Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

[MSwaney]

I am looking to buy a 2007 Rinker 250 Express Cruiser W/5.7 mercrusier bravo 3. I have a few questions B4 I buy the boat.

I had an inspection done on the boat and this is what was found:

Engine was replaced under warranty at 37 hours which I knew about. It currently has 77 hours on boat, 40 on new engine.

Spark plugs had water on all cylinders.

Motor had low compression on # 3 cylinder but then came back after using on flush??

Compression #'s 1-185 3-170 5-185 7-190
2-195 4-180 6-175 8-190

Engine oil needs to be replaced

Gear oil is needing replaced (no water found in oil)

The current engine was used in salt water but was flushed after each use according to previous owner.

Any advice would be helpful.

Thanks

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

You will probably have this moved bye a mod.

However you want to buy a boat with a new motor with 40 hours that has water in the cylinders? Correct.

If correct than please don't do it.

I was gonna give some smart remark but i'm learning with a little help from my new friends.

And it was salt water?

For sure don't do it.

 

[Don S]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

Motor had low compression on # 3 cylinder but then came back after using on flush??

If that compresion test was done on a cold engine that had set for a couple of months, then it means nothing.
The engine needs to be ran before doing a compression test. At least run it the day befor the compression test.
Might want to read this service bulletin by Mercruiser on the Compression test.

http://www.boatfix.com/merc/Bullet/97/97_25.pdf

 

[newport dave]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

I guess we can assume that the first engine died due to water ingestion, and now the "new" engine has water ingestion issues? The cause has to be determined and repaired or it will continue to destroy engines.

Have they given you an explaination of why the plugs have water on them and how they will remedy the problem?

 

[180shabah]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

Pass on this one - it already has problems.

 

[legoman67]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

sorry, this is sort of off topic, but Don, how would you test and engine that doesnt run, or isnt currently installed in a boat?

 

[JustJason]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

Legoman.... Please start a new thread with your own questions and we'll be happy to answer them.

As to the original poster.... something isn't right if you have water in all 8. Has anybody checked the riser height? I'd pass on the boat.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

Don't hijack.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

I guess we can assume that the first engine died due to water ingestion, and now the "new" engine has water ingestion issues? The cause has to be determined and repaired or it will continue to destroy engines.

Have they given you an explaination of why the plugs have water on them and how they will remedy the problem?

I totally agree. Something is very wrong with the boat you are looking at. If noone can explain why it's getting water in the cylinders, and can't fix it... RUN AWAY from this particular boat. RUN FAST!

 

[MSwaney]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

The 1st engine was a valve problem and mercruiser replaced long block.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

The 1st engine was a valve problem and mercruiser replaced long block.

Ayuh,... But,....

Caused by What,..??..??

I agree with the former posters,...
This hull seems to have a Design Issue with water injestion,....

You haven't bought it Yet,... Don't make it Your issue...

 

[stinger222]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

You should pass anyway, a boat of that size with only a 5.7 motor will be a dog. The bravo 3 will help, but still a dog.

 

[MSwaney]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

I spoke to mercruiser and they gave me alot of info that really steered me away from the purchase of the boat. The people who inspected the boat acted like it wasn't a big deal that they found a significant amount of water in the cyclinders.

Thanks to everyone who responded to this posting. It was very helpful and let me not rely on a service department that has the mercury premiere lable.

 

[JustJason]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

just curious.... what did mercruiser say to you?

 

[MSwaney]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

Mercruiser said it could be several things:

It could be from faulty installation of new motor
The previous owner could have turn the key off while under power
Could have been the way the previous owner put and pulled boat in and out of the water
Could be wrong risers, bad manifold, etc, etc, etc.

They were quick to point out that it would not be covered under warranty.

I do have to say they were very nice and spent about an hour on the phone with me going over serveral things and answered all of my questions.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

You should pass anyway, a boat of that size with only a 5.7 motor will be a dog. The bravo 3 will help, but still a dog.

Unless the motor was the 250 hp carbureted 5.7, I totally disagree with this statement. A 350MAG MPI at 300hp with a Bravo 3 will do a fine job pushing a 25' cruiser. I know that for a fact, cause the same powerplant pushed my dad's 99 Chaparral Signature 27 cruiser just fine, (top speed 42mph) cruised at 27mph easily and got 2.2mpg.

Yes, Mercruiser gave you lots of the things that it could be. And you are right to stay away from that particular boat.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: Purchasing a boat--- HELP needing advice

The motor was the right size for the boat.

Would have done fine pushing the boat.

The drive is a good drive.

It probably needs new manifolds and risers ?

Who knows?

Your looking at buying a big boat.

Hope it's not your first.

Just not this one.

Keep looking.