Considering buying first boat.

[Attlas]

Hello all, I am new to the forums and was hoping to have some questions answered. I am considering purchasing a used boat and have never owned a boat before. I work at an automotive shop and am well versed with vehicles but have never worked on a boat. What I have been looking at is a 97 bravo invader. This is the post description.

GW Bravo Invader ski boat, just rebuilt a 350 motor myself, sent it to a machine shop, had it bored .30 over new flat top pistons, mild cam, brand new vortec heads, with roller lifters, new valves and seats, new summit intake and more!! Got a big air wake tower with 2 6in led light bars on it, 2 kicker speakers with a sub cannon in the boat, foot is in good condition!! Needs a new carb has a edlebrock on it now! The motor isn’t even broke in yet still has the break in oil in the pan!! Would make someone a really good boat!! I changed the interior to brown!! The pics without the brown are older pictures!! Need it gone!! MAKE OFFER!!


My questions are as follows.

What should I specifically look for before purchasing this boat?
Are there any known problems with these boats?
In general what are some red flags to keep an eye out for when purchasing a used boat?
Will the timing setup be for a typically 350 or will it be different for a boat?
Again this is my first time buying a boat and am looking for advice before making the purchase.

 

[southkogs]

Welcome aboard Attlas:

Start by doing some reading HERE.

My first question is why do all of the extras on the engine? Does it run (the stated need for a new carb)? Why was the interior re-done, and what all was done?

Got a link to the ad?

Invader isn't a bad boat. I wouldn't call it premium. The key in used boats is condition. If it's in good condition, it can be a good boat. If it's in rough shape, you've got a project.

 

[Attlas]

Thanks Southkogs
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/3601532169872315/

 

[Attlas]

I’m not 100% sure on the questions you have asked. I have talked with the owner today and he said he just put a carb on it and it is being tuned at a shop. We had originally settled on a price but because of this he is now asking more for it. I posted the link in the previous reply.

 

[H20Rat]

ANY vehicle advertised as having a new motor is an instant no-go for me. Why would the owner put a bunch of money into it and immediately turn and sell it? They know it is a money pit, and would rather cut their loses now vs pay the next bill.

Read and re-read the link south posted above. Brand names on used boats mean nothing, it is condition, condition, condition. Make sure you aren't in a used-car buying state of mind, it isn't the same.

 

[roffey]

ANY vehicle advertised as having a new motor is an instant no-go for me. Why would the owner put a bunch of money into it and immediately turn and sell it? They know it is a money pit, and would rather cut their loses now vs pay the next bill..

I agree with you %100 on this one. Why would a owner put thousands into a boat ... then sell when it's almost complete. It sounds like he did all the expensive stuff and performance modifications.

 

[briangcc]

Red flag for me...you settled on a price and now he wants more because he went and did something additional to it. That's his problem, not yours. If you didn't agree to the work ahead of time then tough.

I'd be walking.

 

[Grub54891]

Personally, I would rather have a stock motor. The updates he did may not be a good fit for the boat.

 

[wahlejim]

I always look at the seller history before buying anything on facebook. He had this listed earlier:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace...6629793139447/

Sounds like he knows the stringers are rotten and can't mount the rebuilt motor in the boat. RUN!!!!!!!!!


1998 bravo invader has a 5.7l mercruiser, needs carb and also springers that hold the mounts is rotted. Has 750 dollar wake tower with boss speakers inside needs a little interior work also. Comes with trailer $1700 cash Less

 

[briangcc]

So now the question becomes....did he actually fix the stringers (and more than likely also the transom) or is he just trying to recoup the motor costs with the increase in price?


Run Forest Run!!

 

[Bondo]

GW Bravo Invader ski boat, just rebuilt a 350 motor myself, sent it to a machine shop, had it bored .30 over new flat top pistons, mild cam, brand new vortec heads, with roller lifters,

Ayuh,....... Welcome Aboard,..... I underlined the red flags I see,......

Flat top pistons under vortec heads yields compression ratios well above 10:1,..... Way to high,......

Vortec heads run best with D-dish/ inverted dome pistons, with calculated compression ratios of 9.9:1 or under,.....
10:1 or less, never more,....

 

[tpenfield]

Looks OK, but that is on the surface.

22 year old boat, so maybe see if there is water trapped in the hull and if the structure is made of wood (It is all about the structure and not the hull)

Red flag is someone putting all kinds of work ($$$$) into a boat and now selling it. What didn't pan out as planned.

No real show stoppers , , , boats typically don't have common problems. The combination of issues due to age/care/neglect will make them unique.

A few things for you to sort out and see for your own eyes. Price is OK.

 

[QBhoy]

I have been personally aware of two of these particular boats. Both had 4.3l Merc and alpha one drive. I always liked the look of them and remember them being fairly fast, for what they were. Lovely looking swept bow and lines on them.
Maybe just need to check the drive ratio is going to suit the engine you are thinking of putting in it (if I have you right). It’s likely going to need a hell of a prop difference at least with that engine. If not a ratio change ?
wooden bits in them might let the side down ?

 

[Pulse186]

I've actually owned a GW invader boat and it was junk. Purchased it new, the lag bolts for the motor mounts pulled out of the stringers the first summer, the gel coat cracked off in pieces on the bottom, and there was an endless supply of screws backing out and things breaking. Even had gel boat break off on corners where the fiberglass wasn't tucked in so the gel had no backing.

Look at the back seat in the pictures of the post where the seller is asking $1700, it is trashed. So we have a rotted stringer (and more no doubt) in a poor quality boat, trashed interior cushions, and a hot 350 engine in place a of a 4.3? This boat is a recipe for disaster and isn't worth anything.