Buying with no service history

[Cashbuyer]

Would you consider buying a one owner, river based 1988 boat with twin Volvo 150hp, which has no records of a service history only invoices showing winterisation, lifting and minor work? No full services. It's missing about 16 years of work records. Original bill of sale and vat invoice present.

We would get the engines checked over and have had river trial already. They seemed fine. We would commission a full service after purchase.

Does not having a history of servicing affect ease of resale? Or should we not be to concerned? She is in great condition and original

 

[hlb]

Service records are a recent car thing. Because there is no record, does not mean it has not had one.

I have a pile of bills here for my boats servicing, mending ect, ect.

THE NEW BUYER did not ask for them.

A private, or espesially a river boat, probably never needs servicing.

Having said that, it is an old boat. Is it on drives?? or shafts. Drives will be a nightmare, shafts maybe not.

When I said servicing. I did not mean, it did not need looking at from time to time, just that, it should not need new oil or filters.
Every year.

However, the engines are now 24 years old and the years will have done far more damage than the miles.

So history or not, take the engines up to full temperature, then remove the oil cap, trick learned on here. If the cap flys out of your hand, the engine needs a rebuild. if not it dont.

 

[OAF]

Just because there is no written history it doesn't mean they haven't been looked after, I service my own engines, well my own engineers do,so I have no invoice to prove as such but they are done none the less, if in doubt have an oil analysis done, it's not overly expensive but it could save you a small fortune in the long run, it also depends how much the boat is up for sale for, if it is cheap then you will have some leeway in spending money on the engines and then still stay within what the boat is worth.

You can buy cheap DIY engine condition analysis kits of the interweb if you are concerned.

 

[oldgit]

SH is just one bit in the boat purchase puzzle.Probably vital on fairly new high value craft where an engine rebuild could cost tens of thousands.
On lower value stuff it is useful and nice to see,however a ginourmous big pile of bills from new but which stopped 10 years ago is just so much paper.
The present condition is what counts and no paperwork will probably mean that you can negociate a lower price.
If its on outdrives would def like to see history of some description,if not bid accordingly to cover at the very least a basic rebuild.The later the outdrive model the more reliable it should be.
(In Theory )

 

[kashurst]

on a 1988 boat it doesn't matter - just get them checked out before purchase and as you said once you own it have them done really well and keep your own records from that point on for any future owner.

If the engines have them, watch the oil pressure gauge and engine temperature gauges as the boat speeds up and slows down. If possible take it up to maximum speed. Both engines should give very similar readings. Once the engines are properly warmed up check the oil pressure at idle and watch for the low oil pressure light coming on (it shouldn't) If you can post what engines and drives the boat has someone on here will be able to tell you exactly what temps and pressures you should expect to see for that model of engine in good order.

Also have a look at how smokey the exhaust is. Old diesels all smoke a bit so don't panic - its the colour that matters - grey/white = steam from exhaust and a bit of un-burnt diesel (old injectors - normal, they all do it). A lot of distinctly blue smoke - especially when warmed up could mean trouble as its burning engine oil. River based boats can suffer from glazed cylinder bores - caused by continuous slow running. It can be fixed with a rebuild or if its only slight glazing a good long trip at high power may well sort it out. If its only very slight blue smoke on a boat for river use I wouldn't worry about it.

re outdrives they can be a bucket of trouble so if it has them get them checked out very well as they can be expensive to fix. If its shaft drive very simple to maintain generally no worries.

 

[volvopaul]

Where is the boat and what engines, if it's on my patch I can take a look, but you won't get a 100% true report on the rivers unless it can be opened up for 10 minutes.

 

[clydeoutboardservices]

regardless of how much paperwork there is I would always want to check the engine over. Paperwork shows you how much work has been done and not how good or bad the engine is.

Dave