Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

[A.L.]

I am new to this forum and boating in general. I am looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit 170, with a Johnson 90 engine (outboard), 2 cycle, cylinder, same year. The engine has two new heads and new gaskets (may have screwed up this info). Comes with bimini top (not in great condition) and rain covers (in good condition). The boat looks good and I am told the mechanic who has worked on it is highly recommended (by other than the seller). It looks great for my purposes - just a bt of salt water fishing, and tooling around the bay. I am not looking for speed, just a boat that runs well. I live right near the water so I will save on slip fees and plan to winter store at my job. No hour meter and no idea, but here in the northeast it can be a short season. Currently the boat is out of the water as of a few days ago and underside looks good. Also comes with a trailer in good shape. Asking $4K - Is is worth it?

Thanks for your help - it is much appreciated!

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

I myself currently have two Sunbird boats one a 1993 and the other a 1996.

Keep in mind Sunbird ceased production in 1998.
OMC took them over after years of supplying them engines and not getting paid.
OMC shut down the operation in 1998.

I would wonder if the last boats produced used any previously rejected hulls that were in the storage yard out back. Or every odd ball left over part on hand was used just to get the last boats to the dealers.

 

[A.L.]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

Thanks for the reply - Upon further inspection, I found the boat is a 1996 - I hope that is better. I goes into the water for a test run tomorrow, so we shall see!

You must have an affinity for Sunbirds if you have two. It seems like a nice boat for a first timer. I was looking at a few Whalers, but they are awfully pricey for the lack of comfort. I also know comfort doesn't mean that much in 3 foot chop.

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

Actually I stumbled into three of them.
Hurricane Ivan left my area with hundreds of totaled out boats in insurance salvage auctions.
So I signed up with the main company doing the auctions here.

I was looking for most anything trailerable with Tahoe. As long as it was not an aluminum pontoon (per the wife).

We got lucky and won a 1993 Sunbird Odyssey 21' (deckboat) with some hull damage and a 1999 90hp Johnny.
We got her home and had the outboard running within an hour of tinkering on what was suppose to be a totally submerged boat. I had inspected it and there was no way it had been submerged.
I repaired the small hull holes and painted it. The deck had been replaced and below deck tanks installed one year prior to Ivan by previous owner.
I then tracked down the proper trailer for that model boat via the original selling dealer.
I figure I have about $2500 into it plus my labor.

Then along came hurricane Katrina, same thing but boats in Gulfport, MS.
I bought another one, same model but a 1995 with some hull holes and junk outboard. But it came with a trailer.
I gave it to my father-in-law and he hauled it back to Ottawa, Ontario after snowbirding down here for the winter.
Then I bought a third one, same model (1996) came up in the auction.
No hull damage at all and on a primo trailer. The outboard had not been submerged.
Bought that one two cause it has a fiberglass deck whereas the 1993 one has a plywood deck. Other than the deck and the console shape they are all identical thru the years. This one would run but it needs to have a rebuilt powerhead and maybe lower unit work done. So much so that I am shopping to just replace that outboard all together.

Then I will sell the first one.

 

[A.L.]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

Wow - that is quite an undertaking IMHO. I would never have the time (or knowledge) to work on a boat like that. We got the boat in the water Friday, ran like a dream, then it stalled a bit on starting today (not uncommon I am told) but it wouldn't get into gear. Does that make sense? I think it may be user error but I am going to have it looked at anyway - need to have two new coils installed as it wasn't firing properly. We got a quick tow back to our mooring from a good samaritan (all of 100 feet, but the current was swift).

I am really a newbie at this. Could you tell?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

Outboards have square cut gears.
Make sure your shifting fully and swiftly. Do not swift slowly nor timidly.
Not the same as automobile transmissions with a clutch and different gear teeth that are more forgiving.

If you hear some gear grinding, it is most likely your not shifting good enough.
Many people ease into the gears, hear the grinding and backoff thinking something is wrong inside.

 

[A.L.]

Re: Looking at a 1998 Sunbird Spirit- any advice?

Thanks, jeeperman - I took your advice and had no problem. Also had the coils changed and had the idle turned up a bit. Runs beautifully now. Now I just need the time to get out on it!