Need some help just bought 96 chris craft

[truckeic]

I live in NC and the class is online but i am not requited to take it

 

[truckeic]

Truckeie
From your posts you have bought a very difficult parts boat. You would need a fantastic boat restorer person. And a unlimited pile of money. Old boats are not ever close to like restoring a old car.
Sell it now. Good luck.

So how do you know what i have and how well it was maintained. The previous owner had the motor gone through.

 

[Scott Danforth]

the fact that there are redundant gauges added to the dash says something is shoddy in the boats maintenance past.

The carb has been replaced. if the vent tubes are not J tubes, then the carb is not marine. the lack of paint on the carb is a red flag as the zinc castings of the holley are dissolving from salt air.

the shoddy crimps on the terminals on the MSD coil is another red flag on lack of proper marine maintenance.

 

[Lou C]

Yep I also noticed that second set of gauges and I would for sure pull off the flame arrestor and check the carb for J tubes…also make sure that MSD ignition is marine certified J1171. Not only that it would be wise to make sure the alternator and starter also both are. This is no joke you do NOT want auto carbs, starters, or distributors in your boat. If things go bad, it will be tragic. And make sure the bilge blower works!

 

[dubs283]

Based on OP pics/comments it seems to me the boat in question is more of a "let's just make it work" vessel than a legit, sound, factory spec vessel. Just my opinion, tho

IME if I see something suspect on a boat/marine engine it often times is something not correct, i.e. unsafe. AFAIK Volvo never produced oem a Ford engine branded SX package that was not efi. And these Ford engine based packages were only offered during the OMC/Volvo crossover years.

Some red flags I see are the MSD ignition, Holley carb that may not be marine rated, and as mentioned, additional guages.

I'm not saying the engine package isn't marine rated, however there appear to be at least some instances of added components that may not be marine rated

OP, do yourself a favor. Based on your admitted limited knowledge of safe boating equipment, find a local, reputable marine reapir shop to at least give your boat a decent once over for any safety/necessary issues. Don't find out the wrong way. Good luck