Is An '89 Force Worth It?

[klakin]

So this is will be my first boat boat purchase...
I found an '89 Bayliner Capri with a Force 125 outboard, galvanized trailer - for $3500. The seller says he is the second owner. I could not confirm the make year of the motor.
The boat appears to be in excellent condition. Same for the engine. The seller let me do a compression check. All pistons are 150 or better. He then ran the engine. It started first time.
The seller will be letting me take the boat for a test ride before I buy.
So I know that Force engines have a less than steller reputation. What is the risk with this engine? Any suggestions on what I can inspect / check out to know if I am getting a good buy?
-Klakin

 

[Nate3172]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

The Force engine is a good engine as long as you are strict with the maintenance on it. Lack of routine maintenance and failure to correct problems when they first arise can be real killers for these engines. One thing I would definitely do if I were you would be to find out when the impellar was last replaced. If it hasn't been replaced within the last year, that will be one thing you will want to do or have done as soon after you purchase it. That is if you do purchase it. It's not expensive and it is a major routine maintenace item that should be performed once a year. Cheap insurance I guess you could say. Spark plugs about every 5th or 6th time out. If the engine is not oil injected make sure you mix the proper amount of oil with the gas and use TCW 3. BE CONSISTANT with mixing the oil. If you mix it too much one time and too little the next, the engine can run like it's always out of tune. The mix should be 50:1. I mix mine at 45:1 just to give it a little more oil for lubrication and then I tune the engine for that mixture. Never have any problems with any of my two stroke toys with that method. Don't be afraid of the Force though in my opinion. They are no where near as bad as people let on.

 

[gregmsr]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

Go for it. Same first boat for me and I gave $3700 for mine. Compression sounds real good. Mine is around 135.
Check for strong transom. Grab motor and shake up and down and look for transom movement.
Study other threads and you'll find out what to look for before buying.

Good luck

 

[gregmsr]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

Oh, also check for weak spots in floor. I hear Capri's are famous for rotten/soft floors.
Read more threads.

 

[Nate3172]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

They sure are known for the floors rotting out. Especially right around the ski well. Had to replace the floor in my capri shortly after I bought it. Then again, the guy I bought it from never kept it covered and it just sat out in the rain all the time. The entire interior was in pretty bad shape. They are still a good beginners boat and they pull skiersand tubes great. At least mine does anyway.

 

[rudedude]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

I replaced the floor in my 86 capri. The owner before me didnt pull the plug when Hurricane Katrina hit us, the water line INSIDE the boat was above the deck.

Think of it as an opertunity to "DO It Right" LOL

Bayliner did not use treated plywood and it was like stepping in jell-o I have replaced everything with marine grade plywood and put marine grade carpet in it and boy it looks good. Keep it covered and it will last. As for the Force do what nate said and advert any break downs. Mine needed a fuel pump kit and impeller. Compression is 130 in all jugs. At least they had oil in it. LOL

 

[bowhuntrrl]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

I think that the boat is priced way too high !!! In todays market (high fuel prices), you would be amazed at what you can get for that kind of money , especially since it's at the season's end!!! Somewhere around $2200-$2500 would be more appropriate considering the boat's "known" problems and the Force's limited parts availability.

 

[gotboostedvr6]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

sorry to hate but your better off with a different brand boat and motor.... check on craigslist for boats....

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

I found an '89 Bayliner Capri with a Force 125 outboard, galvanized trailer - for $3500. The seller says he is the second owner. I could not confirm the make year of the motor.
-Klakin

They were sold as a package, so its probably 89 too

 

[Nate3172]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

Scaaty, true to some of what you say. Either way you look at it though, the floors in these boats were not completely glassed over nor did Bayliner use treated wood. So, it would definitely have a shorter life span in comparison to another boat that was built a little better. Unless you only took it out on nice sunny days and never exposed the flooring to water. Oh, wait a second, were talking about boats!

 

[gregmsr]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

No rotten floors in my 89. Motor (125 Force) runs very well. Have a blast every trip out. Keep maintance up always and stay ahead of problems. Forget what others say. If it feels good, do it. Have fun and stop your worrying.
(you could always spend a fortune on an expensive rig that will also cost you an arm and a leg to operate and maintain just for the pride of standing up and saying (WHINE) " My boat is better, ain't I cool?")

Some folks don't need or even want an expensive boat.

 

[gregmsr]

more fuel for the fire

more fuel for the fire

When Bayliner first started their production line of boats their original attempt was to break into the newly founded fiberglass industry - as so many others were doing. The attempt was to produce a boat that was affordable, safe and user friendly. In their haste somewhere along the way the whole damn thing went to hell. From all that I've read there was finger pointing from the top down. Nothing solved. In 1988 Brunswick Corp. bought the rights and the name to produce this line of boats. They made some very, and not so very, drastic changes to pretty much everything about the boat.
Trying not to make this a soapbox speech but their quality has improved dramatically. I think the misnomer of calling it the Walmart of boats comes from the fact that they made so many of them - and made so many of them shoddy at first. Just do a Google search on how many boat manufactures are still around today. You'll be surprised that Bayliner is one of the few left. I guess in retrospect they do have a good thing going - now. It all reverts back to smart management. Remember when some of those Korean cars came to the states? What a joke - right? Now look at them, cornered a good chunk of the market. For a select group of people that is maybe all they can afford or all they need to drive. Not everybody can have a Porsche in the garage, not everybody can afford a million dollar yacht either.
I think that you'll find that the fit and finish of the newer Bayliner's will be right up there with pretty much anything. Of course there are always exceptions. But for the money, a Bayliner today is as good a vessel that your money will buy. No, I don't work for Bayliner. Just enjoy mine.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

Klakin Hay welcome to iboats
Boy can you start something with your first post , Way ta go ,you need to go to dock side chat.
any way with all kidding around (and i don't know this boat very well ) the force engines have been good to me. I think what Scaaty was trying to say was his Bayliner has been good to him and he thinks its a great boat to own.
Many other people would say the same. If the boat appears to be well looked after, runs well and you like it ,go for it.The only boat you cant in joy is one your not in.

 

[quebec#1]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

Remember their force engines combo with bayliners were always under powered and a 125hp is more like a 90hp in real terms....People tend to blame the force engines for lack of performance but put any 90 or 125 hp on a 19 foot boat and performance will be down a little.
The bottom line is if the engine purrs and the boat is in good shape for $3500 you cant go wrong.
Im looking for a boat for about $3500 to $5000 and theirs alot of crap out their but evey now and then you can find a jem !
Good luck on your new boat...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

enough of this, the poor guy that ask the question wanted advise, not a bunch of childish behavior from adults. conduct yourselves as adults. i suggest you all read this. these are the rules of the forum. they should be self explanatory.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=217670

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is An '89 Force Worth It?

i went thru the thread and removed 17 post that were complete repetition of nonsense. the reason for this is so i don't delete the originals posters complete thread. those who were deleted be warned. this is a decision of the mod team.