looking at a 92 200BR

J

JimA82

New Member
May 2, 2022
10
Boat Info
ski
Engines
4.3LX Merc
Hey new here, and a quick or long question. looking at a 92 Searay 200 BR, 700 hours on a Merc 4.3LX fresh water use only. Lake Washington and Chelan. He has all the service records, winterized and stored inside (by the sounds of it) yearly. He says the interior is in nice shape normal wear so on and so on. Downfall I have not actually seen it personally yet, he needs to get it over to this side of the mountains. Anyhoo he is asking 8 OBO. I countered with 6500 to 7 pending what I see. Used prices here in the great PNW are crazy on used boats so will see.

I am coming off a 94 Bayliner with the same engine and a cracked gimbal housing. Yes another long story. So I know the norms to watch for, soft deck spots, check transom best I can. Is there anything else to check/watch for with the 200 BR of that age? Like I mentioned still need to see it and better yet hear it run. Any thoughts would be helpful.

Thanks!
 
At least coming from the east side it won't have that nice green glow to the gel coat. I always have that nice glow after a long winters rest.

From what I see, your offer seems to be about right. I would check for zebra mussel shells. Look around good. They can really plug things up good if they get inside and didn't get flushed out.

I have been seeing some good pricing on used drive parts. I paid $350 for a complete pre Alpha drive and gimble complete last year. It included everything but the rams and the motor for an inline 6. Look around and something might show up for that "other" brand.
 
Thanks for the input! Yeah I am looking at 4 grand to replace the gimbal housing with a mechanic, pending what else he may find. I am some what mechanically inclined and rebuilt an AQ130 so could probably swing it, but not so sure I want to take that task to hand. I am more inclined to sell the engine and what ever parts/trailer I can, and I am dang near close the price of buying the Sea Ray or something else. Or say ta heck with it and buy new. I would rather not have a payment with things going the way they seem to be going economy wise. We won't go there with my thoughts on that! LOL..
 
Hell, if this pre Alpha would work, I'd give it to ya, just to stop from having to move it around the garage all the time. Ive dropped that inner plate on my foot a few times. I just can't bring myself to leave it out in the rain. I was told my lower in the runabout was bad. Bought this set up and rebuilt the lower. Then found out my lower was just fine. The mechanic just had things backwards, so it wouldn't shift. I got a book and tackled it on my own and had it fixed in two weeks.
 
I appreciate that and might take you up on it. It is an Alpha gen 1 if I remember right, not sure pre Alpha would work?
 
No this is Pre Alpha. But IIRC they are pretty much the same. Just lacking grease zerks on the ring for the pivots.
 
Take what the seller says with a grain of salt. I recently went to checkout a boat the seller said "everything works as it should" and his buddy, who knew boats, took it out and said all was good. Got there to find the steering was almost completely frozen-up (V-drive), one eng waay down on power and blowing lots of steam out the exhaust, trim tabs didn't work, tachs didn't read right, and abt half the lights didn't work. I stopped looking at that point. It's amazing what some people will say about their boats.

Also, don't want to sound like a jerk but it's considered rude to start negotiating the price before seeing the boat. When I'm selling a boat and someone starts trying to drive down the price over the phone before they even see it, I'll hang up on them. It's best to do all your checks including the survey results and test drive, then you have something to base your negotiations on. Just saying:D..
 
Thanks for the thoughts, and advice. As for the negotiating I was in sales for 20+ years and still am only as a business owner now, and I defiantly get that! That said, when I countered, I told him I did not want to low ball him by any means, and or waste his time. So I mentioned where I would probably be pending seeing it. If he laughed or said no way, done deal at that point I walk. So will see how the boat and condition is and negotiate from there. So far he has not gotten back to me when the boat would be available to see. I texted him Saturday saying I was still interested in seeing it, and he replied will let you know, nothing since. I told him I was also not in any hurry, just to let me know so I could plan my time. But who knows, maybe I was rude, and he will get his 8000?
 
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Going to look at it tomorrow, so will see. The pictures he sent me today looked pretty good. Someone sure took care of the interior and exterior anyway.
 
So I bought the boat, 6500.00 Like mentioned 700 hours on the engine. 4.3LX fired right up, gauges all work and came up to temp. Interior was nice, one tear in the captains seat was all I could find. Listened to the outdrive, no grinding or odd noises. Moved back and forth, shifted great out drive was spotless. Oil looked golden before and after running. Hull is great, some minor dings and dents above the waterline, could use a good buff job overall not bad.. Deck was solid as could be every inch I felt anyway carpet was ok for the age. Felt bad for her, she just lost her husband to a heart attack in his sleep 3 weeks ago. He took very good care of this boat. Now just need some decent weather around here in the PNW!


20’ SeaRay bow rider with E-Z Loader galvanized trailer - boats - by... (craigslist.org)
 
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JimA82 said:
Now just need some decent weather around here in PNW
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Now your asking for too much. I'm planning on launching in the driveway soon.

National Interagency Fire Center is predicting a very dry and hot season. I hope it's a great summer and the fires are very few.

Congratulations on the boat.
 
On the drive. If I had a bad Alpha Gen 1, I would not attempt to swap to the pre-Alpha (TRS) setup. Would be a big step down in engineering and design. And good parts are getting scarce.

If anything, I would bump up to the Alpha Gen 2. Much better / stronger design and parts are easy to find.
 
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JHornsby3 said:
Now your asking for too much. I'm planning on launching in the driveway soon.

National Interagency Fire Center is predicting a very dry and hot season. I hope it's a great summer and the fires are very few.

Congratulations on the boat.
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Thanks. We have been so fortunate up here in Whatcom county for fires. Obviously the east side has not, same with you guys down there. I would love to get down there and do some fly fishing. I hit the Yakima a couple times a year, but it looks so good down there!
 
Bill Curtis said:
On the drive. If I had a bad Alpha Gen 1, I would not attempt to swap to the pre-Alpha (TRS) setup. Would be a big step down in engineering and design. And good parts are getting scarce.

If anything, I would bump up to the Alpha Gen 2. Much better / stronger design and parts are easy to find.
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But he is looking to repair another boat to sell. Get the most he can get out of a good power plant and hull. That would be the only reason for the swap.

JimA82 said:
Thanks. We have been so fortunate up here in Whatcom county for fires. Obviously the east side has not, same with you guys down there. I would love to get down there and do some fly fishing. I hit the Yakima a couple times a year, but it looks so good down there!
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I'm out near Lincoln City Oregon. But there is still some great places for fly fishing around me. Some great places around the coastal range and east of Salem up the canyon. And with the salmon running in the Willamette right now, it should be good around the Oregon City falls.
 
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