"Completely and loveingly restored inside and out. New everything. Chrysler Marine 225 engine (318hp). Comes with trailer."
I phoned, and spoke with the owner and/or her husband who told me a number of things about the boat, and related information.
The boat was given to their daughter, who is an excellent water skier (a possible scholarship winner for skiing skills) by daughter's godfather. The couple have purchased a "Moomba" for their daughter.
The boat's engine is a "new crate motor -- a 318 block" assembled by mechanics from Holman & Moody in Charlotte -- "25 or 30 hours on motor." (Having once lived in Charlotte, and having once kept the mascot of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, I was very famililiar with HM. But did these guys know anything about "inboard" boat motors?)
The boat is "from Georgia." (See photo below.)
(Husband) William said the boat is in "perfect shape" and in "show condition" and "you will not find a Century of this age in better shape."
There have been some "overheating problems," but "have been corrected" by a mechanic at "Marshall's Sport's Center" in Forest City, NC -- where the boat is now located.
With the above in mind, I negotiated a "bottom line" price with the owners and told them the following:
I would drive to Forest City, NC and be there on Monday morning. (I did, driving 677 miles one-way, and incurring two motel bills at a total round-trip cost well over $400.00.)
I would have a Certified check with me in the purchase amount agreed upon. (I did.)
I would attempt to tow the boat 677 miles back to St. Louis, so the trailer's wheel bearings would have to be packed and adjusted. I also told them I would bring a Missouri trailer license plate with me (I did), but I did not intend to keep the trailer, and would be buying a new $3K trailer to fit the boat.
If the boat was as represented, I would buy the boat. (The boat was completely mis-represented. There was water in the boat, and I had to tell the "Sport's Center" staff where the boat's drain plug was located. There were parts of the cooling system in the bilge. Two of the trailer's tires were flat. The engine hatch was on the ground with some junk piled on top of it. The upholstery was nothing like any I've ever seen in a Resorter, was poorly installed, and installed in places it should not be. See photos of loose screws, missing ski tow "ring," etc.)
On Sunday evening I drove to Lake Lure, where I was told the boat had been used by its owners, and I saw the Resorter in a gated area of the "Spots Center:"
The boat's cover was filled with water on Monday morning:
As an aside; If I was trying to sell a boat, I don't think I'd surround it with boats looking like these two:
Following are four photos of a nicely restored Century Resorter of the same era as "Vicki's." The trailer is similar to the one I intended to purchase new for "Vicki's Resorter."
Here is a 16' Resorter that is "original" -- as delivered in 1973:
8/2/11 -- I spoke with Charles Cole, owner of Midwest Marine Fiberglass in High Ridge, Missouri. Charles has done excellent fiberglass work on my boat in the past. I described "Vicki's Resorter" to Charles and showed him photos of the boat.
I asked him for a "ball park" estimate on what it would cost to take the paint off the boat (Vicki's) and return it to me with a clean gel coat finish on its bottom and top. He said a minimum cost would be $4,000.00, and it could be much more, depending on the color desired, the kind of paint now on the boat, etc. Charles advised "keep looking."
