I'm maybe going to buy a new boat - it all looks fine, but the manifolds are from year 1999 and maybe need to be changed. however, the owner couldn't tell me what type. And seriously - i haven't seen manifold like these... Any ideas? Special ones or old ones or?
just after posting i actually found out what type of manifolds it was... However - i don't KNOW if there's something wrong with them. (i don't hope, be cause the boat is a beauty). Thing is just that the conversion kit - to the regular ones - is really expensive. And buying a new expensive boat - that's not what i want to do to begin with.
The current owner tells me that the boat was only ran in fresh water from 99 to 2005 and that it has been sailing salt water since. However - it's been a trailer boat since 2005. 6 years i fresh water and few trips in salt water since then... how long time will do you think these one-piece manifolds can last?
I would consider them on borrowed time. With proper flushing they may be just fine, but there is no way to check the one piece manifolds. If one, or both, start leaking internally, it can take out your engine.
Whats going to go first is the riser part. Flushing every time the boat comes off the water makes them last longer. There is a product called saltaway that you can flush thru the system, how long that will stretch the time before they have to be replaced i don't know.
Removing the manifolds and looking at them is really what has to be done, however a complete set of risers and manifolds plus the gaskets included, can be bought for 400 dollars.
However - i don't KNOW if there's something wrong with them. (i don't hope, be cause the boat is a beauty). Thing is just that the conversion kit - to the regular ones - is really expensive. And buying a new expensive boat - that's not what i want to do to begin with.
The worst thing for a manifold is to just sit for a few years.There has been more rusting of the manifold in the time it has sat than the 6 years it was used.Just do what you have been told,replace and flush after each use.Good luck with the purchase !!!! Dont let spending a few bucks turn you off to the boat.Charlie
