Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

[TwoRivers]

Hello all. This is my first post here. I'm looking to buy my first real boat, looking at a 1994 Sylvan with a Mercury 115 ob.
Not looking for a race boat but just to do some fishing and exploring.
I would be the third owner. The present owner (who I don't know personally) says he bought it from his fishing partner.
The present owner told me he replaced the power head two years ago and he's performed all the manufacturers maintenance to this point.
Are there any issues I should know about buying a boat with a replaced power head? What causes power heads to fail? Should I be concerned that he wants to sell the boat so soon after replacing the power head?
Are there any issues with this year / vintage Mercury outboard?
Anything else I should look at?
Thanks in advance.

 

[crem1]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Check the compression in each cylinder, see if it's fairly even and above 100 PSI

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Thanks for your reply. I have a HF compression tester that I use on my dirt bike. Will that work?

 

[robert graham]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Maybe consider an aluminum jon boat with a bit later model motor with less horsepower, they're light and easy to tow, almost no maintenance, easy to modify/work on, no rot, no fiberglass, might buy one pretty darn cheap. Just a thought for you! Good Luck!

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Maybe consider an aluminum jon boat with a bit later model motor with less horsepower, they're light and easy to tow, almost no maintenance, easy to modify/work on, no rot, no fiberglass, might buy one pretty darn cheap. Just a thought for you! Good Luck!

Already own a 12ft. aluminum with a small outboard. Looking for something I can spend the day on with the family and still walk upright afterward.

 

[crem1]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Try it, but don't force you don't want to cross thread.

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Maybe consider an aluminum jon boat with a bit later model motor with less horsepower, they're light and easy to tow, almost no maintenance, easy to modify/work on, no rot, no fiberglass, might buy one pretty darn cheap. Just a thought for you! Good Luck!

Thanks for your suggestion. I'm guessing that OB motors are like kids, little motors little problems, big motors big problems?
Any known issues with these motors?

 

[crem1]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

No known issues, just verify the compressions to be on the safe side

 

[timfives]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Hello all. This is my first post here. I'm looking to buy my first real boat, looking at a 1994 Sylvan with a Mercury 115 ob.
Not looking for a race boat but just to do some fishing and exploring.
I would be the third owner. The present owner (who I don't know personally) says he bought it from his fishing partner.
The present owner told me he replaced the power head two years ago and he's performed all the manufacturers maintenance to this point.
Are there any issues I should know about buying a boat with a replaced power head? What causes power heads to fail? Should I be concerned that he wants to sell the boat so soon after replacing the power head?
Are there any issues with this year / vintage Mercury outboard?
Anything else I should look at?
Thanks in advance.

You should also look at other common elements. First being structure. Has the boat been stored properly? Is there any sign of rot in the floors and transom. Even on a 94, you should be sure to probe around to make sure you know what your getting.

You've already identified a potential issue with the powerhead, though if the compression is good then you should be all set.

Take your time and look the boat over good, both inside and out. Your buddy may not even realize there are other issues, hence why it is good for you to give it a good once over.

T

 

[robert graham]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Think large jon boat, mine is an Express, 18' long, 6' wide in bottom, bimini top, lots of room, very serviceable, no maintenance. Sea Ark makes jons up to 24' long, great for hunting, fishing, camping, anything. If you'll be in big water look for one with some healthy deadrise. We camp, fish, scuba dive, etc. out of ours. Most larger jons are all-welded and very tuff. Just maybe worth a thought.

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

You should also look at other common elements. First being structure. Has the boat been stored properly? Is there any sign of rot in the floors and transom. Even on a 94, you should be sure to probe around to make sure you know what your getting.

You've already identified a potential issue with the powerhead, though if the compression is good then you should be all set.

Take your time and look the boat over good, both inside and out. Your buddy may not even realize there are other issues, hence why it is good for you to give it a good once over.

T

The boat has been stored indoors. It's in winter storage now. It will be coming out this weekend when I'll take a look at it.
I know how to check the floors but how do I check the transom? This is an aluminum boat.
Thanks for your response. Great information.

 

[TwoRivers]

Re: Buying 1st. real boat: Seeking wisdom

Think large jon boat, mine is an Express, 18' long, 6' wide in bottom, bimini top, lots of room, very serviceable, no maintenance. Sea Ark makes jons up to 24' long, great for hunting, fishing, camping, anything. If you'll be in big water look for one with some healthy deadrise. We camp, fish, scuba dive, etc. out of ours. Most larger jons are all-welded and very tuff. Just maybe worth a thought.

That's a real boat.
Don't see many like that around here in Southwest PA. Can't afford a new boat and can't afford to buy a lemon.
I'm pretty handy mechanically, I'm willing to learn new stuff and I'm a PM nut, so hopefully if I can find a good boat I can keep it going.