What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

[Tlloyd]

I am taking out the boat I am buying from a private seller for a test drive before finalizing the paperwork at the bank.

It is a 2005 Chaparral Sunesta 236 with a Volvo Penta 5.7 GI engine and SX outdrive. The boat only has 36 hours on it and has had the 100 hour service done on it last October just because the owner felt it was time due to the age of the boat. I did talk to the mechanic who works on the boat (I have all receipts for service) and he said it is in perfect running order.

This is our first boat and though it looks new, I want to make sure it has no issues so I am taking it out with the owner. What are things I should check on the boat when it is on/off the water? Are there certain RPM's I should be looking at compared to speeds?

Any information would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

first thing I would do is take a friend who knows something about boats and a couple note pads and a pens/pencils. before you even get close to putting it into the water check everything mechanical, electrical and cosmetic, take a flashlight and a decent sized ratchet extension to tap the stringers and the bilge, check the cleanliness of the parts of the boat that are hard to clean anything rubber for cracks, signs of standing water in the hull and cold fluid levels Write everything down. If all of this passes inspection then have the owner put her into the water, get her away from the ramp and check the bilge for water again, even if you see a few drops its a concern at this point. The owner is likely to want to punch it at the bouys but take it slow first and note how long it takes to get up to temperature, then check the fluids again for hot fluid levels and write them down. Once you are pretty satisfied with everything let the Owner show off, I would be sitting as close to the motor as possible pay attention to your hind end because if there is a vibration your butt is going to feel it, have the owner tilt up and down from half way to full down incrementally along the way while at speed and have your buddy note the speed difference at each point. At this point you need to decide if this is your boat, if you take the wheel you are telling the owner ok I'll take it, Ready? Take the wheel and learn, but to be honest your likely to be way happy and not much use as a critic so your buddy will be the critic, play around with it, then give it back to the owner or let your buddy see if he can find any issues, once your driving all your looking for is how smooth the steering is and any vibrations and how smooth the acceleration is, these are both cable operated and should be really smooth and not stick while the motor is running.

At this point have the Owner put her back on the trailer, (I shouldn't have to tell you to take notes) and ask questions of the owner about launching and retrieving his boat.

Compare notes with your buddy, hopefully the concerns are a very short list, negotiate a price and take her home.

Chap builds a great boat, but beware of owners, I wish we didn't have this problem but the sad fact is we do, if the owner sits back and relaxes, answers every question quickly and clearly I think you have a great opportunity, but if the hairs on the back of your neck raise you have a problem. The owners mechanic is a valuable resource, but remember he is the mechanic of the current owner so take that for what it is, possibly completely biased information from someone you do not know.

Don't forget to do the very same inspection of the trailer.

Don't forget to post pics or we hunt you down....

 

[85 Champ]

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

I think LippCJ7 knows what hes talking about and I agree with everything he said. But make sure you bring a buddy who knows about boats. Just any "buddy" and he's probably going to be more excited than you are that his new best bud is buying a boat and he'll probably start convincing you that this is the best boat to ever exist! Here's a sign your buddy is getting too excited, when he starts saying stuff like "Dude that's an easy fix, fiberglass work is easy."

 

[Tlloyd]

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

I think LippCJ7 knows what hes talking about and I agree with everything he said. But make sure you bring a buddy who knows about boats. Just any "buddy" and he's probably going to be more excited than you are that his new best bud is buying a boat and he'll probably start convincing you that this is the best boat to ever exist! Here's a sign your buddy is getting too excited, when he starts saying stuff like "Dude that's an easy fix, fiberglass work is easy."

Great advise. I just told my "Buddy" who I was going to take with me that he can not go now. He tore a piece of cardboard off the 30 pack of Coors for a notepad and could not wait to go. I just asked my ex brother-in-law to go with me.

 

[Tlloyd]

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

first thing I would do is take a friend who knows something about boats and a couple note pads and a pens/pencils. before you even get close to putting it into the water check everything mechanical, electrical and cosmetic, take a flashlight and a decent sized ratchet extension to tap the stringers and the bilge, check the cleanliness of the parts of the boat that are hard to clean anything rubber for cracks, signs of standing water in the hull and cold fluid levels Write everything down. If all of this passes inspection then have the owner put her into the water, get her away from the ramp and check the bilge for water again, even if you see a few drops its a concern at this point. The owner is likely to want to punch it at the bouys but take it slow first and note how long it takes to get up to temperature, then check the fluids again for hot fluid levels and write them down. Once you are pretty satisfied with everything let the Owner show off, I would be sitting as close to the motor as possible pay attention to your hind end because if there is a vibration your butt is going to feel it, have the owner tilt up and down from half way to full down incrementally along the way while at speed and have your buddy note the speed difference at each point. At this point you need to decide if this is your boat, if you take the wheel you are telling the owner ok I'll take it, Ready? Take the wheel and learn, but to be honest your likely to be way happy and not much use as a critic so your buddy will be the critic, play around with it, then give it back to the owner or let your buddy see if he can find any issues, once your driving all your looking for is how smooth the steering is and any vibrations and how smooth the acceleration is, these are both cable operated and should be really smooth and not stick while the motor is running.

At this point have the Owner put her back on the trailer, (I shouldn't have to tell you to take notes) and ask questions of the owner about launching and retrieving his boat.

Compare notes with your buddy, hopefully the concerns are a very short list, negotiate a price and take her home.

Chap builds a great boat, but beware of owners, I wish we didn't have this problem but the sad fact is we do, if the owner sits back and relaxes, answers every question quickly and clearly I think you have a great opportunity, but if the hairs on the back of your neck raise you have a problem. The owners mechanic is a valuable resource, but remember he is the mechanic of the current owner so take that for what it is, possibly completely biased information from someone you do not know.

Don't forget to do the very same inspection of the trailer.

Don't forget to post pics or we hunt you down....

Thanks for the quick detailed reply and I will see what kind of pics my flip phone can take. If not you can hunt me down at the river in Parker any weekend and take a ride on it.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

36 hours in 7 years? 5 hours a year? hardly past the break-in. I'd want to know why.

 

[Tlloyd]

Re: What to look for when test driving used boat I am buying

36 hours in 7 years? 5 hours a year? hardly past the break-in. I'd want to know why.

Fair question and I was wondering the same thing. He bought the boat New in the winter of 2005 and got a good deal since the 2006 models were out. Used it Summers of 2006-2010 and had open heart surgery and was too much for him to keep up with after that. So he had the 100 hour service done since it sat for last year and decided to sell it.

Sounded legit to me