Bobco questions

[locktech]

Hello everyone,
I am looking for my first v-drive and came acrost a 69 Bobco with a Hall-craft and Olds 455. There was two cracks on the bottom of the hull, one on each each side at the front of the stringers, they where about two inches each. The transmission is a hall-craft. The prop bracket and fin did not have any play when I tugged on them, but the rudder had a little play in it. Are Hallcraft parts and gears readily available should the unit need replacement or new parts? Can the play in the rudder be fixed by adjustment or is a new rudder assembly needed? Are the cracks normal and something not to be conserned about for a hull of this age or a sign of something worse? I can get this boat for around 3K and am just looking for a reliable ski boat, not looking to win any races. Thanks for any and all replies.
Pat

[locktech]

Also, how do you tell if it has a whil a way, where would it be, and what does it look like? If it does not have one is it feasible to install one?
Pat

[poncho]

I hate to play the devils advocate but here goes,from what i read of your post run from this boat! the combination of an old hull with problems and running gear thats not worth much your gonna get into something thats gonna drain you in every way.Hopefully others will chime in and concur i hate to be the bad guy it just dosent sound like a good move for the money,ask me how i know!

[RiverRacer]

Well here we go again, sounds like a ground up project $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$!... Post some pics of the boat and hardware, interior,etc!... It don't have a whirlaway if it's an old Hallcraft, that was before the whirlaway days, parts and gears are available from Tom Bentley if it needs a rebuild though, but if you're only going to use it as a ski boat(60-65mph)you don't need a whirlaway, but if you plan on going any faster you need one, actually any faster forget about that boat, I want to see pics though before I say anymore!...

[locktech]

It sounds like it is not worth the time to post a picture. I have owned a money pit boat before and have no desire for another. I just want a good running v-drive to tow the family around and a little cruising. It seems that all of the v-drives in this area always have a catch, so I will start searching for boats farther away.
Poncho and River Racer, thank you for your honest opinions, it is appreciated.
Pat

[RiverRacer]

It sounds like it is not worth the time to post a picture. I have owned a money pit boat before and have no desire for another. I just want a good running v-drive to tow the family around and a little cruising. It seems that all of the v-drives in this area always have a catch, so I will start searching for boats farther away.
Poncho and River Racer, thank you for your honest opinions, it is appreciated.
Pat

Actually I knew that but I didn't want to make ya feel bad, don't be depressed there are a lot of good boats out there, but like everything else you get what you pay for, how much are looking at spending??, something to remember you can buy a $2000 boat and spend $10,000 to get it decent, or you can spend $5000-$6500 and have something that will be reliable for a few seasons without spending a bunch of money on it, the thing to do is to have someone that knows boats go with you to look at it to evaluate it, you will save a bundle and a lot of headaches like that!..

[poncho]

It sounds like it is not worth the time to post a picture. I have owned a money pit boat before and have no desire for another. I just want a good running v-drive to tow the family around and a little cruising. It seems that all of the v-drives in this area always have a catch, so I will start searching for boats farther away.
Poncho and River Racer, thank you for your honest opinions, it is appreciated.
Pat

YA didnt want to be a dream killer but hate to see someone enter our hobby and have their hopes killed by a boat thats going to be a lot less than they wanted,have lost friends on the river over the years in your shoes due to their frustration with a boat they bought.I am currently dealing with some issues with my ride that i shouldnt be so i cant help but try to help someone not get into the spot i am in.Heres a couple of sites to check out they both seem to have alot of Utah members that i`m sure will help you alot just join and post like you did here.
Kenny
(riverdavesplace.com)
(performanceboats.com)

[poncho]

Hello everyone,
I am looking for my first v-drive and came acrost a 69 Bobco with a Hall-craft and Olds 455. There was two cracks on the bottom of the hull, one on each each side at the front of the stringers, they where about two inches each. The transmission is a hall-craft. The prop bracket and fin did not have any play when I tugged on them, but the rudder had a little play in it. Are Hallcraft parts and gears readily available should the unit need replacement or new parts? Can the play in the rudder be fixed by adjustment or is a new rudder assembly needed? Are the cracks normal and something not to be conserned about for a hull of this age or a sign of something worse? I can get this boat for around 3K and am just looking for a reliable ski boat, not looking to win any races. Thanks for any and all replies.
Pat
Is the boat immaculate with just a few small issues,does it show owner care or neglect could be a great toy for years or a huge headache,do you have any pics not having seen it had to go by your post.Any parts you would need are all still available and easy to get,are the cracks you mention just in the resin on the inside?hate to write it off without knowing a little more like how fresh is the motor and can you confirm just be aware that the running gear is not performance stuff but could be great for a ski boat tons of torque in the Olds,I know people will YELL at me saying an Olds can be hot rodded as well as anything else but things get a little specialized with them and expensive,if you can get pics and anything else feel free to post up and we`ll go from there,reading my reply from last night i might have jumped the gun and hate to see you miss out on good deal.
Kenny

[locktech]

Kenny,
The guy who owns the boat did not know much about it other than it had an Olds. My thought was if he doesnt know he probly doenst know how to take care of it or maintain it. He said he got it on trade from a family member who only owned it for a few months. I looked at the boat two days after a big rain and the the hull was full of water up to drain. There was not a metal cover over the drive shaft, only a thin wooded box. There was aluminum angle going from the front stringers to the deck. The angled 'kickplate' or floorboard infront of the pedal was cracked. Unfortunately it was the best condition I have seen so far around here. I get a little leary about people that dont know kuch about what they are trying to sell, either they truly do not or they are trying to dodge the true condition. Most of the v-drive's I have seen for sale, the owner knows every last detail about the boat. I just kinda put all of this together with what you and Art wrote and decided I'll drive further for a solid boat in good condition. Thanks again.
Pat

[George1301]

Art,
Mine was a "basket case" at best when I bought it... The previous owner knew nothing about these type of boats except where to pore the fuel in... There was not a part at all I did not have to either replace or rebuild... though the hull was good... bad paint.
For my two-cents.... It was a project I knew would be a ton of $$$ but a long term project to get me off the couch... If I knew now what I got myself into; would I do it again..? I have a restored 58' Ford PU, 4-wheel drive that was only offered to the forestry service or military... After tons of $$$ and ..... time.... How many are there now..? These older K-Boats are becoming more and more rare as my 58....
I had to remove the seat mounts that were NAILED to the stringers...!
Just my 2-cents.... :)

Geo

[Flatmvn]

If you are looking at a turn key boat here is one.

http://www.v-driveboat.com/vweb/showthread.php?t=339

[locktech]

Thanks for the suggestion, I sent a PM and hope to hear back.
Pat

[AquaCraft]

Here is another v-drive for sale; this one is in Utah if you have not seen it on Ebay yet; no connection...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-Sanger-V-Drive-Ski-Sp-d-Fast_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ63686QQihZ006QQite mZ160247153217QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[Beowulf]

locktech

Hey I saw you were in Utah. Is the boat in question the Bobco on KSL if so that would be my old boat. When I had it it only had one crack on the bottom that was about 1.5 inches long I marked on both ends with finger nail polish to see if it got any longer. I sold it last year for 500$ from the pics they redid the interior. The fiberglass gas tank needed to be replaced. The steering was a rack and pinion and would need to be upgraded. The block and exaust was froze at some point before I got it I found a wrecking yard motor and had the exaust welded. The boat ran well for what it was 45-50. Also check the deck supports they were needing some attention. V-drives always have upkeep issues but that one was more so. Hope this helps.

[locktech]

Aquacraft I will check into that ebay boat. Beowulf they got the nail polish off and were not aware of any cracks ;.), I do not doubt one bit that it is your old boat though, thanks for the info.
Pat

[poncho]

Kenny,
The guy who owns the boat did not know much about it other than it had an Olds. My thought was if he doesn't know he probably doest know how to take care of it or maintain it. He said he got it on trade from a family member who only owned it for a few months. I looked at the boat two days after a big rain and the the hull was full of water up to drain. There was not a metal cover over the drive shaft, only a thin wooded box. There was aluminum angle going from the front stringers to the deck. The angled 'kickplate' or floorboard infront of the pedal was cracked. Unfortunately it was the best condition I have seen so far around here. I get a little leary about people that dont know kuch about what they are trying to sell, either they truly do not or they are trying to dodge the true condition. Most of the v-drive's I have seen for sale, the owner knows every last detail about the boat. I just kinda put all of this together with what you and Art wrote and decided I'll drive further for a solid boat in good condition. Thanks again.
Pat

Pat,it sounds like you answered some of your own questions here the part about people not knowing what they have can be good (price) or bad (upkeep).Does the boat run and can you test drive? What Art said about spending a few more dollars is dead on once you hit the $5,000.00 mark you start to see some pretty decent boats.Did you check out the other sites yet? i know if you throw an intro out there and explain that you are looking and would like someone to help check out before you buy you will get some help.I have been through the whole boat,musclecar,sand rail,motorcycle,snowmobile etc. routine and am guilty of buying something cause i thought it was cool only to have someone that knows something inform me i bought a POS just hate to see someone go down the same road.My boat has become a project that was not supposed to be that way,I live in a small beach house with no garage so i wanted a turn key boat not a resto but thats what i have and it sucks.There is no better way to learn your boat than tear it down and reassemble but thats not for everyone,good luck with your search and do not hesitate to ask questions here there is an awesome amount of knowledge on this site wish i would have known about it before i bought mine.
Kenny

[locktech]

Kenny,
This site is so good I would feel assamed to ask about any other sites. But I guess I could check out the classified section if you mentioned some.
Pat

[AquaCraft]

Hey Locktech,

Fiberglass tanks came up in one of the posts in this thread. You will do well to stay away from fiberglass tanks or plan on replacing them in any boat you might purchase. Ethanol added to gasoline now destroys fiberglass tanks. The amound of ethanol in gas varies by state but one can count on replacing fiberglass tanks in any boat still equipped with them. Sad deal but reality...

AquaCraft

[poncho]

No worries usually some here



http://www.performanceboats.com/html/forums/