I think I finally found a good boat that's priced well/fair

[ttmott]

Just talked to my buyer's broker. All cylinders on the suspect engine are 170 PSI, one is 100. Turns out I didn't have to pay for this because the seller finally admitted they had this done about a month ago, that's why they accepted my offer. My buyer's broker knows the mechanic who did this for the seller about a month ago, and talked to him today.

My buyer's broker says the mechanic quoted a head job and ring job for $2,800. I questioned the ring part cuz that to me means either pulling the motor or going in through the oil pan. Has anyone ever heard of doing a head job and ring job on a boat with the motor in the boat for $2800?

I would still be at a very low price for this boat, but they're still the risk it's something else like the block or cylinder wall.

How in the world do they know what is wrong. Always do a leak down test not compression test.

 

[Chris-380]

Just talked to my buyer's broker. All cylinders on the suspect engine are 170 PSI, one is 100. Turns out I didn't have to pay for this because the seller finally admitted they had this done about a month ago, that's why they accepted my offer. My buyer's broker knows the mechanic who did this for the seller about a month ago, and talked to him today.

My buyer's broker says the mechanic quoted a head job and ring job for $2,800. I questioned the ring part cuz that to me means either pulling the motor or going in through the oil pan. Has anyone ever heard of doing a head job and ring job on a boat with the motor in the boat for $2800?

I would still be at a very low price for this boat, but they're still the risk it's something else like the block or cylinder wall.

when I bought my 380, between the 2 motors, all but 2 were 135/140. The starboard had 2 low cylinders that were 100 iirc. So the seller had the marina replace the heads and all was well. Been good ever since.

 

[mrsrobinson]

doubt it needs rings at 170lbs...one valve is bad.....needs a valve job - 2800 sounds about right with labor, gaskets etc

One piston/cylinder is at 100 psi

When is the surveys & sea trial? The boat will tell you anything the seller/seller's broker didn't reveal. Make your decision then.

11/29/21 - I see no need to move forward with it though knowing what I know now.

I talked to the surveyor this morning, who has done surveys for me before and is also a reputable mechanic. He confirmed you have to drop the oil pan to replace rings. He also confirmed a head job will most likely resolve the issue. But, like others have said here, it could be something else. I don't want to take on the sellers risk.

I requested a leak down test.

 

[Golfman25]

One piston/cylinder is at 100 psi


11/29/21 - I see no need to move forward with it though knowing what I know now.

I talked to the surveyor this morning, who has done surveys for me before and is also a reputable mechanic. He confirmed you have to drop the oil pan to replace rings. He also confirmed a head job will most likely resolve the issue. But, like others have said here, it could be something else. I don't want to take on the sellers risk.

I requested a leak down test.

Yeah. What doesn’t make sense is the seller could have easily gotten the heads repaired and received full price for a working boat. There might be more to it. Good luck.

 

[Chris-380]

You have an agreed price, have the seller make the repairs and get the boat you want. Don’t let it scare you away, the seller should make the repair, imo

One piston/cylinder is at 100 psi


11/29/21 - I see no need to move forward with it though knowing what I know now.

I talked to the surveyor this morning, who has done surveys for me before and is also a reputable mechanic. He confirmed you have to drop the oil pan to replace rings. He also confirmed a head job will most likely resolve the issue. But, like others have said here, it could be something else. I don't want to take on the sellers risk.

I requested a leak down test.

 

[mrsrobinson]

You have an agreed price, have the seller make the repairs and get the boat you want. Don’t let it scare you away, the seller should make the repair, imo

Agreed. Sellers broker is saying they accepted our "low" offer with this in mind. I reminded my broker all we knew was one engine did not reach WOT the last time the boat was run, it reached 4200. Didn't seem like a big deal to me so I requested engine compression checks before moving forward. Almost 2 weeks later we learn the seller had engine compression checks done after the one engine did not reach WOT, knew about the 100 psi issue, and did not share it with us or their broker until yesterday.

I will gladly and easily walk away. I asked for a leak down test, to be completed in one week, or I am out.

 

[Chris-380]

They (seller) should of disclosed the known issue before hand, if they were willing to take less because of it. imo

my boat reached full rpm and top speed during the survey. I was so close to cutting the corner and not doing a compression test, so glad I didn’t go cheap on that part

Agreed. Sellers broker is saying they accepted our "low" offer with this in mind. I reminded my broker all we knew was one engine did not reach WOT the last time the boat was run, it reached 4200. Didn't seem like a big deal to me so I requested engine compression checks before moving forward. Almost 2 weeks later we learn the seller had engine compression checks done after the one engine did not reach WOT, knew about the 100 psi issue, and did not share it with us or their broker until yesterday.

I will gladly and easily walk away. I asked for a leak down test, to be completed in one week, or I am out.

 

[Nater Potater]

Yeah. What doesn’t make sense is the seller could have easily gotten the heads repaired and received full price for a working boat. There might be more to it. Good luck.

Granted, the seller should have been more up-front on the boat's condition, but I understand them not wanting to do the repairs in hopes of getting the full price. That would have made more sense to me in the current market. Sometimes, you get to the point where you just want it to go away.
In my case, I bought a mechanic's special with both of us knowing full well the condition of the running gear. Since the hull was in good condition, paying 15 grand allowed a lot of wiggle room for engine and outdrive repair. At least the seller was very open about the boat's condition so we didn't have any surprises.
Good luck with yours, whichever way it goes.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Sometimes, you get to the point where you just want it to go away.

Yup, when they accepted my first offer, which was really a low offer to see where they were, I had room to go up, I was told exactly that. I just didn't know why, other than one engine did not reach WOT recently. I have learned since another buyer did a sea trial, the one engine would not reach WOT. The buyer walked without given an explanation why, allegedly. Since then the sellers did the compression check, did not want to deal with it, took my offer and it slipped their mind to tell us about the 100 psi cylinder. I think they only revealed it because we were trying to get one done as well and they knew it would be discovered.

For context, these boats are selling for upper 90s to 120k. My accepted offer is 89k.

 

[Nater Potater]

...they accepted my first offer...

Well then; it's time to update your data plate! No longer "boatless"

 

[Golfman25]

Yup, when they accepted my first offer, which was really a low offer to see where they were, I had room to go up, I was told exactly that. I just didn't know why, other than one engine did not reach WOT recently. I have learned since another buyer did a sea trial, the one engine would not reach WOT. The buyer walked without given an explanation why, allegedly. Since then the sellers did the compression check, did not want to deal with it, took my offer and it slipped their mind to tell us about the 100 psi cylinder. I think they only revealed it because we were trying to get one done as well and they knew it would be discovered.

For context, these boats are selling for upper 90s to 120k. My accepted offer is 89k.

Certainly gives you some room for a valve job, heads, etc. Total rebuild, maybe not.

 

[mrsrobinson]

After thinking on it more I just told my broker I'll keep the contract and he keeps my deposit, if the seller agrees to fix the engine. Seller shares the receipts afterwards and the engine compression test is normal afterwards, otherwise I walk. The way I see it seller really has no cards since it's now documented there's an engine compression issue, he's got a contract with me if he wants to sell the boat.

 

[mrsrobinson]

Seller is going to fix the engine and put the boat back on the market in the spring. Yet another waste of my time and waste of my money. More lies of omission. I wish sellers would share this information before I invest an entire day going to see a boat.

 

[HawkX66]

Seller is going to fix the engine and put the boat back on the market in the spring. Yet another waste of my time and waste of my money. More lies of omission. I wish sellers would share this information before I invest an entire day going to see a boat.

Sorry to hear that. I've heard of guys flying to see a boat and going through the same thing. Sucks.

 

[SeaNile]

Going through a similar situation. Some how I am being made out to be the A hole because I am referencing manufacturer service recommendations. "My local diesel guy says if its running fine then the service is every 2000 hrs and the injectors must be fine since it's running OK." Yea, well the service requirements are every 2 years, specifically stating the injectors must be pressure tested along with the correct spray pattern.

So here we have a 17 yr old boat with zero records of services being done yet I'm the A hole because the boat runs fine. Oh, I'm also suppose to ignore the weak 8d batteries, generator alternator not putting out, the engines gauges not all working, the ever so slight bit of oil from the pan leak and the usual list of other minor things. This coming from a survey a year ago....with no engine survey performed.

Frustrating to say the least. Why are we as buyers educating the brokers and owners? The issues we found are not unique to us being a PITA. A boat with no service records presents the same issues to the next potential buyer...

 

[Golfman25]

Happens to all of us at one time or another. I had one that after the survey so many little things showed up it was crazy. Basically no maintenance for several years. Things like inoperable bilge pumps, bad co detector, old engine oil. Nothing in and of itself insurmountable but add it up and you where talking several thousand dollars. The kicker was when we pulled the boat and the props where all dinged up. That was the last straw and I tried negotiating an adjustment for reworked props. Broker was like $75. I walked.

What I don’t get is why a broker would waste time on a less than satisfactory boat? I know it takes a bit more time, but a quick sea trial to see if the engines hit specs with a video to prove it would take a lot of guesswork out of it for the buyer. If a broker offered me that type of info, plus a realistic description of overall condition, service records, etc. so I knew I wasn’t wasting my time it would be value added.

 

[mrsrobinson]

I don't think most brokers even ever see the boats they sell. Last one I sold he asked me to send him pictures, he never stepped a foot on the boat.

What's pissing me off, now two times in a row, is lies of omission from the seller and or the seller's broker. In this case I was going to find out what they already knew once the engine compression checks were done, yet they let me waste my time and money going as far as I did.

 

[Nater Potater]

We run into the same thing in real estate. Come on, guys; I'm not dropping half a mil without going over it with a fine-tooth comb. Same goes for anything else I'm buying. I even lift the bun off the burger before leaving the establishment! (I hate pickles)

 

[Pirate Lady]

I even lift the bun off the burger before leaving the establishment! (I hate pickles)

Westerners (shakes head). Havent lived until you had a good NY corn beef and a fat pickle from a jewish deli. Pickle is the best part.
But i read today about the Wolf Lodge Inn (?) in Core d ArLean (?) that has arguably the best steak in the whole US.

 

[Golfman25]

We run into the same thing in real estate. Come on, guys; I'm not dropping half a mil without going over it with a fine-tooth comb. Same goes for anything else I'm buying. I even lift the bun off the burger before leaving the establishment! (I hate pickles)

Many moons ago, future admiral and I went to a new burger joint. I had a cooked fly on the top of my burger. We ate for free (and being in college, that wasn't too bad).