It's hard to buy a boat

I have been looking for about a year for a used liveaboard around 50' or less. There are lots of nice pictures, but when I start asking questions, it seems like some of the people that listed the boats act like it a big problem for them to provide info. I can ask 3 or 4 questions and maybe I get a text back that half answers one of the questions. And that's it. I scheduled to go see a boat recently and got the hull number and ran it. Boat had been on fire and it was not mentioned. Dang! Another one, "Oh yeah the generator doesn't work and one engine needs rebuilt".
If I find one that I like, I look at as many reviews that I can find on that model. Most mention problems with engines and rot in areas that seem like it would cost a fortune to fix. But they are still running and traveling after 40 years. Do surveyors actually catch the wood rotted areas that are glassed in? I am going to look at a 46' this week. The engine room pictures look great. I haven't seen an engine room that clean and neat in a well used boat in a long time. Hope the rest is good.
If the Detroit diesel engine hours are low (871) and they haven't been rebuilt ---ever, is that a red flag? Turbo's are newish. I don't know that they have never been rebuilt, just a question.
It will be used for short trips and live aboard.
Regards,
David

Thanks Chris.. Sounds like good advice.

Does anybody have opinions on a 1980 Chris Craft 45 Commander? Was this one of the well built boats? This one is up for sale with 6 outside pictures and none on the inside and no equipment specs. It is cheap though. "Yeah I know, not cheap to own". Anyway, I asked for more pics and have waited all day and nothing so far. I don't know how people expect to sell their boats when they can't bother to generate any interest. Some of the brokers list every nickel and dime that's on the boat. That's what I like to see. O well, back to the first sentence

It's local. The guy finally responded and said it was a primo boat and he would send pics. Still waiting. I think this boat has been sold a few times recently and he has put some money in it?? If it's the same boat that I saw in some old internet ads, I won't touch it. Maybe that's not the case but -----. I will definitely get a sea trial, if I get past the pics. Thanks
David

Thanks,
It has 871 DD, 325hp

I am down to a 1996 --31' Blackfin combi. Twin Cat 3116 @ 350hp, 2100 original hours. It has a tower, but that would be coming off--no climbing a bunch of ladders for me. The upper controls would be nice moved down to the cockpit area, if that can be done. Nice, clean looking boat from the pictures. I am going to look on Sunday. It's a little smaller than I wanted, but maybe for me to single hand, it will be easier. It has a new bottom job and a bunch of new equipment that I like, so fingers crossed. Anybody on here have experience with a Blackfin. I had one question that I can't find the answer and that is how the deck is attached to the hull sides. Thanks

LOL--Yep, that's a big drop. Maybe since the others were almost junk and this one looks nice in the pics, I wanted to go look. I read about the 3116 Cats and got different stories (of course) . Some say it is the earlier models with soft blocks and if one has lasted 1000 hours, it should be aa good one. One guy had 4900 hours on a pair. So, I don't have a clue. Maybe between the two things --3116 and 31', I should save my gas money and the sellers time. "Back to the title of this thread"

I am looking online at a 1989 Hyundai 49' Elegante with Detroit 8v71's. Looks really clean inside and a nice engine room. Also a 1989 Bayliner 4588 with 2006 Yanmar 315's. Inside is newish, no pics of the engine room. I can't find much on the Hyundai. Bayliner 4588 owners have good things to say about it with comments about some problem areas. Standard complaints about old boats that need some repairs. The Hyundai is 10k more than the Bayliner but has a Dingy. Do any of you know about the Hyundai ? They are both fairly close to me, so looking would be easy, which I plan on doing. The Bayliner looks to be easier to single hand, so that's a plus. Both have upper and lower helms and side doors at the lower helm. Boats would be used for intercoastal, river and maybe a trip to the Keys from central Florida east coast. Comments on either---or both would be great.

Here is what I liked about the Hyundai

Thanks! Looks purdy---
Now I need to look up the 8.2 fuel pincher
I should stick to modding my old Nash.