www.iFourWinns.com

Given the obvious reasons like parts availability is there a point to which you would NOT repair your boat if it's well into 'old age'? What if you own the boat free and clear would you keep it because it's cheaper to keep er or go for the young firm seats? What I'm talking about is having fun for fun's sake and not worrying about having the latest boat on the water. What would you do?

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1985 Liberator 211

Probably depends on how much you like the boat and if it meets your needs....

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2002 Funship 214
VP 5.7 GX Si
2003 Tahoe

Well.. from a free and clear standpoint my 2009 Stingray is free and clear. So that's not a "keeping" point.

I like good looking modern sexy designs. So personally I could never own an old boat because they look old. That goes to a point though. After 1998-2000 they all start looking the same til 2010

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1981 Columbia 8.7
2015 Yamaha FZR - 87mph - sold
2006 Yamaha GP1300R - sold
2003 Chaparral 215 SSI - sold
2009 Stingray 195CS - sold
2000 Four Winns H180 - sold
1976 O'day Daysailer II - sold
Rick's Four Winns H180 Mods/Upgrade Thread

If I had an '88 Liberator and it was a lot of fun and it didn't need any big repairs and it wasn't rotting, I'd take great care of it and have a ball. The beauty of having it paid off is that you can sit on it indefinitely, or decide to sell it on a moment's notice, and not have to please anyone but yourself.

Now, if you have something specific in mind, like, what would be an example of one major thing that would make me want to sell a paid-for '88 Liberator, a rotten floor is the first thing that comes to mind. Actually it's about the only thing that comes to mind. Or maybe if the hull was in bad shape AND the trailer was completely shot.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Been there and done it with my 88 H-200, first boat, didn't really know what I was getting into, learned A LOT, spent a fair amount, the main thing is that it is still fun, pretty reliable and has never had to get towed in 9 years of seasons (one season it was out of the water during the resto work where I had to cut out the rotted deck and the stringers needed work, installed a new deck, most of the interior was replaced, etc). Latest thing was that the old oxidized gelcoat was sprayed by a local shop in red Imron. It looks great now. Still has the original 88 engine and drive believe it or not. The OMC Cobra has been surprisingly little trouble and quite reliable.
So if its not rotted, you can just make it as nice as you want, enjoy it and keep in mind that the older boats are easier to work on because the engine compartments are usually wide open compared to the later models. In my resto I re-did the engine compartment bulkheads to make it easy to remove them which makes the servicing much easier. You can re-build it the way you want your boat to be, thats not always possible when buying new. I have not seen too many new boats of this kind that appeal to me the way they come from the factory.
Keep in mind that the modern equivalent of a 211 Liberator (FW has not made them for years) would be upwards of 75K new.
If were me, if it meets your needs, I'd do a nice gradual resto on it, you have something kind of unique and not the garden variety bow rider or cuddy. Worth keeping and when and if you repower, consider upgrading to a 383 small block package.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I will go with Mike and Lou on this one. Keep it. Make it your own. If you redo the interior and with that hull, you could blow it up and break even or close to it. Seeing your pics, rolling the dice on running, I would have given a couple of grand no problem and knowing I would come out on it. I have never lost anything on a boat yet, and if you shop right, buy right and put your time and money into the right things, you will be just fine and really get to enjoy yourself.

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1992 Baja 38 Special Twin 502 Mags

03 Stingray 3.0
88 261 Liberator 460 King Cobras
95 Bayliner 1850 3.0
77 Fiber Form 20ft 350/385hp
70 Wescraft 1800 SS 455 Jet

Lead, Follow, or get the Hell out of the Way!