
2. What can I expect to pay a marine surveyor? (I'm assuming everyone would recommend having a survey done). Any questions I can ask the surveyor to help make the right choice (I'm assuming again that not all surveyors are the same quality)?
3. Does anyone that has purchased a "long distance" boat have any recommendations?

Thanks for the forum, it's been fun so far!

~Bluelakeside

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

Sounds like you are on the right track. The big flag for me would be the trailer. You will need to look at the axles to be sure they are rated for the weight on them. I have 3500lb axles on my trailer, and my 24 footer has it maxed out. The weight rating of the axles SHOULD be stamped somewhere on the tube of the axle. Also, look at the weight rating of the tires. be sure the combined weight rating is sufficient.

The only other thing that I can think of would be that just because an engine runs and sounds good on the trailer, doesn't mean it runs and sounds good on the water. If there are cooling problems, it probably won't show up while hooked to the hose. also, I had a miss in my engine that you couldn't hear or feel unless it was in the water. I'm sure there will be others chiming in on here as well. Good luck!

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

Yeah if that trailer has the the 7500lbs. axles you should be fine even to 5000lbs ones should work I would have to look up actual weight of your boat in the paying members section to be sure. I bought me boat long distance last year the trailer is the only major issue I need a new one and mine came with a the factory triple axle still. A boat surveyor might be handy but some of them are useless mine was, anyway I made 2 trips before I bought mine I would go water test it personally if I were you.

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

I live in St. Louis, MO and I bought my 97 Z-272 Shabah from San Diego, Ca about 5 years ago. I was too on the hunt for that specific boat for about a year or 2. When I found this one it was a gem so I couldn't pass it up. I had the seller send me many high quality digital pics of every aspect of the boat so I could blow them up and have a really good idea of the condition of everything. Once felt good about the condition and we agreed on a price I flew out there. I water tested it which I would definitely do before ever buying a boat, near or far. the boat ran great and then I had a surveyor come out and look it over which in my opinion was a big waste of money. I think it cost around $120 and it was kind of a joke. I'm sure there are good ones and bad ones just like anything. Everything was just as described so I went ahead with the purchase. Being so far away driving it back myself would of been very costly so I turned to uShip - The Online Shipping Marketplace - Ship Freight, Furniture, Cars or Moves and that was the best thing I ever did. If you ever heard of the show "Shipping Wars", that show it based around Uship.com. I lucked out and found a transporter that was heading back empty from Orange County, Ca to Indiana so they gave me a great deal.

All in all if you are looking for a specific Mariah in good condition you are going to have to broaden your search options or just be prepared to wait.

Good Luck and I hope your hunt turns out as good as mine did!

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

Hi all,

Thanks for the feedback so far. I contacted a Marine Surveyor in the area, and he told me it would be $15/ft ($405 total) plus $150 for an engine overview (compression test and not sure what else?). In speaking to my current marine service, they suggested finding a good marine in the area and use them for engine/electrical and skip the surveyor.

The surveyor sold his moisture test, which a marine probably would not do. I know the reputation of Mariahs, so should I worry about stringers/transom? Should I skip a surveyor and have an inspection done by a local marine? I could save $400, but $400 seems like it might be worth it for a boat that I may keep for 10 years.

Thanks again,
~Bluelakeside

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

Just my 2 cents but I would skip the surveyor unless I could check out several verifiable references that have used him. Verifiable means something other than call a few people I give you the phone numbers to...anybody can do that.

A local marine shop seems like a way better option but I would want to call a few in the local area and pick one myself to take it to.

If it does check out by a local marine shop, then I would still want to look it over and test it out on the water in person before handing over that amount of money, which I presume is quite a bit for that particular boat.

Good luck, I hope everything works out and you get it...Mariahs are so awesome in every conceivable way!

Re: Ideas for looking at a boat for sale that is 1200 mi away
 

My experience with marine surveyors I would get a local shop you pick to look it over. tThe surveyor I used was a wate of $350 bucks. Well imo anyway