Boat winterized and summarized each year but not used in 5 years

[timharper89]

Looking at a boat that has been unused for 5 years. Owner has owned for 16 years. 5 years ago his wife had an accident and is no longer able to use the boat. He has been winterizing and summerizing the boat every year through a mechanic but the boat hasn't been in the water or used in 5 years. The boat looks immaculate for the age, and his other toys in his pole barn also looked well cared for. I was going to check it out on muffs, but I'm not sure what to look for in this scenario. The mechanic, I assume, would have run the engine to winterize it. I'll ask about fluid changes, but the gas tank hasn't been drained to his knowledge, so it's 5 year old gas in there. Also planning a water test if the muffs work out.

 

[JASinIL2006]

Not sure trying to run an engine on 5 year old gas is a good idea. That sounds like a good way to gunk up an engine. Was the engine run when they were winterizing/summerizing?

 

[alldodge]

If its "actually" been winter/summer then it gets ran and has at keast been run on 4 year old gas. That said it could also be there taking his money and not doing the work.

If the drive is in the up position then boots need replaced, not that it wouldn't be a bad idea to do it anyway. Open gas cap and smell, if bad run on can, probably run on can anyway

 

[timharper89]

Not sure trying to run an engine on 5 year old gas is a good idea. That sounds like a good way to gunk up an engine. Was the engine run when they were winterizing/summerizing?

I asked about the gas, he didn't know but just said "I trust the mechanic who did the work and it started up"

 

[timharper89]

If its "actually" been winter/summer then it gets ran and has at keast been run on 4 year old gas. That said it could also be there taking his money and not doing the work.

If the drive is in the up position then boots need replaced, not that it wouldn't be a bad idea to do it anyway. Open gas cap and smell, if bad run on can, probably run on can anyway

How would I run it on a can? And how would I safely run it on a can for a water test?

 

[444]

I wouldn't run the boat on 5 year old gas. No way for you to know what his mechanic did, if anything. Maybe he ran the engine out of a 2L bottle, maybe he ran it on old gas, maybe he didn't run it at all. But it's his boat so if he wants to start it up, let him.

 

[nola mike]

Maybe it runs on an external tank anyway. Maybe it's a 2hp with an integrated tank.

 

[timharper89]

I wouldn't run the boat on 5 year old gas. No way for you to know what his mechanic did, if anything. Maybe he ran the engine out of a 2L bottle, maybe he ran it on old gas, maybe he didn't run it at all. But it's his boat so if he wants to start it up, let him.

I'm certainly not going to buy a boat without starting it up...how do I connect an external gas can?

 

[timharper89]

I guess I didn't specify in the post. It is a 5.0 merc on a 1994 sea ray overnighter 200. The fuel tank is 30 gallons internal.

 

[alldodge]

A 1994 should be a carb
Take a 5 gal gas can and maybe 3 to 5 ft of gas line. Disconnect the line from the tank to the fuel filter. Attach hose to fuel filter and stick the other in down in the can

 

[nola mike]

I guess I didn't specify in the post. It is a 5.0 merc on a 1994 sea ray overnighter 200. The fuel tank is 30 gallons internal.

Disconnect the fuel line at the tank, plop it in a can. I'd swap the water/fuel filter (buy one and bring it with you) and flush the line by disconnecting it at the carb and running the fuel pump for 30 seconds or so

 

[hugh g]

How would I run it on a can? And how would I safely run it on a can for a water test?

You haven't bought the boat yet so I don't know why you should have to rig up a remote tank to start it & take a test run. If the guy says he trusts his mechanic, so be it. Something goes wrong it's his nickel. If the owner gave you the runaround on running it, then I'd walk away. But in any case, run it on muffs & if nothing grenades take it for a spin. You have nothing to lose.

I wouldn't hook up a remote anything on a boat I was looking to buy. If something bad happens, guess who gets the blame.

 

[alldodge]

I wouldn't hook up a remote anything on a boat I was looking to buy. If something bad happens, guess who gets the blame.

Very good point, let them hook it up

 

[hugh g]

If it starts on a remote tank the unanswered question is will it run off the boat's tank? If the tank is full & the fuel is no good then he's got 30 gallons of stale fuel to get rid of. Imho his best bet is to try & start if off the boats tank to clear that issue. He'll have to do it sooner or later anyway.

 

[mike_i]

I agree 100%

You haven't bought the boat yet so I don't know why you should have to rig up a remote tank to start it & take a test run. If the guy says he trusts his mechanic, so be it. Something goes wrong it's his nickel. If the owner gave you the runaround on running it, then I'd walk away. But in any case, run it on muffs & if nothing grenades take it for a spin. You have nothing to lose.

I wouldn't hook up a remote anything on a boat I was looking to buy. If something bad happens, guess who gets the blame.

 

[444]

You haven't bought the boat yet so I don't know why you should have to rig up a remote tank to start it & take a test run. If the guy says he trusts his mechanic, so be it. Something goes wrong it's his nickel. If the owner gave you the runaround on running it, then I'd walk away. But in any case, run it on muffs & if nothing grenades take it for a spin. You have nothing to lose.

I wouldn't hook up a remote anything on a boat I was looking to buy. If something bad happens, guess who gets the blame.

Agreed. I wouldn't be fiddling with someone else's boat. It's his boat, he's selling it, let him start it up how he pleases. If it won't start you either run him down on price or walk away.

 

[nola mike]

All good points. I hereby retract my previous thoughts.

 

[timharper89]

Seems someone bought the boat without firing it up. Hopefully it works out OK for them