Chevy & GMC Vans

The story starts more than two years ago. I posted the first part of it here... although I can't find it, so I suspect it was on the earlier version of ASV. Anyway, it was winter and it was pretty cold. I was checking out Craigslist and I saw an ad for a ski boat for $700. Looked OK in the pic and the ad said it ran. It was a Sunday and I made arrangements to go and look at it. My mistake was probably taking my wife and daughter...

We went and looked. It was far from perfect, but a running boat, with trailer, for $700 is pretty damn good. During conversations with the owner, he told me he hadn't had much interest in it, and that nobody was scheduled to come look at it until Wednesday (a guy from Seattle). My wife wasn't giving me positive signs, so I told him we would think about it and I would give him a call later that day. As soon as we went to the car we talked about it. Turns out my wife WAS interested in it. I should have gone back and made a deposit right then. Instead, I figued I'd just go home and call the guy since there seemed to be no rush.

Well, after getting home, it slipped my mind for awhile and I hadn't made the call.

The phone rings and it is my brother, calling me on his way to work. "Hey, did you go and look at a ski boat today". The conversation continued... "That's too funny. They guy said somebody was here who used to own a boat with his brother and was telling him how they spent a lot of time on the Puget Sound in it. Sounded just like you". And then finally... "I bought it."

Sniped by my own brother! Of course in his defense, I didn't make a down payment, nor did I even tell the guy "yes for sure". So I take full blame...

A couple of days later my brother goes to get the boat. They guy had assurred both of us it ran, but on this day they couldn't get it started. Several things were working against the seller though. It was a really cold day, he didn't have a fully charged battery for it, and the gas connection on the motor (a Merc outboard) was leaking badly. My brother tells him, "Since it won't run, will you take $500 for it?"

The guy sells it to him for $500. So my $700 find ends up in my brother's garage for $500!

So my dear brother, not trying to rub my nose in it, but in his excitement, keeps me abreast of his new boat project. After fixing the fuel leak and putting a fresh battery in it, the boat fires right up. He starts shopping right away. Buys a new bow tank and fuel lines for it (about $150). Buys a powered tilt/trim ($300 on Ebay). New stainless steel prop ($100+). New battery. And some other misc items.

But he never installs any of this stuff. The boat just sits in his garage collecting dust... and parts. It never reaches water.

A few weeks ago he mentions that he has considered selling it. Said he thought he might be able to get $1500 for it.

My folks own a place over on the Puget Sound and my brother is headed over there next weekend on a family trip. He has kids ages 19, 16 & 12, and they have been pushing him to get this boat in the water on this trip.

Instead of using the bow tank, he went and bought a portable tank that he could hook up right away. He was trying to get it ready for this trip. But he was nervous about hauling it all the way over only to find out something is wrong.

And then a pair of PWCs on a trailer in a nearby town caught his eye... So he bought them.

About a week ago there was an ad for a small Bayliner Mosquito nearby for $1000. It was a runner. No phone number so I e-mailed the guy letting him know I was interested and I wanted to come look at it. He called just a few minutes later and I told him I would be over as soon as I could. Well again, I wanted to take the wife and daughter. It took everyone about 15 minutes to get ready and just as we were walking out the door... cash in hand... the guy calls back and apologizes that he just sold it. Turns out someone driving by spotted it and stopped and bought it. (No, it wasn't my brother this time!)

On Monday I got an e-mail from my brother titled "Still Want a Boat?" Inside he outlines how he has found a third PWC and how he could buy it if he sold the boat. He went on to outline what all he had done/bought to/for the boat and what was included.

Price? $850. Went and picked it up last night!

Now the question is can I get it in the water before the nice weather goes away...

Photos courtesy of my 8 yr old daughter. (Pardon the lighting and setting, but they were taken this morning at 7:30am.)

Too cool and too funny, Matt.

I'm no boat expert, but i think i do infact see wheels in that there toy package.

Not to mention, so i won't, project time.

hmm.. Matt, should i remind you of the red text in your sig? OL

It looks like a Sidewinder clone,It's a Marlin/Jester from the late 70's.
Funny how things turn out eh?.

crash wrote:hmm.. Matt, should i remind you of the red text in your sig? OL

You and Tom are both kind of a thorn in my side....

This isn't really a "project"... uhm, I mean, it just needs a couple of things done to it... You know, tighten a bolt here, install a gas tank there, small stuff.

I'm sure this doesn't really cound as a "project".

mdmead wrote:

crash wrote:hmm.. Matt, should i remind you of the red text in your sig? OL

You and Tom are both kind of a thorn in my side....

This isn't really a "project"... uhm, I mean, it just needs a couple of things done to it... You know, tighten a bolt here, install a gas tank there, small stuff.
I'm sure this doesn't really cound as a "project".

With all due respect, Mr Matt, this is an Astro forum. Every little "couple of things", every little "tightenning of a bolt, installation of a" part could be done on the van that we all want to see so badly!!!

OK, so timing is not your strong suit. Who could turn down a boat deal like that. Its not your fault the thing happened to become available while you're working so diligently to complete your van project.

And remember, we have to take up the slack while Petey's on sabbatical.

And I confess; I don't have much room to talk. I just spent my van bumper/armor, and interior $ on a Gas Gas.

It's OK boys.........it really is. No support group..........no cure...........We're hopless. It's called PAD. Project Acquiring Disorder. We all suffer from it. Go ahead Matty.........with your little boat project. We don't care if the van eventually goes to the scrap yard. There's another one out there somewhere. Maybe two or three.

Smiliesafari wrote:It's OK boys.........it really is. No support group..........no cure...........We're hopless. It's called PAD. Project Acquiring Disorder. We all suffer from it. Go ahead Matty.........with your little boat project. We don't care if the van eventually goes to the scrap yard. There's another one out there somewhere. Maybe two or three.

Hello. My name is T.Low and I'm a PADdy.

Smiliesafari wrote: We don't care if the van eventually goes to the scrap yard. There's another one out there somewhere. Maybe two or three.

That's just plain cold!

it does look like a sidewinder clone - my old man has the real thing sitting in his driveway - with a 150 merc - man is that thing fast - they are oldies but goodies - great wake for skiing - not to big, and good out of the hole. Enjoy your boat

OH ya - forgot to mention - check the transom for rot - if it's nasty do some repairs - as you don't want to be loosing an engine....

It's a '76 Cheetah with an 85 hp Merc.

My brother was in contact with a guy who actually did a lot of boat testing back when this boat was new and the claim is it is one of the more solid brands out there. He was talking about the way they tested them and basically they would put an oversize engine on them and then filled them up with about twice the manufacturer's suggested weight limit in sandbags. Then they would push the throttle to the stop and see what would happen. (Real high-tech testing!) Apparently they destroyed a lot of transoms this way!

Anyway, my brother never could find a Coast Guard tag on this, but his research led him to believe it was rated for up to a 150 hp. I'm not sure I want to repower it... unless this engine gets trashed... but faster is always better!

The transom looks good, but I've only given it a cursory glance. I'll check it a bit more carefully before we take it out.

mdmead wrote:It's a '76 Cheetah with an 85 hp Merc.

My brother was in contact with a guy who actually did a lot of boat testing back when this boat was new and the claim is it is one of the more solid brands out there. He was talking about the way they tested them and basically they would put an oversize engine on them and then filled them up with about twice the manufacturer's suggested weight limit in sandbags. Then they would push the throttle to the stop and see what would happen. (Real high-tech testing!) Apparently they destroyed a lot of transoms this way!

Anyway, my brother never could find a Coast Guard tag on this, but his research led him to believe it was rated for up to a 150 hp. I'm not sure I want to repower it... unless this engine gets trashed... but faster is always better!

The transom looks good, but I've only given it a cursory glance. I'll check it a bit more carefully before we take it out.

The winder clones are interesting,Some had winder bottoms or winder decks,or vice versa.
Ratings are correct,there are a few with 175's & 200's on them (with kneebraces/Jackplate)
My 14ss cobra is being built to suit a 115.
Does your boat have a "ride pad" or round bottom transom?.
The Sidewinders are being reborn here in 2009 & the molds have been
updated & revised.3 so far have hit the market.
for more info go to http://www.sidewinder-boats.com

mdmead wrote:

crash wrote:hmm.. Matt, should i remind you of the red text in your sig? OL

You and Tom are both kind of a thorn in my side....

This isn't really a "project"... uhm, I mean, it just needs a couple of things done to it... You know, tighten a bolt here, install a gas tank there, small stuff.

I'm sure this doesn't really cound as a "project".

LOL.. I'm thinking that I'm just jealous I don't have the room to buy more 'projects' .. it makes me come across as the thorn. hhmm.. if Tom and I are both thorns in your side, are you claiming to be 'a rose between two thorns' ? LOL

By the way.........did I mention that was a pretty good deal. You guys will have a good time with your boat. I may have gone for that myself. PAD has gotten a hold of me for years. There really is no cure. Except maybe death. So... I say "LONG LIVE PAD".