What should I do???? Help!!!!

Thulz10 · Jun 11, 2011

Boat Engine blew out 30-45 days after I bought a used boat and only put 2 hours on it!!! HELP!!!

So I bought a 2000 25 foot Crownline with a 250hp 5.7L Mercruiser Thunderbolt V at the end of April and only took it out twice. We put a total of 2 hours on the boat and last weekend the engine completely locked up and now needs to be rebuilt. I bought the boat "as is" but the seller said the engine was in good working condition. What happened to the engine is, there is water in all 8 cylinders, #6 spark plug is bent, starter is shot, and a possible crack in the block or bent piston or valve. As I said earlier we putts around the lake and only put 2 hours on it before this happened. A number of different Marina techs have said this happened due to poor or incorrect winterization and this problem was there before you bought the boat 30-45 days ago. The engine only had 500 hours on it and now we are looking at 6-8k for repairs when we paid 20k for the boat. Because this is so soon after we bought the boat do I have any recourse against the seller? Any help or suggestions are appriciated. Thanks.

CT

wifisher · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Sorry about your troubles. Unfortunately, they are your troubles. Buying a vehicle from a private party is an "as is sale," unless you have a written warranty from the previous owner. Especially since the sale is a month old. You can call the PO and see if he is willing to help you out, but he is under no obligation to do so.

A few hundred for a surveyor prior to the sale would have been money well spent.

grnatl · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

I would have to agree with wifisher. The previous owner is under no obligation to help. But, it couldn't hurt to ask him for his maintenance records so however is going to work on the motor for you will know what the previous owner had done to it, if anything!

jopes · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

You can put a motor in the boat yourself for far less than 6-8k.

either way, you need a whole new engine.

Thulz10 · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Hey Jopes,

Could you please explain more on what you think costs would be and if I dont have the equipment it would not be possible correct?

CT

jopes · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

For instance, I got my roller 350 from rapido, for $1750 shipped to my door, It had a roller upgrade in the engine, no core charge and shipping. You should pick up a alignment tool from ebay for 40-50 bucks.

At the same time you should check and replace your bellows if needed, if your exhaust stuff is old or cracked it would be a good idea to replace all of that as well.

need to check your shutters in the down pipes.

Replace the impeller unless it was just done.

New Thermostat in the engine and a if you have a carb on your engine a carb rebuild should also be done.

You should know of at least one friend who has a good assortment of tools and is mechanically knowledgeable.

But at the same time, go back to the marina you got the quote from and tell them you would like to see a itemized quote for each cost that will add up to 6-8k so you can see what they are doing and where the money is going.

Thulz10 · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Hey Bubba, thank you for getting back to me. I am in MN and I will for sure have the Marina break down the charges and then post it on here.

BoatNoobie · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Did you do a test run before you bought the boat? How did it run? When was the 1st time you ran the boat? Was it freezing anytime after the 1st run? Did it run fine on the 1st run?

If it ran perfect on your last outing. Odds are, it wasnt broken before.

64osby · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Another option might be - If the seller had it winterized professionally he might be able to get them to cover it for you.

oldjeep · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

64osby said:
Another option might be - If the seller had it winterized professionally he might be able to get them to cover it for you.

First you have to prove that it was not winterized properly. I've got a hard time believing that an engine with a cracked block would run for 2 hours, usually you get about 5 minutes out of them.

Which marina gave you the quote? Also taking it to a place that is not on the water will likely lower that bill a bunch.

Sixmark · Jun 11, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

What part of MN are you in, I would be happy to recommend some places that you could talk to.

Thulz10 · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Ok here is the costs for the new engine.
Marina charges $110.00 an hour

Diagnotics test - 1.00 hours $110.00
Compresion Test - 1.00 hours $110.00
Remove Engine - 5.00 hours $550.00
Reassemble Engine Acessories 6.00 hours $660.00
Install Engine - 5.00 hours $550.00
Lake Test and Adjust 1.50 hours $165.00
Rebuild Carburetor 2.50 hours $275.00
Reman Engine $2,378
Install Kit $273.00
Install Kit $6.08
Bulk Gearlube OEM QT $12.60
Body/Impeller Kit $89.75
Filter - Fuel $9.98
Filter - Fuel $38.95
Carb. Repair Kit - 63.75
Freight - $199.00

Total Cost with Tax and 18 month warrenty - $5,778.37

How does this look to you guys for a rebuild engine?

CT

Thulz10 · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Hey I posted the costs below, let me know what you think.

oldjeep · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Seems pretty reasonable when it is itemized like that. Obviously you would save a ton of money if you were capable of doing it yourself, but their hours seem pretty reasonable. Only one I would have a any problem with is 2.5 hours to rebuild a carb - seems like about 1.5 hours longer than it should take.

I guess I would also wonder what the install kit is since most longblocks come with all the gaskets you need to finish the assembly.

Thulz10 · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

This was Tonka Bay Marina's quote

oldjeep · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Thulz10 said:
This was Tonka Bay Marina's quote

They do good work. When I had my old bayliner they were the only place who seemed to have any idea how to fix/adjust a Cobra drvie.

So you must be pretty local then, I'm only about 10 miles from them.

LibertyBoat · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Thulz10 said:
Boat Engine blew out 30-45 days after I bought a used boat and only put 2 hours on it!!! HELP!!!

So I bought a 2000 25 foot Crownline with a 250hp 5.7L Mercruiser Thunderbolt V at the end of April and only took it out twice. We put a total of 2 hours on the boat and last weekend the engine completely locked up and now needs to be rebuilt. I bought the boat "as is" but the seller said the engine was in good working condition. What happened to the engine is, there is water in all 8 cylinders, #6 spark plug is bent, starter is shot, and a possible crack in the block or bent piston or valve. As I said earlier we putts around the lake and only put 2 hours on it before this happened. A number of different Marina techs have said this happened due to poor or incorrect winterization and this problem was there before you bought the boat 30-45 days ago. The engine only had 500 hours on it and now we are looking at 6-8k for repairs when we paid 20k for the boat. Because this is so soon after we bought the boat do I have any recourse against the seller? Any help or suggestions are appriciated. Thanks.

CT

Please help us out by answering the following questions:

1. Did you pay $300 - $500 for a Surveyor to conduct an "in water" and "out of water" survey? If weather prohibited, you should not have purchased the boat until these were conducted and you received the results.

2. Did you participate in a "sea test" before purchase? Ditto #1.

3. Did you get copies of all prior work completed by the prior owner(s)?

4. Did you conduct any research or investigation based on the boat's HIN #?

If you answered "NO" to all four of these, I hate to say this but you did not do your homework. Best of luck in resolving but I personally do not feel the prior owner should have any responsibility here. A boat with a cracked block "likely" would not have run for 2 hours, at idle or other speeds.

Let us know how this turns out for you. But I believe the outcome is not going to be in your favor.

Thulz10 · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

1. We did not pay to have that survey because there were only 500 hour on the motor and were told that is very low hours and there should be no problems.

2. The river was to high for a sea test so we just put the cups on the out drive and fired it up

3. I am in the process of getting those records

4. Did not know that a "car fax" type report was avalible for boats.

Thoughts?

LibertyBoat · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Man, I feel for you but a used boat should never be purchased without a sea trial and surveys (unless the boat is negligible in sales price). Regardless of hours, if a boat is not properly maintained, there can be issues. 500 hours is enough time to do harm. Yes, there is a "car fax" type report for boats. Google search is your friend. Best of luck.

scoutabout · Jun 14, 2011

Re: What should I do???? Help!!!!

Thulz10 said:
1. We did not pay to have that survey because there were only 500 hour on the motor and were told that is very low hours and there should be no problems.

2. The river was to high for a sea test so we just put the cups on the out drive and fired it up

3. I am in the process of getting those records

4. Did not know that a "car fax" type report was avalible for boats.

Thoughts?

1. Ouch. You can break a motor in 5 hours, nevermind 500. And who told you "there should be no problems" anyway - the seller? What possible motivation could they have for saying that?

Sadly, not everyone is honest, so if you have to trust, trust but verify. Unless you really know your way around a hull and power package, get a survey...everytime.

2. Ouch again. You can run a motor on muffs when the complete rig has all kinds of problems. Nothing, but N-O-T-H-I-N-G can take the place of a sea trial.

3. Great - it will be interesting to see what turns up.

4. I'm not convinced whatever national network exists on HIN records would be definitive so that's not really a must have in my mind. Couldn't hurt I suppose.

I hope this works out for you. On the bright side, you will have one fine setup when you are done. By the way....make sure to ask about the warranty for the new motor, including any limitations like mandatory visits for inspection, early oil changes, adjustments, etc.

Oh, and, yeah - Welcome to i-boats!

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