Buying used boat: question about maintenance

[bunger]

I am looking at a 2003 Four Winns 200. It has a Merc 5.0MPI with about 260 hrs and seems to be in good condition.

Over the winter, the owner had the following done at his local marina: $4200 for complete tune up/outdrive rebuild/ bellows/ gimbal bearing/steering/bilge pump/impeller.

My question: that seems like a fair amount of work (esp the rebuilding of the outdrive) for a boat with low hours. Is that something I should be wary of, or is it a positive that the work has been performed?

 

[Scott06]

It's a positive that it was done, can only figure the bellows leaked and caused all the issues mentioned. If the engine has good compression and oil pressure it will be ok. If you aren't familiar with these tests find a marine mechanic and pay them to survey the boat mechanicals.

Did the previous owner change the oil and have it winterized?

 

[bunger]

I asked a handful of questions and here's the response:

I am original owner. First two years dealer did all maintenance. After that I changed oil and fuel filter twice a year. Distributor cap every year. The out drive was never touched other than draining and changing gear lube. This winter when I tried to winterise , it over heated. (Which never happened) so I took it in and was told it needed an impeller. So I had them totally rebuild out drive with new bellows gimbal bearing and all that entails. Also complete tune up. Plugs wires distributor and rotor. 3-5 year maintenance that was never done, so I did it all at once. I have service receipts. New bilge pump. I trailered it and stored it inside for winter.

 

[Silvertip]

It overheated and in the same sentence says "it never happened". That would bother me.

 

[boatman37]

thinking he means never happened before. sounds like a reasonable story. have a good marine mechanic check it out.

 

[Scott Danforth]

I asked a handful of questions and here's the response:

I am original owner. First two years dealer did all maintenance. After that I changed oil and fuel filter twice a year. Distributor cap every year. The out drive was never touched other than draining and changing gear lube. This winter when I tried to winterise , it over heated. (Which never happened) so I took it in and was told it needed an impeller. So I had them totally rebuild out drive with new bellows gimbal bearing and all that entails. Also complete tune up. Plugs wires distributor and rotor. 3-5 year maintenance that was never done, so I did it all at once. I have service receipts. New bilge pump. I trailered it and stored it inside for winter.

drive needs to be pulled every year for inspection of u-joints and gimble. if you follow the recommended maintenance, the bellows are changed every other year. the drive needs to be pulled apart every 2-3 years for th eraw water impeller to be replaced.

its a 14 year old boat and the PO did not do the recommended maintenance, the impeller most likely failed and caused an overheat, the bellows most likely failed took out the u-joints, gimble and input shaft seal and the drive needed to be rebuilt.

 

[bunger]

So is the general idea that it's probably something positive and not negative?

He is currently asking $15k, which I think is on the high end.

 

[Scott Danforth]

its up to you. motor suffered an overheat and the drive needed a serious amount of maintenance/repair.

the PO is trying to recoup his cost of repair by having a high price.

if you like the boat, offer what you believe to be a fair price

if you wait a month or two, there will be thousands of boats for sale at rock-bottom pricing at the end of season