[dbs52a]

I'm looking at buying a 1995 Smokercraft 16.5 ft. fishing boat with a DT40 Suzuki outboard engine. I'd appreciate any input on the quality/reliability/performance issues that this boat and motor may have had. Is the 40 Suzuki a good engine? What would be a reasonable price in Canadian dollars for this boat? It has an electric trolling motor bow mounted, fish finder, live well, power tilt/trim, two batteries, custom boat cover.

I will appreciate any comments/opinions.

Thanks.

[jl_photo]

If you are spending much money you should:

1 have a dealer check it out

2 put it in the water and run it.


many problems are only evident while running on the water and will not be noticed testing in the driveway.

I have never used a suzuki before. Is there a suzuki dealer near you? where will you get parts and service?



.

[waterbill]

Have a mechanic check compression, gearcase lube (for signs of water indicating seal failure) and whatever else he feels should be checked. Check the floor of the boat, if a fiberglass false bottomed boat, for softness(indicating rotten wood below the fiberglass laminate possibly involving the stringers also. Get a heavy handled screwdriver and do a tap test all around the transom with the round end of the handle(not the point). The sound should be a crisp, solid rap. Move from top to bottom. The water soaked wood beneath the glass will probably occur down around the waterline and below. If the sound changes to a dull thonk, you probably have rot in the transom. I bought a used boat and found out my floor was rotten, the wiring was rigged with zip cord and wire nut connections laying in the bilge below the floor. It took a couple hundred man hours to replace all that corroded wiring. They had too big a prop on the engine, so the rpms were only 4000. When I got the correct prop, the rpms increased to the specified range, and the engine promply overheated due to a head gasket that only leaked at 5500 rpms. Long story short, buyer beware! Nothing wrong with a Suzuki, in my opinion. Just have it checked over thoroughly.