Tell me if I’m crazy!

[gordonhansen]

I am currently negotiating for a 1990 310 Sun dancer. It has been out of the water for two years and has not been started. Well covered though.

The owner just wants to get out and I think I can save some significant money if he will fix the boat or reimburse me for the repairs to bring it up to a reasonable level. I have gotten him to agree to replace the gaskets and through bolts on the outer hull and deck. (I understand this model had some leakage problems and there is minor staining on the upholstery.) So we should be ok from a cosmetic standpoint.

My BIG question is of course the engines. What is the general effect of this neglect and should it be enough to make me shop elsewhere? The oil has not been touched and after running it for a few hours will an oil test be anywhere closed to accurate. I of course will do a compression test to make sure the piston rings have held, etc... He has also agreed to replace seals and gaskets in the bilge, head, electronics and anywhere my mechanic and I can think of. I feel it is his fault if the boat has been uncared for.

Is the potential “savings†clouding my judgment because the boat could be restored to solid working order if…..? But if the engines are bad, any price is too much! Is testing at this stage useless or will it help, as in a better used boat?

They are twin 7.4 Mercs. 74. Hours, v drive. Fresh water in the Lake Cumberland, KY area.

I have thick skin, I can take it. I seek the advice of my fellow captains!

Thanks,

Gordon

 

[slack250]

Gordon, I'd be a little concerned about this. I'm not an engine expert, but I'd think moisture and rust might be an issue. I'm under the impression that it probably didn't have the engines fogged (which would only help for a few months or so). Definitely a good candidate for a FULL inspection.

Why has it been sitting idle for so long? I see visions of a "money pit" :smt100

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Find a good surveyor, it would be money well spent. :smt024

 

[fwebster]

If I understand your post correctly, I think you are headed at this the wrong way. You should negotiate a price low enough to allow you to get any repairs done the way you want them done by the people you select. The guy wants out.......he does not want to fix a project boat for you to buy, and I suspect it will be an up hill struggle to get him to spend money on a boat he didn't think enough of to use for 2 years.

On the engines, a compression check and removing the risers or spacers and checkingthem for corrosion is about all you should need to do, other than, of course, putting in fresh batteries and satrting the engines.

Your location is pretty good to storing engines long tem with no lasting effects. You may end up with a good boat cheap.

Richard is correct..........get a marine surveyor who can moisture test the deck to evaluate the boat and take moisture readings around every hole that has been drilled or sawed in the deck and hull. A wet core in the deck can quickly erase any savings you may have in this deal.

Good luck with it..............

 

[keokie]

I view this exactly as Frank. Also, this is price dependant. I assume you are not paying more than 35K.

 

[Steve04]

Get a survey on the hull and upper deck for moisture, as for asking the current owner to fix things I agree with Frank get a number that you both agree is fair and do your own work with your own mechanics.
My question is if you are not getting a great deal, why are you working so hard at buying a 17 year old boat. With today's market gas prices etc... many boaters who got in and now find that they are using their boats as often as they thought they would are looking to unload them. Look around and if your pocket book can afford it go newer.
steve04

 

[never monday]

I think engine wise you should be ok. I'd remove all the old gas and start fresh. Run the engines to temperature and keep them there for 10-15 min. Let the engines cool down then do a leakdown compression test. Not a regular compression test. Oil sampling won't tell you much as it's a one time picture of the condition.
My engines were submerged in fresh water, pickled then left on the hard for a year. They started fairly easily. I'm not concerned with the risers as it's been a fresh water boat it's whole life.
Worst case, about $10K and you have rebuilt engines.

Pat

 

[jackson]

310

I agree with the idea of fixing the trouble areas yourself or with your own mechanic. This guy will not care if they are done right. If he had the motivation and time to repair them, he would have done it already. And the survey is an absolute must!