Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

[Teamster]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

^^^^^^That's the attitude!!!!!!!

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I dont really get why people think its not worth it to repair, its a cool boat with a nice layout.

Just honest opinions from people who have been there before. If that's what you're after and you don't mind spending the time and $$$ rebuilding her, then go for it. The boat doesn't have a whole lot going for it (besides being cool) as everything needs repair and there are a lot of unknowns; deck, stringers, transom, drive, etc., etc., etc.... To come out with something close to a 10K boat afterwards (if possible) I think your $4K rebuild estimate is pretty low.

One thing that was pointed out earlier, make sure you get the boat and trailer title before doing anything. I looked at a project boat under similar conditions that you acquired your boat, and I couldn't get either titled as the person who could have liened it wasn't going to do it, not worth their time. Being in CA, I think you're in for a battle titling either if the ground work hasn't been laid out for you.

 

[Tfreestyle]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I know the auctioneer very well and he deals with tons of lien sales but I dont plan on spending a dime on it until it is in my name, I did take that comment to heart and that is first priority. I have found a couple good motors to swap in there and I now have a guy who quoted me $1000 for floors if stringers and foam ok and $1800 if they all need to be replaced, once I have the paperwork he is coming down to do some checking to see which it will probably be.

I decided that if I am keeping it that a new 140hp will be getting dropped in(or very low hours).

fishrdan- how do you like the performance of your 140hp? I feel it is a bit small for my boat but I just think the hassles of me swapping is going to be over budget.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

If that is indeed a 20-21' boat, it will likely be a real dog with the 140.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

fishrdan- how do you like the performance of your 140hp? I feel it is a bit small for my boat but I just think the hassles of me swapping is going to be over budget.

I have an 18' aluminum dual console, about 2250# loaded, minus people. If it's just me the boat goes 35MPH WOT, me and the family and all their carp it drops 2-3 MPH WOT, loaded up with a couple days of camping carp it's doggy but that could be corrected by dropping prop pitch. Being that your boat (I'm guessing from 213) is 21', I wouldn't expect stellar performance out of it.

The extra 3' and the added structure to enclose the helm will add a lot of weight.Check the prop and see what pitch it is, this will give you some indication of what type of performance you could expect out of the boat,,, if it was propped correctly by the previous owner. Boats with 3.0L/140HP Mercruisers are usually propped with a 19-21P prop, small fast hulls could use a 23P, slow heavy hulls - heavily loaded or high altitude would use 15-17P props.

 

[mwe-maxxowner]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I'd like to find someone to do a full structural rebuild for me for 1800$! Its costing me nearly that just for materials.

 

[Tfreestyle]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I planned on purchasing a new prop once everything gets to be working since there is a nick in the current prop. From what I have read you are right on it with the 19-21p, alot have said 19p is a good size.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I planned on purchasing a new prop once everything gets to be working since there is a nick in the current prop. From what I have read you are right on it with the 19-21p, alot have said 19p is a good size.

Depends on the boat... The engine needs to be able to reach it's WOT RPM range (wide open throttle) and you have to select the correct prop, pitch and diameter, that will allow the engine to do so. What works great for one boat could work terrible for another boat. The prop forum has all sorts of good info on prop selection, Iboat's store has some pretty good general prop info, Mercury has a prop selector. But, those are the least of your worries now.

I would ask your fiberglass guy how much it would cost to replace the deck, stringers, transom and foam. I'm guessing $2500-3000. That would be a worst case scenerio, but quite possible for a boat of that age. Search the forum on how to test the transom for rot and core-sample the foam for water, easy ways to test what you have. Better to find out now...

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Marlin 213, sitting for a long time and vandalized. Need suggestions for a newbie

I agree above. you will need to get the boat finished before worrying about a prop. once on the water, you then check your WOT RPM. then adjust the prop from there.

On my 140 in a boat weighing less than 2000, I used a 19p for cruising, a 17p or 15p for water skiing (skier mass dependent)

if your seriously looking at new power plants, I would go with a 4.3 liter myself.

However first things first. get it titled in your name.