First time boat buyer, should we worry about this corrosion?

[cdnNick]

My wife and I have been looking at getting a bowrider for a little over a month, this all started from a canoe ride lol. I think we have narrowed or choice down to 2 boats. My favorite is a 2007 Four Winns 180 with a 3.0L Volvo but there is some corrosion on the lower unit that I am wondering if we should be concerned with. We will be trailering the boat so it won't ever be left in the water.

I've attached some photos of the lower unit, the boat interior is extremely clean, no marks on the hull, there are a few scratches above the rub rail that might buff out and one larger scratch that might need some gelcoat repair but everything else looks great. The boat is being sold by a reputable marina in the area. Thanks in advance.

 

[oldjeep]

Nope. If it bothers you then clean it up and touch up the paint.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Like Old Jeepie said. Just make sure you use a good primer, specifically for aluminum, before the final topcoat.

 

[cdnNick]

Ok, so it doesn't seem to be a big issue. I talked about it with someone at work and he didn't seem concerned either.

What would cause this? I've looked at some boats that were much older and they didn't have any corrosion.

 

[oldjeep]

Ok, so it doesn't seem to be a big issue. I talked about it with someone at work and he didn't seem concerned either.

What would cause this? I've looked at some boats that were much older and they didn't have any corrosion.

Just caused by paint flaking off - either from chips or a bad original paint job. I had some on my 2005 mercruiser in some random places.

 

[Greg Mrozinski]

Localized electolysis...from the aluminum in contact with the stainless steel. Eventhough the drive has a zinc on it, doesn't necessarily mean that every square inch is fully protected. Maybe a small zinc on the power tilt and trim shafts may help.

 

[Watermann]

Personally I would clean that stuff off or demand it be done before purchase. Right now it may just be surface corrosion but It's more than just ugly or a bother if it continues to eat away into the cast AL. They may have the wrong anodes for the water the boat has been run in seeing all of the areas that are affected.

 

[tpenfield]

It could be a bargaining point. If you do buy the boat, you will want to prep and paint those areas and then I would add some anodes to the outdrive just to give it an advantage against further corrosion.

 

[lg260ss]

Ok, so it doesn't seem to be a big issue. I talked about it with someone at work and he didn't seem concerned either.

What would cause this? I've looked at some boats that were much older and they didn't have any corrosion.

Yup, not a big issue. The cause could be a lot of things. The reason you may see boats with no corrosion is because they do not sit in the water for extended periods. It looks like this outdrive has, and probably with the wrong anodes installed. Has this boat been used in salt or fresh water?

 

[cdnNick]

As far as we know fresh water only. We won't be keeping it in the water for long periods of time as we will be trailering it everywhere we go.