Re: 115 Merc/17 foot Crestliner
The inline 6 cylinder mercs are great motors.They call them "power towers",and i personally believe them to be very under rated horsepower-wise. They act like a 150HP.<br />Buy it only after a compression test, and a sea trial would be a definite plus. Pay close attention to the transon,inside and out. Look for cracks in the jellcoat, and on the glass work inside the transom. Manhandle the foot of the motor,and see if the engine is very solid on the transon. Get on your hands and knees,and inspect the underside of the hull for cracks or dings.Look for a very straight keel,and a smooth hull (NO CONCAVE AREAS). Look at every wire, connector or terminal that you can physicly get to, for broken insulation (it get's expensive to re-wire a boat,and they are suceptable to the elements). Make sure all light's operate.Make sure all brighwork and thru-hull fitting are tight on the hull.<br />If a trailer comes with it, inspect the hubs and springs for integrity. They can be(and usually are) rusty, but make sure most of the metal is still there.<br />Inspect the hitch to make sure it is in line with the tounge...No twists ,rust holes or bends .<br />Climb inside after anchoring the trailer down,and walk all over every inch of the deck with a bounce in your step.Note any spongey areas. This would be rot, and will have to be replaced,sometimes at very high cost.<br />Open evey deck hatch,and look in every crevise (sp?).<br /><br />If it passes the "test", and the price is under 1800, jump on it.....Then, buy it
<br />If it looks showroom, after the "test", maybee more, assuming the guy was maticulous with his baby.
