Used Glastron GX 205 with engine issues

[Relentless85]

Hello, I am new to boating and boat engines. However, I am mechanically inclined when it comes to vehicle engines. My family and I are looking into purchasing a boat and what I describe below is happening.

My friend has a 2001 Glastron GX 205 with the Volvo Penta 5.0 GL engine. The hour meter showed 182 hours. My friend took the boat out on the lake and drove it around for a few hours. They turned the engine off and sat for a bit. When they tried to restart the engine, it would not turn over. Said sounded like the belts would squeal. My friend was told the engine sized. I talked to the mechanic who told my friend this. The mechanic told me he tried standing on the prop to get the engine to manually turn over and it would not. The mechanic said he checked the starter and said it was ok. The mechanic pulled the spark plugs and ran a scope down and he said he saw some corrosion inside.

I went to look at the engine and I pulled the oil cap and saw chocolate milk around the cap. I pulled the dipstick and there was less chocolate milk but the oil was more “runny” than usual. I didn’t try to turn the engine over with the starter because the mechanic didn’t put the spark plugs back in and disconnected the power to the starter.

The mechanic said that somehow the engine ingested water and hydro locked the engine. He gave my friend the option of replacing with a used engine or replacing with a new block.

My friend is offering to sell the boat to me. I have been looking at new blocks with heads.

The mechanic said he could replace the engine with a new block from Jasper engines for around 12k.

I have heard and read horror stories about Jasper engines in the automotive world. What are good other places that I can personally buy a block from? I have seen Michigan motors and S&J engines. Does anyone have good experiences with these places? I am looking into doing the work myself.

Any pros or cons for replacing an engine in this old of a boat? The interior is in good condition and the boat was in a storage unit when not in use.

 

[MikeSchinlaub]

Check every bit of stringers and transom you can get to before spending anything on the engine. If anything is wet or rotten, you'll probably be better off just passing on the whole thing. You would probably have about that much again into a structural rebuild, plus 6 months+ in time.

 

[dwco5051]

Would you buy a 25 year old car with a possible rusted out frame because it might need some extensive engine work? I have known a few marine engine mechanics and turned a few av wrench a few times myself but never heard of standing on the prop to turn the engine over on an I/O. From the description of the problem the first thing that came to my mind is water intrusion into a cylinder and a hydraulic lock. Be careful because cost to repair and older boat and quickly exceed the value of the boat.

 

[nola mike]

Hello, I am new to boating and boat engines.
Any pros or cons for replacing an engine in this old of a boat? The interior is in good condition and the boat was in a storage unit when not in use.

The boat isn't worth 12k, especially if your friend is trying to sell it to you. Not worth it unless you do it yourself. Is the block new or reman? That's big money for reman. You'll also need to find out what caused the engine to seize. Most likely bad exhaust manifolds, maybe freeze damage.

 

[Scott Danforth]

you can do the work yourself and swap the motor for $5500 for a new 5.7 liter motor

or much much less if you understand motors and wrench turning.

however before spending any beer money on the boat. you need to understand what happened and why.

 

[redneck joe]

old boat, wood substructure can rot and not be noticed.

That is first concern on a 25 year old boat.

 

[Sprig]

Thats not a family boat, that is a project. Walk away from that. Actually run from that. Being new to boating you do not want to start with a 25 year old boat especially one that needs a new engine. That is a bottomless money pit. When you buy a boat you want to but the newest boat you can afford thats is great shape. Old boats are almost always expensive headaches.

 

[Relentless85]

Is there a way to turn the motor over by hand? When I was looking at the crank pulley, it looked like there was a water pump covering the crank bolt that I could use a socket and ratchet to turn the motor over manually. I’d like to bring the boat over to my house where I can spend some more time with it an and the motor.

I have heard that upgrading to a 5.7 is fairly easy. But would I need to find a another 5.7 to take the accessory drive and intake to put on a 5.7 block?

I believe the 5.0gl has a carb on it. I’m guessing I would need to find a 5.7 with a carb because fuel injection involves finding a ECM?

If the mechanic was not able to manually turn the prop, are you saying there could be an issue with the lower unit. The owner of the boat said when they tried to start it with the key, it just clicked or started making a squealing sound. I called and talked to the mechanic and he seems to think the engine ingested water by possibly dieseling and sucking up water from the exhaust. He told me that VP engines don’t have a check valve or flapper on the exhaust to keep water from being sucked back up?

 

[Scott Danforth]

NEVER turn a Chevy motor over by the crank pulley. The bolt will strip out the threads in the crank and you then have junk

Always use a crank socket

If you swap blocks, use the accessories on the current 5.0. same parts

You're overthinking it. Base engines are just long blocks.

If the drive is in hear, you won't turn over the motor by the prop. This "mechanic" sounds like a tool.

 

[Bondo]

Is there a way to turn the motor over by hand? When I was looking at the crank pulley, it looked like there was a water pump covering the crank bolt that I could use a socket and ratchet to turn the motor over manually. I’d like to bring the boat over to my house where I can spend some more time with it an and the motor.

I have heard that upgrading to a 5.7 is fairly easy. But would I need to find a another 5.7 to take the accessory drive and intake to put on a 5.7 block?

I believe the 5.0gl has a carb on it. I’m guessing I would need to find a 5.7 with a carb because fuel injection involves finding a ECM?

If the mechanic was not able to manually turn the prop, are you saying there could be an issue with the lower unit. The owner of the boat said when they tried to start it with the key, it just clicked or started making a squealing sound. I called and talked to the mechanic and he seems to think the engine ingested water by possibly dieseling and sucking up water from the exhaust. He told me that VP engines don’t have a check valve or flapper on the exhaust to keep water from being sucked back up?

Ayuh,.... I posted in yer thread over at marine engine com,.....

 

[bowler]

Pass! Buy something that works. Honestly.

 

[Mc Tool]

Run Forest run.


The two happiest days of your life
The day you buy your 1st boat , and the day you sell it

 

[redneck joe]

Run Forest run.


The two happiest days of your life
The day you buy your 1st boat , and the day you sell it

i've been not happy on about half my boats when selling.

 

[Mc Tool]

i've been not happy on about half my boats when selling.

The only boat I ever actually sold (as opposed to swapping ,dealing ) ...I wish Id kept it . Not big or flash , I paid a grand for it on good trailer ...no motor ,16' fibreglass , home made plywood cuddy ,wound up with a 90hoss yam 2 stroke , in hind sight was a bloody good practical recreational fishing day-boat