Just bought a new 87 Malibu Skiier direct drive ski boat and have a few general ?'s

[TheGrayt1]

We bought a really clean 87 Malibu Skiier boat that is clean and has low hours. The interior is pretty much new with new carpet and vinyl. This is our first direct drive boat, and was wondering what are the advantages over an IO boat? What should we service before using for the summer? Any chronic problems with these boats? BTW it has a 350 V8 Mercruiser. The oil ahs been changed and I looked at the impeller and it looks to be about a year old or so.

Thanks

[Don S]

BTW it has a 351w V8 Mercruiser.

Might want to look again, Mercruiser didn't use Ford engines in 87, matter of fact the last time they used Fords was 78.

[TheGrayt1]

Sorry I meant to say it is a 350 V8

[1980Coronado]

pros:
- maintenance and repairs are much easier with no outdrive to service or gears to worry about
- prop is under the hull and not a danger to swimmers
- better weight distribution since the engine is in the center
- great performance for skiing, tubing, towing in general

cons:
- since the prop can't be lifted up, shallow water is a danger and if you hit something you may damage more than the prop. I just replaced a bent shaft in my inboard from something the previous owner hit.
- larger engines equal more fuel consumption even compared to an equivalent size I/O. Ski boats tend to ride with more of the hull in the water because the engine is in the middle. This is better for stability when towing skiers..but
- The ski boats tend to beat you up a bit in rough water.....but that is more a function of the hull not the drive. My Coronado is a heavy boat and rides very nicely in rough water, but it won't turn on a dime like your ski boat will.
- Typically slower than comparable I/O, again due to the hull type/weight distribution, but you should be able to get into the mid/upper 40 mph range...there are exceptions...but as a rule they're slower.
- they handle like crap at slow speed. Docking can be a challenge in a cross wind.
- In reverse the stern will go in the direction of propeller rotation no matter where you try to steer it.

[1980Coronado]

I believe this is the manual you need for your engine if you plan on doing your own maintenance: Mercruiser manual #9 (90-14499--1 1985-1988 Engines - GM V8)

[TheGrayt1]

Anyone else have any experience with Malibu boats of this age? How is their build quality, longevity, and reliability? Our boat runs great and was maticulously maintained.

[1980Coronado]

Anyone else have any experience with Malibu boats of this age? How is their build quality, longevity, and reliability? Our boat runs great and was maticulously maintained.

Well.....it's lasted 24 years with good care and maintenance.....seems like a quality boat to me. Saw plenty of these on the lake back in the day, and I still see many of them. It's like anything else...take care of it and it will last a very long time. Absolutely no reason it won't last another 24 years with the same care. Keep it covered, buy a lift if it's going to stay on the water, don't let it sit in the water all summer, keep it in a garage or barn out of the sun when it's on the trailer. The Mercruiser (GM) 350 is all but bullet proof when you keep it maintained. And most importantly....enjoy it! You have a very nice ski boat!

Get the Mercruiser manual for that engine and read the maintenance schedule....you also have a transmission to service. It's probably a 71 series Borg Warner Velvet Drive transmission...could be another mfg/model....either way it will need to be serviced at the proper intervals (just like changing the transmission fluid in your car)...but more often. I would recommend changing the impeller in the raw water pump every other season, starting now since you don't know for sure when it was changed last. Cheep insurance against an overheated engine.

[1980Coronado]

Link to the Manual for your engine......Click the download now button and you'll have to wait 90 sec for the link to appear...then click download again to start the download.

http://www.4shared.com/document/JJHV...anual_9_19.htm