Found a boat

[Larry9414]

Hi, newbie here I found a boat for sale. It's a 1978 Glastron v194 with a mercruiser 898 305 v8 chevy. The block is crack and I know nothing about boats. My question is can I use a 350 chevy from a car or truck to replace the engine in the boat. I need to know for I buy it. Thanks for any help.

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: Found a boat

You can use a 350 but you MUST, I mean MUST, use all of the marine parts off 305. CANNOT use car carb, alt, starter, fuel pump, distributor. If any of these are junk they MUST be replaced with marine. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO USE AUTOMOTIVE PARTS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER! 'nutcase

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Found a boat

You can use a 350 but you MUST, I mean MUST, use all of the marine parts off 305. CANNOT use car carb, alt, starter, fuel pump, distributor. If any of these are junk they MUST be replaced with marine. DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO USE AUTOMOTIVE PARTS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE CHEAPER! 'nutcase

yep, nutcase is right. certain parts like the ones he mentioned must be marine or they will not last...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Found a boat

yep, nutcase is right. certain parts like the ones he mentioned must be marine or they will not last...

It's not the longevity Knightgang, it's the spark suppression. Marine electrical parts are specially designed not to produce an external spark that could ignite bilge are fuel vapors.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Found a boat

I understood it to be both, but sometimes you cannot emphasize safety as well as you can cost outlay... that is why I stated it as longevity and cost vs safety...

 

[Larry9414]

Re: Found a boat

Thanks for your help guys. I'm glad I found this forum, And Thanks again

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Found a boat

Just curious..
What are you considering paying for this barge?

Not much more than free I hope?

Besides the engine problems, you need to look our for the soundness of the deck..Are there any soft spots in it? soft meaning you "feel" where it gives under your foot..

If so there is a deck replacement in you & your wallet's future..

Transome is solid?

I think that once a boat motor goes, the owners arent in a hurry to keep it covered or taken care of very well..Most will let em sit n rot contemplating fixing them, and by the time the decide not to bother with the boat, it's almost unusable..

Just tossin it out there..

 

[Larry9414]

Re: Found a boat

Believe it or not they keep it covered and the inside looks good. The seats are not torn and the carpet is not fadded or torn. From what I can tell they took pretty good care of it. Like I said I know nothing about boats. Thanks for letting me know about the floor and the soft spots I will check and see.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: Found a boat

Dont forget about the camshaft. Dont use the automotive one...

 

[Maclin]

Re: Found a boat

Once you buy it you will fnd out what all they did not know about boats too....caveat emptor.

 

[skargo]

Re: Found a boat

Dont forget about the camshaft. Dont use the automotive one...

Unless it's a 4 bolt truck block, then the cam will suffice from what I can tell.

 

[QC]

Re: Found a boat

That ^^^^^ sounds a little backwards although I understand. To clarify, truck/RV cam good, automotive cam bad.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Found a boat

Will need to change the water pump and replace the casting plugs with brass ones.

You also need to make sure the new block is the 2 piece seal type. A block 1986 and older is what you want.

You may also need to change the head gasket depending on what material it is.

 

[skargo]

Re: Found a boat

That ^^^^^ sounds a little backwards although I understand. To clarify, truck/RV cam good, automotive cam bad.

My response sounds backwards?

 

[QC]

Re: Found a boat

No biggee skargo, but when I first read it I thought "unless it's from a truck it's OK" . . . Made more sense after I read it a couple of times. Just wanted to make sure it was clear that the car cam was not the way to go.

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Found a boat

Reading this again..and looking at what this boat may need..

Honestly unless the OP has really deep pockets to have a shop do all this work...

I would say MOVE ON and find yourself a boat that has a motor intact and that you can actually sea test or at the very least run on muffs for awhile..

For a brand new 1st time boat owner, it may be a bit much and turn him off from boats for the rest of his life..

 

[skargo]

Re: Found a boat

No biggee skargo, but when I first read it I thought "unless it's from a truck it's OK" . . . Made more sense after I read it a couple of times. Just wanted to make sure it was clear that the car cam was not the way to go.

Hey man, I went to public school, and didn't even finish that, so I'm certain many of my statements make people go "huh"

Going back and reading it, I see how someone might take "automotive" as meaning car, vs. truck.

It's alllllll good.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Found a boat

but when I first read it I thought

Ayuh,.... There ya go,.... Thinkin' again.....

If the OP is turnin his own wrenches,... He otta get boating for a couple Grand,....
Hopefully...

 

[borakid]

Re: Found a boat

Unfortunately, I bought a boat this year with a cracked block. It was unknown to me, at the time of sale, and I couldn't do a sea trial. Don't buy it without taking it out. There are tons of boats out there for sale and tons of them that need a lot of work. Try to find something you'll have fun with. By fun, I mean if you enjoy engine work and replacing blocks, etc, then this might be for you but don't over pay.

 

[skargo]

Re: Found a boat

Unfortunately, I bought a boat this year with a cracked block. It was unknown to me, at the time of sale, and I couldn't do a sea trial. Don't buy it without taking it out. There are tons of boats out there for sale and tons of them that need a lot of work. Try to find something you'll have fun with. By fun, I mean if you enjoy engine work and replacing blocks, etc, then this might be for you but don't over pay.

Great advice!

My boat too is a 78, it one of the models I wanted, but I waded through mountains of crap to find this hidden gem. I was done after the sea trial. Original owner, very low hours, and taken care of by someone who LOVED her, like I do now.
I paid less than $4K, and the money I spent on it was for upgrades, mechanically she's identical to the day I bought her. Took her out 20 times this summer with no issues.

I feel I got a great deal, and it was worth the year or so I spent researching and looking.

Good luck!