How do i buy a winterized boat?

[90stingray]

What's everyones thoughts about looking to buy a winterized boat. Its a 1991 Larson 20 footer. 350 mercruiser and alpha one. At a minimum I would like to start the engine... but she's all drained out of water. And the temps here are high of 35. Whats the normal procedure one should take? Thanks.

 

[Bondo]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

Ayuh,.... If your Serious about it, most sellers are willing to light it up for inspection, provided You pay for rewinterization, if you Don't buy it...
'course, there's usually a Deposit involved to protect everybody's Honesty...

If yer just tire kickin',... wait til Spring....

 

[sethjon]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

What's everyones thoughts about looking to buy a winterized boat. Its a 1991 Larson 20 footer. 350 mercruiser and alpha one. At a minimum I would like to start the engine... but she's all drained out of water. And the temps here are high of 35. Whats the normal procedure one should take? Thanks.

A very bad idea!! If you can't start it and preferably go out in it, don't even think about it.

 

[brhodes]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

I did it, but I wouldn't recommend it. I took a big gamble thinking the price may be better over the winter, and I had been watching this boat for a while. I had been trolling here, so I read plenty tails of woe, a few of the particulars of my situation made me feel better, but in the end, it was a big gamble probably not worth taking. Just my 0.02, good luck

 

[dellsboater]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

I just went thru the same thing, ended up buying, but I re winterized it myself, and found out they did not do it correctlly, so advise if you buy, re winterize it anyway just to be sure. I would also call the shop that winterized it if you can, several boats I looked at had been done professionally, and mechanics were very willing to tell me about the boat condition. In the end though I bought one that was winterized by the owner, so he said, but took a chance....got a great price that allowed me to plan for some unforseen repairs....

 

[Don S]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

If you want to hear it run, and you like everything else about the boat, then time to get a certified dealer involved. Pay to have the engine run and checked out (possibly a basic survey) and rewinterized immediately. You should be there to hear it run. If it sounds ok, the dealer should also pull the drive,and check bellows, etc. and check the gear lube for water.
If you decide against buying, have the dealer rewinterize. Fog and drain the engine.
If you buy, either you do the fog and drain, or the dealer can, but it must be done before it gets below freezing again.

Not many people, (me included) will let just any potential buyer start doing compression tests, and pulling the drive to check things. They may know nothing of what they are doing and mess up more than they check.

 

[Don S]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

There is another possibility.
If the seller is serious about selling it during the winter, he may be prepared to drain everything after a test run. Check to be sure. if you decide to buy, make sure it was drained after the test run.

 

[DianneB]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

It totally depends on who the seller is.

I got a great boat deal this time last year sight-unseen, based on lots of pictures and a dealer with an impeccable reputation for honesty. We actually haggled about $250 - he wanted to sell it for $250 less than I thought it was worth - I won! LOL!

 

[robbyr1]

Re: How do i buy a winterized boat?

I would recommend NOT BUYING A BOAT WITHOUT A TEST DRIVE! I'm sorry to say that I made that mistake last year, ended up with a cracked head and a long, sleepless winter.

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