Buying a boat but it doesn't start

[flyingscott]

Don't give anyone the benefit of the doubt. If he has so much experience with boats it shouldn't be a problem for him to start it and re-winterize it. This is your money you are spending.

 

[batman99]

I'd give him some time to fix it.

After fixed, take boat for a test drive. And, get boat mechanic to give it one final look over. If all areas is still "thumbs up", then finalize your verbal agreement of $5.5K. Depending on tax laws in your region, ask him to give you a receipt for the boat trailer, a different receipt for the boat chassis (if only buying a boat shell) and a different receipt for its engine (if engine sold separately. In my region, one only pays taxes on trailer and the boat shell. They don't need to pay taxes on the engine. Thus, saving you even more dollars - when transferring ownership into your name.

 

[oldjeep]

You can buy it, with the final purchase contingent on the boat working correctly on a water test. That means you commit to buy it as long as the boat runs. If the motor still doesn't start, the deal is off. You can't, however, back out of the deal because you changed your mind and don't like the color.

Good luck getting someone selling a 7K boat to take that sort of arrangement. 1st issue would be - why would the seller accept that? 2nd would be title transfer - what are you going to do during the 2 months before it could be water tested, leave it in their name and rely on them to insure it?

In any event - if the motor won't start, assume it is no good. Even if it does start it doesn't tell you much about the condition of the engine unless you have a compression test. Even a whipped motor or one with the distributor installed 180 out can sound decent when running with no load.

 

[Chris1956]

Mercruisers have a shift interrupt switch, that kills the spark, when you shift it. If it sticks open, you have no spark.

Also, Mercurisers have a specialty Thunderbolt Ignition system. You simply cannot connect the battery to the coil and expect spark, like in your 1964 Ford..

 

[thumpar]

Mercruisers have a shift interrupt switch, that kills the spark, when you shift it. If it sticks open, you have no spark.

Also, Mercurisers have a specialty Thunderbolt Ignition system. You simply cannot connect the battery to the coil and expect spark, like in your 1964 Ford..

Neither of my Mercs have had Thunderbolt.

 

[oldjeep]

Mercruisers have a shift interrupt switch, that kills the spark, when you shift it. If it sticks open, you have no spark.

Also, Mercurisers have a specialty Thunderbolt Ignition system. You simply cannot connect the battery to the coil and expect spark, like in your 1964 Ford..

2004 should have a standard delco system like my 2005 Bayliner had

 

[burtonrider11]

Good luck getting someone selling a 7K boat to take that sort of arrangement. 1st issue would be - why would the seller accept that? 2nd would be title transfer - what are you going to do during the 2 months before it could be water tested, leave it in their name and rely on them to insure it?

In any event - if the motor won't start, assume it is no good. Even if it does start it doesn't tell you much about the condition of the engine unless you have a compression test. Even a whipped motor or one with the distributor installed 180 out can sound decent when running with no load.

When I brokered boats, this was a common occurence on the off season. I'd show a boat, the buyer likes it, they make an offer to seller contingent upon satisfactory sea trial and/or survey, put down a good faith deposit into escrow that is refundable should boat not perform as it could reasonably be expected. So, if it doesn't start, the buyer can walk and get his money back. Seller holds title until the boat is sold....This is standard just about any brokered boat sale, no reason the seller could not accept said terms, there is nothing unreasonable there.

I never had a buyer or seller have any issue with this. In fact, I had one sea trial scheduled and we couldn't get the port engine to run. Buyer came back a week later after it was fixed and bought it. The only time I had to give back a deposit was when a boat I had listed had wet stringers. Neither the potential buyer nor the seller had any issues with the sale not going thru.

When I bought my boat, I had the same contingency, I offered a deposit but the buyer opted to just wait the two weeks until we could sea trial her.

 

[bruceb58]

2004 should have a standard delco system like my 2005 Bayliner had

Did you have a 4.3? 3.0s had the Delco Voyager. 4.3s had the Thunderbolt.

 

[oldjeep]

When I brokered boats, this was a common occurence on the off season. I'd show a boat, the buyer likes it, they make an offer to seller contingent upon satisfactory sea trial and/or survey, put down a good faith deposit into escrow that is refundable should boat not perform as it could reasonably be expected. So, if it doesn't start, the buyer can walk and get his money back. Seller holds title until the boat is sold....This is standard just about any brokered boat sale, no reason the seller could not accept said terms, there is nothing unreasonable there.

I never had a buyer or seller have any issue with this. In fact, I had one sea trial scheduled and we couldn't get the port engine to run. Buyer came back a week later after it was fixed and bought it. The only time I had to give back a deposit was when a boat I had listed had wet stringers. Neither the potential buyer nor the seller had any issues with the sale not going thru.

When I bought my boat, I had the same contingency, I offered a deposit but the buyer opted to just wait the two weeks until we could sea trial her.

I think you are talking about a little different class of boat. 19ft trailer boats are cash and carry. Survey is unheard of and you get to run them in the water if the water isn't frozen. When I sold my 2005 Bayliner a couple years ago my standard response was - if it is still for sale when the ice is off then I'll be happy to take you out and run it.

 

[oldjeep]

Did you have a 4.3? 3.0s had the Delco Voyager. 4.3s had the Thunderbolt.

3.0L Delco EST. Seems like the 4.3L should have been using the Delco HEI in 2004 unless they held over the old junk on carb versions and only used it on the injected models

 

[burtonrider11]

I think you are talking about a little different class of boat. 19ft trailer boats are cash and carry. Survey is unheard of and you get to run them in the water if the water isn't frozen. When I sold my 2005 Bayliner a couple years ago my standard response was - if it is still for sale when the ice is off then I'll be happy to take you out and run it.

Bought my boat for $4k and it was a steal. The seller knew it and I knew it. He didn't have any issues with my terms. While I typically brokered boats much higher in cost, my partner and I had more than our fair share of 18, 19, 20 foot boats on trailers that were cash sales. 95% of those sales were sold with the terms I described. Not trying to argue with you, just sharing my experience. There are certainly many sellers like yourself who are first come, first serve with the sale of a boat. If I had called on your boat in the off season and gotten that response, I would have been onto the next one I am a buyer who doesn't buy without my due diligence being done and to me due diligence is a sea trial, not taking the owner's word for it or even running it in the driveway. You wouldn't buy a car just hearing it idle or taking the owner's word for it, why would you do it with a boat???? I would't buy a 12ft tinny with a 5hp motor without a sea trial, but that's just me.

By the same token, I NEVER took potential buyers on a sea trial without a deposit in escrow either. I'll do the same when I sell our boat.

 

[bruceb58]

3.0L Delco EST. Seems like the 4.3L should have been using the Delco HEI in 2004 unless they held over the old junk on carb versions and only used it on the injected models

Injected models came with the EST because the whole fuel and injection system was supplied by GM.

 

[oldjeep]

Bought my boat for $4k and it was a steal. The seller knew it and I knew it. He didn't have any issues with my terms. While I typically brokered boats much higher in cost, my partner and I had more than our fair share of 18, 19, 20 foot boats on trailers that were cash sales. 95% of those sales were sold with the terms I described. Not trying to argue with you, just sharing my experience. There are certainly many sellers like yourself who are first come, first serve with the sale of a boat. If I had called on your boat in the off season and gotten that response, I would have been onto the next one I am a buyer who doesn't buy without my due diligence being done and to me due diligence is a sea trial, not taking the owner's word for it or even running it in the driveway. You wouldn't buy a car just hearing it idle or taking the owner's word for it, why would you do it with a boat???? I would't buy a 12ft tinny with a 5hp motor without a sea trial, but that's just me.

By the same token, I NEVER took potential buyers on a sea trial without a deposit in escrow either. I'll do the same when I sell our boat.

I bought a 57K boat in Jan a couple years ago without ever starting it, in May it would have been a 62K boat The guy who bought my Bayliner bought it in March based on its over all condition but had no way to run it since it was still below freezing outside. (There is an interesting story about his first trip out with it somewhere on the site)

Its all about how much risk you are willing to take and how confident you are that you can determine the condition of the drivetrain. In the case of the OP it comes down to how much he trusts the seller - for me if it didn't start I'd assume that it has big problems and price down accordingly. If the owner gets it to start then I'd be checking compression on a 12 year old boat.

 

[burtonrider11]

I bought a 57K boat in Jan a couple years ago without ever starting it, in May it would have been a 62K boat The guy who bought my Bayliner bought it in March based on its over all condition but had no way to run it since it was still below freezing outside. (There is an interesting story about his first trip out with it somewhere on the site)

Its all about how much risk you are willing to take and how confident you are that you can determine the condition of the drivetrain. In the case of the OP it comes down to how much he trusts the seller - for me if it didn't start I'd assume that it has big problems and price down accordingly. If the owner gets it to start then I'd be checking compression on a 12 year old boat.

Totally agree to all the above. I am not a big fan of risk, thus my rant on due diligence lol

I would also agree on the non starting being a sign of big problems as well. Plenty of good running boats for $5500-$7000 out there, no need to grab one with problems already

 

[R055]

The difference is most of the other boats in the price range are usually bayliner capris with alot of features this boat doesn't have like a swim platform or nice interior.

 

[R055]

I guess it'll come down to what was broken that it doesn't start, could be something small like kill switch or could be something big.
Also the boat is 2003, I believe the carbed 4.3's came with the thunderbold

 

[airshot]

As a boater for more than 50 yrs, having bought and sold a few, I must say I got a good chuckle from this posting. We have an "experienced boater' with numerous boats whose boat doesn't start when a potential buyer shows up but he is sure it is something small and inexpensive......how many times have we all heard this story? Now matter how true it may be....if there is a problem have it fixed before showing or having people come to look at it, and if you are the potential buyer you need to know for "sure" that everything is in working order unless you have really deep pockets and money is no object. I have had this happen to me in the past...but I tell the buyer...I will have this taken care of pronto and invite them to come back when all is good. I would never expect a buyer to buy something from me that did not work unless I advertised it that way. Nor would I ever but anything that was not as advertised unless one hell of a discount was involved.

 

[Texasmark]

As a boater for more than 50 yrs, having bought and sold a few, I must say I got a good chuckle from this posting. We have an "experienced boater' with numerous boats whose boat doesn't start when a potential buyer shows up but he is sure it is something small and inexpensive......how many times have we all heard this story? Now matter how true it may be....if there is a problem have it fixed before showing or having people come to look at it, and if you are the potential buyer you need to know for "sure" that everything is in working order unless you have really deep pockets and money is no object. I have had this happen to me in the past...but I tell the buyer...I will have this taken care of pronto and invite them to come back when all is good. I would never expect a buyer to buy something from me that did not work unless I advertised it that way. Nor would I ever but anything that was not as advertised unless one hell of a discount was involved.

Well some sellers prey on the fact that you were interested enough to go to whatever trouble and possible excitement you went through to get to see the boat, especially if you traveled a long distance and would like to conclude the sale and take the rig home with you; not having to come back at a later date. To me, any excuse is just that, an opportunity to present something in a way that doesn't represent what it is that you are buying/attempting to buy, in an attempt to slide sub par equipment under the table and get a sale. But, I'll play their game and the older I get the better I am at playing "Blind Man's Bluff".

 

[roscoe]

Do you know how many boats "ran when put into storage", but don't run now, ?

Lots.

Lots of things can happen in storage too.
I've seen a lot of damage done by rodents.
And improper winterization.
Repair could run anywhere from $20, to $4000.

 

[keith2k455]

But, I'll play their game and the older I get the better I am at playing "Blind Man's Bluff".

I think this about sums it up. If you can't turn the table to be completely in your favor, move along. When it comes to private sales of any type of item, there will always be another opportunity.