Last year I found a 19.5 foot '79 Glas Ply in Everett after a long internet search and several disappointments. It looked a little rough and the trailer was an old rusty Calkins but the four cylinder Volvo had near perfect compression, started easily and ran well during a test ride. I checked the lower unit for water and found none. The following weekend I took my boat mechanic so he could check the outdrive with a stethoscope after which he pronounced it healthy as a horse. The electrical system was pretty ratty but everything worked. They were asking $4700 but I hard-balled them down to $3800.

I rewired the thing with good expensive tinned wire, replaced the power panel and the alternator with excellent products from West Marine, and replaced the zincs. Then I kitted the carburetors and adjusted them to within an inch of their lives. The engine idles smoothly down to about 800 RPM. I also had new side curtains, a straight drop, and a mooring cover made. Now the old thing sports electric downriggers, VHF and CB radios, good sonar, excellent compass, and so-so GPS. Still have not replaced the old trailer but that is next on my list. So far I’ve got about $6000 involved and I haven’t had a single problem since.

Sunday before last I followed the charters 18 miles out of Westport and got three limits of chinooks for me and my fishing partners. It was kinda lumpy but this old boat handles it well.

The moral of this long, drawn out recital:
If you are looking for a used boat then first you need to develop a relationship with a good boat mechanic. Rick Swartz in Mossyrock (AKA. The Boat Doc), is the best.