long story short...
my good friend has fallen in love with a boat and after much back and forth has pulled the trigger.
The type of boat won’t mean much to the North American majority but it’s a stunning 1990 princes 286 Rivera
the boat, is easily worth over 20-25k in cast iron sure running order, and he is getting it for 15k....but...
she has been re engined from her original twin VP 571 v8s (5.7 4 barrel) with twin 2012 mercruiser reman with Holley carbs.
On first inspection and knowing she has been in the salt since the new engines I asked him to take a sample of the oil and check in the oil cap hole at the rocker gear for emulsion. Presuming the obvious worst case scenario that the risers and exhaust might be gone.
The starboard was perfect with only a bit of it in the breather hose (Benefit of the doubt given it’s been laid up over last 2 years). The port had a clear sign of cream in the oil cap, rocker gear and perhaps even a sheen on the dip stick.
My worry is that as we all know, once there has been a little water in through the valves...at any given time years after the manifolds have been replaced, the valves can stick at any given time. Only up side is that there is absolutely no sign of any moisture on the plugs at all. These are defo the original plugs since the engines were new. It’s also been filled with antifreeze since laid up.
Having not seen it in person it’s hard to judge, but an engineers report since claims there is nothing of concern and actually states that the Holley carb is known to gather or attract more moisture than usual over a lay up period.
I have my doubts and fear the worst...but told him to go for it. He won’t see past this boat at all. Totally fallen for it. I’m thinking he would always wonder if she would just be ok after a change of manifolds and forever regret it and me telling him to run a mile.
Anyway...it’s at least 5k cheaper than it should be and can afford a new engine if it comes to it.
someone tell me I did the right thing ??
my good friend has fallen in love with a boat and after much back and forth has pulled the trigger.
The type of boat won’t mean much to the North American majority but it’s a stunning 1990 princes 286 Rivera
the boat, is easily worth over 20-25k in cast iron sure running order, and he is getting it for 15k....but...
she has been re engined from her original twin VP 571 v8s (5.7 4 barrel) with twin 2012 mercruiser reman with Holley carbs.
On first inspection and knowing she has been in the salt since the new engines I asked him to take a sample of the oil and check in the oil cap hole at the rocker gear for emulsion. Presuming the obvious worst case scenario that the risers and exhaust might be gone.
The starboard was perfect with only a bit of it in the breather hose (Benefit of the doubt given it’s been laid up over last 2 years). The port had a clear sign of cream in the oil cap, rocker gear and perhaps even a sheen on the dip stick.
My worry is that as we all know, once there has been a little water in through the valves...at any given time years after the manifolds have been replaced, the valves can stick at any given time. Only up side is that there is absolutely no sign of any moisture on the plugs at all. These are defo the original plugs since the engines were new. It’s also been filled with antifreeze since laid up.
Having not seen it in person it’s hard to judge, but an engineers report since claims there is nothing of concern and actually states that the Holley carb is known to gather or attract more moisture than usual over a lay up period.
I have my doubts and fear the worst...but told him to go for it. He won’t see past this boat at all. Totally fallen for it. I’m thinking he would always wonder if she would just be ok after a change of manifolds and forever regret it and me telling him to run a mile.
Anyway...it’s at least 5k cheaper than it should be and can afford a new engine if it comes to it.
someone tell me I did the right thing ??
