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Thanks, Tom! Thanks for correcting, and sorry for abbreviating the years.
I understand your point completely, I think. At the upper and lower end of considering the trailer, motors and accessories together, the Ribside's hull alone (per this seller) would be priced at either $5,400 (high side) and $4,400 low side, just for hull. Even if hull and transom condition were solid, due to the non-OEM condition and bad cover-paint (badly flaking away) on top of what might remain of gel coat, the hull (alone) sounds like it might not be worth much more than $2,000, if that.

A much better price point, for package, would likely be in the range of $5,000. Thank you, Rockypoint, for sharing your experience and figures for the 1977.

Now, I'm debating if it is even worth the time to go check it out. I'm over on the Kitsap Penninsula side of things and so...not sure. Maybe it is worth grabbing a bunch of photos, a serial number if available/visible and posting for view/consideration. I guess the educational value, at very least, might be worth the 1.5 hour drive and $20 in gas to go.

huckelberry - you've noted my achilles-heel...can't let my emotion for the Ribside get "the better" of my better judgement. Without a moisture meter, maybe the tapping method on the transom will give me some clues. Though, I'm not sure I would know the difference between a good tap and a bad tap sound. Perhaps if I do get some photos, others here can discern the clues. I checked out your personal page, huckelberry, and can see what you went through on that transom job; looks like a lot of hours spent voiding and filling.

jvz - Thanks for making a very good point. Life is short. Need to get the family on the water. I plan to get the family out there this summer. This Seattle-listed Ribside would actually be a total luxury, the fulfillment of a childhood-dream really. I already have a worthy boat that I am currently re-powering for family use this summer. It is quite a unique craft, a former US Navy boat (hence my member moniker, duf). It is boat number 4 of 10 boats contracted by a group within the Navy for build in 1996. Actually, if I may draw such a comparison on this specialized forum, I think the Navy engineers developed it off of the BW Guardian concept, a commercial Outrage on Navy steroids. If I figure out how to post pictures, some here may find it interesting...if only for the BW hull shape/design comparison. It's only drawback for me is...its not a BW Ribside.