1991 Thompson boat

[vipertblck]

came across this as im looking for a first boat to buy for myself, not familiar with the brand thompson though, arent they famous for the old wooden boats from the 50's, or is this a completely different "thompson"?

1991 19' Thompson 195 Calae Power Boat

 

[MikDee]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Yes! That is the same company. They made great fiberglas boats as well. They're usually higher, & wider, then most boats their size, and not necessarily heavier. I'm not in the market for a boat, but if it were closer, I'd buy it in a Flash! There ain't many of them around, especially in that color, or condition.

 

[southkogs]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Condition is a bigger deal than the brand, though Thompson is a decent brand boat. That one's worth a look. Price is pretty good if it's in the condition it looks to be.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Sounds promising! Thompson is still a reputable brand today...well at least for this 1991?!

 

[greenbush future]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Yes as stated, it's all about condition, how was it stored previously? I see some additional bracing in the engine compartment that "looks" like it was added. That could mean, things are getting soft around the engine compartment area, or it could be just fine. How did you check the floors and transom? are they solid? If everything checks out under the floors, I'd say the boat looks nice. I'm not a fan of "dolphin tails", they tend to suggest performance issues, but with a v-8 that boat isn't short on power, how's the boat run?

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

I haven't actually physically seen the boat yet. waiting on a response from the guy to set up a time to come look at it. I noticed the extra 2x4's also that looked new. he says the engine was replaced because he moved here from cali and wasn't familiar with winterizing so he wrecked the whole thing his first winter here.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Well, went out to look at the boat this afternoon and it seems decent. Engine bay is very clean in my opinion, as is outdrive. Floor seemed solid as did any compartments, not perfect or immaculate by any means, but for a '91 I thought it was well kept. Found out a bit more than concerned me, the engine replacement was done in early 2000's he says. This tells me that the rubber components are all from that time because he hasn't changed any thing since then. Of course the engine oil and outdrive oil will need to be replaced. What about hydraulic oil for the trim, how often should that be changed, and how? I looked at the bellow boots and from what I could see all seemed well and no rips or signs of neglect. Sea impeller pump though has <50 hours as it was changed he claims with the engine, but around 10 years on it, if not more! Isn't that suppose to be changed every 3 years. From what he described that was changed along with bellows at time of engine replacement, bellows like I said appeared good. My research and readings here concern me about the sea pump impeller though, yes it's low hours but a lot of years; should this be a concern? He started and it ran fine, water poured heavy out of the exhaust ports located on the outdrive close to the transom, but out of the prop had minimal exhaust gas and water, is this normal operation? It didn't appear wrong, just had me thinking shouldn't there be more water of the prop? After engine got 100 degrees it started right up within a crank or so. Has some minor flex/play in the very rear where the seats are, running length wise on the very side of the boat where the "wall" meets the "floor". Maybe that's normal though. About 5" or 6" away from the wall towards the center of the boat it was harder. Outdrive is an Alpha One and he claimed that the sea impeller pump came out of the very top of the unit? I thought the lower half of it(where the prop is) has to get split and the impeller pump is in there? Also I noticed the throttle control wasn't mercruiser, it was "morse"....never heard of them?

All in all it seemed to be decent shape for a 1991. I've tried attaching some pics but not sure if they'll upload off my phone...we'll see!

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

got a full list from the guy on what was done and when..here it is
2004
full long block
tuned
new exhaust manifold

2005
oil change
gimble bearing
u joint bellows replace

sea pump impeller was NOT changed according to marina that did the work, so the last time that was done is unknown. marina told him it was a $20 part and easy enough for one to do by themselves...

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

nothing concerns me from what you have described, but yes change the impeller.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

nothing concerns me from what you have described, but yes change the impeller.

what about the 5-6" of "soft spots" in the rear on both sides, should I worry about that? Also these imepellers are changed by pulling the lower 1/2 of the ourdrive off, aren't they? NOT by pulling some cap off the top of the outdrive as he explained. I checked alpha 1 info on google and all that I found was splitting the outdrive and removing the lower 1/2.

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

no - on that old of a boat you will not be perfect and if minor you should be ok. The rest of the boat looks good enough so I don't think it was abused/neglected to get too much rot below surface. Now if you take a screwdriver and it pokes thru thats different maybe. Many people will say any soft spots you should run away, but I don't.

And yes on a mercruiser you split the outdrive. OMC has a 'cap' that you take off - very easy I wish merc was that easy.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

I've read in some boat ad's about people saying the whole outdrive was rebuilt including hoses. First, what hoses are in there? Second, what's average cost to have an outdrive rebuilt, assuming I pull it myself?

 

[redneck joe]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

new merc (aftermarket)sterndrive here on iboats is about $1500 maybe half that to rebuild?. Hoses probably refer to the boots/bellows and I believe there are only two - one for the shift cables and one for the driveshaft or whatever it is called. On merc, if you are mechanical there are hundreds of youtube videos on how to R&R a sterndrive.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

new merc (aftermarket)sterndrive here on iboats is about $1500 maybe half that to rebuild?. Hoses probably refer to the boots/bellows and I believe there are only two - one for the shift cables and one for the driveshaft or whatever it is called. On merc, if you are mechanical there are hundreds of youtube videos on how to R&R a sterndrive.

I've been around and watched them being removed and such on an old '68 sea ray with an I6, till last year when the transom finally gave way. Anyway it looked pretty simple to remove it. Also I believe you're right, the shift cable boot, bellow boots there are two, one for exhaust and one for the drive shaft(exhaust is lower one). While looking at the Thompson yesterday it seemed there was something tucked in there as well, it wasn't a bellow boot, more of a heater hose I'd call it. About that size (5/8 or so) and normal straight flat hose....any idea what that may have been?

As far as ourdrive rebuilding, seems it would be pretty reasonable to take to a marina or service center during the winter if I pull it off and have them check it all out, also vacuum test it; I've read about that too slightly.

 

[duped]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

I've been around and watched them being removed and such on an old '68 sea ray with an I6, till last year when the transom finally gave way. Anyway it looked pretty simple to remove it. Also I believe you're right, the shift cable boot, bellow boots there are two, one for exhaust and one for the drive shaft(exhaust is lower one). While looking at the Thompson yesterday it seemed there was something tucked in there as well, it wasn't a bellow boot, more of a heater hose I'd call it. About that size (5/8 or so) and normal straight flat hose....any idea what that may have been?

As far as ourdrive rebuilding, seems it would be pretty reasonable to take to a marina or service center during the winter if I pull it off and have them check it all out, also vacuum test it; I've read about that too slightly.

There are three bellows: shift cable, drive shaft, and exhaust. Two hafta be kept in perfect condition or you will take water as well as ruin your gimbal bearing or shift cable ( depending on which bellow leaks, usually both) The exhaust bellow is not as important and I typically replace the bellow with the exhaust tube for ease of installation.

The hose you see is the water line that feeds the cooling system. It runs from the bell housing to the transom plate.

Anyways, $6500 seems quite high. Although the boat looks good on the surface, soft spots on the floor are rarely ever contained to just the floor. Expect some rot in the stringers and transom which can really cost you. Although it's hard to find a 20+ year old boat without some rot, it's not something you want to pay full NADA for. Tap the stringers with a hammer, you should be able to hear a difference from solid wood to rot, so work fore to aft. Look for any holes in them and any evidence of weepage. Same for the transom. Drilling samples is the preferred way to find rot, but obviously not something you can do to someone else's boat...

 

[79Renken]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Anyways, $6500 seems quite high. Although the boat looks good on the surface, soft spots on the floor are rarely ever contained to just the floor. Expect some rot in the stringers and transom which can really cost you. Although it's hard to find a 20+ year old boat without some rot, it's not something you want to pay full NADA for. Tap the stringers with a hammer, you should be able to hear a difference from solid wood to rot, so work fore to aft. Look for any holes in them and any evidence of weepage. Same for the transom. Drilling samples is the preferred way to find rot, but obviously not something you can do to someone else's boat...

I thought the price was a bit high as well. That looks like a nice boat and if it has been maintained should be great fun for someone. But for $6500 it would have to be pristine and even then the price is on the high side for that age of a boat. Soft spots can be minor or major and soft spots and top dollar just don't go together.... but that's just my thoughts.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

There are three bellows: shift cable, drive shaft, and exhaust. Two hafta be kept in perfect condition or you will take water as well as ruin your gimbal bearing or shift cable ( depending on which bellow leaks, usually both) The exhaust bellow is not as important and I typically replace the bellow with the exhaust tube for ease of installation.

The hose you see is the water line that feeds the cooling system. It runs from the bell housing to the transom plate.

Anyways, $6500 seems quite high. Although the boat looks good on the surface, soft spots on the floor are rarely ever contained to just the floor. Expect some rot in the stringers and transom which can really cost you. Although it's hard to find a 20+ year old boat without some rot, it's not something you want to pay full NADA for. Tap the stringers with a hammer, you should be able to hear a difference from solid wood to rot, so work fore to aft. Look for any holes in them and any evidence of weepage. Same for the transom. Drilling samples is the preferred way to find rot, but obviously not something you can do to someone else's boat...

This water line for cooling system, from what you described I'm thinking inside of the boat, bellhousing to transom plate? Maybe I'm thinking wrong but this line was located outside, so it is submersed in water. It's tucked right in that same area as the bellows. Only reason I ask about it is because it wasn't very soft or rubbery....pretty hard so it's prolly aged quite a bit.

 

[duped]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

This water line for cooling system, from what you described I'm thinking inside of the boat, bellhousing to transom plate? Maybe I'm thinking wrong but this line was located outside, so it is submersed in water. It's tucked right in that same area as the bellows. Only reason I ask about it is because it wasn't very soft or rubbery....pretty hard so it's prolly aged quite a bit.

As good practice, I would expect to have to replace everything down there. It's highly unlikely that everything has been done in the past few years. Bellows, gimbal bearing, lower shift cable and the hose we speak of. It is on the outside of the boat on the port side of the bellows. And feeds the water from the impeller to the transom plate. On the inside of the boat there is another hose that meets the fitting in the transom plate and feeds the water through the P/S cooler and to the engine.

Really I would be more concerned with the price and the bones of the boat, not easily replaced wearable parts. Bellows replacement is something everyone with an I/O will have to deal with (save for the stringer guys). So you are no better of worse with this boat than any other. BUT, if this boat has rot, find it and use it to bargain with the seller, or find a different boat if you aren't up for the future work.

 

[jpo1953]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Viper,
Did you purchase the Thompson?
I've got the the same same boat in a blue paint and interior scheme.
Maybe we can compare notes.
Starting my 3rd season with mine.

 

[vipertblck]

Re: 1991 Thompson boat

Viper,
Did you purchase the Thompson?
I've got the the same same boat in a blue paint and interior scheme.
Maybe we can compare notes.
Starting my 3rd season with mine.

Nah I walked away from it, the soft spots kinda scared me with the age. it's still listed for like 5500 I think