Should I buy it? Early 70's ( I think ) 22 ft. Islander; And convert to outboard?

[ryster]

Been thinking about buying my neighbors old Starcraft boat. It has a 120 hp I/O with Merc. Cruiser outdrive. Motor has a lot of blow by with it heating up past 190 when warm and idling ( needs new impeller ? ). Out drive is almost out of adjustment grinds kinda going in reverse ) so thinking out drive is needing replaced. Leaks water ( a lot ) 5 gallons an hour. Hull is in good shape along with floor. Homemade hard top ( not bad ). $350 for boat with rusty tandam axle trailer. I am also looking at a 1974 22 ft Islander with 455 olds with berkley jet...have just seen pictures of this one but looks real nice. It has 900 hrs for $3,400. Which one would you guy choose?

 

[64osby]

Re: Should I buy it? Early 70's ( I think ) 22 ft. Islander; And convert to outboard?

Welcome to the site.

I feel like I'm throwing darts blindfolded. :faint2:

 

[airshot]

Re: Should I buy it? Early 70's ( I think ) 22 ft. Islander; And convert to outboard?

Neither one, both sound like way to much work. But if I had to choose one it would be the cheap one then I could fix it just the way I wanted it. The jet drive is a special purpose boat, if you have that special purpose for it then go for it, but beware jet drives are fuel hungry and performance is sub par to prop driven, at least that has always been my experience.

Airshot

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Should I buy it? Early 70's ( I think ) 22 ft. Islander; And convert to outboard?

Is the first boat a glasser? If it is, it isn't even a good donor. The engine is shot. If it's aluminum and even though I love tinnies, it will be a money pit.

The Islander jet with 900 hrs. First hours are meaningless as long as the boat was maintained. Jets can be money pits and are very special purpose and often in abusive conditions.

I would keep looking.

 

[Pugetsound]

Re: Should I buy it? Early 70's ( I think ) 22 ft. Islander; And convert to outboard?

Look on the same page your post is on -- Heyyou== He has a 22 Starcraft with a inboard and a jet drive. Can share information with you Im sure he hasent seen your post or he would have contacted you Pugetsound here in the Pacific NW I sold my 22 ft holiday with a 200 Johnson O/B last fall due to health concerns . REALLY loved that boat big and Fast very stable in the Pacific ocean and did well on small lakes also. Great in the River.