Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

[theginns]

I am thinking of purchasing a 1996 Seaswirl 2100 with a 1995 130 HP Johnson. The engine ran fine when it was last run in 1999. It has been sitting for 5 years and has not been used. The boat was in Cape Cod for 4 of those years, but I was told that the fluids were removed except for the oil. I work with the current owner, and know that what I have been told is the truth. Any suggestions or things I can check to see if there is anything Major wrong with the engine. I don't foresee a way to start the engine before purchase, as I don't want to put any cash into it before I purchase it. Just want to see if there are any ideas..such as get a battery and see if it turns over or something?? Any suggestion will greatly appreciated

 

[JB]

Re: Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

Your pal's honesty notwithstanding you should treat any engine that you can't run or water test as one that needs major work.<br /><br />Yes. Get a battery and check the starter and whether the engine is frozen, but it is still an engine that needs major work.<br /><br />You WILL have to put bux into it before you can use it. It will require a new impeller, carb kits, fuel pump kit and probably ignition system overhaul. It may also need all new seals in the foot.<br /><br />And that's if nothing is broke. <br /><br />Caveat Emptor, Ginns.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[ob]

Re: Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

Don't want to starter spin that engine over unless the cylinder walls are prelubed with some two cycle oil.It can then be hand stroked by using the flywheel a few rounds.Then run a compression test at cranking speed before any other work is performed.If it checks out ok ,proceed. <br /><br />Next thing I would do is remove each carburetor and thouroughly clean and/or replace with new kits.Bound to be some varnish from residual old fuel mix over 5 years.Don't want to lean out a cylinder or two to determine something is amiss.<br /><br />Also I would drain and replace the vro oil reservoir with fresh TCW-3 and and insure the reservoir pickup is clean and clear.Disconnect the oil inlet to the vro pump and pump resrvoir primer until pure/air free oil is weeping out.Reconnect,after all work is performed and run 50:1 in fuel tank until you can verify oil usage from reservoir.You can do this by marking a line at the beginning oil level and seeing if it drops after around 6 gallons of premix fuel has been used.<br /><br />A waterpump and T/stat replacement would be my next task.Also might want to remove and inspect and regap ir replace the sparkplugs with the recommended Champions.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

I'd check the compression. Beyond that, you really want to run it to be able to tell much at all. <br /><br />There simply is no way to tell much otherwise. By not finding a way to get the job done, you're basically assuming a risk. That said, a 1995 should be fine, even stored outside on the Cape for 4 years, as long as the former owner didn't blow it up just before he parked it. <br /><br />You'll absolutely want to attend to the stuff JB enumerated before running it. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[theginns]

Re: Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

Thanks everyone for your replys. The owner said he didn't think it was worth much in its current condition, so I could probably grab it for a couple grand. I figured I would have to put in a few grand to get it up to par.

 

[AaronG]

Re: Contemplating buying a boat...need advise PLEASE!!

Just buck up and pay a shop $1-200 to run the boat and give you an opinion on what it needs. That will give you a better picture of what the boat needs, and it may preserve your relationship with your friend if it needs something expensive. I wouldn't be worried about the engine sitting for 4 years as long as it was pickled correctly.