Need help.. Less than 50 hours..

H

hackalar

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I am looking at a 03 amberjack with twin engines and v-drives. The owner bought it new and got sick. Never used the boat and passed away. The boat has less than 50 hours. Believe it's 38 hours to be exact.
What should I be worried about with a boat that old and low hours.
Boat has always been in fresh water. I will be using in it salt.
 
No specific help I can offer except:

Get a hull survey.

Get an engine survey.

"like new" or not, it is a "used boat" and all of the standard cautions should be applied.

Not that the above will catch everything, but they will provide substantial info from which you can either discard the proposition or launch a detailed investigation ( and/or modify contract negotiations. )

btw: often, the fastest way to kill a boat is to not use it...
 
The fact that is has been only used in fresh water is a big plus. But assume anything made from rubber needs to be replaced (hoses, belts). At the right price it could be a great boat.
 
If it has been sitting without running or being pickled all of that time I'd be concerned. Was it stored on the hard or in the water all of that time?
 
First question I'd ask is how long since the engines have been run? Next would be How old is the fuel? Make sure you do an adequate sea trial. Also need to know how the engines were prepared for storage. Depending on how long they've been sitting, may need a mechanic to start them so it's done correctly without causing any damage.
 
Where and how it was stored and especially amount of fuel and whether stabilized. Is it pre alcohol fuel. You'd be surprised how long fuel lasts.
 
Thinks for all the replies. Unfortunately is being sold by broker and he doesn't have all the answers...
Far as I know it's been stored in the water on fresh water lake and motors have been been started time to time.
The owners son is the current owner and supposedly has been using the boat in the last couple years.
I told them I wanted at least an hour sea trail.
Boat is clean however it's weathered some. I made an offer of 40k, haven't heard back yet.
The boat was transferred to the marina it's at now and has been on hard for the last couple months so any blisters would be gone by now. Not sure to tell if it had any... I will be keeping it in a boat house so It will never sit long in the water again.
Not real happy with v-drives as I heard / read they kill speed and use more fuel to run.
 
If the broker doesn't have the answers, you need to speak with the owner. If not possible, I wouldn't go any further with this one. Once you drive a boat with true inboards, you won't want out drives any longer.
 
I agree about the twin in boards. I have owned several. However from reviews the ones with out drives WOT at 45 and with V-drives it tops out at 34.. V-drives eat as much gas on plane as out drives do at wot.
Less Maint, less speed and more gas.

quote:
Originally posted by Gregory S

If the broker doesn't have the answers, you need to speak with the owner. If not possible, I wouldn't go any further with this one. Once you drive a boat with true inboards, you won't want out drives any longer.

Click to expand...
 
Keep pressing until you get the answers, you could have a nice find here - +1 on v-drives over outdrives. You'll never go back!
 
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