I need advice on buying a used runabout

[Marfark]

I'm looking to buy a used runabout type boat, around 17'-19', probably for around $5000-$7000. I think I would like a I-4 or V-6 inboard/outboard setup. Most of the used boats I've seen advertised in this size and price range are about 10-20 years old. I've seen boats like this have outdrive problems and issues with rotten wood, and I need some advice on how to avoid those problems. Are there any particular makes or models that are especially good or bad? Do these relatively new boats still have structural wood that will rot? What are some common problems that I should check for?

 

[northernmerc]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

A lot depends on how well a boat has been looked after. If left to sit outside uncovered, or if it is stored wet, any wooden parts of a fiberglass boat can rapidly deteriorate. Condition matters more than age.

 

[Ozerimar]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Do yourself a favor and get a marine tech to evaluate the boat your after. Don't go cheap on a used old boat because it could nickel and dime you to death and if your getting something that size I would skip the I/O and go after the outboard setup. Winterizing will be much easier depending where you live and it will have more room inside since it will hang off the back of the boat. The transoms on these boats are usually more rugged as compared to the I/O version. Make sure you sea trial the boat your after or walkaway if the owner gives you a runaround. You would not buy a used car without trying it out first would you/? same goes with a boat. Do your homework and check around with any known issues with either the boat or motor. And don't forget to check the trailers brakes make sure they work.

 

[Ozerimar]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

I forgot to mention get yourself a nice walk around cuddy with a port a head for the woman in mind and with an outboard motor you won't go wrong with one of these. trust me. You can forget about cracked engine blocks and so forth....

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Merc I/O outdrives are definately problematic. If you do not take meticulous care of them they go bad. In additon, if the boat is kept in salt water, a lot of the I/O's steel parts rot away. The cast iron holds up a lot better, especially in fresh water..

I would recommednd you eliminate any 20 year old salt water I/O boats for this reason. Even OBs get a bit tired/corroded after 20 years, and a boat of your size should be had for your price in the 10-15 year old age.

BTW - I dislike warkarounds, since the cabin is small, and recommend a bowrider. If you plan to go out in cold weather, as you will freeze your ***** off in a center console.

Check the hull for soft spots, Regardless of the engine type, check the engine's compression. Let a bit of gear oil out of the gearcase. It should be clear and brown/green. If that stuff checks out, get the owner to run it, sea trial is best if it can be arranged.

 

[45Auto]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Merc I/O outdrives are definately problematic. If you do not take meticulous care of them they go bad.

Interesting opinion. Any data to back it up? My experience has been the exact opposite, the Volvo I/O's are a nightmare.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

I never mean't to compare Volvo to Merc. I have no experience with Volvo O/Ds. I have experience seeing Merc outdrives go belly up with normal mainenance, in comparison with Merc Outboards and OMC OBs.

I have seen neighbors need to replace their Alpha's after only a few years (They used Dealer service and winterizing), and they hardly ever used them. I was able to nurse my Alpha Drive for many years, but I would baby it with maintenance and useage. Even then, I felt it was ready to break, at any moment.

 

[drrpm]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

My boat mechanic descibed the Merc Alpha as "bullet proof" and no, he was not selling me one at the time. I don't know whether that is true, but mine seems to be holding up fine.

For the OP, you can look for boats that are constructed without wood to avoid the rot problem. Mariah and Caravelle are 2 such brands.

 

[Steve Mahler]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

This thread is horrible! all full of crazy opinions...wow.

1) it will be very hard to find a boat in that price range with 'no wood', but then again I dont know where you live or the market etc. In the mid 90s some brands - Rinker, Four Winns, Chap.... started having a fiberglass deck (floor) on their 18 and 19ft runabouts. This would be the best possible style to find...like someone said, if you can forgo the comfy back to back seats, a fishing boat will be most likely to have a fiberglass deck. But I like the nice lounge seats myself. Agree with the comment to take someone really knowledgable - not some guy at work with a boat - to look for rot, cracking etc.

2) Outboard vs. Inboard. Like chevy vs ford...everyone has an opinion, I dont believe you can simply state one is better than the other, but here are some concrete facts.
- outboards cost less to winterize/summerize.
- they do not cost less to fix when they break
- outboards are better in saltwater since they fully drain and can be tilted out of water
- it is cheaper to remove an outboard from a boat than an inboard
- outboards eliminate the option of having a full swim platform or sundeck
- unless incredibly new technology (out of your price range), outboards are noisier

Someone will say they run their outboard 200 hrs a day for 10 yrs with no service, and I will tell you about my 25 year old mercruiser that has never been rebuilt.

3) someone threw down mercruiser. Wow. Both Volvo and Mercuiser utilize GM blocks, but engineer their own cooling, drive and electrical systems. Both are excellent, volvo is generally a bit more expensive, and has a much smaller market share. merc is king of the outdrive business, and especially in freshwater, an alpha or bravo can give 20yrs of service with minor maint. each year and perhaps 5-7 yrs between gimbles etc. Perhaps the poster that slammed mercruiser lived in a salt area.

Enjoy your search for a good boat!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

I'm looking to buy a used runabout type boat, around 17'-19', probably for around $5000-$7000. I think I would like a I-4 or V-6 inboard/outboard setup.

not to start another religious war with all the I4 owners, but in MOST cases, a 4 cylinder in your typical 19 foot runabout is going to be underpowered. It might get you by, but not much else. Don't expect to pull a slalom skier out of the hole with a boatload of people.

 

[Marfark]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Thanks for the replies. Y'all have provided some useful info. I enjoy the occasional brand-loyalty flame-war, so keep the opinions coming. Based on my very limited knowledge and experience, I think that Mercury outboards are junk, OMC outdrives are junk, Johnsons are OK, and anything made by Yamaha, Volvo, or GM is awesome. I dare you to prove me wrong!

I probably should have provided a little more background. My first and only boat is a rotten 16' 1979 Invader trihull with a GM I-4 and an OMC outdrive. I paid $400 for it about ten years ago, and I spent more time working on it than using it. It was a great boat when I could keep it running and floating, but it's now so rotten that it's just not worth my time to mess with it, though it is probably still repairable in theory. I would like to start over with something similar, but in better condition and maybe a little bigger. I live near Knoxville, TN, so all of the used boats here are overpriced and freshwater only.

I'm a diesel truck mechanic by trade, so I do all my own maintenance(not saying that you need to be a pro, but it helps). At least I'll know who to blame when the mechanic breaks something. I liked having an automotive engine in my boat, because it was easy to work on and it was relatively efficient. I have some experience with older outboards owned by friends and family, and I liked my chevy engine better. I would consider a Yamaha outboard, though. I mainly just want to make sure that whatever I buy still has replacement parts available.

For the OP, you can look for boats that are constructed without wood to avoid the rot problem. Mariah and Caravelle are 2 such brands.

This is exactly what I had in mind. I don't know how hard it is to find such a thing, but a fiberglass boat with no structural wood seems like it would be ideal. Does anybody else know of other brands or specific models that use no wood? I saw a Yamaha jet boat for sale that appeared to have a fiberglass floor, and we all know that Yamahas are awesome...

Interesting opinion. Any data to back it up? My experience has been the exact opposite, the Volvo I/O's are a nightmare.

Are Volvo outdrives related to OMC outdrives in some way? I think that Volvo makes great cars and trucks, (I used to work at a Volvo truck dealer), but I know very little about their marine stuff.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

The best news is that you can buy a new replacement Aplha OD from SEI for under $2K. The Merc Dealers now need to charge less than $2K to rebuild your old one, due to the competition. Rebuild costs used to be much higher.

Anyone who says that Alpha's are more robust than OB gearcases has never replaced a lower shift cable, gimbal bearing, U-joints and yokes or bellows. All these parts are unique to I/O Outdrives, and are made to be periodically replaced, usually in few year increments.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Am I missing something here? Your a diesel mechanic, that means you have the expertise to work on the bottom end of a motor, and you have access to a forklift/ chain fall to get the motor out of an i/o. There are lots of us regular people who have to pay 5-7 grand to get a marina to fix a blown motor. In the meantime we have to pay storage till we have the money or think the boat is worth fixing. You should call around the local marinas. Find a boat in the 10-14k range and make an offer, and don't feel bad about it. 5k is a good down payment on a newer boat and the 5-7k they would have spent on fixing the old one gets them back on the water in something new. You end up with great boat and a motor you know inside and out. I just see a win/win here.

 

[Marfark]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

Am I missing something here? Your a diesel mechanic, that means you have the expertise to work on the bottom end of a motor, and you have access to a forklift/ chain fall to get the motor out of an i/o. There are lots of us regular people who have to pay 5-7 grand to get a marina to fix a blown motor. In the meantime we have to pay storage till we have the money or think the boat is worth fixing. You should call around the local marinas. Find a boat in the 10-14k range and make an offer, and don't feel bad about it. 5k is a good down payment on a newer boat and the 5-7k they would have spent on fixing the old one gets them back on the water in something new. You end up with great boat and a motor you know inside and out. I just see a win/win here.

I like your thinking Is it common for a boat that's only a few years old to have mechanical problems? Something like that WOULD be worth my time.

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

I like your thinking Is it common for a boat that's only a few years old to have mechanical problems? Something like that WOULD be worth my time.

Yes, every year someone will winterize wrong/or forgets to. Sometimes the insurance covers, sometimes not. Hey don't forget the insurance companies they have to get rid of the boat too. Just saying you can do what most people can't. That can give you a great winter project, and there are is a ton of people on the restoration forums here to help, check it out.
and good hunting

 

[hungupthespikes]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Taho...74bQQitemZ260622092107QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats

Just quick look at ebay. No i would not buy this boat, just to many ifs., but watch what this 2007 sells for and you see the motor is being worked on in the boat. A boat motor is not bad to pull but you have to have the height to get the motor over the boat.

 

[Marfark]

Re: I need advice on buying a used runabout

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Taho...74bQQitemZ260622092107QQptZPowerQ5fMotorboats

Just quick look at ebay. No i would not buy this boat, just to many ifs., but watch what this 2007 sells for and you see the motor is being worked on in the boat. A boat motor is not bad to pull but you have to have the height to get the motor over the boat.

I don't know why this idea didn't occur to me, but I'm glad you suggested it. This boat would be nearly ideal, but I would want something with no missing parts. 4.3's are great engines. I actually swapped the engine in my invader, and I thought it was easier than the average car engine. I did have to lift it pretty high, but that was easy enough to arrange.