My son is trying to buy a 1999 Sting Ray (first boat), 200 hours, 180 LS 4.3 Merc Alpha 1 Fuel Injected. When went to look at the boat the owner was taking it in to his mechanic because he replaced the starter with and after market. It only lasted a couple of starts. Owner went out, bought a OEM starter and same thing happened. Mechanic has the boat for two weeks, ready today. We drive all the way the hell back to the boat,(still haven't seen it run) it's at the shop. The owner arrives and he and the mechanic hook up the hose, turns the key and total racket. Sounds like a maligned starter to me. Lot's of grinding and clashing of metal.The owner exclaims that's the same sound it made when he brought it in. Mechanic states he replaced the flywheel. So...................., we are suppose to go back Thursday. In anyone's honest opinion, do you think this boat is still a purchase for us. The cost was $6900.00 with all the equipment. Deposit, half, for a fixed boat. Any ideas on the complexity of the repair, the likely hood it's a relatively easy fix or not, and whether this type of boat/engine combo has this problem often? Is the mechanic looking in the right direction? How can you replace a flywheel and not bench test a starter first. I have Corvair's and they are prone to eat their equivalent of the flywheel, it's a ring gear.
