What do you think?

[gilmour]

Hi All,

Appreciate the help and information I get from this forum
I am considering buying a used boat - 1996 chaparral 1830 SS with Mercruiser 4.3L engine and Alpha one drive, so i went to see the boat (the boat was use in fresh water only), and externally the boat seems OK for it's age, however, when looking at the engine i do see some corrosion that i am not sure if it is normal for such engines or if i should be worried about.

I need to mention that i can't perform all the tests (compression, for the boat i am buying, but will have to drive it and "Feel" it (vibration, speed, cuts...).
below the pictures i took for the engine, any comments on the corrosion or external engine condition would be helpful. (and if the corrosion is not something i should worry about, what it it takes to clean it?, should I (if i buy the boat) take the manifolds off then clean and re install with new gaskets? ...):

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: What do you think?

Doesn't look bad for a '96......
It would not hurt to pull them off & look at the condition of the mating surfaces, but....
I would ask the owner if the manifolds/risers are original, & if they are, replace them.....
Take it for a run & make sure it gets WOT......

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What do you think?

It appears that the manifold to riser joint is leaking. If the boat is truely freshwater use only, the manifolds should be fine, however, the only way to know i to pull them off and inspect.

Take it for a spin, see if you can spot any leaks around the manifolds, and offer the guy a price that includes removing and regasketing the manifolds to risers. If you buy the boat, pull the risers and manifolds, wire brush the exterior, prime and paint with black gloss spray paint. Now tape a new piece of crocus cloth to a piece of plate glass. "sand" the mating surfaces of the riser and manifolds on the crocus cloth, until all the rust is gone. Install new Merc gaskets (silver ones), put them on dry, and torque to specs.

 

[gilmour]

Re: What do you think?

Thank you for the fast responses

The engine has 240 hours (at least this is what the gauge is showing).

By the way, is it the 170HP or the 200HP engine? , and last question, what WOT speed to expect ?

Thanks again,
Gilmour.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What do you think?

is it the 170HP or the 200HP engine? , and last question, what WOT speed to expect ?

Ayuh,... 205hp if it's a 4bbl. Carb....

You'll be in the low to mid-40s probably... Maybe 50mph...

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: What do you think?

It appears that the manifold to riser joint is leaking...

Not necessarily. My 1997 5.7 Mercruiser (in a Chaparral 2135) had those streaks for years, and they never leaked. What it actually was, was the bolts rusting. See, my risers were stainless steel and it caused the bolts to rust some. No big deal, as they never leaked.
Most of that rust looks pretty typical of a 12 year old boat that sits around a lot.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: What do you think?

The guy your buying it from have any paperwork on when things were done and when?

When you drive it and get to wot leave the hatch on the engine bay up tie it up whatever have the guy your buying it from drive while you see if it's leaking anywhere.

Watch the temp gauge close, what temp it running at, does the temp gauge stay steady?

When you do get back to the dock and out of the water check the drive oil.

Check the engine oil before you leave and make note where on the stick it is, and where on the stick it is when you get back it should not move.

The engine oil and drive oil tells alot when it comes to boats.

Good luck

 

[gilmour]

Re: What do you think?

Thanks for the replies & info

The guy your buying it from have any paperwork on when things were done and when?

Nope, and i also have to rely on what he is saying regarding the 1996, the only thing i could capture is the drive serial, not really sure if it means anything.

When you do get back to the dock and out of the water check the drive oil.

will do, is there an access or a dipstick to the drive oil?

again, appreciate your help here.
Gilmour.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: What do you think?

Gilmore, Some of the early Alpha 1 Gen II drives had dipsticks to check the drive oil. Later on they switched to gear oil resvoirs in the boat. Hopefully, you have the correct year of the drive, and some expert here can tell if you have the dipstick.

If it has the resvoir, check it for milkiness.

 

[Bondo]

Re: What do you think?

Later on they switched to gear oil resvoirs in the boat.

Ayuh,...

I think I can see it in the 1st picture,... Portside, aft of the carb, near the riser...

 

[Don S]

Re: What do you think?

The Gen II drives that didn't have the reservoir was 91 thru 93. After that, they all had one.
As bondo pointed it, it shows. I blew your picture up a bit and circled it in yellow.

From that picture, the color of the gear lube looks OK, no water. If water was in it, there would be a light milky green color.
But check it when you are there.

If you are worried, take the boat for a ride. If you are still interested you might discuss with the seller of taking it to a certified Mercruiser dealer and having them pull the outdrive to inspect ujoints, bellows, and change gear lube and check for water. YOUR EXPENSE. If you find something you don't like, well, you can discuss that with the seller. I would not do that with the manifolds. I have done this a few times and usually like to have the buyer and seller watching. Then they both know what is going on. KEEPS ME out of the middle.
If things are working and not leaking now, pulling them apart and finding problem could create a problem of not being able to put it back together without it leaking because of poor sealling surfaces. Then the seller doesn't have a running boat anymore, and that can get sticky about who pays for what.
With manifolds and risers, if they have been used in salt water and are over 10 years old, expect to need new ones (At your expense) after you buy the boat.