buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

[jonnymarquis]

buying a boat with a 4.3 mercruiser man says he didn't take it out last season. has been sitting since summer 2009. look at motor in compartment and it looks very nice and clean, he says that he had the heads rebuilt two years ago. is there anything i need to look for before i make the final purchase. oh the asking price is 1000. ty

 

[littlebookworm]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

What type, size, make and year is the boat? When was it last serviced? Records? Depending on where you are, was it winterized before it was put away? In other words, much more info is needed from you before a suggestion can be made. Hy

 

[cr2k]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

At a minimum check the oil, THEN run it long enough to get to operating temp. (about 15 min). Then recheck the oil. Any rise in level and/or milky look means possible cracked block and/or heads. V-6/V-8 blocks tend to crack on the inside of the lifter valley below the heads and is not visible unless you take the manifold off. Any rough running do a compression check. (should anyway).

 

[jonnymarquis]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

What type, size, make and year is the boat? When was it last serviced? Records? Depending on where you are, was it winterized before it was put away? In other words, much more info is needed from you before a suggestion can be made. Hy

its a 1989 glassport 19 1/2ft openbow, said last service was '09 when heads were rebuilt. havent asked to see records (yet). said it was wenterized fall of '09.

 

[1ruralmailman]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

buying a boat with a 4.3 mercruiser man says he didn't take it out last season. has been sitting since summer 2009. look at motor in compartment and it looks very nice and clean, he says that he had the heads rebuilt two years ago. is there anything i need to look for before i make the final purchase. oh the asking price is 1000. ty

might want to clarify that this was properly winterized,if there was even remote possibility it could have seen freezing temps.they do have a habit of cracking the blocks right in under the head side of the banks.other than that they run great,and mine is great on gas.

 

[searay3]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

with an initial cost of 1000, you do have some leaway. See if it will run. Check condition of outdrive oil. If it does not run and the hull is acceptable to you (rot, wear, cosmetics, you said it looked very clean) doing your own work, 4.3's are not expensive if you diy. Offer him half and figure it's gonna take a couple of grand to get it seaworthy.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

Never belive the seller

 

[jonnymarquis]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

update. i did take it to the water and let me just tell you not worth my time to take it there. motor had water in carb so it was not garage kept like i was told. so when we finally got it to run water started to come in to motor compartment squirting from the side at a fare rate. was not winterized like he said because at the hose that takes water to what i believe was the exhaust there was a little tee looking piece that was cracked at the threads. then when we cut off the motor i heard a lot of water that sounded like it just dumped out of the motor into the compartment. tried to talk him down and he wouldn't budge. so ya know there are other ones out there. and I'm looking at another.

 

[spdracr39]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

When the price seems to good to be true it probably is. Glad you found out before buying it.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

what did ya offer him? $5? What a piece of trash and we don't even know the shape of the outdrive? I picked my boat up for 1000.. I saw him pull it out of the storage shed... We hooked it up to water and a little throttle and fried right up.. Now there was no sea trial.. Trim motor wasn't working.. So I took a risk..

Fella was completely honest with me.Gave me all kinds of stuff including a brand new stainless prop still in the box. Once I got some things fixed boat has been a blast.. There are some good honest folk out there... Keep on looking..Don't get ripped off and good luck

I bet ya pulled the dipstick after that run you would have water in the oil

 

[Brucetafer]

Re: buying new (used) boat, 4.3 mercruiser have a few questions

always always trust no body when it comes to anything, research first, i got my boat for 1800, ran like crap, but i got around 3000 worth of stuff with the boat... 2 brand new trolling motors (wireless at 1100 each) and a new trailer... so i figured after putting a couple grand into it, it would be mine.... well 4 grand later, the boats still in pieces but its almost finished.... and its mine!!! remember the more expensive the toys, the more maintenace there is... ive had plenty of friends buy 20+ grand boats and even 50+ and still had more problems then most marriages... just remember its a boat and theres ALWAYS going to be problems...

if you want to go fishing, buy a brand new aluminum...

if you want a ski boat, have a good friend with a boat.

if you have a good friend with a boat, always pay for the gas, he'll need the cash to fix it!! lol...