Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

[Jmunk]

I'm looking at a 1994 Mariah 19ft with a 4.3l Mercruiser and Alpha outdrive. The owner is stating that she didn't get the boat in the water last year but ran it a few times with the muffs. The owner was honest and stated that it did not get winterized this year, we are in Virginia. I am going to look at the boat this weekend and the lady stated there is no known mechanical issues with the boat, but she has not started it since late summer. What should I look out for espically since it hasn't bee winterized. The boat is sitting in her drive way which has a steep grade which the rear of the boat is facing down.

I'm going to obviously pull the dipstick, look for obvious leaks, also pull the fill plug on the outdrive for signs of water. If the boat runs normal and doesnt have any water leaking from block or manifolds anything else to check besides normal stuff? Whats the odds of something cracking ?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

If she ran it last summer and didn't drain/winterize it, you can be assured of some cracks in any or all of the places you mentioned. Core plugs that are bulged or pushed out due to freezing would be a sign it froze hard. The fact that the boat is facing stern downhill means nothing. Pull the drain plug on the outdrive so see if water comes out (but then it may still be frozen).

 

[Howard Sterndrive]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

at bare minimum:

if it's raw water cooled, it needs a new engine (short block assembly) and 2 new exhaust manifolds

if it is freshwater cooled with raw water cooled manifolds it needs 2 new exhaust manifolds and a new heat exchanger

if it is freshwater cooled complete with fresh cooled manifolds (closed cooling system) it needs a new heat exchanger

could be more damage, but need to inspect it. odds of something cracking are 1:1 if it was not winterized.

 

[Don S]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

I'm going to obviously pull the dipstick, look for obvious leaks,

Pulling the dipstick and checking the oil is going to tell you anything. If the block is cracked, as it thaws, the ice will probably leak out the external cracks first as the temp would get warmer outside. Then only a few drops of water would get to the inside of the engine.
Only running the engine IN THE WATER will tell you the true story. Most of the time the water hose and muffs do not supply sufficiant volume and pressure to the engine to make the internal cracks visible. Many people have bough boats with cracked blocks thinking they can patch the cracks with JB Weld, after they patched the cracks they THEN found the internal cracks.

 

[jkust]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

My .02 is as long as you are buying it for just the nominal value of the hull with at least the expectation you will be replacing the engine, you should be fine. It sounds to me like you have yourself a $200 boat.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

I'm looking at a 1994 Mariah 19ft with a 4.3l Mercruiser and Alpha outdrive. The owner is stating that she didn't get the boat in the water last year but ran it a few times with the muffs. The owner was honest and stated that it did not get winterized this year,

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,....

Keep Lookin',....
All the Reasons are stated in the previous posts....

 

[Jmunk]

Re: Issues with 4.3l not winterized ?

Thanks for the input I may ask the owner to have it checked out at a local marina.