Soon to be owner of a 1973 SRV 220

Unless you are getting that boat for practically nothing I would think long and hard about taking this on. Without a professional marine survey (inspection) you have no idea if the transom or stringers are rotten. You said you had to make an engine cover. they were wood and usually gave way to rot. And if it did there could be, and probably is, more rot. If that boat sat out in the weather and was exposed to rain getting in the bilge you could have a serious problem

I hate to be the one raining doom but I have seen more than one person get a "deal on an old boat" only to find it was not worth putting a dime into. That boat is 47 years old and while it may look good chances are there are issues. In fact, in your case, its best to assume there is rot and if you choose to proceed you can be pleasantly surprised if there isn't....and I hope for you, there isn't. Look up "FriscoBoater" on YouTube. Look at the Sea Ray 220BR videos.

Find a professional Marine Surveyor in your area and have him check the stringers, foredeck and transom for rot. He will know what to do. It may cost you a few hundred dollars but save you thousands in the long run. If there is no rot you will know and be able to proceed with your project without having to worry if the ass of the boat is going to fall off.

Best of luck. Let us know how it turns out.
Shawn

I forgot to mention that I used to work at a yacht building facility. I am aware that repair is much different than building new. However, I am familiar with the processes. I am hoping that will help once I get to that point.
 
Yep it's a pre Alpha, what mercruiser called an MC1. Same drive as on my boat. You can find the manual for the engine and drive at https://boatinfo.no/lib/library.html. If it's the original engine and drive it would be volume 1 of the manuals. The 302 is in the manual see page 513. There is a propeller chart in the back of the book Page 972.

Ike,

On a 302, does the alternator have a battery post like a Chevy alternator? Asking cause I had planned to run an extra wire to the front of the boat to charge the trolling motor battery. However, I have been a Chevy guy my whole life. Don’t know anything about Ford motors but I am sure I can learn. Thanks.
 
May I ask how you even put a value on something like this in order to make a purchase when it's impossible to tell whether that boat is better off on the scrap heap or is actually fixable? Heck, you may be paying him to haul his junk away which might be all he's looking for.
 
May I ask how you even put a value on something like this in order to make a purchase when it's impossible to tell whether that boat is better off on the scrap heap or is actually fixable? Heck, you may be paying him to haul his junk away which might be all he's looking for.
From the looks of the trailer that boat has seen some abuse. Get it surveyed. The video is OK for the transom but that is not the best way to check stringer. You really need a moisture meter and the knowledge to use one.
 
I forgot to mention that I used to work at a yacht building facility. I am aware that repair is much different than building new. However, I am familiar with the processes. I am hoping that will help once I get to that point.
Understood. Lots of people worked in Detroit building cars....very, very few can fix them
 
Madman, I too am/was/are very capable. In fact, I worked in a marine repair facility for a few years and always worked on my own boats (16' to 52'). In 1989 I went partners with a friend and we bought a very low hour (60) 1985 Cobalt CM23....a very rare and high-end model. We were boat partners for about 10 years and I exited the partnership and moved out of state. I loved that boat and always looked for another one to buy but I was never able to find one. Years went by and my old partner sold the boat to a friend of his. This particular boat lived it entire life in salt water in Long Beach, CA. It was never on a lift and only on a trailer for out of the water repairs.

In July of 2014 I was in Long Beach and the owner at the time offered me the use of the boat for the day. The boat was not in good shape. The owner did not abuse the boat but neglected it. He told me it was for sale and gave me a price of $7000. I told him if he ever came to his senses to give me a call....he did. In October of that year he said, "Give me $3500 and come and get it." Here is where I broke my 2 major rules of boat buying that you should never, ever break. 1. Don't get emotional when buying a boat and, 2. Never buy a boat without a survey. I screwed up when I said to him, 1. "Yes I want it" and, 2. When I felt I really knew the boat and didn't need/get the survey. So I drove 7 hours from Sacramento to Long Beach, gave him the $3500 and took possession.

Here starts the downhill slide. To start with, the trailer was in such poor shape that I spent $1000 on it while there and still ended up not towing the boat home. I went back 10 days later, spent $500 more and was finally able to get it to Northern Cal. That's when the fun started. I knew that in the '80s Cobalt built their transoms and stringers from layers of marine plywood and then encapsulated them in fiberglass and then glassed them in the boats so I was not concerned with rot. My plan was to take a couple of months, add a couple of grand and use the boat. Here is where I'll stop with the details. I will only say that I have spent the last 4 years and over $24,000 on a restoration/refurb of a 35 year old boat. And I knew how to do it and did much of it myself. This boat is a Cobalt and a limited production model so it is very rare. As a 23' Cuddy it is much more desirable that a Sea Ray.

So, the moral of this tale is.... If you go through with this, plan on spending 3 times what you originally thought and having it take 3 times longer to complete than originally planned. If it's less, thank the heavens and go buy lotto tickets. I wish you all the best.
Shawn
 
Madman, I too am/was/are very capable. In fact, I worked in a marine repair facility for a few years and always worked on my own boats (16' to 52'). In 1989 I went partners with a friend and we bought a very low hour (60) 1985 Cobalt CM23....a very rare and high-end model. We were boat partners for about 10 years and I exited the partnership and moved out of state. I loved that boat and always looked for another one to buy but I was never able to find one. Years went by and my old partner sold the boat to a friend of his. This particular boat lived it entire life in salt water in Long Beach, CA. It was never on a lift and only on a trailer for out of the water repairs.

In July of 2014 I was in Long Beach and the owner at the time offered me the use of the boat for the day. The boat was not in good shape. The owner did not abuse the boat but neglected it. He told me it was for sale and gave me a price of $7000. I told him if he ever came to his senses to give me a call....he did. In October of that year he said, "Give me $3500 and come and get it." Here is where I broke my 2 major rules of boat buying that you should never, ever break. 1. Don't get emotional when buying a boat and, 2. Never buy a boat without a survey. I screwed up when I said to him, 1. "Yes I want it" and, 2. When I felt I really knew the boat and didn't need/get the survey. So I drove 7 hours from Sacramento to Long Beach, gave him the $3500 and took possession.

Here starts the downhill slide. To start with, the trailer was in such poor shape that I spent $1000 on it while there and still ended up not towing the boat home. I went back 10 days later, spent $500 more and was finally able to get it to Northern Cal. That's when the fun started. I knew that in the '80s Cobalt built their transoms and stringers from layers of marine plywood and then encapsulated them in fiberglass and then glassed them in the boats so I was not concerned with rot. My plan was to take a couple of months, add a couple of grand and use the boat. Here is where I'll stop with the details. I will only say that I have spent the last 4 years and over $24,000 on a restoration/refurb of a 35 year old boat. And I knew how to do it and did much of it myself. This boat is a Cobalt and a limited production model so it is very rare. As a 23' Cuddy it is much more desirable that a Sea Ray.

So, the moral of this tale is.... If you go through with this, plan on spending 3 times what you originally thought and having it take 3 times longer to complete than originally planned. If it's less, thank the heavens and go buy lotto tickets. I wish you all the best.
Shawn

Shawn,

Thanks for the warning. The owner decided he wanted more than the agreed on price so I decided not to get it. Nothing was done to warrant the extra cash. I’m going to keep looking. Thanks again.

Bill
 
Shawn,

Thanks for the warning. The owner decided he wanted more than the agreed on price so I decided not to get it. Nothing was done to warrant the extra cash. I’m going to keep looking. Thanks again.

Bill
Well, that's annoying.
Tell him good luck, probably a blessing in disguise.
 
Right. Possibly. Sucks at the same time tho. I enjoy tearing things apart and rebuilding them. Going to keep looking. Thanks
 
I have the same boat they are good boats try to start her first check motor and drives that will help on which way to continue if I can help let me know
 
Right. Possibly. Sucks at the same time tho. I enjoy tearing things apart and rebuilding them. Going to keep looking. Thanks
Well, I'm probably going to sell mine, 84 Monaco 21' 305 228. It's been sitting in a field for some time at foreclosed property. I was going to restore it, plans have changed. Not sure what it's worth or if it will run since I got it a few months ago and it's too cold to tinker with.
 
Well, I'm probably going to sell mine, 84 Monaco 21' 305 228. It's been sitting in a field for some time at foreclosed property. I was going to restore it, plans have changed. Not sure what it's worth or if it will run since I got it a few months ago and it's too cold to tinker with.

would depend on condition, price, and location.
 
Too bad. Nice looking boat. No telling what the interior is like structurally though. Probably for the best. Your question about the 302, i don't know. Haven't looked at a Ford 302 since the 60's. My mother had a Ford with a 302, but I honestly wasn't paying much attention. I owned a Ford Fairmont in the late 70's but it had a 6 in it. Good car but haven't owned a Ford since.
 
Too bad. Nice looking boat. No telling what the interior is like structurally though. Probably for the best. Your question about the 302, i don't know. Haven't looked at a Ford 302 since the 60's. My mother had a Ford with a 302, but I honestly wasn't paying much attention. I owned a Ford Fairmont in the late 70's but it had a 6 in it. Good car but haven't owned a Ford since.
Ford 302 is a solid engine. I rebuilt one down to the crankshaft bearings in a 1970 pickup back in high school. Lapped the valves by hand myself. Ran it for a decade after and sold it running great.

On that boat, the motor would be my least concern. Stringers, transom, decking, and transom assembly is where I would be worried. I am sure it could be a great boat with the love and money, if someone is willing to do it.
 
I'm more familiar with GM engines, But the boating industry likes to change engine suppliers from time to time. Back in the 60's and 70's there were a lot of Ford engines in boats. Then in the 80's they started shifting to GMs. Why? Don't know. Oldsmobile engines were really hot with the drag boat/hot boat crowd (and still are if you can find one that has an olds) The engine in my boat is just a marinized GM 250 which was put into millions of trucks many of which are still in service. But a lot of the 4 cylinder engines in I/Os were Fords. Now days a lot of boats have the GM 8.1L engine, same as in my motorhome, and in a lot of trucks.

Oh yeah I forgot Chrysler. some engine marinizers specialized in Chrysler engines. Not anymore.
 
I'm more familiar with GM engines, But the boating industry likes to change engine suppliers from time to time. Back in the 60's and 70's there were a lot of Ford engines in boats. Then in the 80's they started shifting to GMs. Why? Don't know. Oldsmobile engines were really hot with the drag boat/hot boat crowd (and still are if you can find one that has an olds) The engine in my boat is just a marinized GM 250 which was put into millions of trucks many of which are still in service. But a lot of the 4 cylinder engines in I/Os were Fords. Now days a lot of boats have the GM 8.1L engine, same as in my motorhome, and in a lot of trucks.

Oh yeah I forgot Chrysler. some engine marinizers specialized in Chrysler engines. Not anymore.
Going out on a limb here, due to cost?
You can get a GM block for a case of beer and a song. It's an OHV engine with little swag. It lacks phasers, direct injection, exotic materials, etc..
This article kind of sums up why they developed their own engines,
https://www.boats.com/reviews/new-mercruiser-4-5l-v6-promises-v8-performance/
 

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