1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

michigan man

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im looking at a 1996 pro aventure with a 75hp force motor with many extras for fishing the big lake.also any information i can get on the motor,im new to the forum and want to make a decison on the boat next week.asking price is 5900,has down riggers,,manual,lowerence fish finder,gps ploter,moor sub trol900,and in very good condition,stored inside.<br />any coments would be appreciated,jim
 

roscoe

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

Hi there.<br />I've got a 16' Avenger Side Console with a 70 hp Force.<br /><br />Its a decent boat and fishing setup. Yours is a bit bigger and 100 pounds heavier. I would definately want a good long test drive, to be certain it isn't underpowered for your needs. Take 3 people with you to simulate the weight of gear, coolers, a full fuel load, and fishing partners.<br /><br />I put a taller windscreen on mine, and added a small outboard for trolling. It doesn't handle the chop as smoothly as a deeper v hull does, but its pretty good.<br /><br />If the engine was well cared for, and they did the preventive maintenance, it will serve you well. It has a Mercury ignition and charging system, as well as lower unit and tilt and trim, so you shouldn't have the problems of the old USMarine Forces from the 1980's.<br /><br />As with any used engine, I would give it a good run, check lower unit for water in the oil, and have the compression checked. <br /><br />If you buy it, assume that it hasn't been cared for, and go thru it. Replace the impeller, sparkplugs, fuel filter, fuelpump diaphram, change the lower unit oil, and do a decarb. Should be able to do it all for $40, then you will KNOW it is taken care of.<br /><br />The price sounds right.<br /><br />Good Luck. Keep us posted.<br /><br />What's a "moor sub trol900"?
 

Link

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

Hi Jim<br />I'd say follow the advice Roscoe just gave you. But, and there always is a BUT :) wanted to add that you can buy a service manual for 30-40 bucks and do most of the work (if not all) on the powerhead your self. with not a lot of special tools. They are a really straight forward motor.<br /><br />Luck to ya<br /><br />Link
 

michigan man

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

the moor sub trol tells speed,and water temp at the downrigger.not something i thought would be on a smaller boat,but the owner fishes lake mich alot.<br />Roscoe<br />what kind of hull warrantee was on these boats.also i was surprised to see it did not have oil injection,did only some motors come with this.<br /><br />also what do you think a boat like this would go for in excellant shaoe with all the goodies on it,but no canvas covers.Been stored inside,
 

roscoe

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

A decarb is a process by which you remove the accumulated carbon and fuel residue from your engine. Virtually all manufacturers recommend it, its easy, and can be an engine saver. It can keep the rings from sticking, which can keep them from breaking. Rings have to move to fit the tapered walls of the cylinder. If they stick, there is a gap between the ring and the cylinder wall, which causes a loss of compression. Loss of compression on one or more cylinders causes poor firing and excess heat, and a major loss of power.<br />Boom goes the engine.<br /><br />OK, the decarb process:<br /><br />Your intent is REMOVE the existing carbon buildup from the cylinders, heads, and rings, a spray decarb solvent product, such as SeaFoam Deep Creep, is needed. Some people use one can per cylinder.<br /><br />Run engine at fast idle, with engine running, slowly spray liberal amount into each carb, its gonna smoke up the place,<br />spray some more for a minute or two, now spray a larger amount into carbs until engine chokes out and stops,<br />remove spark plugs and spray decarb liberally into each cylinder, install the spark plugs, let it soak for 3 to 10 hours. <br />Start the engine and run at medium throttle, or if at the lake, run it at full throttle. It won't hurt to spray some more through the carbs. Run it for atleast 10 minutes to flush the crud out of your engine. Now remove and clean, or replace the spark plugs. <br /><br />It works well to do the spraying, the night before you go to the lake. This way you can let it soak overnight, and really flush it out at the lake.<br /><br />Don't do this in front of the garage door or the house, unless you want it coated with greasy crud.
 

michigan man

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

roscoe<br />took for test ride,ran good,but after ridding in my maxum 20ft boat,its hard to get use to the smaller boat.but if i want to fish more then i need the smaller one.the only thing that didnt work was the bilige pump,and wonder how hard to get to way in the back.jim at jimmyt1953@earthlink.net
 

michigan man

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

roscoe<br />i am buying the boat for5300,checked at the boat shops,and didnt hear anything bad on the force nwer motors
 

RatFish

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Jul 29, 2003
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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

Does anybody know or tried to use SeaFoam Deep Creep to decard other thpes of engines? (I was thinking of just about everything like car engines, lawn equipment, etc.) A few years back my truck would ping when running on regular gas. The mechanic said the engine had to be decarbed at a cost of $850. I told him no thanks, I'd run premium gas (which eliminated the ping). Thanks.
 

roscoe

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

Good Luck with the new boat, Michigan.<br /><br />RatFish, Several of us use it on our small engines.<br /><br />Also, some of us use regular SeaFoam in the gas tanks of our vehicles.
 

michigan man

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

rosco<br />i did buy the boat,havent had out still going over a few things,how hard to change the impeller on the 75 hp force 1996 motor,jim
 

roscoe

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

Not hard, but time consuming the first time, as you are reading the manual and learning. A little tricking getting the shiftshaft adjusted after re-assembly, but not bad.<br /><br />When you re-install lower unit, you can turn the propshaft to aid in aligning the driveshaft.<br /><br />If it is squirting water ok, I would use it till you can get a manual and an impeller.<br /><br />I think you got a real deal on that package.
 

michigan man

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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

roscoe<br />i ended up buying the boat for $5300,with all the options,net,large igloo cooler,tarp and some extras.<br />the motor shoots small amounts of water when ideling,but as rpm goes up a little then shoots alot more,jim
 

michigan man

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Jul 25, 2003
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Re: 1996 spectrum17'pro aventure???????

roscoe<br />took out the boat ,two of us tops out at 35mph.that was 500 lbs of people.hoping for 36-40mph.but the force didnt put out what my 70hp evenrude,or 80hp merc does.but they were also on 16ft starcrafts a few pounds less,jim
 
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