Second hand boiler thoughts

Guys.
Fate has smiled fortune upon us but I need to hear your thoughts.

So my husband found a second hand boiler well within price range.
1200 obo.

BUT

It has a cracked water jacket near the chimney.

Fixable?

Should haggle price?

Not bother?

THOUGHTS??

I know very little about boilers at this current time since i'm just learning so i need some input.

Hi Sam;  
Sounds like it might be a good deal.
I will guess that the water jacket is made of cast iron.  If so, it can be welded but only with the correct rod and the correct person using that rod.  Not just anyone can weld cast.
I would make some calls locally beforehand and see who can weld it for you and how much it might cost.
The add already says $1200 OBO so hes willing to dicker.    If the welding costs is $100 est. then offer him $1000.

If you can't locate a welder locally. Then go see the boiler in person. (if its not to far)
It might be a mess with poor, old repair attempts. Or it might be a simple fix.
The owner might even know a place that could repair it and just doesn't want to deal with it.
Certainly worth investigating more!

Another thing you may want to check is how much scale build up there might be in the pipes.
Do they still make this model or is it out of production?
Perhaps a call to the manufacturer could shed some light on things also to determine if a repair is possible.
What caused the crack? Water that froze or from abuse?
What is their reasoning for not repairing it themselves?

Why would you want a hand boiler??? Heaven forbid, a second one?


I know, I'll show myself out.

Burns logs in manual mode or burn pellets, corn, flax, sunflower husks, grains, cherry pits with the automatic feeder from the pellet hopper.
$3,200 https://www.mbtek.com/products/pellet-duo-15-52000-btu?

You might be able to get a rebate for a pellet boiler. In NH next to me they have a 40% rebate, in Vermont it is a flat rate of $3,000. And in my state there is numerous programs, that you get get at the same time. A $6,000 wood boiler rebate. And for heater it is event more $12,000 income based grant, $16,000 thermal storage grant, etc, etc. Your state probably have something similar if you digg around https://sandri.com/renewable-energy/renewable-central-heating/rebates/

Thomas -  My dad and aunt are both welders.
So we have welding options. This is a good idea and i will check it.

Gerry - I"m not sure. The ad said he had gotten a plumber to look at it and rather than fixing it they switched to an indoor wood stove. I will absolutely ask and see what he says. He was out in the field when we spoke this morning so would chat later.

Rob - I LOL'D. HAHAHAHA

Is this for indoor or outdoor use?

I would not touch it for indoor use. A basement flood is a soul-sucking "adventure."

For outdoor use, it's worth a look. With a serious crack, though, I don't think it's worth much more than its value as scrap metal (i.e., by the pound). Unless it has other cool and functional stuff attached.

My 2c.

Outdoor. Very much outdoor.
HAHA

There's no fucking way i'd bring this thing indoor.

I choose life.