Purchasing a used Supra

[Wrexxer]

Good day Folks,

I hope I won’t be touching topics that have been discussed thousands of times but I haven’t been successful searching for a few of these...

I’m currently looking at a 2004 Launch SSC Gravity Games. The boat as less then 400 hours and has a brand new interior, covers and top. Has all 3 upgraded ballasts (bags) with pumps which is good as we would like to us it for surfing. So it looks pretty clean...I’m in Canada boat I would be getting the boat for about 24k$ USD.

Now, I know it has 14 years and I can’t expect perfection but I’m hoping to make the best out of this.

Anyhow, I have a few questions...hopefully not dumb ones:

The boat has cushions through the bow so a lot less floor « square footage » but I’m wondering what is the floor made of? I went to see a Malibu and th floor was soft all over that led me to believe it was wood...wondering what is under te carpet of the Supra.

Additionally, the boat has some gel coat cracks in both corners above the rear seats. From what I can see it’s strickly surface and not structural but I’m wondering if this is a common issue.

Anything I should be looking out for in this boat?

I’m considering having a boat survey done, and would love opionions on this as well?

[crystal waters]

Good day Folks,

I hope I won’t be touching topics that have been discussed thousands of times but I haven’t been successful searching for a few of these...

I’m currently looking at a 2004 Launch SSC Gravity Games. The boat as less then 400 hours and has a brand new interior, covers and top. Has all 3 upgraded ballasts (bags) with pumps which is good as we would like to us it for surfing. So it looks pretty clean...I’m in Canada boat I would be getting the boat for about 24k$ USD.

Now, I know it has 14 years and I can’t expect perfection but I’m hoping to make the best out of this.

Anyhow, I have a few questions...hopefully not dumb ones:

The boat has cushions through the bow so a lot less floor « square footage » but I’m wondering what is the floor made of? I went to see a Malibu and th floor was soft all over that led me to believe it was wood...wondering what is under te carpet of the Supra.

Additionally, the boat has some gel coat cracks in both corners above the rear seats. From what I can see it’s strickly surface and not structural but I’m wondering if this is a common issue.

Anything I should be looking out for in this boat?

I’m considering having a boat survey done, and would love opionions on this as well?



I would definitely get a compression test on the engine. While this may seem like overkill to some it saved me from purchasing an otherwise great looking Malibu a few years back. A survey for two or three hundred dollars is money well
spent when laying out that kind of money. Peace of mind !

[MJHKnox]

What the previous posted mentioned - compression check.

Stress cracks in gel coats are normal for older boats. Sometimes even in newer boats which makes the owners furious.

Can't t say I've read about rotten floors in boats in the year 2000s.

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[MJHKnox]

The test ride will tell you a lot. Bring a boating friend, ask questions and make sure everything is working. Take turns driving.

Feel how the boat shifts in/out of gear.

Keep the hatch open when getting the boat on plane. Listen for engine noises or knocks.

Look for leaks in the bilge. Usually people will clean them up if the boat has one.

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[Wrexxer]

Thanks for the tips!

I’m going to test ride it tomorrow and will test everything i can..

And if all checks out I have a marine survey scheduled for Monday.

They will verify:
-Humidity levels in the hull
-Plug into the motor for hours, engines codes and check compression
-Validate serial #s
-If there’s a lean on the boat

All for 400$ CAN...seems like a good investment.

The boat is amazingly clean but I don’t want to be influenced by lipstick and makeup...had a bad experience with the ex!

« It’s what’s inside that count »!

:)





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[crystal waters]

Thanks for the tips!

I’m going to test ride it tomorrow and will test everything i can..

And if all checks out I have a marine survey scheduled for Monday.

They will verify:
-Humidity levels in the hull
-Plug into the motor for hours, engines codes and check compression
-Validate serial #s
-If there’s a lean on the boat

All for 400$ CAN...seems like a good investment.

The boat is amazingly clean but I don’t want to be influenced by lipstick and makeup...had a bad experience with the ex!

« It’s what’s inside that


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One of the best decisions you could ever make because either way you win!
Either a great boat to purchase or not, in which case you saved yourself from throwing away tens of thousands of dollars.
Good luck!

[MJHKnox]

Good luck and enjoy the ride.

[Wrexxer]

Hey Folks,

The inspection/survey is scheduled for Thursday so I asked the owner to take the boat of the water and say the surprise in the attached pic...wtf?https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20180917/ce26807db813cafcb6c3075e2167df78.png

This looks like a deal breaker to me...


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[MJHKnox]

The boat was sitting the water for most of the time when not in use?
Not on a lift?

Hard to see that pic on my iPhone.

[Wrexxer]

In the water...this was the first year doing so.


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[crystal waters]

In the water...this was the first year doing so.


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Getting a survey was money well spent!

[roosm]

This looks like a deal breaker to me...


Yes, I would agree. Or at least a very hefty discount.
It will cost quite a bit to get that sorted out or be a lot of work if you decide to do it yourself.
The boat is by no means dead. You just need to sand that part down, all the way to the glass, let it dry out. Probably for an entire off season indoors maybe with some heater fort the initial part to make it quicker. Then build it back up again, probably with some water-tight epoxy and paint it.

I keep mine (also a Launch SSV, but from 2001) in the water all season long, but of course I have coated it with 5 layers of epoxy paint to keep the osmosis away.