Need to know about the 1980 Volvo AQ145A Engine

[eagle787]

Thinking if buying a boat need advice. about the boat
1980 19.5 glasply cuddy hard top with a 1990 calkins trailer, the trailer has had the cross bars replaced and rewired with LED lights and has bearing buddies. the boat has a AQ145A volvo penta W/closed cooling 138HP engine and a volvo penta 280 out drive. Hour meter shows 878 hours.
Are these good reliable engines?
Is 878 hours alot for that engine ?
Are parts available?
Is this a boat I should run from or buy? Asking price is $12,000 and has been posted for a few weeks. I looked at the boat, looks great sounds..runs great
I can work on most anything, but don't know too much about boats. I live in the Puget Sound area if Washington state
Any advice on boat, the engine, or advice on anything you can think of would be greatly appreciated

 

[Scott Danforth]

Thinking if buying a boat need advice. about the boat
1980 19.5 glasply cuddy

Its a 42 year old boat designed to last 15 years. consider it a project

Are these good reliable engines?

somewhat. however they have their issues.

Is 878 hours alot for that engine ?

Not if properly maintained

Are parts available?

many are NLA. goes back the 42 year old boat

Is this a boat I should run from or buy? Asking price is $12,000 and has been posted for a few weeks. I looked at the boat, looks great sounds..runs great

that is a lot of money for a 42 year old boat with a motor that has many parts no longer available

I can work on most anything, but don't know too much about boats. I live in the Puget Sound area if Washington state
Any advice on boat, the engine, or advice on anything you can think of would be greatly appreciated

its a 42 year old boat. The motor is one negative. They are not a bad motor, just based on a mid 70's volvo engine that went out of production in about 1980. many of the parts can be found used or on the aftermarket. however if youre new to boats, I would suggest getting a boat much much much newer (like from the 2010's or newer) with an outboard

the fact its a 42 year old boat, how is the stringers and transom?

 

[eagle787]

Not sure at all about the transom, I heard the Glasply had glass stringers. Based upon all of your response to my inquiries. I will walk away from it, or maybe offer him way way less .Thank you all for your prompt replies.

 

[kenny nunez]

I have to go with Scott on this one also as far as the engine.
The 280 drive will outlast 2 engines.
If the owner lowers the price and you still like the boat and the hull is solid you could always replace the engine with a 3.0 Chevy marine engine with the corresponding adapter to the Volvo drive.

 

[Bondo]

Asking price is $12,000

WOW,.!.!..!. Drop the 1 at the beginin' is closer to what it's worth,....