Looking at a 1986 43' Post - looking for advice....

What engines and what HP ?
Fished or pleasure ?
What location ?
Where do you plan to use it ?

https://www.**************/boats/1986/post-43-sf-convertible-3587794/
is it this one ?

She's a little rough outside. hence the $ 60 K I guess.
The woodwork might be a challenge based on what you like.
The pictures don't really show how coarse the grain might be which would make for a lot or a little sanding.
If you like it natural then I'd look at the plugs, end grains and joints.

It has Lenco heat exchangers which help them run cool. It'd be good to know how old they are.
450 Hp is better than 485 IMO because they were not wound up as tight.
I would want to see some paperwork on the engine rebuilds. Who did the work and exactly what was done.

600 hours is not a lot of time for the engines to look so rough in my opinion but maybe your salt air is much worse than here on the C-Bay.

Looks like it has a filter for the transmission oil which is good.

Dripless shaft seals are good too.

The genny needs serious looking at based on what appears to be carbon or soot out the bottom electric end vents near the engine.
The metal up lift generator muffler could be replaced with a fiber glass job when it fails, eventually.

The interior looks pretty nice but the carpet is done.
When there is no linens on the bedding it makes me wonder if it was mostly used for fishing.
This is my opinion only but hard core fishermen use a boat as a tool.
It's a means to an end and I find they are less cared for.
again - opinion only after looking at a lot of Sporties.

Looks like a Raritan hot water heater which is a pretty good one, I think. ( opinion )

No riggers so less chance of soft spots where they'd be attached.

The cleats, chocks and stanchions all look like the chrome is gone.
Not a deal breaker but I'd be thinking I need to re-chrome or replace them.
Windless looks rough too. Better see it run too.

Look for watermarks on the interior wood work near the aft part of the windows. If the scuppers clogged the water often comes in there .

See if you can get to the window bedding to see if it's still good wood or soft.
Look for crazing around the base of the front seat corners and the hatch corners, although at this age it is not really a sin to have cracks but if they are NOT there it's a bonus.

Check the Electrasan head to be sure they work.
A small, clamp on ammeter like a klein CL800 will read DC current ( along with a whole load of other features useful on any future vessel ) easily and tell you if the plates are drawing current or if the unit needs maintenance.
needs to be in the water for this tho.

Overall, she looks neglected. That would make me wonder if the engines & gen were also neglected.

If you're really smitten, get a boat survey and engine survey but you prolly find a nicer one out there if you look around.

I think she looks pretty nice, and as Chesapeake 46 said no riggers, or tower. To me I think the boat was not fished much, if at all. I think Chesapeake 46 was a little hard on the looks of the boat. This interior looks real good AND in original unmolested condition. Detroits are pretty tough motors, and can take a beating. I think they look good.
All of what Chesapeake 46 said is great info to use. I think you could get it for less, but IMO it's a good looking boat in fair condition.
Entire rub rail looks straight and true, so it was not beaten up against pilings/dock and some new how to run the boat with out smashing into things. that's a good thing.

I would put in an offer if it was me. And looking for a sport fish within your/mine boating means $$.

I've never run a 43 but I spent a few hours on an early 42' and have put about 800 hours on a 93 46' which I have owned for a few years with no regrets. They can all be a handful in a following sea but the later(II) models are a bit more docile than the older models. Post hulls are solid and the draft is hard to beat in the size range. The 671 Detroit is in my opinion one of the best most economical engines ever built. What gears does she have?

Cleanslate, I dont know w/o seeing in person but when I see chied paint on the door and rust all over the helm, well, that would drive me nuts.

I'd repair it for my own sanity and certainly if i was selling it.

Dont know the sellers circumstance but still, a little polish goes a long way.

My Dad useda say " A little putty and a little psint makes her look like what she ain't"

Looks to me from that soot, the genny is fried? IMO all Posts have good bones, its a matter of what $$ and sweat equity it takes to put the "meat" back on them.

That’s the right number $30k or under.
My 42 Ocean Yachts ‘81 $29k, I purchased back in two.I purchased back in 2014.
And drove it away from Cambridge Maryland up to Philadelphia after sitting on the hard for three years...

I did some work before I left Cambridge Maryland like getting the tanks polished the best I could change out the oils and filters etc. but she ran fine and since then I’ve been slowly repairing and fixing things overtime , Wow I was still able to use the boat, wow I was still able to use the boat , now she’s completely rebuilt.

I never had to rebuild the motors they are fine I did replace the generator.

I would go for it it looks like a nice boat It just need some TLC a little and her looks perfection paint and some polish and wax you’ll be ready to go the interior looks great that doesn’t need much work at all.
You can’t go wrong for $30k.
That boat new nowadays is well over $1 million.
$&@%# NUTs !

Lol! That’s true.
I used to say when I had my Matthews “ Git-Rot n’ Gluvit , **** I love it !”

Given the boat, the location and price I'd be surprised if she isn't a day charter boat, and run very heavily. The price is decent, but only a very thorough look will tell if it's a good price or a terrible buy. Definitely check hull integrity.

No way that’s a charter day boat.
To clean.
I think I disagree...lol.

That's clean? Everything looks good in pictures and she doesn't, and take a look at her stern. Morehead City is all heavily used fishing boats, and I'll stick. She was a day charter. Ask around the dock. But still she is what she is, cheap as long as you have deep pockets to bring her back or at least keep it maintained. The main thing I'd be concerned about is hull integrity. Everything else will be pretty obvious.

I still disagree...
Lol.
But I understand your point .
Maybe so .
If so she was well maintained.
It just has a four and five year old lack of love patina to it.

You've got the addiction. ROFLMAO! Just so the OP knows that the 30 or 50 he spends up front won't be near the last dollar he spends. It looks like a boat to have fun on, not refit. He could spend 3 x's the purchase price and have a boat worth a little more than he buys it for.

Post hulls are pretty solid. They have been know to get little pea blisters but I have never heard of one going under because of it

I would agree she is a project boat & if you have the time and inclination, for 30K , it'd be nice when done.