is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

[snowman51789]

I'm looking at a 1990 wellcraft eclipse 216 with a 5.0 motor and I belive a gen 1 alpha 1 drive. The boat is in a storage ware house so I can't start the motor, today I went and looked at it for thr second time and I was gonna give a deposit, I decided to put it in gear and I noticed it was hard to push the throttle (the warehouse was 20 degrees or colder) as I moved it some it got easier, I put the throttle in forward and had my girlfriend spin the prop and it would only spin in one direction and I could hear a click (outdrive shifting) but when I put it in reverse there was no click and she could spin the prop in both directions. When it was in reverse, it was as if it was in neutrol, there was no click, no grinding sounds or anything, would this most likely be a shift cable adjustment or the shift cable needs to be replaced?

I have the service record all the way back to 2003 and it is squeeky clean only normal fixes and the starter was replaced a few times, also the boat has low hours.

Any advice would be a big help

Thanks

Dave

 

[Bondo]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

I'm looking at a 1990 wellcraft eclipse 216 with a 5.0 motor and I belive a gen 1 alpha 1 drive. The boat is in a storage ware house so I can't start the motor, today I went and looked at it for thr second time and I was gonna give a deposit, I decided to put it in gear and I noticed it was hard to push the throttle (the warehouse was 20 degrees or colder) as I moved it some it got easier, I put the throttle in forward and had my girlfriend spin the prop and it would only spin in one direction and I could hear a click (outdrive shifting) but when I put it in reverse there was no click and she could spin the prop in both directions. When it was in reverse, it was as if it was in neutrol, there was no click, no grinding sounds or anything, would this most likely be a shift cable adjustment or the shift cable needs to be replaced?

I have the service record all the way back to 2003 and it is squeeky clean only normal fixes and the starter was replaced a few times, also the boat has low hours.

Any advice would be a big help

Thanks

Dave

Ayuh,... With the limited Info, I'd guess the lower shift cable is junk, rather than the drive....

Btw,... It's an Alpha 1..... There no such thing as a Gen.I....
Just Alpha 1, 'n Alpha 1, Gen.II...

 

[Fishermark]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

I would agree with Bond-o. If the owner will let you, and you feel confident doing it before you own it, you can disconnect the lower shift cable where it connects by the engine. Then pull and push the cable while your significant other turns the prop by hand - counterclockwise and clockwise. See if it shifts into forward and reverse then.

 

[kmarine]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

I recomend a sea trial at closing this will often expose any potential issues. I also recomend a pressure testing the outdrive among other items. I suggest you make the deal contingent on having a mechanical inspection or survey at your expense. This can allow you to back out if you find issues.

 

[LilRedNeckGirl]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

The best advise on buying a boat, is to wait until you can start it, and better yet, do a sea trial. Past that its a crap shoot. A written warranty is only as good as the person offering it.
If the boat is priced such as you just cant get hurt, then I would say have at it, If its a fair market value, I would be doing a sea trial before I put my money on the table.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

And while it's probably just a cable issue, if the outdrive is junk, a complete SEI replacement is $1500, right here on iboats. So factor that into your purchase price. But you really should sea trial the boat.

 

[snowman51789]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

thanks for the advice, yes i realize that the best thing to do would be a sea trial, thats pretty obvious. however in this case thats not possible. i just want to know what most likely the problem is, dose anybody think that the fact that its only 20 dergrees could have anything to do with it??

 

[dubs283]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

thanks for the advice, yes i realize that the best thing to do would be a sea trial, thats pretty obvious. however in this case thats not possible. i just want to know what most likely the problem is, dose anybody think that the fact that its only 20 dergrees could have anything to do with it??

why is it not possible to sea trial?? seller is highly motivated to sell now?? without a sea trial?? - seems fishy if this is the case

as far as what the issue is, nobody here will know for sure - we can only guess based on what you tell us and prior experience with the symptoms

the only way to know for sure is to get the boat out of storage, run it, sea trail, pull the drive and inspect, whatever it takes to figure it out

take everybodys advice here and wait until you can sea trial the boat, it will be worth it - if the boat sells before you can oh well, there a lot of boats for sale and plenty to sea trial in the spring

you wouldn't dream of buying a car without driving it would you??

 

[cr2k]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

The only person that will lie to you more then a fisherman is someone selling a used boat.

Buyer be aware!

 

[achris]

Re: is the outdrive on this boat im about to buy junk???

The only person that will lie to you more then a fisherman is someone selling a used boat.

Buyer be aware!

And how can you tell when he's lying? His lips will be moving.....