Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

[MAXXIE]

OK here's my deal. I have been running a 1985 17' Bayliner with 85hp o/b this past summer, It's my 1st boat & had no problems with it at all. I have been looking at this 19' (I think) Bayliner with 4 cylinder Penta engine I/O for a long while wondering what the deal was on it: was it for sale, auction (it's an auction place), or was it the owners boat & just storing it there (it does have 2010 reg. stickers on it). Anyway, on Saturday I drove by & I saw this make shift for sale sign. I jumped out & gave it a once over. I'll tell you what...It is in unbelievable condition for an '85/'86, floor is sloid, seats are original with no rip's, the only thing is the motor. So far all I know is it's a 4 cyl. Penta, the distr. cap is off & I'm not sure what the problem might be, I don't care if I have to rebuild the motor at this point because of the over all condition of the boat, & for less than $1000 with roller trailer, it's worth it to me to move on it. What's the story on this motor? Is it crap? What kind of speed should I be looking at? How big of a deal is the pull out- rebuild- install going to be? It's the kind of boat I wanted in the first place but settled for the O/B boat due to price. Is this worth doing? I know most will say it's up to me to decide if it's worth it, but I have no knowledge of this type of motor. Help please, Thanks, MAXX

 

[CheapboatKev]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

Do a search this forum for some quick reading for yourself..

My opinion, sounds like a great deal!



but again..I paid 200 bucks once for a boat that had a 165hp merc rusted tight for a motor..lol

 

[captmello]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

The old Bayliners typically were using the AQ125 engines. They are good motors, with fresh water cooling, meaning there is antifreeze in the block. I've never rebuilt one, but I've heard they are expensive to rebuild. Without knowing what's wrong, its hard to say if it's a good deal or not. Parts can be costly as well.
Have you talked to the previous owner? Can you do some checks on the motor and outdrive to try to evaluate its condition?

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

The guy I met yesterday said it is his boat, but I'm not too sure about him. He didn't try to sell it to me even after I said I wanted it, all he said was talk to "Butch" when he gets back. I assume "Butch" is the owner of the "Place" I was at & I guess he comes & go's all day long. I really want this boat because it's the type I wanted from the start. I know it's an older boat, but that OK with me. It really is in super great shape. I'll post up a pic or two later today & you can at least get a look at it. I wish I had the cash for something new, maybe some day. The plan is to bum the $1000 off my dad & then sell my current boat to pay him back. I have a buddy that has said from day one, "If you ever get rid of your boat I want it", I told him about the one I'm looking at & he's ready to go. We'll see what happens today if I get a hold of "Butch". Thanks for the insight on the motor, as long as this motor doesn't have a long history of being a dog it's good for me.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

How do I check the motor & out drive? The motor doesn't have a fan belt on it(the guy that said it was his boat said that's all it needs), & the distributor cap is off. Are there cretin things I can check even if no one is there when I stop by today ? Like turn this, check that, pull this, kind of stuff? Thanks for any info. I'll do a search & see what else I can find.

 

[captmello]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

You could at least pull the drain plug on the outdrive and see what comes out. You don't need to drain it, just take a sample, looking for cloudiness/water. Make sure the prop shaft rotates smoothly. If you have a battery, hook it up and test the tilt mechanism.

If you put in a battery, turn the engine over. Even if it doesn't start, its still good to know it turns over. You could go another step and compression test the engine. It won't be very accurate but, it could tell you if there is a bad cylinder or low compression on one of the cylinders.

Without running the boat, it's all a gamble.

Sounds like you're in love with it, so I really hope it turns out.

Post some pics and let us know what happens.

 

[Joshua Nichols]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

check for water in the oil.(cracked block)..Pull the fuel cap and have a smell.. I wouldn't drop a grand on anything that I didn't get to see run.. I paid a grand for mine too(Four Winns).. It ran, but had a bad trim motor.. Slapped a new trim motor on it, hooked it up with some new gear and hit the water.. Had way more than a grand worth of fun with it...

Since ya seem to like Bayliner, put the distributor on it and fire it up.. Take ya some starter dope.. When it doesn't start, lower ur offer...Volvo Penta is good stuff.. I see you asked about speed.. How fast ya wanta go? I bet it will run in the mid 30's or better if propped correct.. My v6 runs 45mph GPS @WOT trimmed out right.. That's plenty fast, trust me...

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

Good advise, the toughest thing so far is catching this guy at this garage. He's like never there. The boat has been sitting there for a while now so I don't think anyone else is looking at it + it's 18 degrees for the high temp for today so boating is the last thing on most people's mind around here. I'm going to bring the battery down & hook it up to see what happens. I think I remember seeing the key in the ignition.
Edit: What is this motor called? It is a Volvo Penta 4 cylinder. What I'm asking is what is the liter size? 3.0 or something like that? I know a little about boats, but nothing about I/O's & this will help with searching the forum. Thanks, MAXX

 

[JoLin]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

How do I check the motor & out drive? The motor doesn't have a fan belt on it(the guy that said it was his boat said that's all it needs), & the distributor cap is off.

Two comments you've made disturb me. This is one of them. If it only needs a belt and cap, why aren't they there? Unless you can verify the motor runs, then it doesn't. Period. An '80's Bayliner runabout is worth maybe a couple hundred bucks as long as the hull and the rest of it are in good shape, and you're prepared to replace all the running gear.

The second comment is where you stated you 'really want this boat'. Not the best attitude for a buyer. Fall in love after the purchase, not before.

Good luck!

My .02

 

[captmello]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

If its an AQ125a, it's a 2.1 ltr. Search AQ125, not 2.1 ltr.

I hope you realize, there is a lot more maintenance and repair work required on these old I/O's than on your old Outboard. Not trying to be negative, just a fact. Are you a good mechanic? Are you prepared to do your own mechanical work on the boat/motor?

 

[sqbtr]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

The way I look at it, is, a non running boat is worth the trailer it sits on.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

Good comments, I accecpt that. I agree, It's a non running engine at this point & yes, it is only worth the trailer it sits on, (roller by the way). The "I really want this boat" attitude will not be expressed to the seller. I'll be going into this with a take it or leave it attitude for sure. It's been sitting there for a while so I think he may want to get it off his lot at this point. I'll have cash in hand ( a hell of a lot less than he's asking) & say "I can pull it out right now if you want". He's asking $1,000, I won't be paying more than $500/$600. I can walk away, I do have a very good running boat now. Again, Thanks.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

Before you pull the trigger on this one, make sure you can get service on the old style drive, and parts for the engine. The old style Volvos are supposed to be good, but if you need work done that you can't do yourself and no one can work on it, you are SOL. We OMC owners know all about this, and I have 2 local mechanics that can work on it for repairs I can't do myself. I am fine with R+Ring the drive, replacing a bellows, cable, impeller, but if I have a seal leak, then I need a mechanic. As long as I don't see water in the gear oil I pop in a new impeller in the spring, hang the drive on and go boating. Think twice about buying something that old that is not a Merc........

 

[JupiterJoe]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

Volvo are a pain to get parts for they are dealer item only its very hard to find aftermarket and dealer parts are not cheep

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

I talked to a guy at a local shop & he said the same things, he can do work on it, but parts are an issue sometimes. Now if I can just get a hold of this "Butch" clown to get some back round on it so I can make a decision on it.

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

I love the old Babelinners too. They are however rot prone. I have seen sevral that looked great but were rotten to the core. I dont mind if the price is right. For 500 I wouldnt care if I could get her to run or not as long as it looks like you said it did. Rotten donor boat with a 5.0 should be cheap enough. this is assuming you are doing all your work. If you are paying someone run run run.

 

[JupiterJoe]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

I agree With ya proshadetree here in FL us real boat owners (ocean fishermen ) wouldnt take one if ya gave it to us.. They are called BAY LINERS for a reason but they have good looking lines.

 

[Don S]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

I love the old Babelinners too. They are however rot prone.

That is not just a Bayliner problem, it was a problem with all boats of that era.
Things were not sealed properly and fresh water got into places it shouldn't.
When I lived in Alaska, every 80's Grady White had rot, along with my Glasply (and a lot of others). Fiberforms, Reinells, SeaRays, and Bayliners (I had one of those too). So don't blame the boat manufacturer so much as the technology of the day, and the knowledge of the boat owners that made holes in the boat and sealed it with sillycone, which is good for a year at best.

us real boat owners (ocean fishermen )

Should we bow down to you "Real Boat Owners" now or what.

Be careful, your superiority complex is showing.

 

[MAXXIE]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

As stated before: This is in very good condition, the floor is like it came out of the showroom, just the sound of it when I walk on it or thump my foot on it. It doesn't even have the scum rings around the water line & they haven't been scrubbed off. I don't care if you or anyone else likes the Bayliner name or not & I've heard all the cracks & comments re: Bayliner boats & really don't give a sh*t. For the cash I'll offer for this unit, it's worth it... if there's no major engine problems. BTW: I've had many complements on my 1985 Bayliner w/Force O/B. It's a great boat & has never let me down.

 

[Allbutwet]

Re: Penta 4 cyl. I/O questions

MAXXIE if the engine in the boat you are looking at is like mine. Then there should be a tag riveted to the block on the port side. This tag will show you what engine it is; and the outdrive.(at least the original configuration) Mine is an AQ130D/280 in a 78 Bayliner.