Buying a boat with a rebuilt sterndrive??

[Ttack#18]

Hey there,
I need some insight. I am looking at purchasing a 2003 Larson LXI190. However, the previous owner had a rebuilt 4.3 volvo penta motor put in it 5 years ago (with no hours meter). He has receipts from the shop the did the maintenance. I'm a little sketched out about buying a boat with a rebuilt motor and no way to track the amount of hours that have already been put in it. But I can get the boat for $7,500. What do yall think? Thanks in advance

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, welcome aboard

second, what are you worried about? most boats dont have hour meters. they generally do not get worn out in a recreational boat. they do get murdered.

a 19' boat with a 4.3 would normally go 4000 hours with proper maintenance. the average boater puts on 20 hours a year. the recommended usage is 50 hours per year and a hard-core boater may put on 100-150 hours per year.

 

[Ttack#18]

first, welcome aboard

second, what are you worried about? most boats dont have hour meters. they generally do not get worn out in a recreational boat. they do get murdered.

a 19' boat with a 4.3 would normally go 4000 hours with proper maintenance. the average boater puts on 20 hours a year. the recommended usage is 50 hours per year and a hard-core boater may put on 100-150 hours per year.

Thanks for the insight. I guess I'm more concerned about the rebuilt motor. This is my first boat. However, I have heard nightmare stories about rebuilt motors in boats. Also, every mechanic I talked to told me to beware of rebuilt engines. Especially with no way to track how many hours it has been ran.

 

[racerone]

There is a different interpretation of what ----" rebuilt " ----actually means.-----Properly done it is not cheap and results should make it run like new.-----But you can have the motor fully checked out , compression test and dynamometer test run.------Then there is the hull to worry about too.

 

[Ttack#18]

There is a different interpretation of what ----" rebuilt " ----actually means.-----Properly done it is not cheap and results should make it run like new.-----But you can have the motor fully checked out , compression test and dynamometer test run.------Then there is the hull to worry about too.

Yeah the hull is in pretty good shape for the price (a few blemished that go through the gelcoat but not through any fiber glass plys). But I'm not much of an engines guy beyond changing oil and routine maintenance. So I was a little apprehensive about it because I didn't want it to cost me a fortune in repairs a year or two after purchasing.

 

[JASinIL2006]

A rebuilt motor wouldn't scare me away, especially if you know (or can find out) which shop did the work. I would imagine rebuilding a 4.3 would not be a stretch for most shops.

 

[racerone]

Yes the hull is fiberglass.----Nothing goes wrong with the hull over time.----Well it fades from the sun exposure I guess.----But if the structure ( transom , stringers ) are built with cheap wood there can be issues with rot.-----Those often show up and are uber expensive to correct.-----Motors are easy to fix compared to the hull structure !!!

 

[Ttack#18]

Yes the hull is fiberglass.----Nothing goes wrong with the hull over time.----Well it fades from the sun exposure I guess.----But if the structure ( transom , stringers ) are built with cheap wood there can be issues with rot.-----Those often show up and are uber expensive to correct.-----Motors are easy to fix compared to the hull okay. So it has the plastic floor (or whatever they make it out of. So w

Yes the hull is fiberglass.----Nothing goes wrong with the hull over time.----Well it fades from the sun exposure I guess.----But if the structure ( transom , stringers ) are built with cheap wood there can be issues with rot.-----Those often show up and are uber expensive to correct.-----Motors are easy to fix compared to the hull structure !!!

Okay. So the floor is plastic or vinyl (whatever they make it out of) so I don't believe the stingers are wooden, although I could be wrong. The
Floor is very solid though. And I gave the transom (also fiberglass) a good look. No leaks, damage, flex in the fiberglass, gelcoat cracks, etc.

 

[southkogs]

Stringers are the "bones" of the boat. Under the deck, they give the hull it's rigidity. Dunno' if Larson was using wood in the stringers in 2003, but you can't really tell from lookin'.

If you're standing on a surface similar to the hull of the boat, then the deck is probably fiberglass. They have have a vinyl coat over the fiberglass, or (like my boat) marine carpet.

Have you been able to float the boat?

 

[tpenfield]

The real concern is a boat for sale with a newly rebuilt engine and little/no hours on it. If the boat has been in use at a reasonable level for the past 5 years, then their is some credibility to the rebuilt engine.

 

[Lou C]

Rebuilts can run the gamut from good to bad. Does the owner have receipts for what was done on the rebuild? This would list what operations were done (ie boring cyls oversize) and what parts were replaced (ie oversize pistons, rings, crankshaft bearings etc). If so that’s good if not all you can go by is how well it runs, absence of unusual noises, and other observable signs of problems (low oil pressure, overheating, signs of water in the oil etc). Most marine inboards fail due to a lack of maintenance not due to wearing out. This includes oil & filter changes, winterizing and changing the exhaust system when needed.

 

[JimS123]

"Rebuilt" to me means don't buy it. Its going to be a nightmare.

Boat motors if properly maintained and cared for should last the life of the boat.

Boats have a service life of 15 years. That's because people don't care for them. A fiberglass boat should last a lifetime.

If the previous owner of a boat already had to rebuild the motor (meaning poor care), what else on the boat has suffered from poor maintenance?

 

[garbageguy]

I pretty much agree with JimS, but our 1998 I/O had a lot of use when we got it in 2011, boat well-cared for, so we put a short-block in it, with a lot of help from a very good boat mechanic. Sure, we had to get a few things right on the engine re-install, but now the engine is a great-runner, and confidence plus.
Our "re-built" engine has been good, but boats are...boats. Get as many experienced eyes on it as possible. Cores would be great, but not always popular with sellers. I think (at least one) sea-trial is a must.

 

[JimS123]

Used boats are great. They are lower cost. Depreciation is considered by many as a deal breaker. Maybe you get a good one, maybe you don't.

To me, boating is my life. The absolute worst thing that ever happened to me was that the boat broke down on vacation. I bought it used. Looked OK. Ran good the first few times out. So here I am, 50 weeks a year on the grind, only 2 weeks with the family, and we were stuck on the shore with no boat.

OK, I had a new boat break down too. But the repair was fully paid for and the dealer put me ahead of the line because it was warranty. How many dealers do that?

Boating takes away your trials and tribulations. There is no place in the boat for a hassle. If the boat don't run, its a disaster. If it has issues time after time, its a big hassle.

Restoring a boat can be a challenge and a good time as well. Personally, I'm beyond that now. I want to go boating, not spend countless hours fixing it.

Years ago I had a friend that always had to have the biggest and best boat, with the biggest HP. Once I commented to him about all the money he spends. His answer was "I don't go boating to save money".

 

[Scott06]

If you like the boat and think its a good price go for it. properly done a rebuild is just as good as a new engine. If its been five years and hasn't had issues id think you are ok. If the boat is kept up and clean this is a sign it was taken care of and don’t worry about the hours. My last boat had no hour meter, was 25 years old when i sold it in good running condition ...

 

[H20Rat]

"Rebuilt" to me means don't buy it. Its going to be a nightmare.

Boat motors if properly maintained and cared for should last the life of the boat.

Boats have a service life of 15 years. That's because people don't care for them. A fiberglass boat should last a lifetime.

Depends on why it was rebuilt... Up north, a single mistake in winterizing can result in a rebuilt motor. Not all owners know to poke a stick up into the drains. Skipping 15 seconds of work means that next spring they are greeted by a cracked block and then rebuilt motor.