This follows the same story as many of the riveted aluminum boats.
After the war, the demand for planes had gone down significantly, so many of the aircraft manufactures started making riveted aluminum boats. Northrup Grumman was one of those. Sometime later down the line OMC bought them, as well as Sea Nymph, Lowe, and a few others, so the later model Grummans should be a close match to the equivalent Lowe. And, the Sea Nymph name is still used by Lowe. Grumman finally went under back in 1998, when OMC had to start letting their companies go, as they were dying. OMC went bankrupt in either 1999 or 2000, and Lowe is continuing to make the boats.
I have had 2 Grumman 17 foot canoes from probably the late 50s or early 60s, and one 1997 Grumman 12 foot vee (equivalent to the Lowe Sea Nymph series). Solid, well built, American made boats.
You could do quite a bit with that 17 foot boat. He isn't too far off of reasonable with that either. Seeing as I am so close, if I had any money in my pocket, you might have to fight me for it, as I would want that, to start my center console rig. But, I don't, so you don't have to worry. See if you could haggle him down a bit, but I don't think him staying steadfast would make me walk, if I was looking for that boat.
That trailer is a Shorelander trailer. My 12 foot Grumman came on one of those, which I sold, since I had a trailer that fit the boat better out back (that one was just to big for a 12 footer). The thing is, the trailer only has a 700 pound capacity. If you are going to be doing a lot of mods, you may want to pick up a slightly larger trailer. I sold mine for 325, and I think the guy turned around and listed it for 550 (he was actually buying the boat we were selling, but decided to buy the trailer, which we had listed separately, as well) So you could definitely pick up a better trailer for not much more than what you could sell that for.
As a matter of fact, there is a guy on GON looking for a trailer for a 14 footer right now. I do see good trailers pop up for under 450 on craigslist and GON quite often.
