unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

[Michelinman]

I was apporached by an elderly gentleman about purchasing his power boat. I dont know much about boats but can tell you its about 20 feet long, has a 898 Mercruiser engine and looks sweet as hell. He spent $2000 on the drive then the guy told him he had water on one of the pistons so he brought it home and has had it garaged since with the manifolds removed as it was when he picked it up. It reads Aristocrat on the dash and is made my Sleek Craft, but I dont know the year or estimated value of the boat.. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Its dusty but no cracks or damage to the fiberglass or interior, just dirt from sitting under carport. Someone please tell me if this boat is worth repairing the engine. Hes asking $1800 for the boat. registration expired in 04. I will try to figure out how to attach photos as I am new to this site. How do I add photos of it???

Michael

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

1800 for boat and trailer and you really need to ask? I would buy it in a heartbeat--even if it needed a whole engine, assuming the outdrive is OK.. Figure you need to put another 3 grand into it. It would be worth it to me but that's just my opinion. You know your own situation.

 

[Bondo]

Re: unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

Ayuh,... I'm with you Frank,... That's a Sweet lookin' hull, with a Name...
Slickcraft is a decent hull...

A 350 would be a Nice replacement....

 

[Michelinman]

Re: unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

Well I got the boat home today. Will pick up the title tomorrow I hope. Dont know where to begin so I am going to reinstall the manifolds, put new plug in, fill with oil, hook up the water supply and see if it will crank. If there was water in the pistons, maybe nothing wrong. Hopefully just someone who didnt know what they was doing or trying to get over on a customer at $100 per hour. At any rate, before I tear her down, i want to make sure somethings bad. Took it by the carwash and removed a few years of dirt. Looks great if I can just get it to run now.....If not, may just sell it as is. Dont have alot of $$$ to sink into a new engine right now. About as far as I will go is head gaskets. Any and all advice is greatly appeciated. Hopefully tomorrow I will find out the year model. Ive searched for one like it on the net, but no luck.

 

[carcraze]

Re: unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

Yep I had one of those some time ago. Might even still have a pic of it somewhere.

Mine was an ugly yellow when I got it but re-did the hull, it was a nice little unit for the time I had it. It is a sleekcraft, 20 foot if memory serves me, mine was a late 70's era 78 I think.

Nice yours has the I/O package mine was running a 455 olds with a Jacuzzi jet drive.

Looks like a great project to play with.

Mat

 

[superpop]

Re: unidentified Sleek Craft boat for sale

If the previous owner told you there was water in a cylinder and the manifolds are removed I would not just put them back on and try starting it. The manifolds could have very easily been the cause of the water ingestion. Before you do anything to start it I would do a compression check, if you have good compression then I would have someone with some knowledge of boat motors inspect the manifolds. Could be something as simple as a gasket failure on the manifold to riser joint. If the manifolds are bad or even questionable though I would replace them before trying to start the motor. If you have bad compression then it is a whole different story but you still need to make sure the manifolds and risers are good.