Looking for sportfish

Don't get frustrated. There are 13 50s for sale on another forum dedicate to sales only.

Why did you start another thread?

The 4 models of Post you listed have a wide and divergent range of characteristics and abilities. In some cases they are competeley different boats. You may want to define what you're looking for. What kind of boat are you coming out of?

Agreed but when you dismiss a good boat because the electronics aren't current. As J said electronics are upgrade items, they're not the "heart & soul" of the boat.

First, let me point out the obvious. You're looking for a 30-40 year old boat, and SF tend to get run more and harder than any other type save maybe a center consol. Expect a good deal of fit and finish work to be needed along with some mechanical.
Second, figure out the questions you need to ask before even going to view a boat. Even lies and half-truths can be illuminating. Emails and phone calls can save you a lot of wasted trips.
Third, these days electronics are yesterday's technology within a couple of years. Look for electronics that are working and that you can live and work with till you can afford to upgrade to what you want. However also understand that things like upgraded electronics tell you things about how well or poorly a boat has been taken care of. A boat used for taking tourists chartering to the same honey hole every time has no need to upgrade. One that takes a family all over the east coast does.
Fourth, it's a lot cheaper to hire an experienced captain than a surveyor to separate the wheat from the chafe. You could then hire a mechanic to check the motors. Once those 2 sign off on your choice bring in the surveyor. Yes in the end you'll have spent more examining the boat you buy but you'll have wasted a lot less on all you've walked away from.
Fifth, expect those here and on other forums to pick apart your choice. In an older boat there'll always be a lot to pick apart, and our responsibility is to tell you why you should walk away. You don't need us, or whomever you have check out the boat to tell you the boat is great. But only you can determine what is worth it for you to accept. Some people are willing to rebuild from the keel up while others need new from the factory.
Sixth, don't be in a hurry. You're coming off a summer when everybody and their brother bought a boat (seller's market) because there was nothing else to spend their vacation money on with relative safety. I for one expect a lot more inventory on the market and lower prices (buyer's market) as we approach next summer and families decide to do something else besides go out on a boat.

With SF that will be very common. They're run hard and a lot. This is where learning how to qualify the boat through email and phone calls will come in handy. The question "Are there any mechanical issues that you know of?" answered in writing will save you a lot of wasted time. Most everybody will try to downplay issues, but they'll be hesitant to lie in writing. With serious problems they may try to ignore or talk around your question, but even that will be illuminating.

Jeremyvmd, I posted to your other thread about a 46 Post here in MD.

Also do your homework on the gelcoat issues form 97 to mid 2000s, and the CORRECT way of how it should have repaired or painted if it was done.

You may actually want to look for a boat that needs engines rebuilt. If you can find the boat you want, with engines you like but need major engine work that’s not necessarily a bad thing. As long as you can buy it right with engine work factored into the price why not? This way you get to do the work , with your mechanic of choice and then know exactly what you have. All the receipts and surveys will only tell you so much. By seeing the inside of those beasts yourself and rebuilding them correctly you get serious piece of mind.

Right now winter storage has been paid for so nobody's in a rush to sell. They also don't know where the market is going. I agree that late winter 2022 will be a much better buyer's market if you can hold off till then, but I think the trend will start this summer if people get comfortable living normal lives again. Right now you're in the same position as the people you sold your fleet to, buying in a seller's market.
Good to here you're an ethical seller, but don't expect others to act that way. For one thing, even if they are they may simply not know their boats as well. For another a lot of people think they should be able to sell their boats for what they have in them because of the amount of money involved. It takes seeing people walk away for reality to set in. Many others think the seller's market will continue for another year and that they can hold out. Time will tell. Just remember that while the money is in your pocket the power resides completely with you. The moment you sign a contract it doesn't. So don't be in a rush. I'd certainly hold off until after Christmas (when people are spending money easily) passes and even until the new administration takes over and we get an idea where the economy will be headed.

FYI, handle my 50 single handed (my first mate is a bit incapacitated physically) in all but windiest conditions - but then we don't want to be out there. The 50 with 820's is the best boat Post ever built, IMO. Lotta good advice above about over expecting. Your looking at 30+ year old boats.

Yes, of course, if the cost of repair work is not considered by the seller then you have to walk away. On the other hand, if you are expecting the seller to offer credits so you can make the boat like new then that is unreasonable. Doesn't sound like that is what you are asking though.

My comments were based on experience. When I bought my 54' Donzi back in 2012 I used the best surveyors I could find. We even did a complete separate performance survey for just the 12v92 engines. Other than some minor issues the engines got a clean bill of health and the Port was very low hour SMOH. Two seasons later after less than 300 more hours the Port engine sucked a valve and destroyed a cylinder causing lots of damage. When we repaired it we found many issues that were not correct from the previous owner's rebuild. The surveyors did nothing wrong here as none of these issues could be discovered in a survey. My point is simply you never know what you really have and what others have done.

That's what happens when you buy in a seller's market. Why negotiate when there's more buyers than boats. Selling at the top of the market is great as long as you can wait for the market to cool before buying. Remember the old axiom is "Buy low, sell high" not 'Sell high, buy higher'.