Boat sits lower on drivers side, shakes at low rpms, white smoke from outboard?

[erikpn]

Is this normal for a 2 stroke? I'm thinking about buying a 16 foot '74 fiberform with a '87 yamaha 90 hp outboard, and agood condition trailer. Looks like some scratches and minor damage around the hull, some go through the paint to the fiberglass. Floors and transom felt solid. On the water, everything seemed to work. They're asking $1,995. Is it a good buy? I'm just looking for a 1st time fishing boat for the sound under 3k. All I want is for it to be reliable and not a money hole.

Issues-
Didn't seem to plane easily. The guy jury rigged some kind of metal sheet to the outboard to make it plane better.
What's the point in making a boat plane anyways?

White smoke comes from the outboard at startup, and I also saw some as he reversed while we were retrieving.

Shakes at low rpms. Much more than the vibration on my uncles brand new 19' bayliner 195, but that's a 4 stroke. Is that normal?


The drivers side of the boat seems to sit a bit lower in the water than the passenger side.

Are those indicators of trouble?


How is this compared to a '89 bayliner capri with a 85 hp force outboard?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Boat sits lower on drivers side, shakes at low rpms, white smoke from outboard?

It is a 35 year old fiber glass boat, unless it has been rebuilt or is the exception to the rule it has problems with the hull.

With the transom you should be able to put your weight on the outboard and have the transom not move, anything more than a fat 1/16'' adn I would wonder, I am 180 and can put my entire body weight on the cavitation plate and my transom doesn't move at all.

If the guy balks point out that at full throttle the engine puts many times that force on the transom, if it won't hold your weight it is bad or going bad.

Didn't seem to plane easily- this can be because it is under powered or because the foam is water logged and the boat is carring around a couple hundred extra pound of water.

The point of planing is the less boat you have in the water the faster you go, you can go farther faster with less fuel burn.

2 strokes burn oil so smoke at start up is pretty normal and comparing a brand new 4 stroke to a 22 year old 2 stroke is like spam and caviar, no comparison, 2 strokes do shake alot at idle, that is normal as long as it smoothed out with throttle.

I would have someone knowledgable look at the hull, I really think you have some pretty major problems and it will require a rebuild in the next year or 2.

See what others say but I would walk away from this one, ti does sound like a money pit.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Boat sits lower on drivers side, shakes at low rpms, white smoke from outboard?

16' fiberglass boats from the 70's are a dime a dozen, so if you get season out of it and keep an eye out for a replacement, you already have a motor and trailer.
A 90 is right big, though, for the boat that size. Not too big, but it should push it no problem.
I'd be leery of a home made metal planing device and what it indicates. Also the problem planing. Might not be propped or trimmed correctly, though.

The boat sitting uneven means either the fuel tanks are all on one side, or you got waterlog problems. Probably the latter.
Since the boat is disposable, consider replacing rather than fixing. Even "cheap" repairs you do yourself costs you boating time.
Bottom line: either keep shopping, or hire a mechanic to give the motor a thorough inspection, and if it checks out, consider yourself buying a motor and trailer with a disposable boat.