Buying small motor boat - Seller has not access to water to run engine.!

[Bigplumbs]

To the OP

I am afraid you have been given some Poor and misleading advice on this thread. Until People know how much the bloke is asking for the boat there can be no sensible answer.

So what is the asking price of the boat all ap and what are you getting for that

 

[KevinV]

I've asked him to either get water there or bring to water and he is unwilling to do it.
I don't know enough about engines to take the risk, there seems to be no appetite to get water anywhere near it.

To me this sounds like there is a problem with the engine, but it might just be that it's an absolute bargain and the seller can't be bothered for the small sum involved.

Bigplumbs is without doubt the resident expert on this kind of boat purchase - with the caveat that he does know a lot about outboards, where you don't. If I were in your shoes I'd give him all the information (by pm if you prefer) then take his advice.

 

[QBhoy]

What do you think he will connect the muffs to. Did you read the first post. I have bought more 2 strokes than most and never never had a compression test. Never had an issue yet

There are ways and means. Read one of my posts earlier.
compression test is a must for me. Especially if it can’t be ran. Be ridiculous silly not to, in that situation

 

[Bigplumbs]

There are ways and means. Read one of my posts earlier.
compression test is a must for me. Especially if it can’t be ran. Be ridiculous silly not to, in that situation

without knowing the asking price that advice is poor. If it is so cheap that it will be snatched up by others then faffing around will just loose you the boat. It is vital to enter the real world here and understand that sometimes it is a sellers market.

Further if the buyer has no idea how to do a compression test are you suggesting he takes along a mechanic or similar.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I fear with all the naff advice that the OP has been given he has been scared off

 

[Portofino]

As a seller I would be fearful of a oik ( sorry buyer ) turning up with a van full of Chinese crap threaded tools from e bay never used and pro-porting to know what he’s doing with the threads on my spark plug holes , pulling gorilla like on my plug lead s knackering the caps , potentially knackering the coil ( If CDI pull ) turning it with plug lead off etc etc . WHEN I HAVE TOLD HIM IT RUNS and happy to start it to demo !!

Its been accurately described, its priced accordingly sold as seen .With a quick start either dry or in a butt to show it runs .
As I said it’s probably been running by the seller before the ad was placed ,Says so in the Ad if understood the Ops first post correctly, the day before and hr before for other punters highly likely anyhow .

B P s has a £ / price / value point .If it was a Lamborghini Muria or Ferrari F 40 asking £2M ish I would negotiate before travel taking a marque specialist to check the thing over and outline and agreeing any invasive stuff by the expert eg even removing plug before even contemplating setting off .Talking similar circumstances = hasn’t been moved for 2 yrs etc .Unless the price reflects as seems to be this boats case .It’s gonna need some TLC .

I post this 2T bike I bought @ auction last Nov at Silverstone s NEC ( U.K.) classic car Action .Sold as is .Unable to run it been in storage from the National Motorcycle museum for not 2 yrs - only 20 yrs .They were dumping inventory.


I got it for £800:.The market is £1500 for a ropy to £2 to4K for a minter ,
This is a Ulf Karlsson .Ulf Karlsson is the eq of Kiki Lauda in the 70 s Ferrari GP world .He was Montesa works rider and this IS one of his world champion ship winning works bikes , Hence was on display at the NMM .

Value runing £5/6 K they say .

Took me about 3 hrs and £50 s worth of parts to get it running .Great compression - you can tell by getting it to TDC using the starter handle .No need to remove plugs just hand or arm feel it .You might be able to do that with a outboard esp if pull start and 2T .You know a none invasive test .

Aside there nothing stopping a buyer once he’s bagged the bargain from a bit of fettling .


Getting your hands dirty …….if the price reflects .

So BP s is correct in inferring it depends on the asking P compared to others , rarity ( only if you know - many don’t) and how handy / experienced are at tackling a fixer upper .

This boat is sold with a OB which can be seen running and was last run in water 2 y ago with a price to reflect …….go from there .

Turning up with a van full of invasive clobber ……you make me laugh some of you on here ! Thx btw .

 

[Bigplumbs]

As a seller I would be fearful of a oik ( sorry buyer ) turning up with a van full of Chinese crap threaded tools from e bay never used and pro-porting to know what he’s doing with the threads on my spark plug holes , pulling gorilla like on my plug lead s knackering the caps , potentially knackering the coil ( If CDI pull ) turning it with plug lead off etc etc . WHEN I HAVE TOLD HIM IT RUNS and happy to start it to demo !!

Its been accurately described, its priced accordingly sold as seen .With a quick start either dry or in a butt to show it runs .
As I said it’s probably been running by the seller before the ad was placed ,Says so in the Ad if understood the Ops first post correctly, the day before and hr before for other punters highly likely anyhow .

B P s has a £ / price / value point .If it was a Lamborghini Muria or Ferrari F 40 asking £2M ish I would negotiate before travel taking a marque specialist to check the thing over and outline and agreeing any invasive stuff by the expert eg even removing plug before even contemplating setting off .Talking similar circumstances = hasn’t been moved for 2 yrs etc .Unless the price reflects as seems to be this boats case .It’s gonna need some TLC .

I post this 2T bike I bought @ auction last Nov at Silverstone s NEC ( U.K.) classic car Action .Sold as is .Unable to run it been in storage from the National Motorcycle museum for not 2 yrs - only 20 yrs .They were dumping inventory.

View attachment 153351
I got it for £800:.The market is £1500 for a ropy to £2 to4K for a minter ,
This is a Ulf Karlsson .Ulf Karlsson is the eq of Kiki Lauda in the 70 s Ferrari GP world .He was Montesa works rider and this IS one of his world champion ship winning works bikes , Hence was on display at the NMM .

Value runing £5/6 K they say .

Took me about 3 hrs and £50 s worth of parts to get it running .Great compression - you can tell by getting it to TDC using the starter handle .No need to remove plugs just hand or arm feel it .You might be able to do that with a outboard esp if pull start and 2T .You know a none invasive test .

Aside there nothing stopping a buyer once he’s bagged the bargain from a bit of fettling .
View attachment 153352
View attachment 153353
Getting your hands dirty …….if the price reflects .

So BP s is correct in inferring it depends on the asking P compared to others , rarity ( only if you know - many don’t) and how handy / experienced are at tackling a fixer upper .

This boat is sold with a OB which can be seen running and was last run in water 2 y ago with a price to reflect …….go from there .

Turning up with a van full of invasive clobber ……you make me laugh some of you on here ! Thx btw .

Now look here Porto............... Me and you cant start agreeing with each other..... Where would that end lol

You are right by the Way !

 

[paradave]

I also wouldn’t want someone compression testing my engine who didn’t know what they were doing.
However, I would also not buy from someone who was denying an engine test - in that situation, I would assume the engine was shot and negotiate on the basis I was buying a hull.

 

[Portofino]

Now look here Porto............... Me and you cant start agreeing with each other..... Where would that end lol

You are right by the Way !

They would all migrate over to 2T powered Fletchers or MAN / MTU powered Italian built bigger boats .

Oh hang on its already started

 

[QBhoy]

without knowing the asking price that advice is poor. If it is so cheap that it will be snatched up by others then faffing around will just loose you the boat. It is vital to enter the real world here and understand that sometimes it is a sellers market.

Further if the buyer has no idea how to do a compression test are you suggesting he takes along a mechanic or similar.

Could say the same about yours, given that logic. Don’t be silly now. Why wouldn’t you do a compression test. So easy and simple.
why does everyone need to be such a smart arse on here. Why go against simple and sound advice…just to be different? Beyond me !
All I’m giving is a professional opinion…the fella can do what he wishes with it. That’s all.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Could say the same about yours, given that logic. Don’t be silly now. Why wouldn’t you do a compression test. So easy and simple.
why does everyone need to be such a smart arse on here. Why go against simple and sound advice…just to be different? Beyond me !
All I’m giving is a professional opinion…the fella can do what he wishes with it. That’s all.

I think you scared him off........ Why is your opinion Professional ?

 

[QBhoy]

I think you scared him off........ Why is your opinion Professional ?

Marine engineering

 

[Bigplumbs]

Marine engineering

Well perhaps you should realise the Reality about buying a boat in todays market.

How things should be done and how in reality they sometimes have to be done are very different things

 

[onemanorthree]

I suspect this is a boat around the £7,000 mark...................... Do you honestly think people have sea trials on boats at that value

Full details here guys, sorry if I wasn't clear. Didn't think this thread would yield so much good advice, even if it's not all agreed upon.

The boat is WELL below 7k, I just wanted something cheap to use on the lake when it's too rough at sea to go out in my sea boat.
I don't have a car that will tow the boat between lake and see. I was just going to get something cheap, do a bit of work to in and sell it on it a few years.
This is the boat I was looking at: Boats fletcher gto for sale in Dublin for €2,999 on DoneDeal

I have never done a compression test before, and yes, I would also be worried about just trying it on somebody else's engine for the first time.
I do have a 4hp 2 stroke outboard that I was going to try it on first, but again, I wouldn't want to damage an engine that I didn't own trying it out.

But there are a good few boats in and around this type/size that I can go for too.
Fletcher 14 ft speed boat for sale in Dublin for €2,750 on DoneDeal
Speed Boat for sale in Tipperary for €3,000 on DoneDeal

 

[QBhoy]

Well perhaps you should realise the Reality about buying a boat in todays market.

How things should be done and how in reality they sometimes have to be done are very different things

Jesus. At 7k I’d be doing a compression test for sure. Maybe you shouldn’t be throwing out poor advice to guys that seem to really need it. The guy obviously came on here for a trusted opinion. He was given one. But someone always has to say contrary to the known and professional advice. Give me one reason why you wouldn’t ? Hopefully on your next trip Loch Lomond with your inflatable, you’ll be lucky enough not to need my advice. Anyway. I’ll bow out for now. Getting silly, I fear.

 

[Seastoke]

Jesus. At 7k I’d be doing a compression test for sure. Maybe you shouldn’t be throwing out poor advice to guys that seem to really need it. The guy obviously came on here for a trusted opinion. He was given one. But someone always has to say contrary to the known and professional advice. Give me one reason why you wouldn’t ? Hopefully on your next trip Loch Lomond with your inflatable, you’ll be lucky enough not to need my advice. Anyway. I’ll bow out for now. Getting silly, I fear.

Shall we talk about trailers.

 

[Seastoke]

OK offer him £250.00 to see it on water if you dont buy he keeps the cash , if you buy it at asking price you keep the cash . Win win for you both.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Jesus. At 7k I’d be doing a compression test for sure. Maybe you shouldn’t be throwing out poor advice to guys that seem to really need it. The guy obviously came on here for a trusted opinion. He was given one. But someone always has to say contrary to the known and professional advice. Give me one reason why you wouldn’t ? Hopefully on your next trip Loch Lomond with your inflatable, you’ll be lucky enough not to need my advice. Anyway. I’ll bow out for now. Getting silly, I fear.

Well the boat is £3,000 so most of your advice was terrible. This is certainly the price at which you take a leap of faith and cant expect the seller to do too much unless it is easy.

You are so far disconnected from the real world and what is the reality at this price point. If you turned up to buy one of my boats with your tools in hand I would wave you on your way. Why because I can sell it to someone else and quite frankly don't need to sell it to anyone and certainly not a tyre kicker looking to grind money off what is already a reasonable price.

you claim to be a Professional. I very much doubt that given the very very poor advice on this thread. You say a Marine engineer do you mean a Mechanic (Again the real world).

Why would you suggest doing a compression test when the OP has said he has no idea how to do it or what it would mean. Are you honestly suggesting that at this price point he should be taking along a Mechanic at how much per hour ? !!!!!!!

Perhaps find out more about the boat before you offer what is clearly poor advice.

As for the person who suggested a sea trial......... What utter nonsense at this price point.

To the OP. I say again I have had many Fletchers and still have several. If you would like to speak to me send me a PM with your Phone number (assuming you are in the UK) and I will happily give you a call and give you some real world advice from someone who has a lot of experience with these types of boats and two stroke older outboards.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Looking at the Pics of the 3000 euro Fletcher with the 90hp Clam Shell Mariner it certainly looks worth a punt or leap of faith. It also depends how much money 3000 euro is to you.

The other important thing is how good the trailer is and if it would be up to towing it to where you want the boat to go

 

[Bigplumbs]

There is another way you could test run that Engine.

Take with you 20 - 40 ltrs of water in cans, a bucket, a lenth of hose and a set of muffs. Put the bucket full of water high up on the back of the boat so it will gravity feed (with a syphon start) to the muffs fixed on the leg of the outboard.

Start the engine (assuming the battery is good) if it starts run if for a short while until it empties the bucket which will be at least a minute.

This is a bit of a faff but perfectly doable and will give that little bit of insight to whether the engine actually starts and runs.

Obviously you will need petrol and two stroke oil.