Im looking to purchase my first boat Going to look at a 75 searay 25ft fly bridge checking the transom with a hammer and the bow for sponginess. Said he will float it off the trailer for me but the fuel tank is dirty and needs a battery ran both motors on 6 gallon gas cans and they run. Any advice? Said battery clean fuel tank and rebuild carbs and I'm ready. $900 no trailer will store for free til spring at marina. Suggestions? Advice? Going After work replies are welcome.
75 searay Flybridge twin v6
78searay89yota
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Im looking to purchase my first boat Going to look at a 75 searay 25ft fly bridge checking the transom with a hammer and the bow for sponginess. Said he will float it off the trailer for me but the fuel tank is dirty and needs a battery ran both motors on 6 gallon gas cans and they run. Any advice? Said battery clean fuel tank and rebuild carbs and I'm ready. $900 no trailer will store for free til spring at marina. Suggestions? Advice? Going After work replies are welcome.
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Cant post pictures for some reason but I have em.. Email me at rubiconjp4x4@aol.com if pictures would help you give me advice...
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hmmm, where do we start here. I guess first, I would buy an inexpensive moisture meter and check the inside glass-work for core moisture. Do not check from the outside of the boat because the thickness of the fiberglass is too much for these moisture meters to see through (that was my mistake).
Here is the one I have (CT33):
http://www.electrophysics.on.ca/e_index.htm
Other than that, it looks like you pretty much know what you are getting into here. That would be a great boat once it's gone through, sealed up and in good running order. That being said, you are looking at at a minimum of 6-7K in mechanical work to get it up and running again. This is if the transom and stringers are in good shape.
As long as you are prepared for the expense and time required to get into this project then there should be no surprises.
Here is the one I have (CT33):
http://www.electrophysics.on.ca/e_index.htm
Other than that, it looks like you pretty much know what you are getting into here. That would be a great boat once it's gone through, sealed up and in good running order. That being said, you are looking at at a minimum of 6-7K in mechanical work to get it up and running again. This is if the transom and stringers are in good shape.
As long as you are prepared for the expense and time required to get into this project then there should be no surprises.
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said the whole boat is solid im buying wholesale from a marina, motors run off gas cans, fuel tank needs to be cleaned needs a battery and some minor carb work, rebiuld im guessing, but both motors run.... dont think it will be terribly expensive to get it the water.... right?
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check soft spots in transom dont have a moisture detector, i was hoping this would be a good family rig for next summer nad could get it on the water for under $1,000... got a buddy whos a mechanic who can do the carbs, biggest obstacle is cleaning fuel tank i think...
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Well, I've been through this before. Example, you get the boat in the water, find a leak in one or both of the lower units....next thing you know your doing a boot job or worse yet a steering shaft pin job which is labor intensive, expensive and requires a rebuild of the transom assembly. You have 2 lower units, better fix both and I spent $1500 to have 1 lower unit completely done. I already see where the lower units are roped to the swim platform. Cylinders/pumps ok?
The gas tank is "dirty". You will need to probably pull the tank and have it steam cleaned. That's a few hundred bucks right there. Can you pull the tank without pulling the engines? If not, the engines come out along with the gas tank. Now you need new fuel hoses to the gas tanks. I spent $100 for a 5ft piece of hose....just saying.
Wiring ok? Motors have good compression? Spot any cracks in the exhaust manifolds? Fuel lines should be replaced and carbs pulled, hot tanked and rebuilt.
See where I'm going with this? And you have not yet addressed the steering systems, trim tabs, broken this/broken that, battery systems, not to mention cosmetic stuff like reupholstery, cushions, wood, etc etc.
Just saying, she's a 1975 that has not run in a long time. Don't go about this thinking you can buy a 25ft boat for $900 and get out of this cheaply. There is a reason it's $900 and not $7000 or so.
Like I said, I've been there and I've done that. If you are up for the challenge great! That boat should have "good bones" to work with. However, you better have some funds set aside to get this thing ready for the water.
I bought an 88 Sundancer with "good bones". Then found the rotten transom and stringers. Many thousands later, I have a rebuilt boat, rebuilt 454 and rebuilt lower unit. Don't get me wrong, I love the boat and know the ole girl inside and out now. I had the funds to do the project and I'm glad I did it.
Just don't go into a project like this with blinders on.
The gas tank is "dirty". You will need to probably pull the tank and have it steam cleaned. That's a few hundred bucks right there. Can you pull the tank without pulling the engines? If not, the engines come out along with the gas tank. Now you need new fuel hoses to the gas tanks. I spent $100 for a 5ft piece of hose....just saying.
Wiring ok? Motors have good compression? Spot any cracks in the exhaust manifolds? Fuel lines should be replaced and carbs pulled, hot tanked and rebuilt.
See where I'm going with this? And you have not yet addressed the steering systems, trim tabs, broken this/broken that, battery systems, not to mention cosmetic stuff like reupholstery, cushions, wood, etc etc.
Just saying, she's a 1975 that has not run in a long time. Don't go about this thinking you can buy a 25ft boat for $900 and get out of this cheaply. There is a reason it's $900 and not $7000 or so.
Like I said, I've been there and I've done that. If you are up for the challenge great! That boat should have "good bones" to work with. However, you better have some funds set aside to get this thing ready for the water.
I bought an 88 Sundancer with "good bones". Then found the rotten transom and stringers. Many thousands later, I have a rebuilt boat, rebuilt 454 and rebuilt lower unit. Don't get me wrong, I love the boat and know the ole girl inside and out now. I had the funds to do the project and I'm glad I did it.
Just don't go into a project like this with blinders on.
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when u say the cylinders/pumps good. what do you mean by that? without a battery in it i wont be able to check to see if trim works or anything of that nature, could i ask them to throw a battery in it to show me? can i bring a car battery for test purposes... and when checking the transom, check from the inside?
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said its all winterized motors ran good, cant float it it will be too dark by the time i get there after work. hoping with what i have talked to you about i can make an educated decision on it and hopefully all will work out..
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Trim pump. You should have 2, one for each lower unit. Also, make sure the cylinders don't leak fluid on the ground. If the lower units are rope tied to the swim platform, they were probably leaking down. Yes, you can hook up a car battery to test them.
Yes, check the transom from the inside glass work. If you don't have a moisture meter, you should drill a core sample unless you are really good at the hammer test. A core sample would be done by taking a drill and drilling 3/8"-1/2" into the transom and stringers and looking at the sawdust. If it is dark and wet, she's soaked. If it is dry, stringy and crumbly, you should be ok. Some boat owners may not let you drill into their boats so that should only be done only if they approve.
You should go back when you have time and at least put the boat in the water. This way, you will know if you have leaks to deal with. Look closely around the transom brackets and make sure they stay dry while in the water. Run the lower units all the way up and see if water starts coming in or even gets worse as the lower unit moves up. If it does, that is a sign of a bad steering shaft and seal and or torn/cracked boots. You can see from the outside if the boots look bad.
Take a real objective look at this boat before laying out $900. Look at it with your head, not your heart. Take a real objective look at this thing and make sure you are ready to get into a project like this. I don't think you have been though this before and I worry you may be biting off more than you can chew.
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trim pump looks like a pool filter for an above ground right?
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They look like this:
http://www.amazon.com/Mercruiser-88183A5-88183A8-14336A6-14336A8/dp/B0039OD2FE
Roughly 7-8" tall.
http://www.amazon.com/Mercruiser-88183A5-88183A8-14336A6-14336A8/dp/B0039OD2FE
Roughly 7-8" tall.
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Sorry to be blunt, but if you don't know what a trim pump is you should not be buying this boat.
You have no idea what you are getting into and it will not end well
You have no idea what you are getting into and it will not end well
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I have been off the board for some time. I bought a new gas tank for my 240. The original was made of steel and was shot. It was a pain to get out, but persistence paid off. If you want to try to clean out the old one without its removal go ahead. But I would have it pressure tested to be sure it isn't bad.
As for not knowing what a part is and "not being qualified" in boat ownership I do not agree. We are all born naked and ignorant. That is why we learn what we can.
Good luck.
As for not knowing what a part is and "not being qualified" in boat ownership I do not agree. We are all born naked and ignorant. That is why we learn what we can.
Good luck.
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jitts, welcome back. I was wondering what happened to ya and if everything is okay with you an yer family. Still truckin'?
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Everthings just fine. Life just gets in the way of the way of it all. Summer came last year and many projects came up fast. I picked up my new gas tank for the boat and never did anything else to that. Here we are back at winter and its slowing down now. whick is good so I hope to get back at it soon.
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Could be. However I always went at things differently. If I listened to everybodys advice I would not be in good shape now. I build things, not just buy them. but thats how I do it. Doesn't work for everybody. A project boat is just that. You would be amazed at what you learn with "projects". but admittingly, you spend more wrench time than anything else. but thats part of the fun afterwards.
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I think the worst advice you can ever give someone in the situation described, is anything resembling "don't worry, go for it".
A 1975 boat being sold for $900 is going to cost many thousands to get working properly and safely. And after he spends all of that money, he will have a boat that is not worth anywhere near what he put into it. An experienced person that knows what they are doing and can DIY, "might" be able to make out OK on a project boat, but not if they have to pay to have things repaired. A buddy that a mechanic will run out of patience and freebies very quickly. If he buys this thing, he needs to go into it with his eyes wide, wide, open as to the likely cost of getting it working.
A 1975 boat being sold for $900 is going to cost many thousands to get working properly and safely. And after he spends all of that money, he will have a boat that is not worth anywhere near what he put into it. An experienced person that knows what they are doing and can DIY, "might" be able to make out OK on a project boat, but not if they have to pay to have things repaired. A buddy that a mechanic will run out of patience and freebies very quickly. If he buys this thing, he needs to go into it with his eyes wide, wide, open as to the likely cost of getting it working.
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