someone i know has offered to give me a boat. it is an 18ft stingray model 556 1993 model with a trailer. it is an I/O.

here's the rub. somehow somewhere, the boat takes in a little water. so the pump that pumps out the water runs continuously. he assures me the hull is fine.

this is a boat that has not been well cared for. it was not drained for the winter so there's a chance that something internally is shot which could be as bad as a cracked block.

the lease is up on the storage and he no longer has any interest in it. if i take it, it is up to me to ante up for the storage cost or tow it away.

this is my position. the problem could be a minor one, in which case it could be a great deal. however, it could have a bad engine, in which case i just inherited a headache. also, a good hull and trailer must be worth something so in the worst case scenario, I could sell the thing and help pay for tuition.

I also do not have a tow vehicle.

What is your advice on this one? how would you methodically approach this situation. We Bavarians like to approach things methodically

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

Unless you're made out of money, stay away from inboard/outboard motors.

Do something sensible like:
Buy an old, cheap M-B to fix-up;
Have an affair with a middleaged, pot-bellied, married botanist.

But don't buy an inboard/outboard as a fixer-upper. Accept the gift and turn it on eBay asap.

B

in case you are unaware of this time tested axiom: a boat is a hole in the water that you throw money into. since you are getting it for free you probably can't get hurt too bad but...i/o's are notoriously problematic and a leaking boat is an unhappy boat (another maritime axiom ). forgot to look where you live but if there is a demand for beater boats you might be in business.

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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

howd you get that in ahead of me?

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0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

My team had to maintain one (a beautiful Boston Whaler) for a research project working in the Chandeleur Islands. When it ran (most of the time, no problem) it was smooth and fast. It handled shallow water exceptionally well and was reliable for long trips. But it was one expensive mofo to maintain. We had a lot of problems with the lower unit. Eventually we had spent so much money (bought a whole new lower unit) that when we began having serious engine problems, we gutted the I/O and bought twin Mariner outboards. No problems since. That was enough for me.

Bot

i've been around boats since i was a kid and the i/o has always been a no-no in my family

__________________
0o==o0

James 4:8

"...let us put aside the blindness of mind of those who can conceive of nothing higher than what is known through the senses"
-Saint Gregory Palamas, ---Discourse on the Holy Transfiguration of Our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ


Centrally located in North East Central Pa.

Jentay,

OK so its a free boat. But figure out what it may cost to keep and your ability while in school to pay for it.

You need to store it somewhere... a slip or a parking spot on a trailer.
- a slip is $ per month
- a parking spot may be free but you need a tow vehicle.

I've been around NC a bit, there are several storage lots around Jordan Lake that are on the water. You drive there, hook up to the boat and trailer and back it in the water. When you are done, you load it back on the trailer and park it in the lot. No highway travelling. Even a smaller car may handle this ok with a hitch. Check out to see what they might cost.

Fixing the boat...

Ok it leaks. It could be a number of things. A $1 clamp on a hose, a $50 water pump, a $1000 bellows (the rubber flexible part between the hull and I/O unit, or a $3000 engine. Check around for a good independent boat mechanic. Harder to find than an honest MB machanic though. It sucks to have a car break down. It REALLY sucks to be out on the water and break down.

There are other costs to the boat too.

Maintaining the boat - it will need an annual tune up, oil changes, cleaning, some repairs... Does it come with a good cover?

Using the boat - gas, life jackets, skiis, ...

You are right in that if it is given to you the hull and trailer have some intrinsic value. Get it evaluated and decide to keep it / or not take it.

Good luck
Chuck

Old boats that someone is trying to get rid of at a low price are even worse than old Mercedes.

I've had my share of boats over the years, and the I/O is definitely in need of more attention than the typical outboard.

In my own case, the I/O on the 27' Sea Ray consumes about $250.00 per season and this is because I watch it like a hawk.

Most I/O problems are due to a failure of lubrication in the lower unit caused by oil loss, and/or water leakage. If you pay attention to what's happening with the I/O, they are not too difficult to manage.

However, unless you are quite skilled in maintaining all aspects of a boat, just avoid it like the plague.

If you think M/B dealers charge high prices................you haven't been to a boatyard.

No such thing as a free lunch....................or a free boat.

Or, my father in law's version: "The most expensive things in life are free."

If it Floats Flies or Fu@$s.............rent it.

thanks for all your advice guys.

i will decline the offer and suggest he donate the boat to charity instead.

it is a shame that some people simply do not care for their vehicles.

someone once gave me advice about men. the woman should first look at how the guy treats (or thinks of) his machines (cars, boats). this is usually the same manner he treats his partner. that is, if he never bothers to winterize a boat, he is equally unlikely to be the empathetic type to a partner (or whoever).

i don't know if there's any truth to that.

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

sounds like good wisdom to me. this forum is like the Oracle at Delphi. answers galore. you guys are awesome.

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Jennifer
90 350sdl

A boat like that probably doesn't have any through hulls to leak so the water is coming in somewhere. I would suspect a water intake hose leak or exhuast leak of some sort.

What kind of engine? It is probably a 3L Volvo with an OMC drive. Stingray was owned by the now defunct OMC corp. I/O's are fine if you trailer them we have had a Volvo 270 drive on our boat for years. However if you keep them in the water it is only a matter of time before a seal leaks and wipes the drive out.

It sounds like the boats beat, I would expect it needing $5k worth of work to get it nice again. Thats if you know what your doing and do most of it yourself.

If you want a good starter boat you can buy brand new Bayliner bowriders for like $11k. You can't go wrong at that price.

A beat boat will suck down money faster then any MB every could.

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