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Looking at '85 Nova 23

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#44 ·
Boat-less said:
Maybe NADA would buy it from you.


:eek:
Click to expand...
OUCH !!! :laugher: :laugher: :laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

Vicious, This is none of my bees wax but..... Now you have a thread going on regarding the cost to re-upholster. Just some thoughts from another relative nubie here, me :rolleyes: You gotta get a trailer, upholstery, there will be other interior and exterior TLC, engine-I'll bet you $$ that there will be issues in the not too distant future, out drive- real good possibility of issues there too. Maybe not immediately but likely not too far off. Not to mention electrical/wiring and other chit that is unexpected.

Just an idea here....how about you let us know what kind of boat you're looking for, and a ball park amount of how much you're looking to spend. Are ya looking for a project boat, a turn key boat, or something in between? There are allot of boaters on this site. And when someone is/was looking for a particular boat and they ask "where can I get one of these", they generally get allot of responses. Hell, we all love to help spend other people's money :D
 
#45 ·
As mentioned, NADA is only a guide. Condition is everything- if the boat was taken care of its entire life and upgraded then it will be worth a LOT more than NADA.

I know all about this model- I had a 1985 23 Nova XL for 18 years. Sold it 2 summers ago for $17,500 cash (to a NYC firefighter, BTW). That price did include a newer aluminium trailer. The engine and drive were replaced in '00 (new Mercruiser EFI) and I had added a Corsa diverter system, but otherwise it was bone stock. Original interior, cockpit upholstery and gelcoat, all in great condition.
The boat was built with encapsulated wood stringers, transom, and deck. If it wasn't kept covered and dry its whole life, chances are good there wil be some rot, or at very least, water intrusion (which leads to rot).
I can confirm the seats were in fact barrel-type on swivel pedestals. Not very racy, but functional and comfortable. You mentioned the fiberglass swim platform- they weren't OEM on 23 Novas until 1987 or '88. Mine was teak. You might want to check the HID #. Of course, it's possible that someone added the newer style platform at some point in the past.

Vicious, I'll send some images if it'll help you ID the year or features of this particular boat.
 
#47 ·
I had an 83 23' Nova, great boat, like others said, check for stringer rot, the motor mounts are on top of the stringers not through mounted w/ L angles, I had to redo my stringers. (cost me $2000, back in 97)

First thing you need to do is rip out the 350 and put in a 454, they were heavy boats.
 
Discussion starter · #49 ·
Those were decent boats, the things I would look for are hull integrity, interiors are minor, make sure the transom is not rotted, check for stress cracks on bottom of the hull which could mean the stringer system is bad, etc.
 
Discussion starter · #51 ·
Kidnova said:
OUCH !!! :laugher: :laugher: :laugher: :laugher: :laugher:

Vicious, This is none of my bees wax but..... Now you have a thread going on regarding the cost to re-upholster. Just some thoughts from another relative nubie here, me :rolleyes: You gotta get a trailer, upholstery, there will be other interior and exterior TLC, engine-I'll bet you $$ that there will be issues in the not too distant future, out drive- real good possibility of issues there too. Maybe not immediately but likely not too far off. Not to mention electrical/wiring and other chit that is unexpected.

Just an idea here....how about you let us know what kind of boat you're looking for, and a ball park amount of how much you're looking to spend. Are ya looking for a project boat, a turn key boat, or something in between? There are allot of boaters on this site. And when someone is/was looking for a particular boat and they ask "where can I get one of these", they generally get allot of responses. Hell, we all love to help spend other people's money :D
Click to expand...

I plan on keeping this boat (if I buy it) up in Chestertown, which is about 100 miles north of where I live. I already have a nice boat that I bought new, down here. I don't want something that I have a lot of money tied up in and have to worry about, especially since I'm going to be keeping in a pine forest, where a tree could fall on it.

I don't want to spend more than $5K. I don't know that you're going to be able to buy a very nice boat for under $5k, but I'm not looking for something that's going to be my pride an joy.

I may fix it up a little, but that's only if I can do it on the cheap. I may just clean it up, and only worry about keeping it up mechanically.

As far as the condition of the hull, here's my logic:

The folks at the marina are professional boat traders/mechanics, etc. They (in theory) should know what to look for on a used boat. If the stingers or the transom was bad, they should be able to detect that. That being said, I don't think they would have dumped any more money into a bad hull- they would have unloaded it "as-is" for what ever they could get. The fact that they spent the money to replace the motor tells me they thought the boat has potential. But I think they over estimated what they could sell it for in this area. They were asking $8500 for it. It didn't sell.

I'm not even sure they are going to let it go for $3000. We shall see.
 
Discussion starter · #52 ·
Not Right said:
I had an 83 23' Nova, great boat, like others said, check for stringer rot, the motor mounts are on top of the stringers not through mounted w/ L angles, I had to redo my stringers. (cost me $2000, back in 97)

First thing you need to do is rip out the 350 and put in a 454, they were heavy boats.
Click to expand...
Did mine myself, engine beds that is. also repaired, replaced other stringers and transom. But my boat did sink halfway before.
Put in a 454? and make it heavier. My sbc will run cicles around any stock 454.
 
Discussion starter · #54 ·
Vicious said:
Is the cockpit area in the newer Nova's comparable to that of the older ones? One of the things I like about the older Nova's is there is room to walk around in the cockpit.
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First generation Novas of 60's and 70's had room for a dance floor. I think the mid 80's non XL's have more room than the XL's.
 
Discussion starter · #56 ·
Well, I finally got to take the boat out for a ride today. I have to admit, the boat looks good in the water. In the sun light, the boat looks it might not be so bad once it's cleaned and polished. Everything seems to be structurely sound. The engine ran really nice. No spitting or sputtering, very smooth. The trims, both engine and tabs, seemed to work right. The exhaust manifolds stayed cool to the touch at the fronts. The dealer said he thinks they were replaced when the engine was replaced. The outdrive is not covered in barnicles or all nasty looking like those that are kept in the water, actually relatively clean. The boat was sitting in the water when I got there. There was a little bit of water down in the bilge, but after we came back from the run, there appeared to be the same amount, so it may be water that was trapped forward when it was sitting in the rack.

I explained to the dealer that I am right on the edge of even being interested in it, and that I was planning on spending more money for a boat in better shape. I also told him about a boat I was looking at in Ohio for more money that the owner states is in excellent condition. He started to sell me on the benefits of buying his boat for $3K, but when I said I was interested in it for $3K, he wouldn't commit to the price. He said he still needs to tally up how much he has wrapped up in it. He's going to call me Monday.
 
Discussion starter · #58 ·
Well, Monday has come and gone. No call from the dealer. I think I will use this as an omen that I should hold off for a nicer boat. Besides, winter is coming and maybe I can find a deal from someone in a jam and who has to sell.

My biggest obsticle is, I don't think I want to buy a boat from anyone in my area as they are all going to be used in salt water.

Any ideas on where to look in-land, ideally within about 500 miles from Washington DC?
 
#59 ·
For the $$ I'd consider kjo's Formula 223. Nice size boat and tough to beat Formula quality. Like I said before, I've never seen it, but judging from the looks of the Form he has now, he takes good care of his boats.
 
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Not Right
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