Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

[grezzmky]

It is my uncles boat and has been stoerd for 5 years. it is at a marina and was winterized. it is a 1990. I BELIVE it is 23' and has a OMC Cobra 5.7. It is an open bow and has a step down and with a closet and a sink then back up to get in the bow if i remember corectly.
What model would this be? is the cobra better then the OMC outrive I had in my 79 century (for sale!)? is the rubber water pumo easear to change incase it is collapsed from sitting like my last boat was? THANKS guys!

 

[Kevin215]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

Sounds like a Vindicator. Send pics if you want to know for sure. Cobra drives are still pushing a lot of boats around but I've never changed a water pump on one. Shouldn't be too difficult to do yourself though or too expensive to have done.

 

[javsam]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

Water pump impellar change is only about a 5 minute job.It is on outside of drive and under a plastic cover. Cobra drives were very reliable.If you buy it dont make a newbie mistake by changing the gear oil and only putting in a quart of gear oil as they take 2 quarts.Get a factory service manual,I bought one off ebay from seawayman.

 

[boat1010]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

You have to look at everything. Lots of people thing that it is a good thing that it hasn't been run or that it was winterized. There are lots of things that go wrong when they just sit around.. Make sure that they start it and run it for a while before laying down your hard earned money.

 

[grezzmky]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

I never got the boat but Im thinking about it again. Still sitting in storage. Any new opinions??

 

[71-South]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

Got any pics? How much does he want for it? Will he get it water ready so you can take it out for a test drive?

I love my VIP.

 

[grezzmky]

Re: Should I buy a 23' VIP bowrider

Got the boat Saturday. used it all weekend NO PROBLEMS! Need to figure out what oil to put in the outdrive.