1984 Imperial VC 230

[Oshkosh1]

Hi all...Long time off the water. Life just does that sometimes! Anyhow...We now have a grandson and my wife wants to buy a small boat to run around in. I sold my former boat which was a 19' Wellcraft. Really liked it, but it was a bit small and was an open bow.

I'm looking at a 1984 Imperial VC 230 a local owner has had since new. It's been immaculately cared for. The PO estimates it has roughly 1200 hrs on it. It's been professionally serviced yearly, everything works as it should. It has a Mercruiser 898 engine/drive.

Just wanted to get some opinions as to the specific boat/engine/drive combo.

I'm familiar with the Alpha drive...is this stern drive similar in make-up and maintenance?

Anything particular I should look at during my inspection?

The owner seems to be very forthcoming. He has all receipts/maintenance records since it's purchase 32 years ago.

Thanks in advance...

 

[Oshkosh1]

Eh...Nevermind.

Hey...BEFORE you list something for sale on CL, ask your family and friends so you don't need to call the prospective buyer and say "My kid decided to buy it". Because it's taken him 24 years and a day to figure out he wanted it right?? :mad-new::mad-new::mad-new::mad-new:

 

[Bayou Dave]

I can't answer your question about the outdrive, but will say that the boat is is perfect condition!

 

[roffey]

Unfortunately the boat looks beautiful,,, hope the kid enjoys it. I would be a little ruffled as well. Get your hopes up and then takes the boat away. Oh well there will be lots of boats and boat shopping is fun stuff..

 

[Oshkosh1]

No Title

Unfortunately the boat looks beautiful,,, hope the kid enjoys it. I would be a little ruffled as well. Get your hopes up and then takes the boat away. Oh well there will be lots of boats and boat shopping is fun stuff..

Yeah...it wasn't even that I lost the boat itself. I was looking forward to it...I like older stuff(I also restore vintage British cars) but the way it was handled. Had he called and said it sunk...I would have simply moved on. A Vmail at the last minute was another story.

All is not lost...I did find another "gem". This 1991 Celebrity 230 with a 5.7l and one owner. Has only 280 hrs on it. Same price as the first! I guess I win in the long run!

 

[Alumarine]

You did win. That's a nice looking boat.

 

[southkogs]

Nice score. Congrats.

 

[roffey]

Nice boat with only 280 hours on it. My boat is a 2014 and I have 110 hours on it. The owner put 11 hours per year on it? I put that on over a weekend, LOL.

Question, Chris Craft are you going to rename?

 

[mr 88]

The Imperials of that vintage were known to have bad transoms,regardless of how well it was taking care of. The 898 engine also wasn't anything to write home about. You did 100% better,deeper boat for grandkids to keep them inside, nice SINGLE captains seat so distractions are minimal and the 5.7 if cared for run forever with parts available at any NAPA etc store, 7 years newer,full size swim platform for a few people to hang out on vs the small single ones, bennett trim tabs are a big plus and a ss prop vs a nicked up aluminum one, curved windshield vs angular one ,more updated control panel look , the cabin bulkhead is better thought out which equals a higher resale value as well, if you ever get to that point.YOU win big time ! Matter of fact I would call up the Imperial guy and thank him for " selling " it to his son !

 

[Oshkosh1]

Matter of fact I would call up the Imperial guy and thank him for " selling " it to his son !

Lol! Yeah...I DID think about it, but hopefully I'll see it out at anchor I'll be sure to stop and say "Hi"!

The Celebrity has a 350 Magnum engine and the Alpha one drive.

So what's the difference between the regular 350 and the "Magnum"? I'm familiar with the drive as that's what my old boat had. The marina I found it at is going to change the oil and pull the drive apart to change the water pump and change the gear oil prior to starting it up. Pretty good people there. It's a brokered boat; the owners were asking 8500 but dropped it to $5k because they don't want to pay the fees any longer. It's been sitting for 3 years. Has full camper canvas and a "box of stuff"(whatever that entails) with it.

Thanks for the replies so far!

Oh...what about manuals? I think I need the Mercruiser #14 and #15. I already have #'s 3 and 6.

 

[mr 88]

The magnum has about 10-15 more hp than the "regular" 350. The intake manifold is the only difference that I am aware of and that's where the extra hp comes from. The manuals should be in the Mercruiser forum on this site or there are links in the sticky portion at the top of it.