Buying

[Lozwell]

I am in the process of purchasing a GW 2001 Marlin 300 ( http://forums.iboats.com/boat-topics-questions-not-engine-topics/thinking-trading-bigger-boat-590387.html ). I have a boat survey scheduled for next Thursday. The boat has the original 0x66 Yamaha 2 stroke 225HP engines, but there is no hour meter available. The dealer says it was a one owner boat and he only went from A to Beach and back to A , blah blah... and the compression is excellent. I talked to the surveyor, and he said he is not sure that he can hook up his computer to give the true hour reading of the engines. I am not an engine expert or even novice... Is compression testing a good enough test to tell me that these engines are not going to need a 20k overhaul the minute I put them in the water, or should I be looking/asking for additional tests???

 

[JB]

Re: Buying

A compression test can tell you about the mechanics of the engine, nothing more. It can tell you nothing about the fueling, scavenging, ignition or drive train.

An on-the-water demo can tell you about the rest of the story. Hours are far less important than what happened during those hours.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Buying

JB is correct, compression doesn't tell you everything but it is a pretty good start. Yamaha's are top of the line outboards and short of abuse or some underlying badness you should be pretty safe. That being said. See if you can wander into the boat yard and find the mechanic that actually worked on the engines to get the actual skinny. Failing that, for what you are spending, see if you can pay a certified Yamaha mechanic $50-100 to tag along for the sea trial on his lunch break to get his opinion or just pay an independent mechanic to give the engines the once over. Also if your surveyor has a laptop he should be able to plug into the engines computer and even if he can't give you the total engine hours he should be able to tell you if the engines have thrown any codes. (listed any problems the engines are having) Congratulations in advance. GW is tops and so is Yamaha!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Buying

Like the others have said . . . no real way to tell, unless the computer can read out the hours.

Considering the age of the boat, you should expect it to have 600 - 800 hours on the engines, unless it was light use or un-used for a while during its life.

 

[Lozwell]

Re: Buying

thanks guys, I appreciate the advice!! As I am sure all boat dealers say, one owner and it was only lightly used...

 

[tazrig]

Re: Buying

thanks guys, I appreciate the advice!! As I am sure all boat dealers say, one owner and it was only lightly used...

You forgot the part about only taking it to a floating church on Sundays. :laugh: Seriously though you should be reasonable safe unless either the boat or the engines were abused. Hopefully you can get in touch with a mechanic who worked on the boat to set your mind at ease.