[Haggardphunk]

WHAT WOULD YOU BE COMFORTABLE PAYING FOR THIS (IF ANYTHING)?

Back Story: I put up some CL posts saying I am looking for a 10' (ish) boat. Guy emails me and says I am moving and have a 10.5' Hypalon raft for sale. We plan to go out Thursday night and run Clear Creek. He has been rafting this thing like he is never rafting again and doing multiple trips a day this week. Well today is Thursday and he tmeexts me saying that he punctured it on Clear Creek today and tonight is off but the boat is still for sale as he is moving.

The Boat:
Manufacturer unknown. Was told it was made in China on a contract job for a Costa Rican tour company.
Year Made also Unknown but looked new when he got it this spring (Looks fine in all the photos he has sent me)
He says it needs to be pumped every few hours but that seems typical in cold water when you are doing after work runs and the temps drop in the high country.
Punctured. I have no idea how bad.

Would you just search elsewhere or throw a few hundred at him and have this puncture professionally patched?

 

[readNrun]

Depends on what you plan on taking this on. Mild flatwater or a reservoir, maybe a lake here and there...sure. Paddle down something that's flowin' big and your life or others depends on it...I'd walk away.

 

[TriBri1]

It sounds like you want the boat...

How much does he want for it? I would say check out the puncture and get a quote to have it repaired then offer that amount under what he wants. Other option is to give him what he wants once the puncture is professional patched and he provides a receipt.

 

[readNrun]

"He says it needs to be pumped every few hours but that seems typical in cold water when you are doing after work runs and the temps drop in the high country."

I would say the puncture is just a distraction to other issues that exist with this raft. "Every few hours"....that's impressive.

 

[Haggardphunk]

Depends on what you plan on taking this on. Mild flatwater or a reservoir, maybe a lake here and there...sure. Paddle down something that's flowin' big and your life or others depends on it...I'd walk away.

whitewater day trips. And normally I wouldnt be so interested but I think I can get it for a few hundred. He named a price without a puncture but he also has to leave so I think I could essentially steal it from him.

He wanted $750 pre-puncture and I don't think he was firm on that at all.

 

[readNrun]

Can you post pictures?

 

[Haggardphunk]

Can you post pictures?

Its 2014, of course I can.

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/...9B1C7C3-1327-000000EB511408C4_zpsab33781c.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/...5CC6076-1327-000000EB4C46F018_zps8546816c.jpg

http://i268.photobucket.com/albums/...DB81FCD-1327-000000EB43BC43B6_zpscdbf9f11.jpg

 

[Kinley]

I'd pay 900 pre puncture. Steal it already.


Sent from my iPhone using Mountain Buzz

 

[bigscottone]

If you can get it for a couple hundred dollars it's worth it in clean patch material, d rings, and valves. BUT if I wanted to actually boat in it I would want to pump it up hard and check it out after a couple hours to see how much air it lost....

 

[Learch]

I wish I was in Colorado, I'd take that risk. If you can buy it and repair it for under a grand, I'd give it a shot. Especially Hypalon

 

[Sembob]

That looks like a fun boat. Easy to repair yourself. Like Learch said especially hypalon. And it does look to be in newer condition. Nice boat I'd say.


Jim

 

[glenn]

Offer him $250 when he says no negotiate to $300.

 

[Andy H.]

You haven't bought that boat yet?

 

[zbaird]

walk away!!!!

I wouldnt pay one dollar for any Earth Outdoor boat. They all fail at the seams. The company was selling them for a season and then disappeared when everyone brought them in for warranty. I was asked to be an expert witness for a lawsuit a bunch of the customers were putting together. The guys running it fell off the map and the customers could never get them to court.

 

[Sembob]

Well then. Never mind what I said. ( oops)


Jim

 

[TriBri1]

Hey if get it for $250 and the boat fails then you have a lot of patch material...

 

[Sembob]

I think Ironman may have gotten it right calling the puncture a distraction. Sounds like this one is already failed. That would be a boat load of patches.


Jim

 

[panicman]

I bet you would end up spending more on patches and glue(glues not cheap) than what you spent on the boat.

 

[2kanzam]

I'm a bargain hunter and only buy when I find great deals...of the current 4 boats I have; 4 were in "like new condition", one was well used but I have only spent $2500 total on just the rubber. (one 14' NRS, one 14' Hyside, 1 sea eagle ducky and one 10.5 ft cheap chinese bucket) and this boat seems just perfect for what I would be looking for at this moment, so I would have been interested too.

Lets say I didn't see what zbaird said.

Sounds like the boat doesn't hold air...completely unknown history, sight unseen (in person) although the pics look good...but who knows when they were taken or if that is even the same boat?

Pre-puncture I probably would have driven 2-4 hours roundtrip to go see the boat and be prepared to spend as much as $600 if I really liked what I saw. But would be more comfortable in the $400 range considering it doesn't sound like it holds air well.

Post puncture I might go see it if it was a short drive and I might-MAYBE pay $250 for it if I still liked what I saw in the boat with all the other tubes and thwarts inflated, good valves etc. $200 would be a more comfortable price for me though.

BUT, considering what zbaird said....don't bother, or maybe bother if the guy is close and will sell it for $100-$150.

 

[Haggardphunk]

I think I will let this one pass. Anyone sell boats down at Fibark? Headed there tonight.

Anyone else going?