Bkelley wrote:Q1: in general will there be problems after buying a 1980 OUTRAGE [of unspecified length] that has been sitting unused on a trailer in a garage for ten years?
Your question requires being able to predict the outcome of a boat that is completely unknown to the reader. The answer can only be in the most general sense.
There is always a possibility of problems with any boat.
There is always a possibility of problems with any 44-year-old boat or outboard engine or boat trailer.
There is always a possibility of problems with almost anything mechanical made of metal that sits for ten years.
There is always a possibility of problems with fiberglass that has not received any care for ten years.
That the boat was kept indoors in a garage for the last ten years is probably a bonus as it protected the boat from rain and damage from ultraviolet rays. But ten years in a garage could be very harmful if any critters gained access to the boat. The fiberglass may be oxidized or cracked or crazed.
An outboard engine that has not been run in ten years could have problems, but the extend of those problems will depend on exactly how it was prepared for long-term storage. If the engine was given proper fogging oil and had no gasoline in its fuel system when stored, that would be helpful. If put away without any preparation for storage, then ten-years of sitting could have caused steel components to rust, rubber components to decay, and plastic components to become brittle.
A trailer that has been sitting on its tires with the boat loaded on the trailer for ten years will most likely need new tires. Other areas of possible problems are the trailer lamps, the wheel bearings, the winch strap, and the brakes (if the trailer has them).
When buying a used boat the best situation is to have the owner demonstrate the readiness of the boat, engine, and trailer by hauling the boat on the trailer to a launch ramp, launching the boat, taking you for a sea trial, returning to the ramp, loading the boat, and towing in home. This gives you the chance to see the three major elements of the purchase--hull-engine-trailer--in use.
When buying a used boat a very close and careful visual inspection of the boat, the outboard engine, and the trailer is important and a good way to see more clearly the actual condition of the boat, the outboard engine, and the trailer than can be done from just photographs or a casual look.