Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

[TeamPCBeach]

We had our sea test and our survey yesterday. Boat ran very well except for a couple of observations.

- At WOT the port and starboard engines were off by 350 RPM. Port 4400, Starboard 4750. Both are in spec for the Merc 5.7. Is this anything to be significantly worried about?

- Port engine ran hot at idle. Probably impeller, will have service check.

- No heat from AC system. Any suggestions?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

Welcome to iboats. Unfortunately I can be of no help to you with this boat. I am an outboard guy and would only lead you astray by taking a guess at the issues you note.
Hopefully someone will be along here shortly that can help you out with this.
Ken.

 

[Top Rack]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

@TeamPCBeach............the difference between the RPMs' could be a throttle linkage adjustment or a bad prop. One blade of the prop could be bent or out of pitch. Does the boat stay in the water? There could be marine growth on the hull, drives or running gear. Have the exhaust manifolds ever been replaced? Instead of me writing a book of questions and if you have time, you can call me anytime. I would be more than happy to discuss your possible purchase.

Brian McKown
TopRackMarina.com
Cell 757-439-1373

 

[Snobike Mike]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

It's possible the tachs themselves are out of wack. Using a tiny tach in the engine room can confirm this.

Happy hunting!

 

[BSAFlash]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

We had our sea test and our survey yesterday. Boat ran very well except for a couple of observations.

- At WOT the port and starboard engines were off by 350 RPM. Port 4400, Starboard 4750. Both are in spec for the Merc 5.7. Is this anything to be significantly worried about?

- Port engine ran hot at idle. Probably impeller, will have service check.

- No heat from AC system. Any suggestions?

G'Day,
My Elegante has had around the same 350rpm difference between the motors since new. In my case it is the throttle cables (also port engine slower). To fix the problem was going to be at my cost, as Volvo deemed the problem to be a non warranty issue???. (surely manufacturers should be banned from using Volvo under US lemon laws!)

Did the engine run hot at WOT or just at idle? I am unsure of the raw water pick up points on the Merc but on the Volvo XPD it is a single small pick up on the leading edge of the leg that is very easily blocked by growth and debris, usually resulting in higher temps at high revs and fine at idle.

Not sure about the heater, I only use it at night in winter when the temp drops below 19Deg C! never let me down. They do take a while to get started though.

 

[Top Rack]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

G'Day,
My Elegante has had around the same 350rpm difference between the motors since new. In my case it is the throttle cables (also port engine slower). To fix the problem was going to be at my cost, as Volvo deemed the problem to be a non warranty issue???. (surely manufacturers should be banned from using Volvo under US lemon laws!)

Did the engine run hot at WOT or just at idle? I am unsure of the raw water pick up points on the Merc but on the Volvo XPD it is a single small pick up on the leading edge of the leg that is very easily blocked by growth and debris, usually resulting in higher temps at high revs and fine at idle.

Not sure about the heater, I only use it at night in winter when the temp drops below 19Deg C! never let me down. They do take a while to get started though.

I second the theory about the heater. They tend to take 15 mins or so to warm up

 

[TeamPCBeach]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

I second the theory about the heater. They tend to take 15 mins or so to warm up

Thanks for this input. The surveyor didn't let it run that long so this might be a simple item.

 

[TeamPCBeach]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

G'Day,
My Elegante has had around the same 350rpm difference between the motors since new. In my case it is the throttle cables (also port engine slower). To fix the problem was going to be at my cost, as Volvo deemed the problem to be a non warranty issue???. (surely manufacturers should be banned from using Volvo under US lemon laws!)

Did the engine run hot at WOT or just at idle? I am unsure of the raw water pick up points on the Merc but on the Volvo XPD it is a single small pick up on the leading edge of the leg that is very easily blocked by growth and debris, usually resulting in higher temps at high revs and fine at idle.

Not sure about the heater, I only use it at night in winter when the temp drops below 19Deg C! never let me down. They do take a while to get started though.

A couple people I have talked to also mentioned the throttle cables. Tachs were replaced in the last year so that might be it also.

Temp problem was only at idle. Once underway the temp dropped right down.

 

[BSAFlash]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

A couple people I have talked to also mentioned the throttle cables. Tachs were replaced in the last year so that might be it also.

Temp problem was only at idle. Once underway the temp dropped right down.

Assuming the engine runs and revs properly, I would investigate the water pumps and stainers on the offending engine.
I would consider a specialist survey on the engines, if the problem has been there for a while it may have been overheated at sometime causing other less obvious issues.

After some corrossion issues on my near new boat I had a full electrical survey completed, very interesting results...

 

[TeamPCBeach]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

Why you should always get a survey....

The lack of heat from the AC/System turned out to be a bad compressor.
Port engine temp turned out to be a problem with the coolant system.
WOT RPM difference was due to two new tachs being installed after the boat had already been winterized and they were never calibrated.

Over $3,500 in repairs that would have been my cost, but because of the survey the current owner has agreed to pay for them all with no change in the selling price!

We will become Doral owners today. Weather this weekend is supposed to be 72F and sunny! Winter in North Florida, isn't it great!

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

Congratulations. Sail up to the Great Lakes and take us for a spin.
We will all be waiting !!!

 

[Seamonkies]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

Why you should always get a survey....

The lack of heat from the AC/System turned out to be a bad compressor.
Port engine temp turned out to be a problem with the coolant system.
WOT RPM difference was due to two new tachs being installed after the boat had already been winterized and they were never calibrated.

Over $3,500 in repairs that would have been my cost, but because of the survey the current owner has agreed to pay for them all with no change in the selling price!

We will become Doral owners today. Weather this weekend is supposed to be 72F and sunny! Winter in North Florida, isn't it great!

Just read your post. Good for you! That's great news! I did not, however, get a survey. Probably should have, but was really trusting of the person I purchased the boat from. You make a great point, however. Well worth it in your case. Have you had any trouble with anything else since you purchased it? And, do you tow that thing, or do you leave it in a marina? She sure is beautiful... Do you ever take her off shore? If so, how far? I'm a bit worried to take mine too far off shore b/c of the huge swim platform Dorals have. I'm concerned a wave might swamp the thing, or something... maybe I'm just paranoid. But, I'd like to take her out to Grey's Reef off the coast of Savannah for some fishing, but it's about 15 or so miles off shore. What say you?

 

[TeamPCBeach]

Re: Purchasing 1999 300SE, sea test questions

Two things that the surveyor missed.

1) Battery charger was INOP. During the survey it made normal humming sounds when turned on, but he never but a meter on it to check.

2) Trim tabs INOP. This was a weird one. He ran the tabs during the survey and a guy that was walking by the boat at the time confirmed they were moving. A couple weekends later, tabs not working while we had the boat out. Turned out to me minor. Port tab line was loose and water had gotten in. Flushed the system, new fluid and now they are fine. Boat had been out of the water for 6 months before the survey, so it is possible they worked during the survey and water didn't get in until we took her out.

Have not been off shore yet. On our 1999 the swim platform is small, less than a yard I would guess.