Buying a powerboat - things to look out for?
Discussion
I know a fair bit about sailboats, but not that much about engine-driven ones...now in the market for a powerboat c. 20 feet-ish, secondhand, with outboard/s. Is there a checklist of things to watch look for?
Do outboards generally have 'service histories', etc?
I suppose the hull should be easy to examine out of the water, but what about the mechanical bits?
What spares would normally be carried on board?
I am slightly concerned that engine failue in a power boat is a much bigger deal than engine failure in a sailboat!!
Cheers for any advice!
Do outboards generally have 'service histories', etc?
I suppose the hull should be easy to examine out of the water, but what about the mechanical bits?
What spares would normally be carried on board?
I am slightly concerned that engine failue in a power boat is a much bigger deal than engine failure in a sailboat!!
Cheers for any advice!
It's not so much the hull, or the electronics/accessories that's fitted, it's the engine that's important to get right.
Assuming you're going down the second hand road, you should be asking how old the engine is, what service history, was it winterised/summerised every year, any warranty with it, did it get flushed with fresh water after every trip if it was used at sea, can you see it start from cold (tell them not to have it warmed up before you arrive to check it), has it ever been totally immeresed in the water (you'd be surprised how many have), is the engine the correct horsepower rating for the hull type?
Get a marine mechanic to check it it over if you reckon it's sound.
Assuming you're going down the second hand road, you should be asking how old the engine is, what service history, was it winterised/summerised every year, any warranty with it, did it get flushed with fresh water after every trip if it was used at sea, can you see it start from cold (tell them not to have it warmed up before you arrive to check it), has it ever been totally immeresed in the water (you'd be surprised how many have), is the engine the correct horsepower rating for the hull type?
Get a marine mechanic to check it it over if you reckon it's sound.
Cheers. The boat I am going to see has two Johnson 115hp outboards and is eight years old...am I mad buying a boat this old?
Link to ad: http://www.encuentra24.com/clasificados-page-o1549...
Link to ad: http://www.encuentra24.com/clasificados-page-o1549...
Not at all mad, it's a nice looking craft. Age of the hull is immaterial really, as long as it's in decent nick. Check it for osmosis.
For those 2 engines, I'd definitly be getting them checked over by a marine engineer before I bought. It's not like they're a 4 or 5 hp that you can replace for relatively small money.
Has it been used at sea or on fresh water? Get the bearings on that trailer checked out too. Nothing worse than trailing a boat and getting that burning smell.....
My Spannish isn't great. How much are they asking for?
For those 2 engines, I'd definitly be getting them checked over by a marine engineer before I bought. It's not like they're a 4 or 5 hp that you can replace for relatively small money.
Has it been used at sea or on fresh water? Get the bearings on that trailer checked out too. Nothing worse than trailing a boat and getting that burning smell.....
My Spannish isn't great. How much are they asking for?
slow_poke said:
Not at all mad, it's a nice looking craft. Age of the hull is immaterial really, as long as it's in decent nick. Check it for osmosis.
For those 2 engines, I'd definitly be getting them checked over by a marine engineer before I bought. It's not like they're a 4 or 5 hp that you can replace for relatively small money.
Has it been used at sea or on fresh water? Get the bearings on that trailer checked out too. Nothing worse than trailing a boat and getting that burning smell.....
My Spannish isn't great. How much are they asking for?
Cheers! Equivalent of about £7k. Will have been used in sea. For those 2 engines, I'd definitly be getting them checked over by a marine engineer before I bought. It's not like they're a 4 or 5 hp that you can replace for relatively small money.
Has it been used at sea or on fresh water? Get the bearings on that trailer checked out too. Nothing worse than trailing a boat and getting that burning smell.....
My Spannish isn't great. How much are they asking for?
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