Risers and Manifold Life Span on 3.0 L Mercruiser

[codcheek]

I apologize if this question has been answered in a previous thread, but I couldn't find the answer in any of the archives. I am looking at buying a '98 Bayliner Capri with a 3.0 L mercruiser. It is a saltwater boat, but with very minimal use ~ 10 hrs/summer (uncles boat so I now how little it's been used); a couple of years it wasn't even put in the water so I would say conservatively it would probably only have between 100-200 hrs on it. In saying that it is almost 15 years old. The boat has been serviced professionally before and after every season and flushed with fresh water at end of every season. I am wondering though what the condition of the risers and manifold would be; I read that anything over 10 years you are on borrowed time, but is that also the case in a scenario like this where the boat has been used so seldom? Any other issues I should look for in a boat this old? Don't want to get into a money pit so to speak.

 

[series60]

Re: Risers and Manifold Life Span on 3.0 L Mercruiser

I apologize if this question has been answered in a previous thread, but I couldn't find the answer in any of the archives. I am looking at buying a '98 Bayliner Capri with a 3.0 L mercruiser. It is a saltwater boat, but with very minimal use ~ 10 hrs/summer (uncles boat so I now how little it's been used); a couple of years it wasn't even put in the water so I would say conservatively it would probably only have between 100-200 hrs on it. In saying that it is almost 15 years old. The boat has been serviced professionally before and after every season and flushed with fresh water at end of every season. I am wondering though what the condition of the risers and manifold would be; I read that anything over 10 years you are on borrowed time, but is that also the case in a scenario like this where the boat has been used so seldom? Any other issues I should look for in a boat this old? Don't want to get into a money pit so to speak.

You say it's a salt water boat and it is flushed with fresh water at the end of every season. That scares me because it should be fresh water flushed before you leave the ramp after recovery from salt water!!! The only way to know how the manifold/risers are is to take them off and look inside. We can't guess at something like that. Just running for 2 minutes in salt water and have them sitting for months/years will lead to a tremendous amount of rust. The water galleys aren't very large and can become plugged with rust.

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15 year old boat with so few hours may not be as good as one might think.

 

[codcheek]

Re: Risers and Manifold Life Span on 3.0 L Mercruiser

You say it's a salt water boat and it is flushed with fresh water at the end of every season. That scares me because it should be fresh water flushed before you leave the ramp after recovery from salt water!!! The only way to know how the manifold/risers are is to take them off and look inside. We can't guess at something like that. Just running for 2 minutes in salt water and have them sitting for months/years will lead to a tremendous amount of rust. The water galleys aren't very large and can become plugged with rust.

View attachment 161205​

15 year old boat with so few hours may not be as good as one might think.

I say flushed after every season, because it stayed in the water all summer at his dock, not in and out water/trip.

Thanks a lot................1st post so wasn't quite sure of the format.