Looking at an '87 46 this Weekend

Is this the one listed in Seabrook?

There's maybe some zen involved. One theory is to buy everything from the same manufacturer -- so there can be no finger pointing at the other guy if something goes wrong. The opposing theory is to buy best in class of each specific instrument, and then cobble them together as best you can. (NMEA2000 at least makes that somewhat easier, these days.)

And then there's that pesky budget issue. Can you afford to do it all at once? Or is piecemeal the plan? Former lets you start with a clean sheet, latter could conceivably take some (at least temporary) advantage of stuff that's already there. (Radar, for instance.)

Then too, would you do the installation yourself? Or hire an installer? (FWIW, I've had best luck with buying from a dealer who installs... and the ideally being "the helper" during the actual install.)

Actual product features can be part of your research. Some MFD makers, for example, only offer vector charts whereas some offer both vector and raster (which I find useful at least for a little while longer). Some charge for annual chart updates (Garmin, for example) and some don't charge for annual NOAA chart updates (Furuno, for example).

From reading, the "Big Four" -- Raymarine, Furuno, Garmin, and Navico (Simrad/B&G/etc) -- all pretty much offer similarly capable units... but with some providing better tweaking one feature or another. You'd want to shop.

And then finally, it may be helpful to do nothing for a while... Get the boat, use the boat, think about it... eventually decide what you need, where it will live, redundancy (or not), etc. (Does the boat really not have a working depth finder?)

FWIW, we have a mix of Raymarine, Garmin, Furuno, plus Icom for VHF radios. Raymarine AP because that was part of the boat's original equipment suite... and because it still works... pretty well, actually. Garmin because an MFD, radar, and depth finder came with the boat (a replacement suite chosen by a previous owner). That unit is now about 6 years old and it's already been superceded -- twice -- by newer Gamin units. New Furuno MFD (replacing another dead original), fishfinder, and AIS because that's what we had for about 12 years on the previous boat and I liked it. Two Icom "black box" radios because we don't have enough dashboard real estate for two actual radio heads... and because that's what we had on the previous boat etc etc etc.

-Chris

I never saw one with interior wood as dark as that one.

If you have Capitols for gears , there are a couple threads here on the subject.
I am not at my desk to give you names but the threads will have them, for an excellent Capitol gear guy on the East Coast.

Or , PM me and when I return I will send you the info I have on them.

What are the HP of your 671's ?

Good luck with it, if you buy it, and please keep posting with your progress and updates.

We have an 1989 43. Have done a lot of interior upgrades, most all posted here in bits as they were done. Our Post has new CAT power so can't help much with engines. See if the boat comes with the original manual, they are very rare. If not a couple very useful wiring pages were provided to me by another Post owner on the site. If you PM me with an email I can forward on to you.

lots of luck, yes please post pics of your Post!

Check/change the sending unit and gauge for that gear. Make sure you're getting accurate data

Did you move ahead on the boat ?
There is a nice one for sale in Annapolis these days.
46 ft. w/ 692's.
I know you are in Texas and that is a haul but it would make a realnice ride home.....

I had a 1976 Egg Harbor 36 Sportsfisher that had the same issue with the aft bulkhead in the cabin. The previous owner had new sheathing installed on the cockpit side which was an indication of a cover up. I pulled a drawer out from inside the cabin and found a very wet and mushy bulkhead. I did buy the boat, however it took some time for the seller to come around as I offered him 50% of the asking price as I knew what I was getting into. I ended up removing the whole bulkhead and replaced it completely with new. How did the deck of the flybridge feel? Spongy at all?

Look closely at the fuel tanks - especially the bottoms if you can get access to them. I'm not sure where they are on a Post. They were under the aft cockpit on the Egg Harbor.

I would have that bottom at least scrubbed and intake screens cleaned to facilitate a sea trial. You might discover more issues that will need to be budgeted for.

Or assume all the risk and reduce your offer substantially. Sounds like a good project boat - good bones but needs a new home.

The fuel tanks are a very well known problem point. See if the tanks have settled. is there a gap above the tank in its hold downs. If the tank has appeared to settle, be very careful. Likely it will need a replacement.