What to look for when buy a boat with a volvo drive?

[Spivy30]

I am looking at two boats with volvo drives: 1986 Bayliner 2150 with a 5.7 and what ever volvo drive came standard on those boats (sorry ive always had mercs so i'm not fimiliar with volvo models) and a 1989 Regal 200XL with a 4.3 and volvo duo prop. Both boats seem to have very little use and run good. Basically I just want to know what common problems these drive units have and what to look for when buying a boat that has one.

Thanks!

 

[cr2k]

Re: What to look for when buy a boat with a volvo drive?

Volvo drives are fairly bullet proof. But check for any slop in the outdrive bushings as the water is sucked thru these and slop will allow air to be sucked in and cause overheating. Easy to fix by adding a scupper to the bottom of the boat and eliminating the water flow thru the bushing problem.

Personally I would go with the Regal for 2 reasons: 1. It's not a Bayliner
and 2. It has the DuoProp.

I have an 84 Regal Mediallion 195 and it is a solid hull. Regal is a quality product.

The Bayliner will probably go faster with the 5.7 and lighter (thinner) hull.
The Regal will stand up to hard use better.

Your call

 

[freelancer]

Re: What to look for when buy a boat with a volvo drive?

I have a 2000 DP Volvo outdrive on my boat (2001 Larson 270 Cabrio w 5.7GSI PEFS). So far so good with the drive, the cover (plastic) did crack and needed to be replaced, cost about a hundred bucks. There's not a lot of zink on my drive, so every fall I knock off the scale with a wire brush and apply a coat or two of zink Phosphate and then a finish coat of out drive paint. Oh and change the lube too.

 

[gadget73]

Re: What to look for when buy a boat with a volvo drive?

On the earlier Volvos, they had issues with the drive lock mechanism. Put the drive all the way down, and see if you can pick it up by hand. If you can, it will fly up in reverse, which is highly annoying and makes it near impossible to actually use reverse. Its also bad on the U joints.

 

[captmello]

Re: What to look for when buy a boat with a volvo drive?

I've got what that bayliners got. Its a proven unit.

However the duo prop and power trim on the regal make it a no brainer. Even if the bayliners got power trim, the Duo Prop provides great performance.

I'd get it checked by a mechanic first. Parts are expensive for both.