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

[QBhoy]

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.

Sounds like you don’t know too much about these things. A compression test is a simple thing to do. Any novice can perform this. It’s simply a must on a 2 stroke. End of story. There is no arguing this, I’m afraid. It’s just that simple.

 

[QBhoy]

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.

We’ve already covered that. I said it ages ago ! But added in what else further is required to actually make it work

 

[QBhoy]

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.

Honestly can’t believe you’re against the idea of a compression test on an old 2 stroke. It’s literally rule number one !
Hopefully the moderators intervene and remove any such terrible advice. Just for future reference or others needing advice in similar situations. Be a shame for others seeking guidance to be so misinformed. You really need to have a think about the knock on affect or future consequences to others, before posting such things. Need to be careful.

 

[QBhoy]

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)

I’m afraid you’re wrong there…again. You’re conversing with the real deal here. Some credentials for you, in brief;

3 years higher education with diploma achieved in marine engineering specifically
Further study of thermal dynamics, naval architecture and fluid dynamics
Written and oral examination achieving class 4 then class 2 combined steam and motor ticket from the MCA board
Officer of the watch unlimited classification

I won’t bore you with the rest. Hope that meets your standards fella. All the best !

 

[billskip]

So compression test is done all is good....now running the engine out of the water with muffs is a tad noisy...do you think you would hear any problems with all that noise?

 

[QBhoy]

So compression test is done all is good....now running the engine out of the water with muffs is a tad noisy...do you think you would hear any problems with all that noise?

Excellent. A good and even spread compression result will give peace of mind as to the health of the engine fundamentally.
As for the drivetrain gearbox etc. shifting into gear out the water will be a little noisy for sure. But if there is no sign of excessive wear particles in the gear oil and it’s fresh enough looking, you should be good. Any other issue thereafter can only be as a result of carb tuning, fuel quality or the odd electrical component. But otherwise you can rest easy knowing that there is nothing that can’t be put right without serious expense, usually.
If she’s a fletcher mind and check the transom and stringers for it’s structural health. Well known for such issues. Great boats otherwise.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I’ll bow out for now.

That didn't last long

 

[Seastoke]

That didn't last long

If he wants it to sit on his drive and not be used , then go for it.

 

[Bigplumbs]

So compression test is done all is good....now running the engine out of the water with muffs is a tad noisy...do you think you would hear any problems with all that noise?

You would know if it runs

 

[Bigplumbs]

Bought and still own about 12 plus 2 strokes from 3.5 hp to 200 hp V6 and assisted in the purchase of 2 others 90 hp and 115. Never done a compression test on any of them all run perfectly…………. I wonder how you would explain that real world experience…….. Just luck ?

 

[Hot Property]

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.

I'm actually in agreement with you Dennis.

I've never compression tested any outboard I've bought second hand.

If it starts well, runs, goes into gear then that's it.

A decision has to be made at that point and you are correct in that a % of sellers have no technical knowledge and would be frightened off if you demanded to do a test.

For higher value boats and engines then a funded sea trial is the way to go......

 

[onemanorthree]

Wow, this is really taking off.

To answer a few questions;
3k is not a huge amount of money to me, but I also don't have the time or space to store a boat while I try to find a replacement engine.
I asked the guy to bring to water, he said no, I guess it's priced for a no hassle sale.

From what I'm reading here, is seems to go from.... You'll be fine with a 2-stroke, once you hear it start... to...
compression test, check gear lube, get a sea trial... that's a big gap in how much effort I should put into this before I buy.

I might just buy a compression tester for my other outboard anyway, any idea if the one I linked before is worth buying, or
a suggestion on one worth buying?
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B07M9882SZ/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?smid=A1BU3KIV5EXKYL&psc=1

 

[julians]

From what I'm reading here, is seems to go from.... You'll be fine with a 2-stroke, once you hear it start... to...
compression test, check gear lube, get a sea trial... that's a big gap in how much effort I should put into this before I buy.

They're both valid answers depending on your attitude to risk ......

Unfortunately both the protagonists here can't agree to disagree.

 

[billskip]

How far do you live from it?
Its definitely worth a visit/risk especially if you are in an area that possibly lends itself to resale with little loss..big plums is talking 7k you are saying 3k, surely if it's a disaster you wont lose a lot if anything....

 

[Hot Property]

The boat price has been dropped and the current market at this price point is heading South.

If I were you I'd rock up and offer £2,000 cash and tow it away immediately.

If the engine is uneconomic to get going - (if there are any issues of course) then you could sell it for spares.

A friend sold the 85 hp version of this as spares for £750 last year.

So, you will end up with a Fletcher and trailer for £1,250 ish which is a very good price!

You don't need a 90 on the back, I'm sure a 60 hp would be good.

Bigplumbs can advise you as he has most, if not all the varients that Fletcher ever made on his drive......

 

[onemanorthree]

Yes, I'm going to look at it this weekend now. Just seeing how much my mechanic charges to come with me and have a look.

 

[Portofino]

Yes, I'm going to look at it this weekend now. Just seeing how much my mechanic charges to come with me and have a look.

Get a vid of the thing running to put to bed the argument(s)

I have to say again I am in Denis’s camp on this one .Esp a we know the risk / € / Benefit / loss side .

Here is my punt into 2T world a very simple world I might add mech wise .Bought as a none runner last run 20 y ago ? - running .
Bit of googling , bit of wrenching , bit of owners forums , bit of knowledge.

Montesa cota UKR 247 running.

 

[rotrax]

Bought and still own about 12 plus 2 strokes from 3.5 hp to 200 hp V6 and assisted in the purchase of 2 others 90 hp and 115. Never done a compression test on any of them all run perfectly…………. I wonder how you would explain that real world experience…….. Just luck ?

I am a 50 year plus specialist small engine mechanic.

Two stroke compressions are subtly different from four stroke compressions.

I have purchased thousands of two stroke powered motorbikes for resale and have repaired thousands and raced several.

From a 1924 Levis with a deflector piston to Yamaha TZ 750 four cylinder 100 BHP Racing bikes.

A compression test is never more than turning the engine over. If it has a bit of resistance that end of it is pretty sure to be OK.

The one that cant be tested for easily is crankcase compression. That opens up a world of grief, especially on multi cylinder two strokes.

Methinks QBhoy is over egging the pudding.............................

 

[colhel]

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.

The OP was simply offered a bit of advice bearing in mind the above. Surely taking a cautious approach isn't terrible advice

 

[onemanorthree]

Get a vid of the thing running to put to bed the argument(s)

Asked for a vid, no reply.