18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

[Naslund]

My wife and I are looking at this boat. We have only ever had a boat with an outboard. This would be our first I/O and I'm nervous about it. At this point I'm not the most mechanical, I'm an auto painter not a mechanic. This is the write up on the boat and engine. If you could just read it and let me know your thoughts and other things I should be finding out:

Hard-top, cuddy cabin, V-berth, sleeper seats. Full swim-grid with out-board bracket, and stainless steel fold-out boarding ladder. Engine: Volvo 4-cylinder gas, FWC, electronic ignition, with Volvo stern-drive. 146 HP, 698 original hours, top end and stern-drive rebuilt and new alternator in 2006. Yamaha 9.9 outboard kicker with only 35 hours on it, with new never used portable gas tank. Two batteries with switch, blower, bilge pump with auto-float and dashboard switch. Batteries new in 2007. Highlander boat trailer. Compass, VHF radio with long-range antenna, fire extinguisher, Danforth anchor (deck mounted, deck pipe, chain locker) with chain and 200? rode. Four matching fenders, four dock lines, radar reflector. Brand-new, never used, port-a-potti (fits centre line under V berth). Work and service records available. Boat very economical to operate. It is insured for $12,500. Reason for selling ? - Old boater's disease - two-foot itis. Bought a bigger boat

Thanks

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

How old is it? Jerry

 

[45Auto]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

What kind of boat is it? - oops, just noticed the Malibu in the title ....

 

[Don S]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

http://www.usedvictoria.com/classified-ad/8572312

 

[captmello]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Looks like a nice boat. That I/O will require a lot of maintenance, much more than your typical outboard.

The maintenance is the same whether its been rebuilt or not.

I'd get it surveyed before spending $9000 on an older boat.

 

[Naslund]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Ya, I agree that a survey is a must,

 

[kamby]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Another thing you might want to do is price wear parts. Starter. alt, carb or injectors, plugs and wires, distributer etcc. I ran into this problem with my boat realising the carb is about 1k new, 300$ Alt, $1k Distributer, $80 distrib cap, $120 Wires. Yes they do require lots of maintance, Don S and CaptMello are really smart guys they helped me out a lot and i owe them, even with putting up with my nonsense.

 

[Don S]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Received this back from the seller.

The boat was built in 1991, sold and first used in 1992. The engine is
a 4-cylinder Volvo, 2 carburetors, 140 hp, and Volvo sterndrive. All in
good shape and running well.

My guess is that it's a 250 or AQ151 (same engine, different name).
It's a 146 hp (crankshaft measured) 4 cylinder engine.
Here is the brochure for it.

http://vppneuapps.volvo.com/ww/PIE/...2-13-20-00&t=PDF1P&a=7732793&p=T416&d=Product Bulletins&s=907494&lang=en-GB

 

[Naslund]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Thanks for all the help. It seems like a good boat but I just have never had a stern drive vessel. Maybe I should stick to the old outboard.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

If your mechanically inclined then it won't make a difference between an outboard or I/O. I/O would probably be better on gas. The Volvo sterndrive if taken care of is almost bullet proof..The motor will last as long as you take care of it.Fresh water flush and keep it off the sandbars and mud holes.
Good luck,J

 

[captmello]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

At this point I'm not the most mechanical, I'm an auto painter not a mechanic.

In my opinion, if you do not plan on performing the required maintenance and/or repair work for a boat, your better off with something newer and an outboard.

For $9000 you could fing a much newer outboard than 1991, at least around my area.

However, I like the I/O's because I like to work on stuff. It is a nice boat, Have you fallen in love with it already?

 

[Naslund]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

NO I haven't totally fallen in love with it yet. I'm looking at a few more as well at the same time. I will do the regular maintanence or have it done. The marina I have my slip at has a full shop. I have a friend who has in inboard and h edoes all his work. He also owns a mechanic shop so I know I can learn a alot as I go. I've got to start somewhere and I have access to the help.

Is the engine on an Inboard similar to a regular car engine?

Naslund

 

[Robj]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Is the engine on an Inboard similar to a regular car engine?

Yep. Volvo has many of their older engines that were just marinized automotive engines. Not sure of that one, but it may be as well. Regardless they are very similiar.

Have a great day

Rob.

 

[rocket1968]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Did you test drive it? (Did I miss that part)

Sounds underpowered, or might leave you wanting more.

 

[captmello]

Re: 18.5ft Malibu w/ 4cyl volvo i/o

Did you test drive it? (Did I miss that part)

Sounds underpowered, or might leave you wanting more.

150 horsepower is plenty for a 18 foot boat. IMO.

The engine is a modified auto engine. The engine is the easy part. Its the outdrive and the components that go with it that are unique.