Buying a Used Sea Ray (How To Spot Trouble)

Daddymac

New Member
Jul 14, 2005
1
My Son Is Looking at Purchasing a used 1998 Sea Ray 190.

The question is two-fold:

1.) any issues or problems to be aware of the 1998 Sea Ray 190 with the Merc. 5.0 Engine.

2.) What do you look for when buying a used boats in terms of wear and tear?

Thanks.
 
I'll start off by saying it is always advisable to get a professional marine surveyor to check out the boat for you, there are many hidden trouble spots on used boats that surveyors can spot. You can find a list of marine surveyors here that are accredited:

http://www.byowneryachts.com/cgi-bin/boe/forum/sv0/p13

Most surveyors charge anywhere from $10 to $20/foot to check the boat out. Many of them will be able to do a compression check on the engine although some will not.

If you are still interestred in doing it yourself I would suggest at the minimum having a mechanic look over the engine/drive for you. That is the most costly part of the boat if it fails.

You will need to look down in the bilge area and in hatches to see if you can find any cracks in teh construction. The hull components are held together by fiberglass tabbing, make sure these are not cracked. Check the operation of all the systems - is the steering smooth, shifting, bilge pump, etc.

You should feel the decks for soft spots. The decks on boats are cored, i think that model is cored with balsa wood, if you walk around the deck on the balls oif your feet you will be able to feel soft spots. These soft spots are where the deck is rotted and are a real problem. You will most likely find soft spots around deck fittings where water could have penetrated.

That is a very reliable engine.

In summary, have a professional look it over, a mechanic at the least.
 
I realize this is an ancient thread, but I thought I'd throw in my experiences in there in case somebody is still having questions about this process.


I recently purchased a used 2001 240 Sundancer. I DID NOT have a surveyor look at it. I felt reasonably comfortable with the person I purchased it from.

I had to sink $3000 into it immediately after purchasing it because items that he might have caught, I had to fix. They were, the coupler between the engine and outdrive (major $$$ and not uncommon in BIII drives), the ignition switch was kaput, and a crack in the hull on the undersides. Now, the mechanical stuff, I can't believe anyone would have caught until it failed, but I might have been warned to ask whether or not it had been replaced as it was due to fail and/or be replaced. The crack in the the hull ($1000), I just didn't see when I looked under the boat while it was on the trailer. The evidence was there...rusty stain on the trailer crossmember, but I didn't catch it or thought it was something else.

Moral of this story is for the $300ish (I guess) it would be money well spent so you could negotiate down the price if there were small things or just plain not purchase it if there are big items.

Toby
 

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