Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

[maestro7879]

http://reading.craigslist.org/boa/624015902.html

I went and looked at it today and the bellows need to be replaced. This is something I can do myself. I'm very familiar with mercruiser.
Overall great condition. Was winterized by a local marina that I trust and they let him know that the bellows have to be replaced the following season. It's tough to sea trial it so engine muffs had to do.

Any thoughts ?
It's the perfect size for my family and fits into the type of boating we do. Overall clean boat that was marina maintained. Should I do it ?

Thanks Everyone.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

check the compression. before you by. if it has this type of exhaust manifold, deduct $1,000.00 at least. they are no longer available, and the conversion kit is expensive, even if you do the work. i know i got bit by them. they were on some 4.3 mercruisers 96-2001 motors.

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

Think i found what your are referring to..
http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/page350.html
http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product1497.html

Thanks for the info..

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

yeah, they were suppose to be available years ago. mercury also is suppose to have a conversion kit. little more expensive. if you buy it and it has these, Don S in the mercruiser forum, tried his best to solve my problem, back then. he is our mercruiser GURU.

http://marineengineparts.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/product1497.html

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

can you tell from these pics what manifold it is ?

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

Only 90 freshwater hours so i'm not that worried but good to know.

Thanks

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

those are the ones i was taking about, that takes the $1,000 conversion kit.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

here's one the the manifold, riser, elbow set up.

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

here's one the the manifold, riser, elbow set up.

Thanks for the pic.

So is this a deal breaker ? The boat is reasonably priced already from what I can tell. The conversion kit is about $800 now and I could easily do the work.

Does the engine have to be pulled to replace the manifolds ?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

the engine does not have to be pulled, but you need room to work, if the dog house is removable makes it much easier. i also found using longer bolts to get it lined up really helps, then install the correct bolts.

as far as a deal breaker, i would say not. just explain the the seller, what the cost will be to replace them. you in fresh water may get several years out of the existing ones. but, when you go to sell it. and someone is as smart as you, comes to iboats, they are going to get the same warning from me.

my point is to enlighten you on the situation. not to discourage you.

the setup was excellant. i think the cost of casting those big batwings, was the reason for dropping them.

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

I went for final inspection of the boat today. I ended up passing on it.

When arrived I was told that the boat wouldn't start. The starter would just give a clunk and then quit. He said that the starter was replaced last year and it's still under warranty.

The sound I heard made me think the starter was working fine but couldn't turn the flywheel. Frozen, Hydrolocked ? Who knows.. I passed on it.

A owner that didn't start it prior to me arriving and didn't know that the bellows needed to be replaced set off a few alarms. The boat was also stored in a driveway that had an incline and the front of the boat was pointing down so drainage throughout the winter in Pa. probably kept alot of moisture trapped.

It sold 2hrs later to someone else. Crazy !

Now i'm looking at a 97' Four Winns Horizon 180rs.
http://www.iboats.com/sites/philaboat/site_page_934/item_319326.html?listing_page=listing_sum_index_1.html

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

it probably bent a push rod.

new one:
my question is why was the engine replaced. was the outdrive replaced also?

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

it probably bent a push rod.

new one:
my question is why was the engine replaced. was the outdrive replaced also?

Hoping to find out tomorrow..
I have the same question. My guess is that they received it as a trade-in and the previous owner did something to it.

I have to say i'm amazed of how many boat owners I have met recently that have no clue what is going on with there boat. I'm no expert but I like to think I have a clue. These are the owners that say " boats are holes in the ocean that you throw money into ". I could go on and on about what I have seen looking at boats recently.

 

[rlb81]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

FYI: (you may have already seen these, and I'm not sure what you're in the market for but what the heck)

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/627450433.html

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/boa/626263417.html

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

Well for anyone still subscribed to this thread.

I made a deposit on a 94' Wellcraft 232FL Mercruiser 5.7l. If all goes well with the sea trial this Saturday i'm going for it.

I was really impressed with the build quality. I stuck my head in where I could to look at the stringers and was amazed how encased they are. Incredible setup also. Small cuddy cabin and still an open bow with seating with fiber'd floors. Also new full camper enclosure. Owner selling because he bought an all out ski boat.

The pics don't do it justice. New bottom paint since then.
New water pump, impeller, bellows and a few other things last year.

http://dsboats.com/usedBoat.aspx?id=164

After looking at about 15 different boats now I think I found the right one. Sure it will suck more gas then anything else I looked at but it's fairly future safe. Meaning I won't need a bigger boat right away.

 

[G1K]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

It appears in the pics that the boat was stored with the weight on the outside of the hull instead of directly on the centerline. I recall reading here that's a nono. Might want to check out if the integrity of the hull has been compromised.

Or I could be way off base...

Ryan

 

[maestro7879]

Re: Is it worth it ? 1997 Chaparral 1930 Sport

It appears in the pics that the boat was stored with the weight on the outside of the hull instead of directly on the centerline. I recall reading here that's a nono. Might want to check out if the integrity of the hull has been compromised.

Or I could be way off base...

Ryan

I think this would be more of an issue on wider beam boats. All boats of this size I see blocked this way with the rams disconnected from the outdrive and then the outdrive blocked so it's level. This takes alot of weight of the transom also. Do you have links to the posts about this ? I searched and couldn't find anything.