Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

[genesis78]

As you can tell from my join date, I have been around for a bit but have not posted in a while. I previously had a 1988 19' WellCraft I/O bow rider with a mercruiser 165. I used it for two seasons (NW Indiana) but sadly had to sell it to help with a down payment on my new house. Said house is lake side on a smallish lake. I was trying to save up to get another boat but my neighbor offered to sell his boat to me for what he paid for it if he could use it a few times a season to tube when his family came to visit.

So I took him up on it and purchased a 1983 16' glastron GX150 with a 88HP Johnson OB for $1200. The tach, speedo and trim gagues do not work and it's not the prettiest thing in the world but it tops out at what I would guess to be 40-45mph. I have a GPS and can use that to get a real number. The OB seems to start fairly easy and idles fine after about 30 seconds on fast idle.

He said he winterized it by draining and replaceing the oil in the lower end and trimming the OB down and letting the water drain from the exhaust. I know in IO's you need to pump antifreeze through it as part of the process but he just replaced the drive gear oil. Is this proper winterization for an OB? Is there anything else I should be aware of with this model/year boat and motor?

I am very happy with my purchase, just looking for any information I should be aware of.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

Just wanted to say what a cool and unique boat that is. Very worthy of investment & repair \ rebuild, IMHO. Sweet !!!

Try it with and without that silly whale-tail, too. Might work much better one way or another. Get it weighted to see it's heavy due to wet foam, and be darn sure to verify transom & stringers... standard stuff for an older Glastron.

OBs are sure easier than IOs... not as much to do.

 

[jigngrub]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

Sweet boat!!!... but where's the trolling motor and livewell?

What you described is pretty much standard for an OB motor.

You want to make sure to run the motor out of gas, remove the spark plugs and fog the cylinders with WD40, replace the fuel filter, and put a stabilizer in any remaining fuel your have in the tank.

 

[Grand Larsony]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

If that were my boat, I'd really consider adding a front trolling motor and pedestal seat (and maybe a rear pedestal seat as well)... but I don't know if you fish or not. Could be a pretty cheap upgrade and really functional. GREAT BOAT THOUGH !!!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

Get it weighted to see it's heavy due to wet foam

He's fine if he's getting those kind of speeds.

About the only thing I do to winterize my outboards is change the lower unit oil. Your motor should always be stored in the down (vertical) position.

 

[ufm82]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

LOL- winterizing my outboard? Go fishing, get home, park it in the driveway, leave it there. DONE!!!

Apart from checking L/U fluid and removing the battery from the boat there's nothing else I do. (Well, I do cover it of course but that's about it.) Outboards drain all by themselves. Even if you leave it in the water and the lake freezes you can't damage the powerhead.

UFM82

 

['78 Crusader]

Re: Bought a Boat, Any Advice?

Get rid of that ridiculous "Whale tail"....you really don't need it. 99% of the time, people use that to mask another problem with the boat which is most likely propellor related.

Everything else for winterizing your OB has been covered.......

Congrats on the awesome find!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!