I must be crazy, but have a couple questions anyway.

[Dave K.]

Hello Gentleman, I have a dilemma!

Possibly looking at a 1987 Baretta with a 3.0 Volvo Penta that doesn't start. The guy doesn't have time to work on it so he bought a 21' Sea Ray. He may possibly give me the boat or sell it to me for 500 bucks. EZ loader trailer too.
Now, he said the motor fires when he sprays either in the carb.
Next, he said no problems with the outdrive but is it really true they only have two tilt settings, up and all the way down?

Can someone give me an idea what I should do?

TY, Dave

 

[captmello]

Re: I must be crazy, but have a couple questions anyway.

Volvo wasn't using the 3.0 in 1987. cheap and/or free boats can be the most expensive ones, so buyer beware. Firing on ether means nothing.
Do you know the seller? So far I don't trust him.
The old VP outdrives do not have power trim. Just a tilt mechanism for launching, etc.

What should you do? Sorry you'll have to answer that.

 

[matt167]

Re: I must be crazy, but have a couple questions anyway.

Yep. That's going to be a 'real' Volvo engine. Can be expensive parts, but this could be something as simple as a fuel pump not working. You could bring a can of fresh gas, and a fuel hose with a marine primer bulb. hook the bulb/ line directly to the carb and pump it up. That will fill the float bowl. Put some gas down the carb and some water on it and see if it will fire up.. If it does, and you can keep priming it to keep the carb full and it stays running. It probably just needs a fuel tank cleaning or fuel pump. If it does not run at all that way. it has bigger problems

Owner may not know it's a volvo engine, but if he really does not, how much is wrong with it since he tinkered on it not knowing what it is? Is the boat solid?
This person may just not know what to do and bought another boat for a quicker way on the water.. That said, if anything in this small list is amiss, you may want to walk away

 

[Dave K.]

Re: I must be crazy, but have a couple questions anyway.

TY for getting back to me and yes, the guy wanted to get back on the water. He's owned the boat for 8 years, ran great until it cut out and he had to get towed. Said it fired right up the next day but he lost trust in it after that. He told me it would be a project boat for anyone and that he just doesn't want to be bothered by it anymore. I'm not into anything that's a project but if it's a reasonably inexpensive fix then why not.
Honestly I'm not big on how the outdrive works as I boat often in Lake George where a fully functioning tilt/trim is almost a must.
That said, I plan on going to see the boat later today and if it's Too Much project for me I'll gladly walk away.
If anyone else wants to chime in.... Please do so!
TY, Dave