Need Advice, please.

Hello. I'M new to this forum.

Was hoping you could give me some advice.
A good friend has a 1988 Bravura that ‘was’ in good shape until our friend lost her husband two years ago (he took care of the boat). Since then, the engine has frozen and the block cracked (water in the oil pan of the 455 Chevy). Plus the boat needs new stringers, floor and carpet. The hull, steering, dual axle trailer are all in good shape. I would like to help this family maximize the value of what’s left of their boat. They thought they had a few more years before the stringers needed to be replaced, but with the engine gone, so is their boat. Any ideas would help.


Any help would be much appreciated.

BC1

I'm sorry to hear about your friend
Are they looking to restore it or sell it? At this point it will need 3-4k for the stringers plus
the engine. If the rest of the boat is mint it will probably not be cost effective to have the repairs done and then try and sell. Even if you do all the work yourself I dont think you will get much more than the cost of the repairs. You wont get much for it as is but that might be your only option.

Welcome, sorry for the loss and the boat. You may find someone looking to buy it from you as it and restore it for $1500-2000. Or you could have it restored by someone, for maybe $3-4k for stringers and floors and maybe $2-3k for the engine. In above average condition with good stringers, floors and engine you could expect to fetch around $9000, so it COULD be worth it for you, but not for a profit really if you spend $7k and recoup $9k. Best wishes.

You can redo the floors really cheap if you do all of the work yourself. I think i did my floors for around $400-$600..lots of chemicals to buy but you can do it..finding a boat with a blown engine is the best and cheapest way to get into boating and you will love yourself and your boat after you touch every bolt on it. Come on..you can do it. Jet

Here are a couple really basic questions:

Where is the best places to advertise a project Bravura like this (besides this forum of course)? Have looked at many options for a rebuild, but in the Pacific Northwest (full stringer replacement is over 5K), and the family does not have the dollars to spend (kids in College).

Does the feature of the closed bow on the Bravura, have any value to a certain market--somewhere in the U.S and or overseas?

I also own a Bravura (1990), with about 500 hrs. I have put about $9000.00 in it over the last two years: New floor, carpet, stringers and interior, Samson tower etc... We bought our Bravura, so our kids could get out of the sun or sleep. Now the kids want to be in the sun, and we may sell or trade in for an open bow. Where do do think is the best market for this boat (ebay, craigs list, trade in and this forum).

Sorry to pester you with so many questions. I love Supra's and will be looking at new or used one.

Thanks again:

BC1

Onlyinboards dot com
Wakeworld dot com
Craigslist
boat trader online

Those are the best places. If you need extra help to sell contact Ian at onlyinboards and he will help you out.

Is the market for a '88 Supra really $9,000? Sounds like it would be a money pit and the family is going to be insulted when you offer them $1,000.

Well yes and yes! It depends totally on the condition and how many repairs are needed.

For $9k the stringers and floors should be sound, the interior should be without a tear or crack. The wooden parts of the bench seats and cushions should be checked over for rot as there may be some, this is common and acceptable. They may have been rebuilt already. The hull should not have any cracks or major scratches. Dull coloring aka oxydation is normal. The engine should run and good compression. It may be out of tune or needing minor parts.

I paid $7500 for my 87 SunSport in above average/great condition. The NADA for AVERAGE condition was $5500.

A $2500 boat may need floor and stringer repairs, maybe interior too but hopefully not but the engine would be sound.

A $1000 boat would need everything, floor, stringer, interior, new engine. Basically just the hull and hopefully prop and shaft.


Any boat is basically a money pit, you're never really done and then there's insurance, storage and gas. But compared to a new boat, this is afforable for most anyone. For my loan my payment is only $70 a month min and insurance is like $200 a year I think? I stopped looking hehe. I have pretty much stopped buying accessories since the only ones left to me are very spendy like perfect pass, a Monster cargo bimini and HSE auto volume.


Good luck

What you do to find Its worth is Lets say Its worth $9000 Then you start deducting the jobs that need to be done, stringers -$2500, bad motor -$4000, interior?? now you can see why Its not worth much any more, especially if your doing all of the work. Either they put the money in to make it worth $9000 or you do the work and offer them a few grand. Goodluck man. Jet