Looking at New to me boat.... Engine Question

[JP_R]

Hey guys....

i recently came accross a potential great opportunity to move up in size and style.

looking at a 2004 Four Winns vista 288. The seller posted some images of the engine but it looks like sticker peeled at some point.

Seller claim engines are 5.0 GI.

can anyone confirm by looking at attached images? Wish the images were better quality.

 

[tpenfield]

I don't see no images . . . :noidea:

 

[JP_R]

[No message]

 

[JP_R]

I don't see no images . . . :noidea:

I had to switch to my desktop because phone kept giving me upload issues..... see post above this one (#3)

 

[JP_R]

Another angle....

 

[Lou C]

On the port side engine the sticker with the duct tape on it has the engine size in liters. But can't really read it though!
that pic suggests very difficult engine access if the port side starter ever has to be replaced or even the exhaust manifolds on the inner side of each engine and spark plugs. Do not buy it. Maintenance nightmare, having done all my own maintenance for years, been there and done it and would not buy a boat built with the engines that close. If you want a cruiser boat like that get the largest one you can with a single engine. At least then you can get at things and if you pay for maintenance the difficult to work on boat with twins will be far more expensive to maintain.

 

[JP_R]

On the port side engine the sticker with the duct tape on it has the engine size in liters. But can't really read it though!
that pic suggests very difficult engine access if the port side starter ever has to be replaced or even the exhaust manifolds on the inner side of each engine and spark plugs. Do not buy it. Maintenance nightmare, having done all my own maintenance for years, been there and done it and would not buy a boat built with the engines that close. If you want a cruiser boat like that get the largest one you can with a single engine. At least then you can get at things and if you pay for maintenance the difficult to work on boat with twins will be far more expensive to maintain.

Current boat is a single engine but mainly want to go to twins in orders to be able to start taking longer trips and actually cross to Bimini a few times a year.

would not even consider doing it with a single engine.

 

[Lou C]

Twin outboards then. Those twin i/os are a mechanic's nightmare and 16 year old ones at that. Salt water use? If so when were the exhaust systems last done?
I know a late model boat with twin OBs is going to cost more but for reliability that's the way the whole market is going esp in Fla and and other costal regions.

 

[JP_R]

Twin outboards then. Those twin i/os are a mechanic's nightmare and 16 year old ones at that. Salt water use? If so when were the exhaust systems last done?
I know a late model boat with twin OBs is going to cost more but for reliability that's the way the whole market is going esp in Fla and and other costal regions.

Yes, salt water use. The boat is DEEPLY discounted given that I needs big service.

manifolds, risers, impellers, all oils and filters, etc. 500 hours on engines.

 

[mt2006]

Can you read any of the info on the other stickers? If you put the serial number into the Volvo owners site for manuals you might be able to decipher it. Also, does it give you a rev range? I think (keyword) the GXI motors revved higher.

 

[Lou C]

I blew up the pic looks like it says 5.0. It is discounted deeply because of the huge estimate they got for that work. Not only are 16 year old engines in salt prone to high maintenance costs, if it wasn’t done there could be engine damage due to leaky exhaust elbow gaskets. In addition to that, VP and Merc in their usually crappy business practices starts making certain parts NLA at that point. Ignition modules, engine ECMs, stuff like that. Check to see if parts are available. I would not do it dont care how much money off they will give. Inboard cast iron engines in warm salt water regions need to be closed cooled to last and those aren’t . Don’t do it! Get a Twin outboard boat up to 5 years old. Spend more up front to avoid those headaches. If you break down in Bimini good luck finding a mechanic to work on those!