Check List for Survey

[Floridays]

Hi everyone
Getting ready to do a Survey/SeaTrial.
Does anyone know of a check list I should take along with me.

 

[fwebster]

I'm not going to publish a check list, but I will tell you that you need to hire a certified marine surveyor to survey the vessel and also hire a Mercruiser certified mechanic to survey the engines.

If you are going to buy the boat listed in your information, there are some expensive bullets to dodge with early 8.1's and a Merc technician can guide you around them. There were issues with the fuel coolers and exhaust manifolds. Read these threads to get started:


http://www.clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5277

http://clubsearay.com/forum/showthread.php?t=6038&highlight=aluminum+manifolds

 

[Floridays]

Thank You fwebster

The exhaust risers were replaced in 2009

I do have a surveyor that will survey the boat, I was just going to check off on the boat myself along with the surveyor.
Thanks for the site about the fuel and manifold problem,I will mention the problems to the surveyor

 

[fwebster]

The OEM manifolds were aluminum and will not last in salt water. The riser is a completely different casting, so look at the manifold as a different risk/problem. If the boat still has aluminum manifolds, Mercruiser will, with some pressure from the Sea Ray dealer replace them for you if you have a failure. The trick is to catch them when they are leaking, but before you fill an engine with sea water.

As far as a list is concerned, the big things for you as a buyer is to be sure that the boat is delivered with everything you agreed to buy. Your surveyor is interested in the structure, but you should compare the brokerage listing of equipment with what you are getting. Then you need to verify that everything works as it should. Unless the broker's listing or information that you were given declares that something isn't functional, then you have the right to expect everything to work. A radar, plotter, microwave, VHF, etc that won't work just means added cost to you after you close on the boat. Find it now and make the needed repair/replacement part of your acceptance.

FInd out what the rated RPM's are for the engines and then run the boat up to WOT on the sea trial. That tells you a lot, not only about performance, but about vibration, running gear condition and bottom, etc.

Good luck with the survey and mechanicals..............

 

[Bottom Line]

The OEM manifolds were aluminum and will not last in salt water. The riser is a completely different casting, so look at the manifold as a different risk/problem. If the boat still has aluminum manifolds, Mercruiser will, with some pressure from the Sea Ray dealer replace them for you if you have a failure. The trick is to catch them when they are leaking, but before you fill an engine with sea water.

As far as a list is concerned, the big things for you as a buyer is to be sure that the boat is delivered with everything you agreed to buy. Your surveyor is interested in the structure, but you should compare the brokerage listing of equipment with what you are getting. Then you need to verify that everything works as it should. Unless the broker's listing or information that you were given declares that something isn't functional, then you have the right to expect everything to work. A radar, plotter, microwave, VHF, etc that won't work just means added cost to you after you close on the boat. Find it now and make the needed repair/replacement part of your acceptance.

FInd out what the rated RPM's are for the engines and then run the boat up to WOT on the sea trial. That tells you a lot, not only about performance, but about vibration, running gear condition and bottom, etc.

Good luck with the survey and mechanicals..............

Frank...reviving and old thead. Should boats that have always been in freshwater try to get Mercruiser to replace the aluminum manifolds? Or is this only an issue with salt water? My boat is not affected, but we have a lot of 8.1L on our lake.

 

[fwebster]

Jeff,

It is a bad design and Mercruiser knows it. If it were me, I would try to get my dealer to be an advocate for me with Sea Ray and/or Mercruiser and get them changed. A freshwater boat may never exhibit manifold corrosion, but you will have the boat discounted by the cost of having the manifolds replaced when you sell or trade it because no salt water boater is going to buy it with aluminum manifolds.....unless you find a buyer who is clueless as to the problem or who fails to have a mechanical survey done'