new purchase

[brienmt]

I am looking at a 21 foot sea ray with a volvo EFI 5.0 engine repowered in 2000 and a duoprop volvo outdrive. I currently have a 1979 19.6 foot wellcraft with a mercrusier 470 & a pre alpha outdrive. I love my current float, but maintainance is ALOT of work. Will the searay\volvo combo be less hassle? Is 14000 a good price for a very clean 1988 Searay Seville Cruiser
new power steering, gauges, power trim, bimini top, and remote spotlight
A/C converter 1500 watt
new refrigerator A/C power
outlets for microwave or small conveniences
Hummingbird depth finder
4 deep cycle batteries
Shoreline trailer
Repowered in fall of 2000 with new EFI Volvo 5.0 Engine ,Volvo Duoprop outdrive 100 hrs.

ANY ADVICE???


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[Solitaire]

1988 is an old boat so check out the hull carefully although SeaRay's are well built. Is the boat antifouled, if so scrape of at various points along the hull and have a look for cracks etc in the gelcoat. The engine/drive combination is fine and to replace the EFI engien, with fitting,would have cost around 8K. When the engine was fitted I think it would have had the 3 year Volvo warraty, if so how long has it got to go before it expires? Also look to see that it has been serviced to maintain the warranty status Given that you have the new engine, it may be worth having a hull/structural survey done for piece of mind - boats of this age can take a hammering over its lifetime.
Have a good look at the stern drive. Does it have a "dings" on the leg itself, the skeg and the props. Careless owners are quickly shown up by the condition of these "hidden" parts. Also check the deck fittings and look around the windscreen for tell tale signs of stress.
As to the engine combo being less hassel - well in therory it should be, but its a boat engine, and it's also stacked with electronics, being the EFI, which don't like a wet environment and if your going to keep it on saltwater, the situation is made worse.
I've just reread the post - why did it have to have a new power trim after the stern drive only being installed in 2000? Ah, hang on, was it only the engine that was replaced not the the stern drive as well? If that is the case, check the bellows and take the oil drain plug out and check for metal shards stuck to the magnetic drain plug. If it looks like mount Etna - worry! Also have a look at the colour of the oil. If its slightly "milky" then water has probably got into the leg.

I had petrol boats all my boating life and am now putting a diesel in to my existing boat.
As to the price - bargain hard you should be able to get in right down say £12k or less. Something else I found interesting, why 4 batteries?
Anyway thats my 2p worth. No matter whats new now, its still an '88 petrol boat. As the saying goes - the choice is yours! Good luck in what ever you decide./forums/images/icons/smile.gif


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[Guest]

Sounds like you're over that side of the pond... I assume that you are talking US$14,000? If so, I have no idea if that is a good deal or not, as folks here (with the exception of Arthur) propbably don't know US boat prices...

The duoprop is a better leg, and you will find no torque steer with it, but less work - who knows?

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[brienmt]

Thanks for the advice I am going to look at it in the next two days. Will hate to give up the Old Wellcraft. I will look into all your suggestions. It is at a salt water marina, but may have been dry stored. Not sure about the four bateries??? I put two in my old boat just for reliablity. The sea ray is not bottom painted from the looks of the picture. I went to a boat price page (www.nadaguides.com) and all the retail prices are coming up ALOT less than this guy is asking. Still it is a relatively new engine (repowered in 2000), and if that cost $8000 he may be trying to recoup some of that cost. well thanks for the info

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[BarryH]

This isn't the one for sale in the IOW is it?

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[brienmt]

Not sure on the IOW reference???

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[longjohnsilver]

Barry, don't think an American will recognise IOW, Brien that's Isle of Wight, a popular sailing area over here.

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[Solitaire]

OK so you are US based! Have a look at <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.yachtauctions.com>http://www.yachtauctions.com</A>
There are some good deals to be had and you don't have to pay our price for gas about $6 a gallon! I would think 14k US is too much for a boat of that age.

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[BarryH]

Well there was no reference to the geographical location and I've given up looking at profiles as no bugger tends to fill them in. OK so my world doesn't stretch to that side of the pond. Mind you the tablets are helping as I can now go down to the bottom of the lane and onto the main road unacompanied.

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[gonfishing]

hi
you may finfd this site usefull for price comparison

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.nadaguides.com>http://www.nadaguides.com</A>

as it's based on usa prices

hope it helps
regards
julian

<hr width=100% size=1>WHAT??? more petrol!!!

 

[brienmt]

Solitaire seems to be right about pricing. The only variable that may make this a reasonable price is that it was "repowered" in 2000. But most of the pricing sites agree that $14k is too much for a 1988 boat. Gas over here is around $1.50 us, so it is much less of a concern than if I was paying your gas prices. I am really more interested in reliablity. The Wellcraft i own with the Mercrusier engine has had extensive work, and seems to require more each week. SO if the Volvo EFI 5.0 is "turn the key and go" I would consider paying the cost. I am taking a look at her tomarrow so I will let you all know. Thanks for all the help.

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