Boat purchase

[Boaterdan278michigan]

This group has been very helpful throughout my journey to find the right used boat. I have a boat that I have a purchase agreement on. If it passes structural and mechanical survey, I will purchase it. I've found an excellent structural surveyor. I am looking for a mechanical surveyor, engine and outdrives. The boat is located in Shelbyville, IL on Lake Shelbyville. There is a marina with mechanics on the lake, but I'd like to work outside their corporate group. Does anyone have a recommendation on a mobile mechanic from near Lake Shelbyville Illinois?

 

[airshot]

The surveyors I have known do everything unless it is a large boat.
You need maintainence records and receipts as does the surveyor.

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

Owners

The surveyors I have known do everything unless it is a large boat.
You need maintainence records and receipts as does the surveyor.

say they cannot provide maintenance records. They name off several maintenance they've done, water pump impellers, engine oil, filters, water separators, drive fluid, etc.
I want a mechanical surveyor to pull oil samples and do a compression check.

 

[mr 88]

Blackstone and Amsoil have DIY oil analysis kits for 30-40 $ , compression gauge can be bought for 40-50 $ as well . If the boat is at someone's house I take a good look at his place to see if things are clean , put away or is the place a shambles . Most of the time that is a direct reflection on the boat being taken care or not . How many hours on the engine and what exactly is it ? GM 8 cylinder blocks should go 3- 5,000 +hours if properly maintained . 4 cylinders not so much , but there are a ton of them on Marketplace for cheap . If you go on a sea trial ,( highly recommend that ) you want the engine stone cold when YOU start it , that may tell you the condition of carb / choke working if it fires or doesn't right away . It does take 10 -20 seconds , if carbed , that's normal . Fuel evaporates while sitting for over 5-7 days ,so it needs some priming when turning over. After the initial start up the engine should fire at the click of the key for at least the rest of the day .

 

[tpenfield]

Google is your friend . . .

Local Options

• • 32 Marine (Sullivan, IL)
    • Phone: (217) 439-2628 (217-439-BOAT)
    • Services: Offers both in-shop and mobile repair services for the Lake Shelbyville area, including boat maintenance, detailing, SeaDek customization, and engine work.
    • Rates: Mobile labor is standard $130.00 per hour plus a trip fee.
  • Mobile Marine Services (Pana, IL)
    • Phone: (217) 823-6102
    • Location: 2519 IL-16, Pana, IL (about 14 miles from Shelbyville).
    • Services: Highly recommended by local boaters on Lake Shelbyville for quick motor diagnostics, fuel system fixes, and water pump repairs.

 

[tpenfield]

Also, often the structural surveyors will have leads on mechanics who can do all the engine stuff.

 

[tpenfield]

Are the boat specifics a secret at this point?

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

Are the boat specifics a secret at this point?

Are the boat specifics a secret at this point?

Google is your friend . . .

Local Options

• • 32 Marine(Sullivan, IL)
    • Phone: (217) 439-2628 (217-439-BOAT)
    • Services: Offers both in-shop and mobile repair services for the Lake Shelbyville area, including boat maintenance, detailing, SeaDek customization, and engine work.
    • Rates: Mobile labor is standard $130.00 per hour plus a trip fee.
  • Mobile Marine Services(Pana, IL)
    • Phone: (217) 823-6102
    • Location: 2519 IL-16, Pana, IL (about 14 miles from Shelbyville).
    • Services: Highly recommended by local boaters on Lake Shelbyville for quick motor diagnostics, fuel system fixes, and water pump repairs.

Thank you! I will call one of the two of these Monday. After we exchange money tomorrow I can provide specifics. I am bringing a surveyor in from out of state whom I have a tremendous respect for, he will not have contacts. My structural guy will pull oil samples during survey. I need someone to do compression testing, check drives and do mechanical sea trial.

 

[tpenfield]

If the boat/engines reach their specifies RPM at full throttle and the boat speed seems reasonable/typical, then it is a good bet that the engine compression is in decent shape.

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

Blackstone and Amsoil have DIY oil analysis kits for 30-40 $ , compression gauge can be bought for 40-50 $ as well . If the boat is at someone's house I take a good look at his place to see if things are clean , put away or is the place a shambles . Most of the time that is a direct reflection on the boat being taken care or not . How many hours on the engine and what exactly is it ? GM 8 cylinder blocks should go 3- 5,000 +hours if properly maintained . 4 cylinders not so much , but there are a ton of them on Marketplace for cheap . If you go on a sea trial ,( highly recommend that ) you want the engine stone cold when YOU start it , that may tell you the condition of carb / choke working if it fires or doesn't right away . It does take 10 -20 seconds , if carbed , that's normal . Fuel evaporates while sitting for over 5-7 days ,so it needs some priming when turning over. After the initial start up the engine should fire at the click of the key for at least the rest of the day .

Thank you. The boat is in a covered slip. The boat is extremely clean. The engines are 5.7 L fuel injected. I did a cold start, engine oil pressure went right up to 40psi. Idled at 800 rpm. Smooth idle. 630 hours on engines. We did a sea trial and it performed nicely. Cruised at 3,500 rpm 25-27 mph with 4 adults. Seems to cruise bow high.

 

[airshot]

Owners

say they cannot provide maintenance records. They name off several maintenance they've done, water pump impellers, engine oil, filters, water separators, drive fluid, etc.
I want a mechanical surveyor to pull oil samples and do a compression check.

They should have reciepts, even if the work was done by the owner, there should be receipts for the materials. With no way to prove any maintenance or repairs....it would need to be a bargain or I would walk away.

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

If the boat/engines reach their specifies RPM at full throttle and the boat speed seems reasonable/typical, then it is a good bet that the engine compression is in decent shape.

They cruised nicely at 3500rpm 25-27 mph. WOT appeared to be 4200-4500 rpm 40-42 mph with four people on board.

 

[airshot]

Thank you. The boat is in a covered slip. The boat is extremely clean. The engines are 5.7 L fuel injected. I did a cold start, engine oil pressure went right up to 40psi. Idled at 800 rpm. Smooth idle. 630 hours on engines. We did a sea trial and it performed nicely. Cruised at 3,500 rpm 25-27 mph with 4 adults. Seems to cruise bow high.

Starts and runs very well, idles good but a little high at 800 rpm. Bow high should be a trim issue that can be corrected unless there is a hook in the hull. Any leaks or water in the bilge? Any oil leaks in the bilge ? If compression is good and there are no leaks or hull damage, and fuel tank sample is good, what do you really need a surveyor for ?

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

Starts and runs very well, idles good but a little high at 800 rpm. Bow high should be a trim issue that can be corrected unless there is a hook in the hull. Any leaks or water in the bilge? Any oil leaks in the bilge ? If compression is good and there are no leaks or hull damage, and fuel tank sample is good, what do you really need a surveyor for ?

I want mechanical surveyor to check compression, look over the drives, do a sea trial. A second set of eyes, so to speak. No leaks of oil in the bilge. Residue from sloppy mechanics. There was some water, but not enough to indicate bellows leak or transom issues. My 32 year old boat has no water in bilge, but every boat I've looked at, range of price from $55,000.00 to $125,000.00 had some water in bilge.

 

[airshot]

I would want to know where that water came from !

 

[mr 88]

. .

 

[tpenfield]

Is the boat a 2008 Four Winns 338 Vista cruiser ?

My boats have always had a small amount of water in the bilge . . . usually came from rain water that came through the rear seat or other areas.

 

[redneck joe]

if inboards it can come from the shaft packing.

 

[airshot]

I would want to know for sure before spending my money.

 

[Boaterdan278michigan]

if inboards it can come from the shaft packing.

if inboards it can come from the shaft packing.

The boat has outdrives.