Free 88 Seville!!

[Ben Pierce]

My Uncle gave me a 1988 Sea Ray Seville 18' as a gift for turning 18 (probably more so to get rid of a boat, but anyways,) I am fairly adept with automotive engines, I know the Mercruiser 4.3 in this is pretty much the 4.3 in my old chevy pickup, but thats about where the knowledge ends. It came missing a starter and it has 2 solenoid looking devices in a 5gal bucket. I know it needs a head gasket (white oil and water came out of the dipstick when I checked it) and the fuel smells very bad. I don't know squat about boats but I really want one to take the girlfriend and friends out on. Is this a lost cause or saveable?

 

[km1125]

Those two things.. one is the starter relay and the other looks like the main engine circuit breaker.

If it's been sitting a while with "white" oil in it that could be a very, very bad thing. That water in the oil will cause internal corrosion.

Just make sure you get marine electrical parts for the engine, particularly things like the starter and (if needed) alternator. Did you look at any spark plugs? Need to know if any of that water got into cylinders anywhere and if any corrosion started in there.

 

[KevinC]

White/milky oil is not 100% head gasket. The manifolds may have allowed water to get into the cylinders.

A missing starter could also be an indicator that the engine hydrolocked and one time from water ingestion.

Regardless if you are getting this free you have little to loose. Before investing any money I would pull the plugs and try to turn the engine if you can by hand. That will let you know if its at least freely moving.

I would also check the integrity of the boat. Tap on the transom and stringers to see if you find any hollow sounding areas that might indicate rot.

There's a lot more but this will be a good start.

-Kevin

 

[Golfman25]

Yes check the transom first. And then the floor and accessible stringers. If it’s sound you may have a viable project. Then given the state of the engine I would probably pull it, break it down and rebuild what was necessary. Good luck.

 

[jmcdboater]

Sounds like you have a real ‘project’ boat, you mentioned you are confident working on engines, you’ll do OK on the vessel. You don’t want to try burning that old fuel, either. Need to drain it all and pur fresh fuel in when you’re to that point. With patience and some $ you’ll get her going, but it could be a while……get those friends who will be riding in her to help you….even if the only thing they can do is wax and polish her!! Good luck with her!

 

[Nater Potater]

For the most part, marine inboard engines are very similar to their automotive counterparts. One of those differences was hinted to by @km1125 about marine electrical parts. The key phrase is "Ignition Protected", meaning that they won't generate any external sparks (think "starter brushes" and "points"). Unlike a car, fuel vapors can't disperse across the ground but condense in the hold, just waiting for a spark to set them off. And, as @KevinC mentioned, try turning the engine over by hand in hopes that the cylinders haven't rust seized. Even if it is, the engine is minor compared to rotted stringers and/or transom. However, both can be repaired as long as you're willing to invest the time to take care of them yourself. Especially, stringer and transom rot can be very expensive if you have someone else perform the work due to the labor involved.