I am thinking about buying a boat that hasn’t been used in?

2 years. It is a 1988 21 ft cuddy cabin. It’s cold in this area so I won’t be able to test drive it. Is there anything I can do to check if it’s a lemon without dropping it in the water? By the way, it would be my first boat, so I don’t know much about this stuff.

Don’t don’t DON’T buy a boat without a test drive. Boats do work in cold weather, you know.

The motor will need (at a minimum) new batteries, carb rebuild, and water pump rebuild before being put back in service.

At a minimum, compression test the motor. If the lowest cylinder isn’t within 5 or 7% of the highest, walk away.

Drain a small amount of gear oil — if any water drips out, or if the oil has a streaky appearance, walk away. If the gear oil is fresh (changed before winterization), you won’t have a clue as to the condition of the gearbox.

You won’t have a clue as to the condition of the bellows, either.

2006 Fourwinns 215 Sundowner