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Like John said "run it". That can tell you a lot about entire setup, especially the engine. Does it porpoise? Does it seem to labour at full throttle. What I mean is does the boat come to a good speed at w.o.t. Download a GPS application to your phone if you can and note the wide open throttle speed and engine rpms. With some research you can find out what is right. This boat was most likely rigged by someone at the factory or dealership and I'm sure it performed properly when it was sold so problems while driving it will be a red flag. Also while it is sitting in the water, take note of the static trim, how it rests in the water and compare that to some of the members personal page photos. Personally, I would want the boat taken out of the water. Why? Because boats need maintenance. The drain tubes which are probably PVC will need to be resealed anyway. While the boat is out of the water, let the hull dry of its ambient water, then check to see if water continues to drip from around the drains. If the boat has been sitting in the water with bad drains for awhile, the drip should pretty noticeable. This might be one of the biggest things to look for in a whaler is a waterlogged hull so really take a good look at the drain tube areas. I'm hoping everything works out and it is and will be a nice boat for you to enjoy but you still need to protect yourself in a purchase like this. There might be someone wrong with the boat that even the seller knows nothing about.