Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

[mpdive]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Well I did the deal! They let me and my buddy - the boat guy - take it out for a few hours (on rather choppy waters due to the wind from the hurricane on the coast) and everything seemed relatively solid and in proper order. We did find a few minor problems, but nothing that was a deal breaker for the price. The trim gauge doesn't work (which I guess is somewhat common), I'm going to have to replace the blower, and we could hear the bilge pump kick in at first but when we took on a just little water over the rear while testing forward to reverse it didn't seem to work at that point (or sure didn't do much for pumping out the little bit of water there was, at least). It was definitely watertight, though, and all the seals seemed good. The engine also idled a little rough (or maybe just low) at first, but I assume it had probably been sitting for a while, and the more we ran it the better it got. Maybe just old gas or the idle is slightly out of adjustment? Either way, it seemed to settle at about 500 RPMs at first, but when we bumped to 700-800 it really evened out, and seemed to settle a little higher later in the test run. So for you Stingray guys, what do your boats idle at?

Anyway - I'l going to troubleshoot the few issues I'm currently aware of, replace the faulty parts if necessary, do a good overall tune up on her (plugs, wires, distributor cap, oil, freshwater impeller, and maybe the belt as we heard a little squeal once or twice), and get out the buffer and shine up the gelcoat. I then hope I'll be good to go, at least for the rest of the season.

Thanks for ALL the advice and help guys!

6oo rpm's should be the idle speed. Check the top of the spark arrestor it should be written on their. Some people will turn the idle down to avoid the dieseling on shutoff. May have been what they did. Mine did it. Run some Seafoam in the gas and it should remove some of the carbon hot spots and take care of it. You may be able to back it off to 575 or so but don't go less because you may chance stalling while trying to dock and a rich condition combustion wise. As far as the trim gauge goes they are just about useless as far as being accurate. Mine work on and off and if I'm not mistaken involve some kind of outdrive dissasembly to replace. Not worth it unless your pulling the drive anyhow. Someone more experienced can add to that. I can barely hear my bilge working and it wont pump until it reaches the gills on mine. I have a bilge switch but will be changing mine out for one with an automatic float switch. Blower...Make it top of your list. Accesible from passenger side of boat.
Congratulations on the purchase and I'm sure you'll love your Stingray. I sure have. Change out all your fluids, treat it with love and care and never look back.
Please post some pics!!!
Mike in SC

 

[BatDaddy1887]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

...it's too bad you couldn't wait till after the hurricane passed....if you're handy at fixing minor damage, then I'm sure there will be a lot of slightly damaged boats for sale all up and down the coast for cheap....

 

[roscoe]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I think I bought may last 6 boats without a sea trial.

 

[gtochris]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

I have a 2002 Stingray 190LS with a 4.3l and I love it. In reference to windshield, mine gets out of adjustment every now and again. I believe it's due to the screws coming loose after riding on a rough lake. .

Where is yours coming loose?

I found with ours, the screws securing the windshield to the deck were the loose element, It should have been bolted rather screwed from the factory in my opinion, but my fix was to remove the windshield, lay down some 2 sided tape and re-secure the windshield with the same screws. Although it is a little out of line still when it comes to shutting the glass, the structure is much more rigid now.

 

[JWFails]

Re: Would You Buy A Boat Without A Water Test?

Mine is the same place and problem. I have been having problems finding the screw heads under the dash. It seems that they are covered. I just tighten all the ones I can find.