Yeah or Neah on a Sea Ray Jet Boat

[plalonde]

Long Version Start Here ---><br /> I've finally saved enough to buy my first boat ($3300)! I've found a 14' 1993 Sea Ray Sea Rayder with a 90 HP mecury. The original owner (an older man) traded it in for a larger boat and the current owner is an older man that had a 25' boat and he and his wife thought they wanted something smaller. They took it out a couple of times and changed their mind.<br /><br />Short Version Start Here ---><br /><br />It looks very clean inside and out. The engine area is very clean with no corrosion, oil leaks etc. The gell-coat is clean and shiney. The appolstry has some mold spots from being covered.<br /><br />I have read postings about this model having engine issues due to water corrosion but everything looks good.<br /><br />He had the compression tested and everything there is sound.<br /><br />He is asking $3900. I'm think more like $3000 tops. I'd give it a 7 on a 1(bad) to 10 (new) scale. Does this sound reasonable? <br /><br />

• <br />
• What else should I be looking at desides a test drive? <br /> <br />
• Where else can I find out about this model of boat? Are engine parts still available etc?<br /> <br />
• Can dark mold spot be cleaned off of the vinyl seats?<br /> <br />

<br />I hate to buy something without getting other opinions from folks that know what to look for, etc..<br />Thanks in Advance.

 

[AdmiralQ]

Re: Yeah or Neah on a Sea Ray Jet Boat

Sorry I can't help you too much with the other issues, but don't worry about the mold on the vinyl. I just bought a boat with terrible mold and mildew and god knows what else on the vinyl. First spray the vinyl with a water/bleach mixture and let it sit for a while. A semi-stiff brush takes the mold and most of the dirt off. Then take some lacquer thinner (make sure you're outside and protect your hands), put it on a rag and wipe away. The vinyl will instantly brighten up. Spray on some vinyl protectant and they'll look like new. Cosmetic stuff is easy to remedy, worry about the mechanicals on the boat ($$$). If you're not too famaliar with marine systems, it's not a bad idea to take the boat to a marine tech and have them give it a once over. A few bucks now can save you buckets later. NADA guides lists avg. retail for that boat at $3230, but from experience they're usually a little on the high side.

 

[wakataka]

Re: Yeah or Neah on a Sea Ray Jet Boat

skyway - <br /><br />I've got a 1993 Bayliner with the same engine and jet drive system. The engine is basically a Force outboard powerhead mated to a Mercury jet pump. Parts are readily available from several sources. Stem to Stern has their complete catalog online. Here's the link:<br /> Stem to Stern Sport Jet Catalog <br /><br />The early SportJet engines were notorious for faulty stators. The stator is mounted under the flywheel and provides power for the ignition system and to charge the battery. The later models had a red colored stator which can be retrofitted when your original black one melts.<br /><br />Here's a good article comparing the compact jet boats as of 1995. The engines were mostly 120 hp by then. The 90 hp boats are considered marginally underpowered by todays standards, but they can go most all day on a tank of gas. This article speaks highly of the Sea Rayder.<br /><br /> Compact Jet Boats Article <br /><br />My experience with the 90hp Bayliner is that it doesn't have enough power for a big person to get a deep water start on a slalom. Works OK for a wakeboard. It's lots of fun to drive. The Bayliner has a flatter hull than the Sea Rayder and it rides pretty rough in chop. Mine runs about 39 mph WOT with one on board. I could get a couple more mph if I was willing to take some trim out of the ride plate, but I hate porposing! <br /><br />These little jet boats don't do very well at trolling speed. The steering is sloppy at low speed and the jet drive is not effecient at slow speed so the engine is revving higher at trolling speed than an outboard would be. They also tennd to smoke a lot at low throttle.<br /><br />$3k would probably be about right on the price I would think, if the boat is in good shape. I think it would be a good first boat because it is very easy to drive but has enough performance to keep it exciting.

 

[kenimpzoom]

Re: Yeah or Neah on a Sea Ray Jet Boat

I'll be honest with you. I own a the same exact boat as you.<br /><br />The hull and everything is very well laid out. I have fished three people in this boat. Really easy to dock and manuver. I have wakeboarded behind it and I weigh 230 lbs.<br /><br />However, the major drawback is the engine. Mecury Sport Jet 90s have terrible ignition systems.<br /><br />The stators go bad and so do the power packs. I have had one stator and two power packs go and I think it has a total of twenty hours on it since I bought it.<br /><br />There is a "red" stator put on these to replace the orginal black ones. But even the red ones fail too.<br /><br />If you do buy it, just be wary of these problems. If you have the money, buy a new power pack (about 180 bucks), and keep the old one as a spare. That way it wont leave you stranded. These are very simple to change out and can be done while the boat is on the water.<br /><br />There is also a website dedicated to these engines.<br /><br />www.sportjetworld.com<br /><br />Ken