first time boat purchase ...need help

[mira4581]

Hi all, I am looking to purchase my first boat and found a great deal on a 2013 bayliner 175 3.0 mercruiser. The owner says the boat has about 60 hrs but no gauge to check it. I checked the boat out today and it looks clean on the outside but the engine looks a bit dirty. I don't know much about marine engines but I know a few things about car engines. The first thing I noticed is the 2nd belt that connects the alternator is lose and moving a bit especially on idle. I also noticed oil around the entire block. Its not clean oil or drops of it but more like splatters that are kind of mixed up with dust and dirt. The question that I have is that normal for a 60 hr engine to look like this or has this engine been abused? I am attaching some pictures and appreciate the help!!

 

[thumpar]

From the pictures it looks like it was spray painted. My engine with over 650 hours on it looks cleaner. Have you seen it run or taken it for a sea trial?

 

[mira4581]

Unfortunately, it was raining hard yesterday and I wasn't able to take it out. This boat is 2 hours away from me...

 

[H20Rat]

From the pics, that almost looks like rubber dust from a belt self destructing... If the engine has been spray painted, it might be a new engine and the accessories were re-used, and didn't quite line up well enough on the brackets.

 

[Rick Stephens]

One of the instructions in boat owners manuals is to spray a light coat of oil on the motor and components to protect from corrosion. You may just have an engine that has been so treated and been stored in a dusty environment.

 

[mira4581]

I didn't really see any evidence of spray paint and the engine looks to be original to me, all the nuts and bolts look intact. To me it almost looks like it was abused or ran way to hard for the engine to look like this for a 2013 with 50 or so hours...... But I have never seen a marine engine until last night.

 

[thumpar]

Marine engines are usually cleaner than car engines because they are covered all the time. There is something on it but in pictures it is hard to tell what it is for sure.

 

[harleyman1975]

If you are suspect of it follow your gut and walk away. A trip to a local marine dealer to have it "checked over" would not be out of line though. They can test compression and run it on muffs to look for smoke at startup and to see what oil pressure is at both start up as well as once it is warmed up a little. you might end up paying $100 to have this performed but it could save you BIG $$$. Just from my personal view I would buy a boat with a 4.3 or 5.0-5.7. the 3.0 is an entry level boat that will most likely leave you wanting more. They are tougher to sell than their higher powered brethren Just my .02.

 

[thumpar]

Harleyman has it right on the motor size. My first had the 2.5l. I stepped up to a 5.7l EFI in the new boat.

 

[mira4581]

Thanks guys, yes ideally I would like a 4.3 but it must be a 17.5 ft so it can fit into my 20 ft garage and from my research they don't really make many 17.5 with 4.3. The owner is going to take it to a local marina tomorrow and said : "All oil will be changed and new water pump will be installed (water pump is due in 3 month anyway). He says the oil residue is linked to the seals needing to be changed. Seals, water pump, hydrolic fluid, engine oil etc will be fixed. He said the belt will be changed and tightened on the alternator. The reason so much is being done is because when you open up the sterndrive it makes sense $$ wise to do it all at once. "

Its strange to me that so much needs to be done on a 60 or so hr boat.. Is this normal?

 

[thumpar]

Doesn't sound right. Why does the hydraulic fluid need to be changed? That is not normal. What seals is he talking about? Splitting the drive is not a big deal. I would want to know exactly what the ect is. You have to do the seals to bellhousing and lube when you do the impeller but they are not that expensive and there is really nothing else to it unless you are digging into the drive for some other reason.

I would tell him you want to look at it before service and you would take care of the service if things check out. You should also measure it if you want to put it in the garage. My 20' only fits in my 24' garage because I built a "doghouse" on the back of the garage for the outdrive to fit in and remove the tongue from the trailer. The back of the boat is against the back wall and it still rubs on the garage door a tad at the front. A 17.5' on the trailer will probably be around 22-23'.