Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

[blue77]

Re: Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

Electrical work isn't that big a deal, so I'm not worried about that, just a couple hours with some shrink tube and soudering iron.

The out board looks to me like it had some barnicles and was scrapped, more of a 'surface' corrosion, but that is something a mechanic should be able to tell me right? Worst case I would have to replace the outboard, what would a Bravo III unit cost (if any of you know).

What should I look for in the hoses between the breather and the flame arrestor? If they need to be replaced that shouldnt be much more than a couple of hundred $$ right?? (For hoses that is)

Thank you for all of your help and sorry for being a pain

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

The hoses are no big deal, just 10 or 15$ each and you can install them yourself easily. The outdrive is a couple of thousand probably. All I was saying is those are the only issues I could readily see, not that they were big issues. The one thing that is hard to tell is if the hull is straight or not.
The second thing is if the transom or stringers are water logged. I would consider both of those things fairly major.
--
Stan

 

[blue77]

Re: Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

I MIGHT have actually found a surveyor (seems there are only 13 registered Surveyors in PA... at least according to one of the lists from the survey assoication); I sent him an email this morning so I'll know more soon (hopefully)

How can I tell if the stringers or Transom are 'water logged' they dont feel 'soft'

Looking again at the spots on the outboard, it LOOKS like they are salt deposits (or mineral at least) almost like I could 'buff' them off (not sure if that is really possible or not)

 

[SuperNova]

Re: Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

No ,thats aluminmun oxide, aluminums equivalent of rust. If you brush it off you will likely find pits in the aluminum. Certain years of Bravo III's had a real bad issue with corrosion, so I would look at it very carefully, those outdrives are not cheap (to me anyway). I saw they had a Mercathode system istalled, probably in response to the corrosion. I am going to tell you to step carefully. The stainless props look like they have some pitting going on, too and that is not a good sign.

Someone with a good ear can tap on the fiberglass with a mallet and tell how much water content there is. If it seems like a lot then they do small exploratory holes to figure out exactly how bad it is.

I'll be honest with you. You seem like this is your first boat, and you have a lot to learn. Let me tell you, the curve is very steep. You might be better off starting out with a 19' with an outboard before you step up to a 26' with and I/O. It may cost you alittle more, but I think you'll end up being a better boater and happier in the long run to boot. Just my humble opinion.
--
Stan

 

[blue77]

Re: Boating Noobie with some purchase questions

Took the boat out for a water trial yesterday, OMG that is a LOT of boat I had it doing 35 knots and MAYBE 1/3rd of the way to 'full' throttle'. With the trim all the way down it JUMPED out of the water, with it all the way up it wouldn't plain.

There was another group there that tested it right after I did, and appreantly bought it without having it looked over.

BUT you were right, that is likely way too much boat for me (to start at least) I had a great time driving it around, but I was NO WHERE NEAR what it could do, and frankly it would have been a LONG while before I got to the point where I would be confortable moving even at an easy pace.

OK so back to square one. I'm still interested in getting a boat, but there is no longer any urgency (as the boat is gone and I wasn't really looking at any others).

I still want a 'speed boat' (performance, ski whatever) something that can get up and go, but I don't need it to be AS fast.

I'm also thinking something small enough that I can take it comfortably on a lake (this boat was so big and fast, that it did laps without any problems, it really needed to be in a bigger area).

19' with an outboard doesn't sound bad, I know i've seen outboards pulling tubers and skiers, any suggestions on what to look for?