looking at a 1976 express

[terraplane]

Can anyone give me a head's up on what to look for . Boat is i think about 26', seems well kept, new chevy 350 with about 100 hours...deck has been rebuilt due to lamination degrading, no other info ...oh, lots of cosmetic inside stuff... I need some tips on what to look for. Going to the boat this weekend.

terraplane

[prowlersfish]

Look for bad wood and soft spots engine noises leaks Make sure eng temp and oil press is good during sea trail and the engine pulls full rpm .Any questions take some photos and post them And consider a survey . At the very least take some with you that knows boats , again survey may be a good idea , and you may need it to get insurance .( a must at most marinas )

[K4282]

look at the stringers (where the motor and transmission bolt through the boat) Other than that id say its a boat, things will go wrong, expect the unexpected

[JimK]

In case it winds up making a difference to you, it might be worthwhile to confirm if you are looking at an F25 or an F26. There are pretty big differences in the accommodations between the two from that year. I believe that the F26 is close to a foot wider and the head is substantially roomier and can be comfortably used by normal sized adults. In addition the v-berth on the F26 is considerably larger. I know that's not the type of info that you are asking about, but thought I would mention it case it's useful to you.