1999 OX66 - Survey results

[Cliffteeray]

I am in the final landing pattern of purchasing a 1999 Grady-white 272 sailfish with twin 200 OX66's with 350 hours. As this is my first foray into the saltwater relm any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated (other than this seems to be a bottomless money pit, but i guess we can't take it with us).

The boat is in excellent shape. the compression tests came back: 1) 125, 119, 125, 121, 112, 121 and 2) 124, 124, 119, 126, 123, 124. During the 1st sea-trail, we got 10 feet from the dock and the port side alarm went off. Pulling the head off revealed salt build-up that was clogging the water circulation. The Yamaha certified mechanic cleaned out both engines and replaced the thermostats. Afterwhich, we tried it again and the starboard engine was "peeping" weakly, he blew it out with air and they both ran at 5100 WOT (one engine was at 5000 and the other at 5200, reaching 39mpg).
It is thought that there might be some additional salt build-up at the last point the water exists the engine (by the battery sending unit - or something like that) Also, the props also need a good greasing.

The boat weights 5500 dry and had a full tank of gas, 205 gallons. I am being told that the recommended rpm is between 5,000 and 6,000; it has 17" props which is the reason why it reached the lower end of the range. (it was thought that the smaller props would help with the mpg).

All in all, it seems that the seller could have preformed a better maintaince schedule. The mechanic tells me that these are normal reoccuring issues.

Any thoughts? Considering the weight of the boat and age of the engines, is this combination going to kill me on gas and oil?

Thanks

 

[99yam40]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

112 sounds a little low for that one cylinder.
Go to Yamaha performance site and check out what a rig like that did and what props they used.
http://www.yamahaoutboards.com/owner-resources/performance-bulletins

I am always leery of used and not up to snuff motors.

Battery sending unit sounds like water cooled regulator, and if it does not get proper cooling it will toast itself or something else.

Have them fix everything and run it hard for hours to make sure it will hold up before buying

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

I am in the final landing pattern of purchasing a 1999 Grady-white 272 sailfish with twin 200 OX66's with 350 hours. As this is my first foray into the saltwater relm any feedback or suggestions would be greatly appreciated (other than this seems to be a bottomless money pit, but i guess we can't take it with us).

The boat is in excellent shape. the compression tests came back: 1) 125, 119, 125, 121, 112, 121 and 2) 124, 124, 119, 126, 123, 124. During the 1st sea-trail, we got 10 feet from the dock and the port side alarm went off. Pulling the head off revealed salt build-up that was clogging the water circulation. The Yamaha certified mechanic cleaned out both engines and replaced the thermostats. Afterwhich, we tried it again and the starboard engine was "peeping" weakly, he blew it out with air and they both ran at 5100 WOT (one engine was at 5000 and the other at 5200, reaching 39mpg).
It is thought that there might be some additional salt build-up at the last point the water exists the engine (by the battery sending unit - or something like that) Also, the props also need a good greasing.

The boat weights 5500 dry and had a full tank of gas, 205 gallons. I am being told that the recommended rpm is between 5,000 and 6,000; it has 17" props which is the reason why it reached the lower end of the range. (it was thought that the smaller props would help with the mpg).

All in all, it seems that the seller could have preformed a better maintaince schedule. The mechanic tells me that these are normal reoccuring issues.

Any thoughts? Considering the weight of the boat and age of the engines, is this combination going to kill me on gas and oil?

Thanks

I have been considering buying a boat like that . . . so, as long as you get some confirmation on the engines being OK, it should be a good boat for the ocean. 350 hours is fairly low. I'd want to see another compression test after the heads were put back on.

The compression #'s you gave are within 5% +/- so even with the low-lying 112 cylinder, it is fine.

As far as fuel consumption . . . it seems like a little late in the game to be thinking of that . . . but it won't be a deal breaker . . . the boat itself will send you to the poor house, if you are not ready to take on a 27 foot twin engine boat.

when you say 'mpg' are you really meaning gallons per hour (gph)? Boats don't get 39 mpg . . . they get about 2 mpg, maybe 1 mpg for the boats in the 30 foot range.

 

[robert graham]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

Maybe find a similar Freshwater boat...13 years in saltwater is a long time and there could well be internal corrosion issues.

 

[tpenfield]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

If salt water is a concern . . . Grady White and Yamaha are a good combination . . . so as long as the engines prove out . . . where is this boat located?


UPDATE: Is this the boat? Hours say 550, but everything else seems to match.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1999/Grady-White-272-Sailfish-WA-2448793/Brick/NJ/United-States

 

[fondafj]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

I have the same boat with 225's, do a search for boat tests and you will find this setup is actually more efficient at cruising speed with the 225's vs the 200's. Cruising speed is 28-30 mph at a solid 20 -22 gph depending on water conditions. Add to that the 50:1 oil usage at $22 per gallon and you can sort out the operating costs. 350 hrs is reasonable for that age, but more important than hours is the service schedule. Do a search on Ox66 in this forum and read on the service recommendations. These outboards do not like to be neglected. RPM's are a little low for WOT, probably should have 15's for props, mine are 17's, WOT is 5400 and the low 40's for MPH.
With the weight of that boat, the deep V, and marginal horsepower you will struggle to maintain trim in anything but flat seas. Even with 50 more horsepower, my setup required a lot of user input to maintain trim in anything but calm waters.
On a side note, I mix boating salt and fresh, leave in salt, motors down, for 2 weeks during the summer and have never experienced the salt caking you described.
FYI -- the weight sounds low, I'm at 8600-8800 lbs wet and packed for the weekend.

 

[Tucker99]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

I'm right with fondafj. I have the same year boat with OX66 225's. Unless you're getting a smoking deal I would look for a boat with 225's. In fact, I've never seen a 272 with OX66 200's. There are a few repowers out the with HPDI 200's that seem to put up better numbers that the OX66 225's. I would definately question the service on the motors. You can bet the have the old style PRV's. Ever been decarbed? Bet the 02 sensors are shot. How 'bout the LP fuel pumps. Easy to see if they've been replaced; look for white diaphram tabs. I got mine last October and bought everything for 100 hrs service. The PO was great guy that kept the boat in real nice shape. He wasn't mechanically up to snuff and hired "a guy" to do maintance that apparently didn't know squat. The motors had heavy carbon, 1-02 sensor isn't specing out and a saltaway flush gave me about a half of cup of deposits from each engine.

 

[Cliffteeray]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

thanks for the replies. As I will be using it off the NJ shore, to the mud hole and Long Island, it might be underpowered. The plan is to get 2 seasons out of them, then repower (just before the kids go to college then I can have two money drains).

They do need a decarb which the seller is unwilling to do (only because of where it is located) and will be replacing the O2 sensors. It seems that the issues are stemming from the lack of use, as mentioned (and everything I have read and been told) these engines need to be run.

Ensign - the boat your referencing has Johnson carb style engines and it no where near in as good shape. The boat I am considering is being brokered by Marinemax #99578.

Things to think about.

thanks

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: 1999 OX66 - Survey results

my advice would be to pay a little extra and get the boat you want, that already has the HP motors you want. I have purchased boats with the idea of re powering, it just seems to work out best to get what you want to begin with...also I prop my motors to run 5500-5800 RPMs. 5200 is too low for my taste.