Bass Boat Forums (by boat brand) > Stratos Bass Boats Forums

285 Pro XL

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kbbgood:
Been looking at an 88 Stratus 285 Pro XL and am wondering if it is a good deal at 3500.00. It looks good from the pictures I have seen. Emailed the guy but no reply yet. Is it a good deal if good shape? Also is there any place out there to get factory parts for it? Seats, windshield and other stuff?

Nightmare:
C&O Marine bought Stratos oem parts lock stock n barrel back in the mid or late 90s. You can check their availability on-line. Don't have as much as they used to of course but probably best single source.

Curt:
@kbbgood First off, welcome to BBB  o/

As for this boat being a good deal, the price seems right, but with a boat that age, you should check it thoroughly before laying down any cash.

Check the bottom of the hull for cracks, deep gouges, etc. This is especially important near the nose/keel, where the boat will wear from beaching it repeatedly if there is no hull protector installed.

Also, it's very important to check the transom for cracks. Some boats can look perfect on the surface but be hiding a transom problem that even the current owner doesn't know about.

Look all around where the outboard bolts to the transom for stress cracks, etc. You can also trim the motor up partially and put heavy downward pressure on the motor to see if the transom flexes at all.

Check floors for rot. Older boats had wood floors.

If you're looking at the boat solely through pictures, request that the current owner send several closeup pics of various areas of the boat. General pics taken from even 5 or 6 feet away can make a bot look really good, but seeing it up close and personal will show you things that those other pics won't show.

And, of course, take the boat for a ride on the lake before buying it.

fishon-son:
id pass  its older  so parts will be hard to find...seats can be redone that's easy to have done..we have a used boat grave yard here in Michigan .called slicks if still around  they may help?  look at the motor real good and for stress cracks by the transom....if its been well kept then good deal but if needing a lot of little stuff that's a sign for laziness and could having bigger issues...hard to call....

kbbgood:
1 thing I did see from the pictures is a jack plate. Do they help or hurt the transom?

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