need advice on buying used boat

[ezmobee]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

OMC Stern drives and anything by Force have not been made since the 90's. Parts are getting hard to find. Worse yet, some mechanics won't even look at them. That doesn't mean you absolutely shouldn't buy a boat with a Force or an OMC but you NEED to consider these factors when figuring out a good deal. $5k is a decent price for a 1986 19' boat in excellent condition however, the OMC drive really should knock a grand or 2 off that price.

 

[tmh]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

Stu, look at the recent thread here titled "WhooHooo" (or something like that). It is a great example of what you need to be searching for in a boat. Only patience can get a nice one like in that thread! You may not be quite as lucky, but anything close would be great for you!

A month or two looking for 'the right" used boat is nothing.....that's what it takes sometimes. If you NEED to boat NOW, rent something for a few outings while you look. It gets you on the water and near boaters who just might know of something you'dbe interested in, who knows.

btw, Force, OMC and the like should come at a lower cost for a good reason - they are expensive and difficult to own because parts and service options are much more limited.

 

[MikDee]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

IMO, That's more like it! a clean boat, nice size, & styling, with good option's, a Winner! but, a bit pricey for an 86' with an OMC drive. I guess you've heard that before, many times, but it looks like a turn key operation with a nice EZ loader trailer to boot. I'd say, check it out, or have a pro check it out, then if you find anything wrong, hopefully minor, then you can haggle on the price, then Go for It! If you get the rest of the season's use out of it, without any issues, you will have more then made up for the extra expense.

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

thanks for everyones input, it's helping me weed out the boats I know I don't want, including those L-Drives

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

I've been e-mailing the guy in Seattle about that boat that he couldn't start again after pulling it up to the dock, he sent me a bunch more pictures. and it's another one that looks really clean, it won't start, but he said it ran fine until he shut it off at the doc, then when he went to start it again, it wouldn't start, it cranks over, is getting gas, and he says it has spark, but won't start, I think it could be picked up for what he owes the bank on it, which is 3100, I'd like to look at it and at least see what the problem might be, I could head up there with some tools, if I could get that engine to fire, I'd say it couldn't be a very serious problem, it's had a tremendous amount of work done to it, and from the looks of the pics, it looks spotless, I have them on the computer at work, I can post the pictures when I go in tonight, I'd kind of like your thoughts on that one, I'm willing to look at it, but if it has spark and fuel, I don't know why it wouldn't want to even try to start, it seems to me it would want to at least try to kick over, but then again, I'm not an expert on this stuff, so what's your thoughts?

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

The layout of that bayliner makes for alot of room in 23ft. The flybridge gives you the "birds-eye-view" and privacy away from distractions while maneuvering...if necessary.

The mechanicals ?

Rot ?

Hull Codition ?

How about a sea trial ?






Enjoy

I'll ask the guy today these questions, I have not talked to the owner yet,

I did find the following ad on craigslist, what do you guys think of this one?
=========================================================
18' Starcraft - $3800

Excellent condition, 115 HP Evenrude, 40+MPH. Loaded: dual batteries; fish finder; loran; full canvas; original upholstery. Boat always garaged & excellent family/fishing boat. It's a must see to appreciate

 

[MikDee]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

It's Aluminum, If that's what you're looking for? How old is it? That looks like a mid-seventies motor.

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

It's Aluminum, If that's what you're looking for? How old is it? That looks like a mid-seventies motor.

the guy doesn't list the year of the boat, I haven't called him yet to ask questions, I figured I'd see what you guys had to say about it first, I think for the age, the price might be a little high, maybe a good buy, but not a great buy, as for an aluminum boat, it doesn't really matter to me if it's aluminum or fiberglass, which do you guys think is better? and for the age, am I going to run into parts avalability problems on that outboard?

boatless day number 14 and the search continues

I did get a call back on the 3500 bayliner that is clean, the guy said he dropped the price to 3500 because it needs a top end rebuild on the engine, so I'm passing on that one

 

[DufferJim]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

Personally I think that aluminum Starcraft looks awesome if that's actually the original upholstery. If that had been in my area when we were looking it'd likely be in my driveway right now

Just my opinion but if it runs well, and has been babied like they say it has, it's worth offering $3200 - $3500.

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

Personally I think that aluminum Starcraft looks awesome if that's actually the original upholstery. If that had been in my area when we were looking it'd likely be in my driveway right now

Just my opinion but if it runs well, and has been babied like they say it has, it's worth offering $3200 - $3500.

ok I'll give the guy a call and see if we can go look at it.

also, the bluewater that's up in seattle that won't start, I've been e-mailing that guy, here's the low down on it, here's what he says about the engine

"the boat is really clean carpet could do with a vacuum and the vinyl wiped down. As for your question, yes engine turns over, sparks too and Im pretty sure its getting gas...when i called my mechanic he told me to check the vent hose. so i did and i blew out a squirt of gas. so i really don't think there is anything wrong with this boat i think it flooded or the vent got blocked up, it tries to start but but won't"

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

here's some more pictures of the blue water, what's your opinions on the engine not wanting to start? I'm thinking that if I can pay off the guys loan for 3100, and it's not a serious engine problem, it might be worth it, what's your opinions on this boat?

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

and one more picture, this boat has me interested if I can figure out why it won't start.

Seattle is about 3 hours away from me so it's not to bad of a trip, and the guy is asking 4200 for the boat, but the way he's talking, at this point, I think he'd be happy to get out from under the loan and he owes 3100 on it.

give me some ideas on this engine issue, if it cranks but won't start, what could it be? I'm thinking ,maybe a fuel pump? he did say he ran it all day, it did fine, never ran hot or anything, and he idled it up to the dock and shut it off, went and got his truck, and when he got back in the boat to fire it up and load it on the trailer, it wouldn't start, and from his e-mail, he's got no idea what's wrong,

 

[Mr.Stuarts Girl]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

I like the Blue Water one.

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

I like the Blue Water one.

the guy also pulled the ad and is holding the boat until I make a dicision, seems like a very honest guy to me

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

from looking at the pictures, it looks like it's got an enclosed cooling system, tht's can't be a bad thing I wouldn't think, this is the boat I want to lean towards getting, but I'm wondering what your comments are going to be on it.

 

[DufferJim]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

I'm an auto tech not a marine tech but:

Could be bad fuel pump or filter, could be extremely bad timing, spun or broken distributor shaft, spun or broken camshaft or timing chain, could be something hung in the carb or linkage flooding the engine (or a bad injector if that's a TBI. Can't tell from the pics but looking at the intake it's either-or, definitely not an EFI).

I wouldn't think any of that stuff is world-beatingly expensive or difficult to repair, but again I'm thinking in automotive terms. I would think a compression/fluid check would be a fair indication as to whether or not it's worth purchase. Tough call without getting my hands on the motor.

Looks like a great looking boat in the pics though. Good luck.

Edit: Forgot it could be fouled plugs too. If that's the case though you'd need to figure out what fouled them. They couldn't have worn out while he was walking to his truck.

 

[MikDee]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

What's wrong with your friends boat the Renell? I like that one better. There are some known issues with that 3.7 discontinued Mercruiser motor in the Blue water boat, check around you'll see,,, also, part's and engine replacement's are getting rare for it.

 

[Mr.Stuarts Girl]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

What's wrong with your friends boat the Renell?

$$$$$ is what's wrong.

He is standing pretty firm on $5000, but is willing to talk if it spends a month on CL without selling. In a month the true pleasure boating season will be over here in the NW, true we will have it for next season but there is no garuntee that we are going to see eye to eye on the price, or that it will not sell first.

 

[Mr.Stuart]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

the 3.7 is a bad motor? gonna have to look that one up, I had planed on going up there and getting my hands dirty with it and seeing if I casn figure out what happend

 

[MikDee]

Re: need advice on buying used boat

This Mercruiser 4cyl. is a Lincoln block, with I think chevy parts, 181 cu. in, large 4" bore, it was used for 165, 170, 180, 190 hp models depending on carbs, I believe that the 190 used a 4bbl carb. It is the only Mercruiser that's freshwater cooled, it is a closed system (along with antifreeze) seawater goes through a heat exchanger to cool the freshwater system, and is sent out thru a wet exhaust elbow, & manifold. It has an aluminum head, & cast iron block, that's why it's fresh water cooled, Ok when new, BUT, after awhile the metals expand, & contract at different temps, so they blow head gaskets, also they've been known to have exhaust elbow problems leaking seawater into the motor. They also have an odd valve adjustment problem, by design that gets messed up, & crops up ocassionally, and have been known to have alternator wiring problems by design. At one time I thought that this was the best, pound for horsepower, & economy 4cyl marine engine made, till I did a little reading, and decided to steer away from it. Mercruiser doesn't list it as a replacement motor anymore, they push the 3.0 motor instead, I don't know who works on these anymore, or who if anyone has replacement blocks? or parts?