Where to start?

mikem0011 · Jan 18, 2008

My neighbor just gave me a free boat that he doesn't know anything about.

Not knowing much about boats I don't know where to start.

It is a 97 wellcraft excel with a 225 Ocean Pro.

The hull and cuddy are in almost new shape. It needs a throttle, the electrical needs to be all hooked up. Needs batteries and new gauges.

As for the motor all I know is that there are no plugs and it is missing one of the fuel injectors. Besides this I don't know really anything else about it.

Where do I even start? How would I decide if I should repair my motor or get a used one? If I try to get mine running where would I cut my losses and find a runner?

Any help would be much appreciated

strombolichef · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

Wow, thats a good friend! I would invest a few dollars and take it to a Shop and have the engine looked at by a Pro for a few dollars. This way you find out if its got a major problem and what to do next.

mikem0011 · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

He really wasn't even a friend, just a neighbor who rented his house out and the renter split and left the boat. Somehow the DMV let me title it over.

Would getting a mobile mechanic out here do the same thing? I dont have the trailer registered or titled yet?

wildmaninal · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

You could take it to a shop, but if you have the ability or a little mechanic skill, you could do a compression test on the motor to see if it's worth getting her running. I'm trying to picture where that fuel injector is located, if the boat was not covered and the motor had any opened ports/holes then the motor may of gotten some water in it.

I would do the compression and go from there, it isn't that hard to do at all.

mikem0011 · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

motor was covered....I don't know if it is even fuel injected but what ever the piece is over the piston is missing

Motor looks clean I havnt tried to spin the flywheel yet. Also there is no ignition switch

Don S · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

If you aren't mechanically inclined, you don't know anything about marine engines, ignition & electrical systems, fuel systems, fiberglassing and woodworking, then having a free boat is more expensive than going out and buying a brand new boat.
A marine mechanic that knows his stuff will cost about 75 to 100 bucks an hour. Wanna bees charge less, but take longer.
There are a lot of safety devises built into a marine engine that a newbe will not know about or even think about.
Get manuals, ask questions in the proper engine forum, ask questions in the electrical (not engine) forum, ask specific questions in the restoring and boat building forum on transom, stringer, decks, and other hull related items.
Do all of this BEFORE you spend any money on the boat.

wildmaninal · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

Do you have a way to post pictures? This isn't the link I was looking for but it should give you an idea on how to post pictures here.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=230883&highlight=posting+pictures

pduquette · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

Welcome aboard Mike!
Sounds like a good deal ! But take a breather , before you begin dumping gobs of cash on your boat . (BTW - we typicaly say boat stands for "Break Out Another Thousand"

While your catching your breath start checking with the athorities who cover boat registration in your state /province.If you need a title, bill of sale, etc Get it ASAP. you don't want to re build a boat only to have the original owner take posession of it two days before you re float it! Also ease your mind that it's not hot. Once you know she's all yours, Id probably tackle the motor first . Buy a good manual .Replace the missing stuff and follow the "Awakining a sleeping outboard" sticky .Heck read all the stickies if you haven't yet ! Make some friends in the Merc forum too. Everyone here is great and willing to help .

mikem0011 · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

I had the sheriff dept out to make sure wasn't hot, went to DMV had the last registerd owner sign the title over to me and I am legal!!

Sounds like some good advice I obviously need to get an ignition and throttle first

tashasdaddy · Jan 18, 2008

Re: Where to start?

Welcome to iboats, you are in the right place, for help. pictures are worth more than you can type.

you can up load to a free service like photobucket.com then you choose the pictures you want( clik the little box at the bottom left of the picture) scrool to the bottom of the page, clik generate html, it will take you to the next page, scroll down to thumb nails clik on that and copy, then insert it into your post.

also if you are planing on posting pictures, you can use the Blue post reply or the go advanced, manage attachments, there you can upload , directly from your computer. besure you pictures have been resized to fit the format. 640x480 max.

mikem0011 · Jan 18, 2008