Thinking of buying a mirrocraft

[Jacobrichardsx]

This is going to be my first boat, and I'm just wondering about really any advise y'all could give me about Maintenence and just general things that I need to look for whenbi go to buy the boat. It's a older model mirrocraft deep fisherman 14ft, has a 25horse motor and comes with a trolling motor. He said it's been sitting for about 4 years so I expect some problems with the engine. Anything can help do not know a whole lot about boats. And just wondering if 14ft would be a good boat to start with and if It would be able to accommodate two people comfortably fishing. Thx

 

[satx78247]

Jacobsrichardsx,

1st: WELCOME to the forum.

Mirrocraft made NICE boats & their 14ft open fisherman is fine for 2 adults fishing in "protected waters".

IF I was "brand new" to outboarding, I would do two things:
1. Borrow or buy a copy of CHEAP OUTBOARDS: THE BEGINNERS GUIDE TO MAKING AN OLD MOTOR RUN FOREVER.
(Most large public or academic libraries have the book. - I bought mine from our local Goodwill Store for 5 bucks.)
and
2. Sit down & read the outboard & aluminum boats sections of https://www.fiberglassics.com, as many of the "old guys" there are EXPERTS in rehabbing boats/motors/trailers. - There are MANY good articles in the fiberglassics archives that are VALUABLE to your "outboarding education".

Fwiw, I learned "by doing" & made many expensive mistakes that would have been easily avoided IF there had been such resources as those above available in the late 1950s. = Using every easily available resource at the library & internet will save you PAIN, LOTS of $$$$$$$ and "considerable time in" what author and "boating guru" Dynamite Payson calls "the moaning chair".

yours, satx

 

[Jacobrichardsx]

Thanks I will definitely look into trying to find the book and read up on it. Hopefully everything's working and in running condition no leaks and stuff. But that's in a perfect world. Haha. I expect some minor problems and maybe. some not so minor thanks your you help . I appreciate it

-Jacob

 

[Keystone]

The Mirrocraft I owned was a nice boat.

 

[Jacobrichardsx]

@keystone

I've heard a lot of good things about then and the price is really good, so I figured what the heck. I'm tired of fishing off the banks and seeing great spots out of reach .

 

[ccm]

on the boat I'd look all around the hull for thin spots. This typically happens in the bow & the keel near the bow from beaching. I you knock on it & if it doesn't flex & it feels solid like the rest of the boat then your fine. Is the transom solid? It's not a deal breaker but it can require some work if it has to be replaced. Is the paperwork in order? laws vary from state to state on what's required. The motor is a different story. Do a compression check, look into the cylinders with a flashlight. You don't want to see any pitting on the cylinder or any scoring on the cylinder walls. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=88RNlB-snao Here's a link to YouTube with a video on this subject. The video is full of useful information on buying a used outboard.

 

[Jacobrichardsx]

@ccm

Thanks, defiantly gives me something's to look for as far as integrity of the boat and motor, the video was very helpful

Thanks -Jacob

 

[Jacobrichardsx]

@ccm
And all the paper work is good clean title for both motor and boat

 

[ccm]

14ft boat is great to start with. I picked a 14ft boat for my first boat too. Mine is still a work in progress. They are great for two people to fish out of but things start to get cramped after that. Glad the video was helpful. Also with a 14ft boat you can go to a lot of places larger boats cant go. You can also launch in areas not even conceivable with a larger boat, for example our local reservoir is around 7ft low rendering most launch sites high & dry but I can still use most of the public launch sites. Last year when it was even lower I drove out onto a section of dry lakebed & backed my trailer down a drop off to put in.

 

[Jacobrichardsx]

And that's what I would like to be able to do. Be able to put in anywhere I want he said it's only like 250lbs. Really thanks for the help, I had no idea what to look for or even what questions to ask besides the obvious ones

 

[fool4fish1226]

Check out my build (its in my signature) it will give you some ideas on what to look for and ask about. I found a lot of hidden stuff when I started my build. :beer: