Need Help

[Paulz01]

I am new to the boating world but have plenty of experience with cars and motorcycles. I have 2 jet skis and am looking to get a boat. I stumbled on this and I think it looks good. I was hoping that you guys could help me out with this. He told me that the only thing that was wrong with it was that:

"There is only one issue with the boat. The reverse cable needs to be adjusted, I had a mechanic tell me that. The engine will go into reverse, but it jumps, I just choose not to put it in reverse."

Here is the add. Any help would be appreciated.

17' Caravelle/110HP Johnson w/Trailer

THIS IS NOT A FIXER UPPER. THIS BOAT IS READY TO GO!! I have spent too much time getting this boat to the point that it is at. I want to get a bigger boat, so this one has to go. This is a reliable and fun boat.

1968 Caravelle Stingray
17' Fiberglass "V" Hull
Has original registration #.
1989 Johnson 110 HP Outboard
Stainless Steel Ski Prop
All New Electronics
Including Speedometer, Tachometer, Fuel Gauge.
New Vinyl Flooring,
New Gas Tank, Fuel Lines, and Vent.
New Fuel Filter, Spark Plugs, 2 of 4 Coils are New.
New Powerpack and Plug Wires.
New Battery
New Waterpump.
Galvanized trailer. Newer Heavy Duty Axle.
Replaced all rollers last summer.
New Roller bunks installed last summer.
Brand New Winch
Skeg Guard

Runs GREAT!!!! CAN'T BEAT IT!!!! Great River & Bay boat.

I am selling it because I need to make room for my skis.

$2000, or best offer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Need Help

never take a sellers word. do the necessary test yourself, if they won't let you move on. compression, spark, lower unit oil. test drive. while testing disconnect the shift cable and shift to reverse and see if it will stay in gear. usually the cable goes bad and needs to be replaced.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Need Help

I just wanted to point out the one picture of the transom with the side shot of the motor. There looks to be a issue with transom going on, silicon or something applied sort of sloppy and globed on the transom and other areas. If you end up with this boat, I would check these areas to make sure there is no leaks, and that there is not any cracks or stress fractures in the fiberglass hidden underneath the silicon or through out the wrest of the boat. I know some of it is above the water line but it looks like its caulked all the way around the motor mount with a very sloppy job. Also if you go to look at this boat check the under side of the hull (the bottom part of the boat), for holes or scrub marks. Just my 2 cents. Also take it for a test run and see how it does, the man should agree to take you out on the water and let you get a feel of things.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

He already said that there is no problem with going for a test drive. As for the reverse, how hard and how much $ is it to change the cable? Also, where would I get it?

As for the transom side of the motor thing, could you put that to laymen terms for me please. Like I said, I am new to this.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Need Help

Looks to me like there was allot of silicon used on the back of the boat. In general I would check for cracks through out the hull of the boat, especially around the transom area the back of the boat. Check the bottom of the boat for scrapes and any signs of holes. Sorry it took so long for the reply, I had a problem with the internet while trying to post. I am trying to find a cable to give you an idea on a price. The worst part is that something could be broke in the gear box of the lower unit. The cable could just use some adjusting. Being that old of a boat it may have some transom rot going on there. Transom being were the motor bolts to.

 

[rocky100]

Re: Need Help

Try to get a local unbiased mechanic to go over it first, before you commit to it.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: Need Help

Please take a boat safety course.
You will learn so much about boating.

 

[Fish n Geer]

Re: Need Help

Sweet looking motor on er!

 

[Ride The Lightning]

Re: Need Help

Hi,

it looks like you have to restorate the part on which the motor is placed (sorry, I don't know the right word for the back of the boat). Very often, especially at this age of the boat, the wood inside is like humus so that you have to replace th rotten wood to have a safe boat. 110 HP are lots of horses.
Here I have got some photos (a year ago i had to do this work by myself).
To test it you should do a borehole in the lower part of the rear.

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

Thanks for all the help.

How big of a job is it to replace that wood?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Need Help

A very big job. You have to remove the motor, dig out all the old wood and replace it with new sealed wood or a product called SeaCast. However, that might not be a deal breaker. The deal breaker would be if the reverse issue is something with the lower unit and not the cable. $2k for that engine and trailer isn't a bad price even if the boat needs a little work. Just know what you're getting into. Lots of threads on here about transom replacement.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Need Help

Take it to a marina and have them give it a once over. Understand that with that old of a boat there will always be some issues. If there simple ones you feel confident you can fix yourself, or can be fixed cheaply, then it looks like a nice boat. You just don't want to get in over your head. The transom is what the back of the boat where the motor hangs is called. I too wonder why this area on this boat is all gooberd up. Also a lot of these older boats can get water under the floor. Then it gets soaked up in the foam under there and can be difficult to remove. Take it across a truck scale. Unhook it from your tow vehicle and see what the boat and trailer weigh by themselves. Then compare that to what there suppose to weigh.

 

[Ride The Lightning]

Re: Need Help

Maybe you do not have this problem. It was just a thought for what perhaps can be affected.
In case of rotten wood proceed like this:

- Rip up the GRP from the inside by using an angle grinder (do not forget an eye protection)
- be sure to have a curb at each side after ripping up the GRP assuring to place the new fiber glass later
- Remove all rotten wood by using a chisel or a crowbar
- Have fun
- dry the GRP
- buy new wood and assemble the different parts to have a strong fitting before glueing them
- make the GRP raw with abrasive paper
- buy polyester resin and ballons (it should be viscous and last at the vertical GRP)
- glue in the new wood by using sufficient polyester resin
- buy new fiber glass ?matting? to protect the wood against wetness from the inside
- when working with polyester resin always wear eye and skin protection
- sorry for my bad english, I am here to improve my english

 

[Ride The Lightning]

Re: Need Help

Also a lot of these older boats can get water under the floor. Then it gets soaked up in the foam under there and can be difficult to remove.

If only I had known! I had to remove and replace my bottom completely in Februar/March/April...

 

[Hashi]

Re: Need Help

Man....Lighting, that's a lot of work for an old boat. Is/was it worth it?

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

Thanks again everyone. You have been a big help.

So far, what I have come up with is that the only two problems so far with the boat are the reverse and the transom. Like I said, I am new to boating and trying to learn. So, I spoke to the guy and he said he would send me a video of the engine running and then next Sunday I will go to check it out. If it looks all good, I will take it to a marina and if I get the go ahead, ive got a new boat. Does this sound like a good plan to you guys?

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: Need Help

Sounds good to me but not to disappoint you but if you ask the inspector at the marina if the boat is worth it don't be surprised if he says no, and he may mainly say that about the hull of the boat. I would have him check the transom (again the back of the boat where the motor bolts to), see if he will go over it with you at the marina if you plan on taking it to the place. I'm not saying the boat isn't worth the money, the motor alone plus the trailer to boot would be worth the money, but if the transom is rotted you are not going to be able to take it and use the boat for long term without repairing the transom rot. It's better to go out there with a piece of mind that you have a new transom install and you don't half to worry about the motor going one way on the water and the boat going the other way, (the motor breaking off the boat in other words). I agree with Caveman Charlie and these other guys. And I reup (bring this back to your attention) about post number 5 of this thread about the gear box and shifting cable. I failed to find just the cable on BRP due to my internet problems.

 

[Ride The Lightning]

Re: Need Help

Man....Lighting, that's a lot of work for an old boat. Is/was it worth it?

I bought this boat in January in the Netherlands. A few days later after buying it I wanted to remove the carpet ... suddenly I stepped in a hole on the ground - the wood at this place was like humus. The Dutchman pulls a fast one on me; but I did not look properly in each corner as well. However, I had to remove the wood completely, even the transom was rotten.
After nearly two months of work it looked like this:

But, and this is the next problem, I have two malfunctions at two motors, so my boat is since four months not ready to start. I don't like VolvoPenta.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: Need Help

It was only after getting on here I learned of the problem of water getting under the floor. I wish I had found this web site first. Thankfully my floor is still solid. If it's a little wet down there, so what. Makes the boat more stable in a chop with that extra weight. lol

 

[Paulz01]

Re: Need Help

I spoke with the guy again ad he told me that it was taken in and out of the water all the time. It never sat in the water. Also, most of its like was spend on fresh water.

Then as for the transom, this is what he told me:

"It's not leaking. I was using it when I installed the Fish Finder and and I had a whole tube left over, so I used it wherever it look like it needed it.

The boat is Solid, especially for its age."