Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

[Chupa]

Someone is selling 94' Spectre Image jet boat, 15 foot for $500 with trailer. I have no yet gone to check the boat out. I am looking to buy my first boat and am not afraid of a project boat, as long as its not structural. I'm more than willing to dive into something mechanical, like what this appears to be. I thought I might seek your guys advice before hand. From the seller:

The vibration in the gear box is causing the boat to not plain out and get up to speed. The driveshaft and impeller have been checked, the engine too, all check out fine, so we (the mechanic and I)
know that the problem is in the gear box. That is all I really know. I don't have model or part numbers for the parts needed But a knowledgeable mechanic could get these part numbers for you.

Any thoughts on this? Will it be as easy as he says to get parts? If you look on the web there is NO info at all for Spectre Image. The company has changed hands at least 3 times sense 1994. THe only info he has provided is that its a 3cylinder, 2 cycle. 90hp. My best guess as to the motor is this: http://www.**********/parts/search/Merc2/Jet/90 (JET DRIVE) 1994/0E037000 THRU 0E080399/parts.html
Again its just a guess. I can probably pull actual model number stamped on the engine its self somewhere, correct? Looking at the parts for that engine alot of them are OBSOLETE. This worries me, as what if one of those is a part I need.

What are your guys impressions? What would worse and best case scenario be in fixing this boat? Thanks!

 

[QC]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

My guess is that this is a Mercury SportJet. Maybe not, but no matter what, the "gearbox" in a jet is like . . . uhhh . . . not there. There may be some exceptions, and I don't know specifically about the actual OB conversion types, but in this case, an inboard, I am thinking no gearbox. Need to confirm what he/she means. The pump?

Oh, BTW, welcome aboard!!!

 

[Chupa]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

I did not realize it murdered the link when I posted it... I hope I'm not going to get into trouble posting links here... Anyway, Yes, sport Jet is what I was guessing too, here is the parts breakout: http://goo.gl/TbDXd

I assumed when he says gear box he means drive housing. Soooo my best guess without knowing anything about this at all is something here: http://goo.gl/bao63

What do you think?

 

[QC]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

Yeah, we're starting to blank out links to some competitive sites, but you're in no trouble. I am going to move this once again to the Mercury section. Maybe someone there will know more.

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

How mechanically adapt are you?

If the boat, motor and trailer are all in great shape it may be worth the project. It may be needing bearings and seals in the gearbox.

Worse case, sell the motor, sell the trailer, cut the boat up and put it in the dumpster.

 

[Chupa]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

That's probably something I could do. However I am still worried about getting parts If I need them. I suppose the trailer and running motor are worth a least $500.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

Being its from Florida and been in salt/brackish water, doubt it will come apart to repair and parts are scarce, I would pass on it......my $.02

 

[Chupa]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

The more I think about it the more I'm starting to turn off to the idea. He had it posted 2 weeks ago for $1000, and I guess no one took it then. I guess no one wants to deal with it.

If I knew I could get parts I would have bought it already. Oh well.

 

[86 century]

Re: Advice on buying a boat with "vibration in the gear box"

If it is a sport jet all of the parts can be found there is a complete gearbox on local clist for $400.