88 Baja 174 ..3.0 Alpha 1 outdrive .. potential purchase

[Baja Boater]

Looking at an 88 Baja 174 with a 3.0 4cyl and Alpha 1 outdrive. Cheap enough ...Needs a starter so unable to do any testing. The engine does turn over when using the prop to crank it. One of my concerns is the parts that it may need in the outdrive. One of the family boats just racked up about $1500 in repairs in that area. About the same vintage boat . So I am of course a little concerned about this purchase. I normally do my own repairs but have little or no experience with boats. So any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[flipbro]

Not being able to test run any boat is riskey bisness. If its cheap it may be worth it.and it being 88 if it wasnt properly cared for it will most definitly have some rot issues.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Unless it is cheap, you'd be wise to buy a starter and get it running. How else to know how it is going to run? If the boat is cheap enough to consider it a salvage sale, then go for it. Worst that happens is you pull and sell the parts.

A new outdrive for that boat will cost ~ $1300 for the whole thing.

Motor will cost more. That is the one weakness of the 3.0L - no automotive wrecking yard parts availability. If that motor is hosed then the cost of fixing the boat goes way up. Hence, worth it to purchase a starter and give it a test.