2008 Boston Whaler 235 Conquest

• ModerateHigh confidenceRepair $600 – $1,800

  Gelcoat crazing along the starboard chine, ~14 inches.

  Spider cracking here is usually from trailer-bunk impact. Cosmetic if shallow; structural if it follows a stringer.

• ModerateHigh confidenceRepair $250 – $900

  Heavy salt deposits and chalking on the powerhead cowling.

  Suggests infrequent freshwater flushing — accelerates corrosion on the powerhead and wiring harness.

• MinorMedium confidenceRepair $80 – $220

  Cracked rubber boot on the steering hydraulic ram.

  Cheap to replace, but failure pulls water into the seal and seizes steering.

• MinorHigh confidenceRepair $40 – $120

  Pitting and verdigris on battery terminals; loose ground strap.

  Often the cause of intermittent electronics. 30-minute fix that the seller should have done.

• Verado supercharger oil change interval often skipped

  Mercury Verados need supercharger oil every 100 hours. Skipping it leads to bearing failure (~$2.5k repair).

• Conquest livewell plumbing tends to weep at the through-hull

  Check for staining inside the transom locker. Resealing is straightforward but easy to miss on a quick walkthrough.

Not disqualifying on a maintained Verado, but it shifts the value conversation. Require a current compression test.

Recent sold comps on similar 235 Conquests (2007–2009, single Verado, 800–1,400 hrs) closed between $40k and $46k. Asking is ~$3.7k above the midpoint.

• •Lead with: 'I love the boat, here's where the numbers landed for me.'
• •Anchor at $42,500 — cite recent sold comps in the $41–45k range.
• •Ask for $1,500 off for the missing compression and lower-unit pressure tests, or make the sale contingent on passing both.
• •Ask for $1,000 toward gelcoat repair on the starboard chine — show the photo.
• •Request a fresh impeller and gear-case oil included in the price.
• •Walk-away number: $44,500 out the door. If they won't move below $46k, pass.

• Cold start: engine fires in under 3 seconds, no smoke after 15s.
• Idle for 5 min: check for stable RPM and no alarms.
• Wide-open-throttle run: confirm RPM reaches manufacturer spec (5800–6400).
• Hard turns both directions: listen for steering groan or cavitation.
• Hole-shot from a dead stop: bow should rise and settle within 4 seconds.
• Inspect bilge after run: any new water, fuel, or oil sheen?
• Trim full up, full down: smooth travel, no hydraulic whine.
• All electronics power on simultaneously: no voltage sag, no resets.
• Verify HIN on transom matches title and registration.