1977 Mariner
Not sure about the year of the Mariner you are looking to buy...is it a 1977 or 1997? Both years are listed in your message. I'll go with the 1977 as I dont think they were in production much after that year? You might realize a boat that age probably needs attention to the gel-coat finish especially if it was moored and stored outside during it's lifetime. Some gel-coats can be brought bake to good lustre with buffing compound followed by a good wax job. Next I would check the bottom very closely for sign of blisters and quality of bottom paint etc. Sounds like a decent price for the equipment offered if the hull & topsides are hole-free and sails and standing rigging are in good shape. Check the conditon of trailer tires before you haul her very far from home port? I sold my O'Day 22 for $2,000 (trailer,motor, 3 sails, toilet, depthfinder 2 years ago and the guy that got her expects to get 30 years out of her same as I did. She had a fixed shallow draft keel so I never had problems with keel cable replacements etc. That would be one of the things to need maintenance on the boat you are looking at but if it was replaced correctly you should be okay for quite a few trouble=free years. All O'Days were built with quality in mind and Mariner was a great model. I sailed with quite a few of them and they were very stable and reliable from what their owners told me. You will have a great time with a boat such as her and if she is solid now, she will be when you are ready for your next boat. Sounds like a buy to me....
