76 Pro-line 20'

[bo.sweat75]

Hey all, new to classic Aqua sport. I am looking at buying my first saltwater boat. I found one that needs a little work. It’s a 1976 Pro-line 20’ CC with a 70hp Evinrude. Not sure of the motor year.  The guy said it has been sitting for 4 years. Says the hull is solid, transom is solid, a few soft spots in the floor. Trailer needs a tire and lights. For 600 bucks, do y’all thing this a good deal. I know there will be some work before its water ready. I do most of my mechanic work on my vehicles so I’m not afraid to rebuild the motor if need be, I just don’t want to put 600 bucks in something that is going to take thousands of dollars to get water ready. I have read to look at the plugs for rust, do a compression test before buying and of course a few other things before I try to actually fire it up. The guy says he thinks the carbs are all that’s wrong with it. Any advice? Thanks in advance 

[RickK]

Welcome Bo!!
Spend some time in this forum https://classicaquasport.com/smf/index.php?board=14.0
This is where our members that own Prolines (and other brands) document their rebuilds.  Look at the rebuilds there and see what the stringers were made out of originally and what the inside of the hulls look like, etc.

[Marcel4t]

How does he know the stringers are okay?  "A few soft spots" on the floor can be relative...how soft we talking?  Where are they?  Could just be the floor, or that could be indicative of more issues underneath.  It's like a car with a "little bit of rust" on it, you know there is more.  Another thing, is everyone has a different definition of what is seaworthy. It may still be a fishing machine with a few soft spots. 
You can find some great vids on YouTube as far as inspecting an outboard. 

[RickK]

I wanted him to look into that forum and he would quickly find out that Prolines had wood stringers, so if he has to dig into it, it could be an "all or nothing" decision.

[bo.sweat75]

Thanks for the reply guys, If the floor feels like it could be fished for the rest of the season/year I would be fine with replacing the stringers next year or the year after, though my wallet may not let me do it very quickly. My biggest concern is the hull, transom and motor if it spins or not. Carbs I can clean or rebuild. What's y'alls thoughts as far as the price? Is that too much or about right?

[mshugg]

The value of the boat kind of depends on what your plans for the. Boat are.  If the 70s proline is anything like the 80s and 90s proline, 70 hp is underpowered, and may not even get it on plane.  If you just want to get on the water and speed is unimportant to you, this may not be an issue.

On the other hand, if you want a solid platform to take ofshore. You will spend multiple thousands of dollars before you’re done.

[bo.sweat75]

I'm not really concerned about speed. I'm really new to boating in saltwater so I would do mostly flats fishing, some bay fishing around Port st Joe, Apalachicola, I'll probably go out around Shell Point and St Marks. I have no plans to get farther out than a mile or two. I certainly won't be going out where I can't see land.