Anyone here into boats?

[JamesC]

Im looking to buy a 96 Searayder and I was wondering if anyone on here knew anything about them? I want to compression test it also so If anyone knows the spark plug size it has that would be very appreciated.

 

[Rico]

I used to work at a boat marina for three years. I could help a little.

Have you owned or been around boats before? If not be prepared learn learn alot even if you how to work on cars.

Things to look for: Is it a jet drive or a I/O?
Check for the bellows(rubber boot) if they have dry rot or even holes. Turn the drive fully to the left and the right.This will expose any holes(I found this out the hard way.) Ask the owner for the last time they were even changed. He should say once every year or two years at the least. If not CHANGE them. You should not get cheap here. It's about $80 for parts verses a sunken boat recovery charge.

Also ask if when last time was the water pump replaced.

Was the engine ever over heated? If yes, DO NOT even think about it just go.

You're doing good checking compression. Check for all the other things like old, glittery, milky motor oil. The same goes for the outdrive oil if it has one. Most boats do not have a radiator so nothing to check there.

Take it on the water for a test spin. NEVER ever ever turn on the boat without water unless you want to replace your water pump. Listen for all the obvious things first. Then when you take off listen for a noise like a skate board wheel on concrete. This could be your gimble bearing going bad if it is an I/O.

When things are okay take for a full throttle test run. Listen to the engine for hesitation or stumbling while going fast. This is how the mechanics test them anyway so why shouldn't you?

That's just a few of the less obvious things to look for and L'm sure I left some out but that should get you started.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Also make sure it was winterized properly. I was looking at a I/O, it got a lot of water in the oil after the kid just parked it after he drove it during the summer. He had left water in the engine and it had froze, breaking something.

 

[JamesC]

Its winter here so a test spin isn't going to happen. is it okay to run it for a short time out of water? I would prefer to warm the engine a bit before Checking the compression.

 

[Redneckryder]

if you're gonna run it out of water, buy what they call ear muffs, called so cause thats what they look like. they attach to your hose then to your lower unit and pump water into the engine. dont run the boat long enough to warm it up without the muffs or the engine wont last long.....

 

[Rico]

Running the engine for a short time is a really bad idea. Take a look at this link. This is pretty much all waterpumps look like.

http://www.sterndrive.info/sterndriveparts/mercruiser_water_pump_kits.html

Do you see that 6-sided star rubber lookin thing? That will get chewed up in a million pieces without water very fast. Fixing it requires taking off the outdrive. Then you need to take it apart and you CANNOT do this with just your craftsmen set of sockets. Each maker of boats are different but all require specialty tools direct from the company which you can't get unless you are a dealer.

So .... warming up the engine is out of the question. Unless you can get a garden hose adapter to give water to the water pick either under the boat or on the outdrive. But then the boat needs to be re-winterized so it won't freeze and burst the engine or other expensive things.

I don't want scare you, but hey if I can do it so can you.

 

[Jon581]

what kind of boat is a searayder?

 

[svtranger04]

HAHAHA thats a toy this is a BOAT!


That rubber "6- Sided star thing" is an impeller.

 

[joldtown]

Old Town Canoes!!! They work until the motor gets too drunk to paddle.

 

[Sidewalk]

Then you need to take it apart and you CANNOT do this with just your craftsmen set of sockets.

Most of them that I have had to pull apart were basic hand tools. I could replace a water pump in a Honda 225 in about 30 minutes start to finish with an 18mm socket, 14mm combo, and 10mm combo. Hell, the 6-71 was about 5 minutes and a 1/2" combo.

But yeah, still not a good idea.

 

[svtranger04]

good old 71 series Detroit's , Simple and Rugged

 

[Rico]

A lot of my experience comes with Mercruisers, Cobras, Evinrudes, and Johnsons. But mostly Mercruisers, and Cobras. They can't be fixed without the right tool or else your going to have a boat mechanic work on it.
I wouldn't know much about those Honda outboards though. But they sure are fast.
Thanks for the information.

 

[Sidewalk]

I wouldn't know much about those Honda outboards though.

Take minivan engine, turn sideways, add V-Tec and you get the BF225

45 knots with M-240's

 

[Wicked_Sludge]