buying a MERC

[polypenguin]

Hello all, new here. I'm thinking about buying my first boat, a seaswirl spyder with a cobra I/O with a V6. I don't know what kind of motor. The motor oil is brown (water?). Smells kinda gassey. The guy said he thinks water got in it from rain while it was sitting. I'm sure he's lying about that. With water in the oil like that, what am I looking at?

He mis installed the starter, and it was hardly grounding, so he thinks the thing won't crank over, but I got it to after I re-installed the starter. For a 1989, is $1000 a good price for a boat that may need a new engine? Otherwise everything works. Everything's a little beat though, but it's all there. Upholstery is old.

Thanks in advance

 

[Don S]

Re: buying a MERC

RUN AWAY VERY QUICKLY.

Milky oil usually means a cracked block (aka new engine time). Since you called it a merc/cobra, my guess is it's a mongrel made up of any old parts they could find.
Merc and OMC are two completely different companies. OMC also went out of buisness about 10 years ago.
Not sure how you mis install a starter, but from the sounds of it, the boat is junk and he wants you to pay him $1000 to haul his junk off.

 

[polypenguin]

Re: buying a MERC

Your quote about doing it right the first time haunts me. I think it's perfect for this situation. Clarification: It has a cobra outdrive and whatever V6 would go with that (I assumed merc? I may be confused). In your opinion are there running boats similar to this one out there for around $1500?

 

[Don S]

Re: buying a MERC

It has a cobra outdrive and whatever V6 would go with that (I assumed merc?

Does it say Mercruiser on it? Is it black? Mercruiser engines are black, OMC is gray, but they are both Chevy V6, it's just the different accessories that change.

In my experience, the cheaper the boat, the more expensive it is to repair. And a FREE boat is Waaaayyyyyy overpriced.

 

[Limited-Time]

Re: buying a MERC

Moving forward a OMC powered boat is going to be way more expensive and harder to maintain than a Merc or Volvo for the reason Don stated. For your first boat K.I.S.S. is the way to go. Merc or Volvo for an IO.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: buying a MERC

I hate to pile on.......BUT...

I bought a "Good Deal" Omc Cobra powered boat..


It's now Mercruiser powered. (After inserting $$$) Your best bet is to look but don't buy an OMC powered boat.


If you only have $1500 to spend now....wait for a while until you get more. Very cheap(inexpensive) boats have a way of costing MUCH more in the long run.

If you're a first timer you might even consider an outboard. Inexpensive outboards do not have the exponential cost appreciation of I/O's


Cheers,


Rick

 

[delsol]

Re: buying a MERC

also most of the owners of the boats being sold act dumb so you buy them. i live in pa. where boats are high in price. i lived in south fla and boats are a dime a dozen. whatever boat you get its going to coat $$$ i got an 89 cobia with a 80 hp turn key 3 years ago for 1100.00 . it ran good for 3 seasons till i did something stupid. now i have a project boat big $$$$ imo. but i knew this going in so i dont care. but instead of spending a total of 8k on new motor in the boat with the price of the boat. i would have brought a complete boat from the start that was running. but this is a power boat and i am 45 and its what i wanted after lots of boats over the years.
good site to find a boat in the us cheap. i sold and brought car's here and have a home listed
craigslist.com its free to buy and sell. i sold a work truck last week in a few hours priced right.
bob

 

[polypenguin]

Re: buying a MERC

Thanks guys. My mechanical eye is twinkling for this boat, but the word of reason is telling me no way. About the motor, if it's chevy based, anyway to just grab an automotive chevy block and build it for a boat, or is this a stupid question?

 

[Bondo]

Re: buying a MERC

It's Not the Block,............. It's EveryThing Else.........

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: buying a MERC

It's an OMC. Don't buy it. Wait for a newer Merc or Volvo to come along.


Cheers,

Rick