[BOSOX]

My wife has been scanning CL for a boat to replace our 67 Saturn 18 Runabout for a few months now. My trailer fell apart last summer and I used a loaner for the season, but the boat is just getting old. The floors are soft in some spots and the transom, although solid, I'm sure would need work soon enough. It's perfectly useable but it's not very family friendly with minimal seating and creature comforts. So we decided to go and buy this boat. A Maxum 1800xr Bowrider. It's filthy from being uncovered but all the upholstery is in nice shape, minimal wear and tear. Seating for 6 behind the windshield and the bow is nice and comfy lounge type seating for 2. She's not perfect but a good buff, wax and scrubbing / shampooing should make her look nice. The Trailer is Aces and very heavy duty w/bunks. Now the bad, the Mercury 115 is stuck. I'm going to take the head off and have a look see shortly. The gear case is in nuetral so that's not the problem, the PO told me it just stopped running on the pond on the way back to his dock. Who knows??? I have a fine running Tohatsu 90hp on my existing boat that I'll put on it if need be. But I'm kinda hoping the 115 is rebuildable and I'll sell my other boat turnkey and use the money toward the Merc. We'll see how this pans out as we go, but the wife and kids are excited about the new boat. Me I'm getting the buyers remorse feelings right now , but they'll pass....:dunno: Heck I only spent $350

No rod holders on this one:banghead3, have to fix that when she's ready to go into the water. The 2 stern seats are removeable too, so you can fish off of it.

 

[DJ in WV]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Looks great! She'll clean up very nicely and provide many years of enjoyment.

I'm sure the engine will work out very well too.

 

[tiretrx]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Hey, good for you, Mike. Can't wait to see what it looks like buffed out. Trailer looks real solid. Congrats, buddy!

 

[Ken in NJ]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Good deal Mike !! :fing32:

Hope the engine can be fixed easily raying:

My dad had a 115 Merc on his starcraft MANY years ago. The only one bigger (back then) was a 135 I believe.

 

[Ingersoll444]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Whoooo that bad boy needs a good scrubbing!!!!

Looks nice though. Lot to work with there. Most of the 2 stroke outbards are pretty simple.. Im sure you will have it tore down and will be able to eyeball the issue in notime. Might want to check if there is a place that sells a reman powerhead also. Might just be the cheapest way out.

 

[D-Dogg]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Congratulations Mike. Looks like she'll clean up just fine.

 

[riverrat jr]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

I really like the boat & trailer. Premium quality brand,curved windshield,lots of lifting strakes & galvanized steel,low maintenance trailer is a great start! I :ditto: the reman powerhead if needed. You can easily sell the nonrunner Merc for more than you paid for all of it,wash & wax the heck out of the boat,mount the 90 hp and your not out a nickel. I think you & yours are going to love that boat.

 

[riverrat jr]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

You could name the boat,'Knot-a-Nickel' :00000060:

 

[PA318Guy]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Mike, $350 what a steal! Certainly will require some elbow grease to get it looking good but with all this warm weather and no snow to blow or push you can get started early! I know that mercs were the best engine available so with some luck that should be fixable and you'll have a real nice looking runner on your hands!

 

[BOSOX]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

You could name the boat,'Knot-a-Nickel' :00000060:

The name on her transom now is "Atlanta Blue":thSick:

She'll be re-named "Tripple M + S" or "ThreeM'S" Me, my wife and my oldest daughter have M for our first initial, my youngest is the S.

Mike, $350 what a steal! Certainly will require some elbow grease to get it looking good but with all this warm weather and no snow to blow or push you can get started early! I know that mercs were the best engine available so with some luck that should be fixable and you'll have a real nice looking runner on your hands!

That's the plan Tim, Here's hoping!:trink39:

 

[Ken in NJ]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Hey Chet, I vote that you name her the "Suck My Wake" :fing32:

http://movieclips.com/uMrv-the-great-outdoors-movie-suck-my-wake/

Mike/Chet water skiing

http://movieclips.com/AKJn6-the-great-outdoors-movie-accidental-waterskiing/

 

[BOSOX]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Pulled the spark plugs out of it tonight for a peak into the cylinders. Aluminum in cylinder 2, Not good! Time to pull the powerhead and tear it down for real. Hoping that the crankshaft and rods are OK. Punching out 4 cylinders and 4 new pistons won't be too bad. Repairing the crank will add alot to the cost, hopeing it survived......Tune in next week, Same Bat Time , Same Bat Channel!

 

[Ingersoll444]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Pulled the spark plugs out of it tonight for a peak into the cylinders. Aluminum in cylinder 2, Not good! Time to pull the powerhead and tear it down for real. Hoping that the crankshaft and rods are OK. Punching out 4 cylinders and 4 new pistons won't be too bad. Repairing the crank will add alot to the cost, hopeing it survived......Tune in next week, Same Bat Time , Same Bat Channel!

Are they boreable on those?? I seem to remember some of the outboard power heads not being able to get oversize pistons for.


[edit] Btw... before you spend any cash on that motor, you might want to pull the lower unit apart and check for any issues with the water pump, or anything else.. Being the one cyl is chewed, Im thinking it might have over heated and stuck. I would hate to see you dump a ton of cash at the engine, and find the lowerend needs a lot of work also.

 

[kentucky wildcat]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

$350, sounds like you bought a trailer and the boat was thrown in free!:thThumbsU

 

[8086bruce]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

$350, sounds like you bought a trailer and the boat was thrown in free!:thThumbsU

Ditto! Great buy congrats!!!

 

[BOSOX]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Are they boreable on those?? I seem to remember some of the outboard power heads not being able to get oversize pistons for.


[edit] Btw... before you spend any cash on that motor, you might want to pull the lower unit apart and check for any issues with the water pump, or anything else.. Being the one cyl is chewed, Im thinking it might have over heated and stuck. I would hate to see you dump a ton of cash at the engine, and find the lowerend needs a lot of work also.

Your right on Paul, going to pull the lower leg off first and have a look see. The prop spins free in neutral and Locks in forward and reverse so I'm thinking it's ok but I'll drain it and make sure there isn't any water or metal in it. Then onto the PH for a complete tear down. I've got a price limit on what I want to spend so we'll see how this turns out.
Over sized pistons are available, I looked the other night.

$350, sounds like you bought a trailer and the boat was thrown in free!:thThumbsU

That was my thinking too!

 

[BOSOX]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Here's a bit of an update on the new boat. My wife was cruising CL yet again and came across a guy selling an engine that was for his project boat. Had all 4 cylinders bored over .040 w/new pistons and rings, gasket kit and all new bearings for the crank and rods. A year older on the engine and it's a Mariner not a Mercury but they are closely related if not the same. He has all reciepts ($1600 plus) and the engine needs final assembly. He's asking $1000 for everything, including the engine cowl, lower unit w/trim and tilt set up and a service manual for the engine. I got in touch with him and he's going to find out if our engines interchange, if they do I'm going to buy it. I figure if I have $1500 , including the puchase price I'm way ahead of the game. I'll put my existing boat for sale in the spring for $1800 or so and maybe brake out even and have a nicer boat in the end. raying:

 

[Ken in NJ]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Good deal Mike, hope it works out for you. :fing32:

And to the "wife" searching Craigslist for this kinda stuff, shows youve got a good one !! Guess she enjoys the boat as much as you.

Just one question, who wears the captain hat ? :trink39:

 

[Team_Green]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Bosox I hope it all works out for ya.. I like the looks of boats.. BUT i have had to many dreams (nightmares) of drowning.. I wont get on a boat for any reason.. Can't wait to see pics of it cleaned up..

 

[Rolex]

Re: Picked up a new (to me) vessel this morning

Hey Bosox I live in Australia and had left my boat under a tree in my yard for a few years and it looked like your new purchase on the outside, I made up a mixture of 1/8 liquid chlorine, 1/8 liquid sugar soap and 3/4 warm water, the mess just wiped off, no scrubbing required and it even left the gel coat with a shine that it did not have before, if it's not to late give it a go.