New Guy with a lot of questions

[dieseldust]

I am buying or should i say thinking about it - 1976 24' Fiberform Cuddy Volvo Penta 240A V-8, 662 hrs; Volvo Penta 280 outdrive,

My qustions are How much gas do these old units use GPH , i would like to ask are the fiberforms good ocean rough water boats and also good in lakes, and is there any thing special to check out in the Fiberforms it is a model 2425 . I will attach a picture.


Cheers and thanks
James

 

[brandonsb22]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Welcome to iboats. I am new as well. That looks like a nice cuddy. With a v-8 and such a large boat I would be sure it chugs the gas. I am no expert.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

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.

 

[JCF350]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

My qustions are How much gas do these old units use GPH

NADA shows that boat with a 120hp option, fuel consumption shouldn't be to bad with a 351 in it (depends on how you run it)

, i would like to ask are the fiberforms good ocean rough water boats and also good in lakes, and is there any thing special to check out in the Fiberforms it is a model 2425 .

Rough inshore or lake water? Probably OK
Rough ocean water? Not for me.

As far as checking it out? Surveyor

 

[OhWellcraft]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Not to start another debate, but I know some of those older volvo penta outdrives couldn't be run in trim. Not a problem if the boat is always in a slip, but if you trailer or beach very much it can be very annoying to deal with. Also that is a big boat with some hours on it I would have it checked out by a surveyor and yes it will guzzle gas but you can help that with good driving habits. good luck on the boat.....

 

[oops!]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

hi and welcome to i boats

thats a really nice looking craft.....

im an older boat buff so.....

ok.......the older volvo drives did not have trim, like stated....its a pita on shallow water......however volvo drives are really good.

it is an older boat, if you do not KNOW EXACTICALLY WHAT TO LOOK FOR.....

have a marine surevyor look it over......if you want to know why, there is a whole forum down below called restoration and boat building to look thru.

the guys there, (while enjoying it) are spending on average of $2000 each boat to replace the stringers (frame) and transom. these repairs are on a lot of boats newer than the one your looking at, (and smaller)

read the post by tashasdaddy twice.....it has been said on this forum "there is no such thing as a bad boat....just a bad owner".

i dont know what a 240-a is....but its a v8...so thats minimum a 289....i would suspect it to be a 350 chevy.....how much fuel...depends on how you drive the craft.


and in the end.....it all comes down to the amount of money they are asking for the boat......

hope that helps

cheers
oops

 

[njlarry]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

I would stongly second the need for a survey. You don't list where you are located but I found a Mass surveyor who did such a great job I decided to not even go look at the boat. First time I saw it was when it was delivered to my driveway three yrears ago. But I already knew what model I wanted. Once you find the boat you want make sure that the survey also inclueds a mechanical survey.

 

[TriadSteeler]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

There is a book called "Runabout Renovation" by Jim Anderson.

This book is centered on replacing the deck, stringers, transom and painting runabouts. However, at the beginning there is a great section on surveying a boat. It goes thru step by step what to look for when buying a used boat.

Well worth the $12.

 

[QC]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

You can expect that combo to burn around 24 GPH at wide open throttle. Cruise around 10 GPH for somewhere around 2 - 2.5 MPG . . .

 

[dieseldust]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Wow i really thank everyone for all the advise, keep it comming, i really did not think it would use that much gas 10GPH cruising but i have no idea about boats this size allways had little runabout fishing boats,stringers (frame) and transom seem to be the place to check i see, can someone give me a breif lesson on what to do and look for this problem, i am thinking maybe look for soft spots and any bulging. i will add a couple more pictures for your comments

Thanks again
Cheers
James

 

[Scaaty]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

My 350 VP 280 (1977..but repower 1996, and new Edelbrock 600cfm carb, electronic ignition), I would guesstimate at 3000 R's on plane, around 6-8 GPH..maybe I'm just lucky...
I go out all day, on/off throttle/floating..lucky if I burn 20 gallons..if that

 

[QC]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

My estimates may be over, but that's a pretty heavy looking hull ^^^^^ . . .

 

[oops!]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

again diesel.....

if you dont know, what, where, and how to look for things....hire a sureveyor...

people can spend years specializing in drives and have little working knowlage of the hull.......on the flip side...a guy can build a boat and be dumb as a post on the motor and drive section....

point is,... a surveyor has a good all around working idea of several of the crafts systems....from the head...(toilet ) to the gimbal bearing.....

as far as the hull goes.........

1. take a probe with you /and or a drill. and a small tube of 3m 5200.

2.inspect the hull (outter) for chips, in the gellcoat, wearing in the keel area. and spider web looking cracks in the gell coat called crazing....if you see any black crazing cracks...this indicates water has gotten under the gellcoat in that area.

3. look down the bottom of the hull, bow to stern....is it straight? a little "smile" is ok (rock)....a frown is not....(hook) a hook can be caused by many things, some manufacturers put a hook in the hull on purpose...however on large, a hook is not good and will "at least" cause you a higher fuel comsumption.

4. take a rubber mallett and whack the transom all over. does it sound the same everywhere?....a dull thud means rot and a thousand dollars.

5.check all thru hull fittings and look for possible water drip spots. make sure all fittings are secure.

.........for this puropse we'll call the deck...the top of the boat...allso known as the "cap"

6. examine the deck and all corners for crazing, as well as any hand rail, or deck add ons....it is typical for crazing to occure in thoes areas.

7. examine the rub rail.....does it have any "impact marks"

climb aboard the boat

8. look at the general condition of the upholstery is it weathered?.....weathered uphlstery means it has sat outdoors with out a cover and is an indication of possible floor rot.

9. look at the carpet around the motor...is it dirty and oily, this means he has been working on the motor....find out why

10.go to the motor area and open the cover to gain acess to the transom area
insert the probe in lots of spots...see if it goes in far...far means rot...

if the owner will let you...take a small drill bit and drill a hole in the transom..the wood shavings on the drill bit will be a core sample.....look for wet wood...everything shuld be light colored and dry...fill and seal the hole with 5200.

*******beware, ask the owner first if you can drill, if you just do it, he may introduce you to smith and wesson or his rotwiler*******

..........the "deck" of the boat "sole" we'll call the floor for this purpose...

11. feel the floor... is it solid....soft spots anywhere?...one little soft spot is an indication of a hull lot of trouble.

12. if the craft has a ski locker....take a flashlight and stick your head in there...have a good look...press around on the stringers....feel for soft....take your probe and insert it into the base of the stringers......again ...if he lets you....take a core sample with your drill....and seal with the 5200......

13. if the gas tank is in the floor, inspect the area fully. look for anything suspious.

14. operate every switch and light on the craft.....

15. stick your head under the dash...is the wiring a rats nest?...lots of splices in the lines?

ask to take the boat for a test drive.......

that should hold you for now........if any boat checks out well on this whole list it will be a mircale !...if it then checks out mechanically....buy it !

hope that helps

cheers
oops

 

[oops!]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

ya know what?....i dont want to type that again

guys.....add on to it....and well make a boat buyers guide, so that we can give a link out

mechs and drive guys....wanna add?

cheers
oops

 

[erikgreen]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Heh, I don't know if I qualify as a mechanic, but here's my 2 cents.

For the drive, check the gear lube in the lower unit - on mercruiser units it's a pair of fill/vent screws, dunno about that volvo. You're looking for water in the gear lube or metal shavings, which manifest as milky looking lube and sparkly lube respectively.

Same thing on the engine oil, check the dipstick, clean it, and check it again. No water is necessary. If there's water, assume the engine is toast and drop your offer accordingly or walk away.

Run a compression test on the motor, dry (no oil dumped into the cyls). You're looking for compression numbers above 110 (hopefully around 130-140) and all numbers within 10 percent of each other. So you could have numbers ranging from 117 to 130, for example, although closer is better. If you get one or two cylinders with low numbers, suspect motor work and a head gasket needed. If all are low, the engine may be "tired" and will need replacement soon.

Check the sides of the motor for rust trails or excessive rust. You're looking for trails that start below the plugs and head down to the bilge. These are signs of small cracks. Sometimes they're obvious, sometimes not.

One last comment - check the HIN on the hull against the one on the title information. Buying a stolen boat or one without a valid title will be headaches galore. Pre-1973 boats may not have a hin marked on the hull, however.

Erik

 

[JCF350]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

My estimates may be over, but that's a pretty heavy looking hull ^^^^^ . . .

NADA lists the hull at 3500# a bit light for a 24'. This has a 351W in it so has plenty of low end torque.

My 24' Stamas with the same package and will stay on a plane at 2200 rpm pushing almost a thousand more ponds. Slow cruise it uses about 7 to 8 gph

 

[dieseldust]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

You Guys are the best and i thank you so very much i wish i could buy you all a round of what ever you like to drink , oops i thank you especaily for all the time you have taken to write what to check for and everyone else also, i have printed out the list and will take it with me,any one know of a surveyor in Salt Lake City thats where the boat is.

Cheers

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Nice looking boat by the pictures! A survey would be well worth the money on a boat that size..Or if you feel confident take oops advice,,
Good luck and welcome to Iboats!

 

[QC]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

Before you take any advice from Ooops, make sure you check out his restoration thread . . . Problem with a bottom or transom? Solutions start with a chain saw

 

[MikDee]

Re: New Guy with a lot of questions

I am buying or should i say thinking about it - 1976 24' Fiberform Cuddy Volvo Penta 240A V-8, 662 hrs; Volvo Penta 280 outdrive,

My qustions are How much gas do these old units use GPH , i would like to ask are the fiberforms good ocean rough water boats and also good in lakes, and is there any thing special to check out in the Fiberforms it is a model 2425 . I will attach a picture.


Cheers and thanks
James

I would say you have been given alot of good advice so far, here is my 2cents, after previously owning a 79'-24' Sea Ray cuddy with a 350/260hp Mercruiser, That Fiberform looks abit like it, but appears to be a bit lighter, and has less of a vee bottom, so I'd say it wouldn't be as smooth riding, or as stable, in rough water. Fuel usage should not be to bad if the engine, & drive are working properly, mine was pretty thrifty for a good sized boat. Top speed might be only 35mph, because even with the extra horsepower of my strong tuned 350 chevy, with added thru-hull exhausts, I could just hit 40mph fully trimmed out, and that volvo can't be trimmed out. All, and all it looks like a nice boat for any kind of cruising, or water sport, although not very fast, nor the best for rough open water, it should be fine for lakes. The main thing is the condition of the hull, & mechanical items, being 32yrs old? Good Luck, Mike