Any of you guys hear about this company

Not sure if this is a scam or not.....
I have been looking for a small boat to do some fishing and basic motoring thru the canals of Long Beach/Newport...
I found a boat that is perfect, but it's in Pennsylvania...
guy says he uses www.droponlineoutpost.com for shipping...
anybody here about this outfit?

should email alan merkin

I don't know about www.droponlineoutpost.com but what kind of boat is it? I've got a few...too many!

looking for a 16-19 ft Bayliner type walk thru inboard/outboard or outboard ok... nice condition...single axle trailer
3-4.5K money range..they are out there, but not much locally
I don't consider Lancaster local to go see a boat, and find it to be bad condition...

Should be alot local to you - Surely shipping cross country will add a grand to investment. I'm amazed at what economy has done to boat value on east coast (sure CA fares no better). Looked at a nice 40' Viking for $7000 - in the water and running perfectly.

http://picasaweb.google.com/102439122510018840071/23?authkey=Gv1sRgCIXigoX98cOEFQ#
this is the boat in Pennsylvania for 4100.00

the guy said it is available for viewing if someone is in the area...

Vince I had a 80's 21ft. Bayliner and it suffered from de-lamination along the stringers which was the cause of stress cracks ect.They had that prob for a while, a good friend has a newer one (2007) and it seems to be very good. I bought a 19ft.Sea Ox which was used by the Coast Guard and has a pedigree from Grady White builders. It is really tough and a great fish/dive boat though quite old (1984).I have taken it to Catalina a few times and no probs. I also have a tandem axle which has come in handy with a blowout and seized wheel bearing. In this economy I have seen a lot of great deals in So-Cal on Craigslist but as I'm sure you know a sea-trial is worth its weight in gold, so "local" is always good, or at least an I-ball inspection.I've found boats are better inspected wet.....like some other things.

would never have considered dealing with out of state for a boat, but the damn thing looks so good for the money...
as they say, if it looks to good to be true, it probably is...

I have a few others to look at locally but they don't come close to that one for the price..

I've known a few guys who bought out of state and scored but they went out and checked on them, or had a reliable shop or boat surveyor do it, much like what happens here with Speedy's, hence your original question.So-Cal is a funny market, if that boat was here it would be gone in nano-seconds! BTDT!Too many times...or the price would be considerably higher or you would find some one had glue two different boats together hoping no-one would know the difference (happened to a guy I knew)!Look into a boat surveyor it might be a great deal just a little faraway.

Vince,

Does look very good for the money... but, a decent survey plus transport could end up almost doubling the cost. Your biggest worries are likely to be engine-related or moisture in a balsa-cored hull (not sure of the construction, but I do know of Bayliners of that era that just turned to mush).

Seems like a lot of boat, but I'd keep looking locally. My boat is at Marina del Rey, and the whole industry is hurting over there... agents, brokers, service, divers - everything seems to be negotiable if you have cash.

John.

I'm actually in no rush, but I wanted to buy one before I retire next year and still have the funds.....
Any shipping or other charges would be out of his pocket, which makes this even more fishy (pardon the pun)
I emailed him asking for an address so I can have someone look at the boat, I'll see what his response is...
I will also continue to look at others locally...

Vince - give (Capt.) Will P. a call and see if he has any leads through any of his charter connections.

P.S. - we just call him Capt. Ron!

Vince, that boat does look really nice, but like you said it may be too good to be true. The seller might have other people on the line and may be trying to reel someone in for a quick sale. You better get it checked out, you don't want to fall hook, line & sinker for a sub par boat. You better be in tuna with your inspection of the craft, otherwise you'll be left floundering in the shallows with no sole. You don't want him to feel as if he was battered on the price, but try to talk him down if you can. You don't want to send waves of cash rolling in his direction if this thing is a fluke. It may just be the market price now in this economy though. Just don't offend him with a price too low, otherwise you could krill the sale & wind up in the jaws of defeat!

Vince, I am so stunned by Bill's passing that I can't think right now. But I advise against buying across country with out a "boat guy" closely eyeballing and test driving the boat.

Big Bopper...Thanks for the chuckle...I needed that..
I don't care what the other SOC'ers think, anybody who can piss off half the members here is alright in my book..

Will, I agree, with Bill's passing, I can't think about a boat right now either...I'll figure this out later...

Stumbled across a Bayliner on Craigslist...I'll back-track and see if I can find it. (I'm thinking it was in Idaho..?..stored inside)

ADD-Here's one in Big Bear:
http://inlandempire.craigslist.org/boa/1941593706.html
Another, listed in Long Beach:
http://losangeles.craigslist.org/lgb/boa/1941275002.html
Try here: http://www.boattrader.com/

Around here, in the 80s, we called them Hairliners, as in cracks. And not the good kind of crack either! There is one kind that's good, but not the other two.............