Buying a boat but it doesn't start

[R055]

Hey guys, I'm currently interested in buying a 2003 maxum 1900sr(carbed mercruiser 4.3) for 5500$. The problem was when i came to check it out/test drive it, the engine would just keep cranking but no spark. You could smell gas so there was fuel just no spark. He says it ran perfect when he winterized it last year. After checking it out more the owner suspects suspects a faulty ignition switch. At the moment I told him to fix it and ill buy the boat if we take it out on water test and it runs good. What could be possibly wrong with the boat and is it still worth buying?

My friend said it might be worth giving him a lower price and trying to fix it myself because its most likely something small with ignition.

 

[GA_Boater]

Take another look at the boat and see if it has a kill switch lanyard.that isn't connected.

The question is - Do you want to take a chance that it doesn't have major issues?

 

[R055]

Take another look at the boat and see if it has a kill switch lanyard.that isn't connected.

The question is - Do you want to take a chance that it doesn't have major issues?

I'll have to text the owner because its a 1.75 hour drive to his house. But he seemed to be good with boats and has 3 boats. He told me after checking it out some more that he thinks its the ignition switch because no spark while on start(cranking) but spark when he lets off the start.
It's a really nice boat feature/interior wise(for the price) that's why i'm kinda willing to take the chance.

 

[tpenfield]

My expectation would be that the seller would have checked the boat out before you tested it. Perhaps you should buy a boat that actually starts. Don't make the seller's problem become your problem.

 

[R055]

Yeah ill wait it out for him to fix it and then check it out again and ask him what the problem was.

 

[Texasmark]

I agree that if the owner was any kind of an equipment custodian, he would have ensured that whatever he had for sale would be "all that it could be". Expect the same from his equipment. I'd blow it off and look elsewhere.

 

[keith2k455]

I've bought motorcycles and small engine equipment that haven't started. Those are easy to tell if they're junk. A boat has too much to be concerned with to buy not running.

 

[64osby]

I negotiated 25% off a boat purchase even after the faulty lanyard was discovered.

Never hurts to ask.

 

[fhhuber]

If the engine won't start... assume it needs a new engine.

 

[RGrew176]

Sea trial and survey are recommended.

 

[flyingscott]

If the engine won't start... assume it needs a new engine.

Agree completely best statement here don't worry about figuring whats wrong with it you are not there to fix it.

 

[sublauxation]

I agree that if the owner was any kind of an equipment custodian, he would have ensured that whatever he had for sale would be "all that it could be". Expect the same from his equipment. I'd blow it off and look elsewhere.

Probably not the best assumption! My dad had a boat for sale and when the guy came to look at it they started it in the driveway on muffs and it ran fine. The guy offered money on the spot but my dad insisted they take it out on the lake for a test drive. They dropped it in the water and it wouldn't start, turns out a coil pack died in the 1 mile trip to the lake. Sometimes odd sh$t happens.

 

[thumpar]

An easy test would be to run a 12v lead from the battery to the coil. If is still doesn't start it is not the ignition switch.

 

[R055]

I'm giving this guy the benefit of a doubt. I'm guessing he didn't want to start if before I came because it was already winterized and would require rewinterizing if i flaked of something. He also owns multiple boats and looks like he got lots of experience. But i'll be sure to bring my friend whose good with boats/engines to make sure everything else checks out and is good before buying.

 

[redneck joe]

Check compression.

 

[Texasmark]

Probably not the best assumption! My dad had a boat for sale and when the guy came to look at it they started it in the driveway on muffs and it ran fine. The guy offered money on the spot but my dad insisted they take it out on the lake for a test drive. They dropped it in the water and it wouldn't start, turns out a coil pack died in the 1 mile trip to the lake. Sometimes odd sh$t happens.

Good point. Speaking from experience. But on the bright side, with it not starting it should awaken your curiosity as to what else might you need to discover about the history of this boat. However, if the boat doesn't show signs of neglect and the owner makes "the test before buy" offer then this would open a potential sale to me. Either wait till he fixes it, which I wouldn't do, or test him with a lowball price, low enough such that if the gizmo in question has to be restored, deducting the cost from the asking price. Like Mr. 64 said, he saved 25% of the asking price and had found the root cause beforehand. He was fortunate in that he had a seller ready to be relieved of his asset/liability and the problem gave the seller time to realize how badly he wanted to be rid of it, and time for the buyer to take advantage of an opportunity.....nothing ventured nothing gained.

Good luck.

Mark

 

[R055]

Good point. Speaking from experience. But on the bright side, with it not starting it should awaken your curiosity as to what else might you need to discover about the history of this boat. However, if the boat doesn't show signs of neglect and the owner makes "the test before buy" offer then this would open a potential sale to me. Either wait till he fixes it, which I wouldn't do, or test him with a lowball price, low enough such that if the gizmo in question has to be restored, deducting the cost from the asking price. Like Mr. 64 said, he saved 25% of the asking price and had found the root cause beforehand. He was fortunate in that he had a seller ready to be relieved of his asset/liability and the problem gave the seller time to realize how badly he wanted to be rid of it, and time for the buyer to take advantage of an opportunity.....nothing ventured nothing gained.

Good luck.

Mark

I doubt he'll lower the price more because he claims he can fix it himself and I already got him down to 5500$ from 7000$. Also buying early wouldn't let me do a test drive which is pretty important to me.

 

[JASinIL2006]

I doubt he'll lower the price more because he claims he can fix it himself and I already got him down to 5500$ from 7000$. Also buying early wouldn't let me do a test drive which is pretty important to me.

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.

 

[southkogs]

You're in a good track ... if he can fix it, look at it. If he can't fix it, move on.

Check prices in your area against comparable boats too. If you talked him down from $7k, I'm thinking you may have talked him down from "spring high" price to "more reasonable market price." It's not a bad price if the boat's in great shape, but it may not be one of those "don't pass this deal up" prices.

 

[Newbie@boats]

$5,500 gamble? Not from me...offer him $2,500 as is and go from there and hope its what you think it is, but after sitting for the winter like stated expect worst case a new motor