Opinions Of This Boat

It actually doesn't say too much about the boat, but heres a few pics
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As with any old boat it's all about the condition and survey results. That boat has a FWC 454 but it doesn't say what drive it has. If it has an Alpha 1 drive that is bad. The 454 has too much torque and will wear out the Alpha 1 quickly. It needs at least a Bravo 1 drive. It also has a dated look and no real decent electronics. No pictures of any canvas. 10k is top dollar and the boat may be worth nothing if the hull/stringers fails survey.
 
With a boat of this age, the value has so much variance due to maintenance and care.
I can say less than $10K is not a huge initial investment, but, if major problems are present, a lot of money would be needed to make it sea-worthy.

Is the low price worth spending several hundred on a survey? Wow. Good question. If the steering pin is leaking badly or there is transom rot along with rusted manifolds with water intrusion, that $10K could turn into $20K real quick.

I would tell your friend, either find a buddy who is very mechanically educated on this era boat or hire a surveyor and mechanic to look at it before any offers are floated.

I own a 1989 220CC with a 5.7. Great boat, but there could be issues with this one they are asking you about.

Just my 2 cents...
 
It almost looks like in one of the facebook photos like the boat might have a Volvo drive. I agree about the alpha/454 combo if that is what the boat has. Good survey hull and engine. Photos make the boat look to be in decent shape. Price seems a little high but in this market....
 
Thanks guys, good info.
Honestly, I'm not sure there's any surveyors in our area. We live in a weird area for boat stuff.
We barely have any marine mechanics, and marine stores are non-existent.
We have quite a few boats, and a lot of river, but that's about it.
 
I would not render an opinion then if I were you. You would get blamed if the boat ended up a nice piece of yard-art!

I love my 89 but I do my own boat work. I pulled the engine, rebuilt the transom, replaced the transom assembly and manifolds, starter, fuel pump, valve covers, trim pump solenoids...I know I am forgetting many things. Then there is the 30-plus year old trailer to deal with. Let me tell you about that... you get the picture.
 
7500$ combo tops, here in the northeast. Looks like the cockpit upholstery is showing its age, as well as the hull gel coat. As mentioned above, I'd be careful to render an opinion in case a boatload of hidden damage is present.
in case a boatload of hidden damage is present.
 
Its tough to render an opinion with the limited info presented (which is exactly what I would tell them). Generally speaking, the older a boat is, the more knowledgable about boats and mechanically inclined the buyer should be.

Or to put in another way, a new boater and and older boat are not usually a good combination.
 
I told her I would pass if I were them.
Keeps me out if it. Thanks for the helpful replies.
 
i had an '89 268, (and an '87). the 89 came with 454 / Bravo 1. someone said 'no canvas' but one picture clearly shows full camper canvas. 9250 is not a bad price (cant tell much about cockpit or cabin from pictures), the 268 was Sea Rays most popular boat from '87 - '89. they built a LOT of them and they still sell very quick on the market and command a good price. I went to facebook and this one is already sold nine days later. in the spring we wanted to get another 268 (sold last one 8 years ago) and they were nowhere to be found in a reasonable distance to me.
 
glenncal1 said:
It almost looks like in one of the facebook photos like the boat might have a Volvo drive. I agree about the alpha/454 combo if that is what the boat has. Good survey hull and engine. Photos make the boat look to be in decent shape. Price seems a little high but in this market....
Click to expand...
Really? Volvo? How did you determine that from the offered pics? And Merc did not mate a 454 with an Alpha I Drive.
 
scoflaw said:
Merc sure did and around that time period as well. Think Pachanga.
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The Pachagas used a TRS Drive and different from the Alphas. They used the Alphas with a 300hp 350 Magnum but that was a small block. Merc has always stated that an Alpha Drive was only reliable to 300hp. The Bravo was introduced in 1986, and seen in boats in 1987, and other than the TRS drive mentioned all motors above 300 hp were mated to Bravo drives. Prior to the introduction of the Bravo Drive you could not get a 454 mated to an outdrive unless it was a TRS.
 
scoflaw said:
Well I guess all the Pachanga guys are calling their TRS's Alphas then.
Click to expand...

I’m not one to say I’m never wrong....far from it but if you look at the archived literature for Sea Ray and Merc they don’t show a big block offered with an Alpha Drive. I got into this when I was restoring my 1985 23’ Cobalt. The previous owner swapped the stock 260/350 engine for a custom built 383 Stroker motor of undetermined horsepower. It was estimated to be north of 400hp. I was concerned about the Alpha and that much HP and torque. I was looking for alternatives and other than changing to a Bravo (not a financial option at the time) there really were none.
 
I just bought the near identical boat. Had her out once and we really enjoyed her. Being its an '89 you would have a Bravo 1 and not the Alpha drive.
Two schools of thought here. You have your Blue Bloods as I call them that need everything perfect and new. They hate the thought of people less than them on the water. Then you have people on a budget who do their own repairs and keep right along.
Any old boat can have her issues. This goes with anything. Do your homework on how to find the condition of parts and components. Don't be afraid to ask questions and of course ignore the haters. You will find plenty of that with an "older boat" post.
 
NorCal Boater said:
And Merc did not mate a 454 with an Alpha I Drive.
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They sure did, but they sure shouldn't have. I had an '88 268 Weekender with that package (see my sig). Blew the drive twice. Sold the boat after that. I believe they changed to a Bravo I in '89.
 
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Undercover said:
They sure did, but they sure shouldn't have. I had an '88 268 Weekender with that package (see my sig). Blew the drive twice. Sold the boat after that. I believe they changed to a Bravo I in '89.
Click to expand...

Hmmm....I stand corrected. However, the Bravo drives were introduced in 1986 and started showing up on production boats in ‘87.
 
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