Boat Seller Does Not Want To Wait For Engine Survey...

[MonacoMike]

I'm looking at a larger bowrider. It has a new big block engine with 25 hours after a fuel injector went bad. I have the receipt for the work done from a reputable shop. Wanted to have a leak down compression test and the engine scanned but no one will even promise to try in less than a month.

The seller wants me to do a sea trial with it and close. The seller is under pressure in his personal life. Says that others that have called are not planning a engine survey. We had an agreement to sea trial Thursday so I started to try to find a mechanic to get the engine looked at to expedite the process. No luck.

This model boat is selling in days, been watching for the right one, so I have no doubt that many bowrider buyers will just take a ride and close. Price range is $50K.
What would you do? Any out of the box ideas?

 

[Jeremygavin]

If worst case scenario you can financially afford having to replace the engine and you could live with that if you had to at the price you are buying it for then go ahead with the sea trial and if that pans out the purchase. If you had to replace the engine it may not make the boat the best deal in the world but odds are given the information you have about the history of the engine it will be fine. It is a bit of a gamble but it doesn’t sound like a large one to me if the deal makes sense given the circumstances.

 

[northern]

If you were buy a used car that had a new engine in it what would you do?

 

[Blueone]

I'm looking at a larger bowrider. It has a new big block engine with 25 hours after a fuel injector went bad. I have the receipt for the work done from a reputable shop. Wanted to have a leak down compression test and the engine scanned but no one will even promise to try in less than a month.

The seller wants me to do a sea trial with it and close. The seller is under pressure in his personal life. Says that others that have called are not planning a engine survey. We had an agreement to sea trial Thursday so I started to try to find a mechanic to get the engine looked at to expedite the process. No luck.

This model boat is selling in days, been watching for the right one, so I have no doubt that many bowrider buyers will just take a ride and close. Price range is $50K.
What would you do? Any out of the box ideas?

I am on both sides of this.... if it was a Mercury I would feel comfortable not doing a survey based on my experience with those engines....with a Volvo I would be less confident.
But it’s a new engine... if OE it should have some kind of warranty....if after market I wouldn’t be comfortable without having a survey....

What the heck is easy these days?....

boating is getting hard

 

[MonacoMike]

If you were buy a used car that had a new engine in it what would you do?

In truth I bought a Mercedes without any professional help.

Though it did have warranty...

 

[MonacoMike]

I am on both sides of this.... if it was a Mercury I would feel comfortable not doing a survey based on my experience with those engines....with a Volvo I would be less confident.
But it’s a new engine... if OE it should have some kind of warranty....if after market I wouldn’t be comfortable without having a survey....

What the heck is easy these days?.... Side note... I took my 4hp Outboard into A&E yesterday and talked to the owner to take a look at it.... NO.... I said can I ask why....he said not worth his time...can’t get parts... told me to go to Muncie Or look on line for a dealer. Insanely rude.

I was being lazy anyway and fixed it in my garage today .... and I rented trailer space from those guys for years

boating is getting hard

It had a new short block and rebuild in fall of 2017 with a one year warranty. Only used 25 hours since.

 

[Blueone]

It had a new short block and rebuild in fall of 2017 with a one year warranty. Only used 25 hours since.

Tough call

 

[Carpediem44DB]

If you think that the seller is trustworthy and the boat looks like it has had good MX history then just go for it. There are no 100 percent guaranties in life or in boats. Even if a survey gave a good report the engine can still have issues and there won’t be a warranty. If it’s a fair deal make yourself happy and make this seller’s day and flip the switch.

 

[Blueone]

If you think that the seller is trustworthy and the boat looks like it has had good MX history then just go for it. There are no 100 percent guaranties in life or in boats. Even if a survey gave a good report the engine can still have issues and there won’t be a warranty. If it’s a fair deal make yourself happy and make this seller’s day and flip the switch.

So what you are saying is ....it’s only money.... which is true...Go for it Mike !!

 

[Carpediem44DB]

I find it incredibly easy to help a freind spend his money and it gives me great pleasure to boot

 

[Blueone]

I felt good telling him to go for it....you’re right it works

 

[mnm99]

Hard to say, but if it’s a tru 25 hrs, looks like 25 hrs, runs smooth, doesn’t blow smoke or smell oil burn, reaches correct max rpm with a load, most likely it’s good. But don’t quote me on that.

 

[Creekwood]

You said out of the box idea. Why not write up a sale that has a hold back conditional on satisfactory engine survey. So he gets most of his cash up front and you put some amount (maybe $3k) in escrow with a lawyer of his choice held back with some clear conditions re the results of survey. (maybe compression in all holes higher than 160 or something like that).

 

[Take Five]

If you think that the seller is trustworthy and the boat looks like it has had good MX history then just go for it. There are no 100 percent guaranties in life or in boats. Even if a survey gave a good report the engine can still have issues and there won’t be a warranty. If it’s a fair deal make yourself happy and make this seller’s day and flip the switch.

very true. No guarantees. It always a gamble. Are you handy? If there’s a minor problem on engine, can you do some repair on your own to save $$$?

 

[Stee6043]

Silly idea - buy a cheapo compression tester and do it yourself? On a single screw bowrider this can't be but an hour job? I found a compression test kit on Amazon for $40. Surely one can be found local for something similar?

 

[Great Lakes]

You said out of the box idea. Why not write up a sale that has a hold back conditional on satisfactory engine survey. So he gets most of his cash up front and you put some amount (maybe $3k) in escrow with a lawyer of his choice held back with some clear conditions re the results of survey. (maybe compression in all holes higher than 160 or something like that).

Just gonna say this.

 

[firecadet613]

Crazy. It's amazing what locking people up for two months and giving them $1200 will do. Last summer when I sold my 24', I never would have guessed the bowrider market would have been this hot right now - or I'd have kept it and sold it now!

My advice - go what your comfortable with. Take it for a good, solid sea trial. Before that, give it a good look over. Stress you want the engine cold when you get there. Starts right up, idles fine, no hesitation when you punch it, etc.

IMO it's not worth rushing the purchase because he says he has others lined up. Two days shouldn't delay the purchase.

 

[northern]

You said out of the box idea. Why not write up a sale that has a hold back conditional on satisfactory engine survey. So he gets most of his cash up front and you put some amount (maybe $3k) in escrow with a lawyer of his choice held back with some clear conditions re the results of survey. (maybe compression in all holes higher than 160 or something like that).

It is a 50K boat. To get lawyer involved is going to cost more than it is worth. If the boat is a really good deal and you are saving more than the cost of a new engine there is no real problem. All the boats we have bought the only survey we have ever got done is hull and structure. Both boats went as fast as manufacture said and oil was not tar.

 

[Creekwood]

It is a 50K boat. To get lawyer involved is going to cost more than it is worth. If the boat is a really good deal and you are saving more than the cost of a new engine there is no real problem. All the boats we have bought the only survey we have ever got done is hull and structure. Both boats went as fast as manufacture said and oil was not tar.

I guess a lawyer is not needed. Could just have a holdback. I would not "trust" that a "new" big block is not a spray paint rebuild, particularly because the seller is getting rid of it, and is in a hurry. Classic red flags of something not smelling right.

But that is just me, after being lied to by virtually every owner I have bought boats from or looked at their POS boat that they said was pristine. Caveat emptor.

 

[Chris-380]

Silly idea - buy a cheapo compression tester and do it yourself? On a single screw bowrider this can't be but an hour job? I found a compression test kit on Amazon for $40. Surely one can be found local for something similar?

This would work for me, if i really want the boat and the market is that hot.

I have bought many boats and til my last one (first survey), always went by my gut. Now, for 50k, i def would want a survey, but, gotta do, what you gotta do...