L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

[kbomb]

How can I tell if this bayliner has the dreaded L drive??? I am planning on buying this and want to make sure it's not the L Drive version. I'm a first time boater. This will be a starter boat project for me. Any thoughts are gladly welcome!

Brief Description: 17 foot 1985 bayliner open bow boat. I/O 4cylinder volvo penta engine. Needs water pump. Has new throttle. Must pick up. Includes Trailer.

 

[Maclin]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

L-Drives are Force brand, so no worries there. Volvo Pentas are good servicable units, but at that age anything would need looked at.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

Any idea how sound the floor and stringers are (or perhaps you don't care)? Might be a lot of mush under there. I also have read L drives were a Force product, so not an issue on Volvos. Having said some older Volvo drives had some usability issues, namely no useful trim and tilt while under way. I'll defer to the VP experts on exact models, however.

Welcome to boating and iboats!

 

[kbomb]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

I'm so glad. Thanks! I pick this up tomorrow morning, so I'm glad I won't have to cancel the planned purchase.

 

[Maclin]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

Post back with everything you can find out about the drive model. And bug the owner for every piece of info he knows about it as well.

 

[Coors]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

Force sucks

 

[tommays]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

It is and older boat that was stored OUTDOORS which will pretty much mean some type of deck/stringer wood rot problem

And while the Volvo was a good unit the PARTS cost BIG dollars

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

Buying a boat

1st you need to decide what you want to use it for, fishing, cruising, or water sports.

2nd how many people adults, children you want on board of the average outing.

3rd outboard, inboard-outboard, or inboard power plant.

4th Budget, what you want to pay, and what you are willing to pay, when you find
Exactly what you want.

You can hire a marine surveyor, to inspect the boat, or you can do it yourself.

You are mainly looking for soft spots in the deck, transom, cracks, all signs of a rotten, under frame.

The motor should be clean, no spots where the paint is discolored, or pealing from heat, having run hot. Compression should be atleast 100psi, and within 10% of each other,
Spark on all cylinders, good pee stream, check lower unit for water in oil.

The overall condition of the boat will tell you a lot, as to how it has been maintained.

A 30 year old boat motor combo, may be in better condition, than a 3 year old.

 

[Robj]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

I believe the L drive was some wacky system that also used a 2 cycle engine coupled to the drive. You can definitely add that to the list of what not to buy. On the other hand the VP should give you great service.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[azlakes]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

Force sucks

... so does Coors, the beer


have fun with your new boat!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: L Drive? Buying a boat and want to avoid this...

... so does Coors, the beer


have fun with your new boat!

Hit the nail on the head az....hilarious. Coors does suck.....I spray it on the plants to keep the deers away, but I usually find 1 or 2 rummies laying in the garden in the mornin'.
BP