I need Help

[CMBarnes]

I have been looking at 23' center console SCs for the past 6 months. I had a 1977 surveyed in Florida that turned out to have a bad transom and low compression in one of the cylinders (200 hp 94 Johnson). I have found another one much closer and I looked at that one this past Sunday. This one is a '73. It has a yellow hull so I think it has at leat been repainted. Did they make them with yellow hulls in '73? This one has twin 200 mercs that were new in '92. The boat has had a lot of custom work done on the inside. It has a lot of custom teak and coaming pads around most of the interior. It looks very clean on the inside and the hull is in good shape except the bottom paint needs to be removed and the transom is a ?. Trailer looks good and has stainless steel brakes. Are there any reccomendations from ya'll as what to do next? I would get a survey but that will not necessarily tell me about the transom because the surveyor is not going to drill inside. I am going to get the motors compression checked but wanted to know if there are any other things that I should really watch out for. I visit this site daily and have gotten a lot of good imput from it and would appreciate any advice. I am excited that this might be the boat but also nervous to take that final step. The guy is asking 15,000 which is a lot of money to me, especially if things start falling apart. Thanks in advance!!!