Newbe needs some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[springer9861]

Hi all,<br /> I am a first time boat buyer and have been looking for a fiberglass boat about 16 ft. long for my son and I to do some fishing from. I have looked at some bass boats and I have also found a 92 Yar-Craft with an 92 Johnson 85hp motor on it. I can only spend $3500.00 on one and I can get the Yar-Craft for $3250. My questions are:<br />1- Is Yar-Craft and good brand?<br />2- What should I be looking for in a used boat as far as problems?<br />3- The Johnson motor has some oil-gas mixture thats leaks from the motor when you lift up the motor to transport it. The owner now says it's coming from the carbs. Should this be happening?<br /> Thanks for any and all help in this.......... Larry

 

[ChalkBoy]

Re: Newbe needs some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, This is the exact profile I fit into when I recently bought my '88 Granada 16fter. The boat came with a 85 hp Force in very good condition. In my experience I was told to stay away from Bayliners and Galaxys. Johnson is a good motor but I would see how it runs in the water. Does it start? How does it idle? If there is difficulty with cold starting that could be a sigh of several issues. I know that it is normal for flooded engines to leak mixure if they drowned out. I not sure about Johnsons. Yar-craft is not a common brand that I know of. I would see if they are still in business, and call them. <br /><br />Good luck!

 

[12Footer]

Re: Newbe needs some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The carb leaking thing is normal when the engine is just shut-off,then tilted up for transport. Some folks disconnect thier fuel line,and let the engine idle just a bit to drain-down the bowls. But never run it completely dry (regardless of what anyone says). Sure, old fuel in the carbs can wreck yer day,but running them to stall-out is hard on the engine ....No,fuel,no lubrication!<br /><br />Things to look for on any boat before you water-test it.<br />Looked for cracked fiberglass,especialy along the keel and transom. Manually shake the motor, and observe the transon. If it moves a lot,the transom is weak.<br /><br />walk all over the deck,and make sure there is no "give" or spongy spots.<br /><br />pick up all seats where possable, ad check the frame wood for rot.<br /><br />look for corrosion everywhere. Pull the cover on the motor. Look for a shiny clean motor. Look around the area of the heads for burnt or blistered paint, indicating a once-overheated engine.<br />Again,corrosion on any part of the engine.<br />Examine foot and prop. The skeg should be smooth with no chunks out of it. Shiney is ok<br />but dings are a sure sign that it has been in the mud,or drug up the ramp.<br /><br />Ask to pull the vent screw, and check the color and condition of the lower unit lube...No water.<br />Good luck with the new boat.

 

[Navigator]

Re: Newbe needs some help!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Springer,<br />Let me add 2 more things to 12footer's list...<br /><br />1. Check the compression on each cylinder.<br />They should be around 125lbs on each (give or take a few pounds). If one cylinder is low, this could mean internal engine damage which would require a rebuild in the near future. If they are all around 105 lbs, then the engine is on the tail end of its life.<br /><br />A compression tester is around 20bucks and its a great tool to help diagnose future problems. Consider it an investment.<br /><br />2. Take the boat for a test drive. Engine that seem to run well in the driveway with the muffs on sometimes react differently when in the water under load.<br /><br />Nav

<br /><br />------------------<br />Sold the Force and bought my Honda...Oh how I miss those days of Screaming at my Outboard.