Bad Used Boats to Buy

[@boatinglessons]

Are there any other boats you have had issues with and think our viewers should avoid?

[@taniatait1791]

Yamaha outdrives should be avoided for the same reasons as omc and you should probably read” Bowriders Death of a safe boat design”before buying a bow rider so you know their significant safety issues and are still happy to proceed.

[@TMcD3]

All boat designs have limitations. It’s up to the purchaser or owner to figure that out. It’s called responsible boating and boat ownership.

[@MasonboyMasiel]

@@TMcD3 really is that what it’s called? I thought it would be called something completely different like, “monkey donkey racing is bad” or “eat lots of greens to stay healthy.” But thanks for that...

[@dwreed63]

@@MasonboyMasiel, good one!! 👍🤣🤣

[@rabbithazen1]

Dude get some intro music or something. That dead silence is horrible.

[@mikeaguiar1393]

After over fifty years in the boat business as a factory trained technician I think this video is full of great advice. Definitely good information.

[@boatinglessons]

Such a nice compliment Mike, thank you!

[@yrisgonzales1225]

Great👍

[@Adaire8672]

Is this boat accessories worth the cost?? kzbin.infop7q8K-yCGXQ?si=Rn_F776f0wQJgDUL

[@billybobbob3003]

@@boatinglessons poor advice 1# stay away from fiberglass boats, aluminum runabouts or nothing.

[@Pontiac65Cat]

@@billybobbob3003lol stay away from fiberglass? That’s like most boats. Not a damn thing wrong with fiberglass boats.

[@Chris-hx3om]

I'm a marine mechanic of over 40 years. This is one of the best guides I've ever seen. Completely agree with everything he said. I have people looking for boats come to me, and they are mostly concerned about the engine. I tell them 'engine's are repairable/replaceable, hulls aren't'.... If you have a good hull, most other things are secondary. If you have a bad hull, toss it and start again....

[@diverdave4056]

...mmm and a boat engine is very very EXPENSIVE $$$

[@ytwatcher2021]

Yep buying a boat with a four stroke will definitely cost more

[@chrisostling805]

I am a former Yacht Broker that sold all types of boats, always get a survey and a mechanical inspection before buying! I was just honest with my clients, and I was very good at matching boats to people's needs. I had several repeat clients and sold several boats more than once. The best part was going out with my clients on my days off to teach them how to operate their new toy.

[@Chanikenskywalkr]

How do I get a career like this? This sounds like a dream!

[@moonpiespotlight4759]

Avoid boats with motors, or with decks or transoms. Avoid boats with keels and with a starboard and port side. These can become expensive over time and result in more friends than you thought you had, and lots of beer cans left in your cooler.

[@philipatoz]

OK, I'll turn around now!

[@thefatass500]

Funnily enough, many sailboats leave motors as optional, and some even don't have a transom. At first I thought you were promoting sailboats, until the next sentence

[@oneeverest7332]

I was a mechanic for a rental fleet, we had 40 boats with Volvo penta. A single boat could get up to 500 plus hours in one summer. We used to complain about replacing the starter or alternator on these VP. Every three to four years the company would replace them. Then our company was brought out. New boats came in with mercruisers. We ended up removing every boat after one hundred hours not only for engine change but outboard ended up having water in the oil and burnt oil. The VP could go 500 hours and still have good looking outdrive oil. Then started having drive coupler problems, their solution was a heavier duty drive coupler. I stated it was the engine rocking off it mount and missing aligning it. Also the water pump would start losing some vanes. By that time I ended up leaving to work on helicopters. I would never buy a mercruiser ever.

[@michalp2362]

Shit. I’m about to pull the trigger on a bow rider with the 4.3 mercruiser with really low hours. Should I walk away?

[@specialestness]

@@michalp2362get what you want. Make sure it runs well obviously but no matter the boat you buy it’s going to need money at some point. Boat does stand for break out another thousand.

[@TidePrideMan]

I bought a 1995 Cruisers 25' with a GM 454 engine 3 years ago with 429 hours on it, it was stored in a warehouse in Wisconsin and it's been the best boat I've ever owned.

[@Chris-hx3om]

And?

[@drifter9425]

You must have not owned very many boats then

[@thefatass500]

Sometimes, things nowadays aren't made quite like they're used to. (This especially applies to musical instruments.) Anyways, as I like to sometimes say, "They say old, I say Vintage!" Sounds like you either really lucked out or knew what you were looking for (or a mix of both)

[@stevewindisch7400]

Some old-guy advice. For those with a young family who want maximum safety... Get a sailboat (and take a course). There are over 20 times more accidents with powerboats than sail (not even counting jet ski's). Adjusted per capita, there being many more powerboats, that is still a 6-7 times higher chance of an accident. Nearly all Coast Guard or State alcohol arrests are with power boaters. Heavy drinking is usually not part of the sailing culture. One reason sailboats are so much safer is the hull form, they ride choppy waves much better, even when under power. But you can still get into trouble in a sailboat... that's why you need to take a course. For a family of 4, it's best to get a sailboat 20 foot or longer with a deep shaft outboard, preferably 4 cycle for best safety and reliability. Inboard Diesels are nice (more expensive), but rarely found on boats shorter than about 26 ft. If you like taking out guests (more than 4 people total), look for a minimum of 25 foot. Sailboats have one major issue: Depth of the keel. You need to either get one with a centerboard (also called Swing Keel or Daggerboard that lifts up into the boat), or insure that you can navigate and dock with a draft of 4', 5' or more water depth. The "Draft" is a common spec that should be given by the seller, or look up the model online. There are many sailboats that can be trailered, I used to take my 26' MacGregor down to Florida from Ohio and sail the Bimini's or Keys on vacations. That one had water ballast, so it was not very heavy on a trailer (about 2,500 lbs., hauled it with a 6 cylinder car). Boats with lead ballast are considerably heavier and usually need a truck to pull the trailer. Being on the water is always great, and sailing can be thrilling. It will give the kids memories they will keep forever. I used to spend about $20 on fuel for the entire season on Lake Erie, the engine only being used in busy channels and docking (don't try to sail in busy rivers or channels, having the right-of-way doesn't matter when the other guy is ignorant or drunk). And always make the kids wear the vests. They will get over it. :)

[@michaelking42]

I love it, what an awesome comment, thank you Steve.

[@AngelSanchez-du8ze]

Why quote all the stats regarding alcohol related accidents and arrests if your going to undermine those comments later in your posts? Cut you cake one way please…

[@marklarson303]

LAKE Barkely, ky .. loaded with drunk boaters. Stay away

[@jdawg3712]

Thanks Steve, written from a true Sail boater!🤗 Sailing is thee' best way to navigate our oceans. Anchors away!😎

[@nocturnalme3549]

Hey Steve, thanks for that info .so being a seasoned sailor, what type of boat would you recommend to take off shore let's say island hopping? Are sailboats still a safer bet? What length would be adequate? Or are smaller power yachts a decent option? I have been looking at some older model searay Sundancers around 30'. But the fuel tanks and cost to shuttle around is getting up there nowadays so I'm not sure if that's a smart option..any advice on longer offshore boating is helpful, thanks

[@gsh341]

If you're planning on buying an older boat, it's best to just assume that there is damage to the floor and transom that will require repair. This isn't always a bad thing if you have the skills and time to make those repairs. But if you don't want that aggravation or to put that sort of effort into the boat, it's best to avoid older boats altogether. Many newer boats have completely eliminated wood in the construction process and have gone to either synthetic materials or all aluminum. This greatly reduces the chance for water damage, but it doesn't automatically mean everything is going to be good as delamination and corrosion is still possible.

[@boatinglessons]

💯 true! Great comments.

[@Funbgs2]

As a boat mechanic with 13 years of experience. Everything in this video is correct. I will add to the Volvo OSI package. They incredible when they first came out. Only issue you really will have with these drive and transom package is the bellows start to fail in half the life span of a normal bellows. And the transom will crack very easily. Parts are very much still available. And the internals of the volvo drive are exactly the same as the other drives.

[@canaidianz]

Owned many of boats in Canada, I absolutely swear by Bayliner/maxim used boats. 👊 Parts are always available, Basic controls, their like the Chevy of the sea. As far as pleasure crafts go. Rock solid! What i would absolutely avoid buying used, is anything sea doo. Yes they are cheap, but absolutely designed cheap. Completely disposable. Guaranteed, I have towed more seado boats off the water then any other boats combined.. huge tip, pay attention to the trailer, never maximize the weight in a single axle trailer. If you can, try to avoid them all together .. get a dual axle.

[@claudehopper9813]

I bought a used boat from an airline pilot the maintenance had always been done promptly & properly . It was an older boat and been used regularly . Everything worked and the boat gave us years of problem free fun . Point being : It good to know who previously owned the boat and the type of boater .

[@fuelflownormal]

Must have been a good union guy. Scab would have sold you a rust bucket.

[@claudehopper9813]

@@fuelflownormal We were very knowledgable sailors & boat owners . We would have recognized a scab , we knew what we were buying . My advise was solid and only meant to be helpful to novis boaters .

[@fuelflownormal]

@@claudehopper9813 Your videos are superb. Don’t think anybody would have snuck anything by you. 🇺🇸🇨🇦

[@Roger-gm9tl]

Forgot one of the most useful tips "NEVER" buy a boat from the Miami area especially if they go routinely through the Haulover Canal, those boats have to be falling apart all over the place, seen & unseen from all that macho pounding !

[@jml7916]

I buy OMC Cobras on purpose but I know them and how to get the shift issues adjusted and adjust the ESA and how to swap them out for an Alpha 1 or rebuild them. I also save thousands on the boat over comparable Merc drives, usually enough to swap the leg if needed (doing it myself). A great option if you are willing to learn and wrench on the boat yourself. Parts aren't that hard to find and they can be great and reliable drives if cared for properly. OMC stringers should be free or they should pay you to tow it away. The only option is a complete re-engine or convert to outboard. Don't buy an underpowered boat. To much power may cost a bit more in fuel but underpowered will drive you mad and make life difficult. I had a 23' cruiser with a 4.3 190hp merc and it was a dog, slow and difficult to plane with 3 adults on board. The same boat with the slightly larger 5.0 and 260hp was a joy and easy to drive due to the extra low end torque. Much quitter too from the lower gear ratio in the leg.

[@techman1239]

I have to agree. OMC Cobra's work great when they are adjusted correctly. My boat has two, driven by 5.7's.

[@Chris-hx3om]

"I had a 23' cruiser with a 4.3 190hp merc and it was a dog," I've put that same engine in the same size boat (23 foot Caribbean Crusader), and the owner was over the moon. It replaced a 5 litre, and was an honest 6 knots quicker with the V6. I suspect the main reason people accuse various engine/boat combinations of being 'dogs' is more about the engine not being propped correctly then being under-powered.

[@jml7916]

@@Chris-hx3om The Crusader is not the same as a Bayliner 2355 Ciera. I was under propped by at least an inch, if not 2 just to improve acceleration and switched to a 4 bladed prop. I was easily able to hit engine redline on plane at about 3/4 throttle. I didn’t care about top speed one bit. 25 mph was my goal. There are many version of the 4.3, I had the anemic 2 barrel carb version that gasped for air.

[@Chris-hx3om]

@@jml7916 "The Crusader is not the same as a Bayliner 2355 Ciera." Quite right, the Crusader is much heavier. But I do agree that the 2 barrel variant is a bit breathless. Swap out a 4 barrel onto it and you have a completely different beast.

[@jml7916]

@@Chris-hx3om I sold it when I moved away from the west coast. I’m now on smaller lakes and bought an OMC powered 5.0 Bayliner 19 with a cuddy. It was a steal and a great boat for life with the kids. Pulls toys no problem, on board potty, big enough for longer days for 4, much easier to trailer and launch. I also have a ‘76 19’ that came free with a trailer I bought that I am converting into a fishing boat. It has an old Chevy straight 6 and on old Merc leg. Lotsa fun there.

[@n-da-bunka2650]

I bought a "boat that sat" for about 50% of retail. It had a small issue with it's fuel tank where older fuel had congealed. Had to pull and replace the tank but that was only about a $3K cost at the time. It had a lot of "chaulk" on the fiberglass that was easy enough to buff out. Sold it after 5 years for the same price I had bought it for. It only had 20 hours and was 4 years old when I bought it. It had 145 hours when I sold it

[@MitchJohnson0110]

key word is that it was only 4 years old . I'm pretty sure he's talking about a 15 year old boat with only like 20 hours. thats a red flag

[@poppys3728]

Should probably also avoid boats that sank and then caught on fire.

[@XB10001]

Or caught fire and they were sunk to put it out.

[@purpskurp8737]

SO glad there is a channel on youtube giving good advice to boaters.

[@boatinglessons]

Such a kind thing to say, thank you!!

[@Random-rt5ec]

The best boat I ever enjoyed was my closest friend's boat. I bought the beer & paid for all the gas, even helped him launch & take it out at the start & end of summer.

[@famousbowl9926]

I mean yeah don't be a freeloader lol

[@waveman8923]

You wanna ride then ya gotta supply the necessary stuff gas!

[@kojack635]

Cheapest way to do it while so not freeloading

[@waveman8923]

Your a good friend.

[@fredbresnahan4376]

i always bring food all kinds of drinks, ice, tunes and offer to wash down the boat, most wont let u pay for gas and dont trust people to wash down there baby, i'm the same with mine but amazing how some people dont do anything..and unless they look good in a bikini are not invited back.

[@crank1422]

Don’t be afraid of high hour ski boats. I’ve taken well maintained 5.7 liter and 4.3 liter motors out to 2000 hours before considering repowering. If they have maintenance records, a 900 hour engine could literally be mid life. Like he said, a low hour engine worries me more than high hours.

[@billyhill2488]

Ahh the infamous low hour garage queen. Looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor too. And chances are high that it's had sour gas run through it more than not. I've helped a buddy of mine work the kinks out of one of those and it was not fun. I've made my fair share of mistakes too and finally bought something I could afford brand new to maintain my way from the beginning. She's been my darling for 6 years now and never sits more than a week between uses even in winter.

[@boatinglessons]

Good for you Billy! I like that title “Garage Queen” - gold! 🤣

[@SigTacOps19]

Bought a 22 year old Baja 272, been great so far. I did do a very thorough check on everything I could.

[@boatinglessons]

Glad to hear all is well! Is it a single or twins?

[@SigTacOps19]

@@boatinglessons single MPI 502 mercruiser.

[@tedschmitt178]

A boat that sits will also likely have rotted floors because the owner left it stored outside with no cover.

[@fordtechchris]

I bought the worst power plant, the old OMC stringer and it had rotten stringers, transom and egging mounts. But I rebuilt it and we're in it less than 5k. Been running it for 6 years, no further issues.

[@lorismith9102]

Owner May Cry- I had one too and did cry

[@fordtechchris]

@@lorismith9102 ha ha, I've never heard that, good one

[@owena9855]

Great info! I personally love the omc outboards due to ease of maintenance and availability of complete parts motors for Pennies on the dollar. Definetely not for first time buyer though. To add to your video I would say if going for older boat try to find aluminum hull as they are much more robust long term. Also I would stay away from older bass boats as most have been run hard and put away wet. I would also stay away from early efi 2 strokes as they seem to be more problematic than older carb engines. I would do a compression test on all 2 strokes. Last of all smaller and newer boats will usually be cheaper to maintain

[@boatinglessons]

All valid points, thank you for sharing your knowledge Owen!

[@marcharris4176]

Compression test isn't enough. Bore scope all cylinders. A scored cylinder can still show good compression

[@xtr3m3fLx]

@@marcharris4176 This!

[@michaelomode630]

hold on...he is saying to avoid anything OMC and You say its your preference. The more I know the more I confuse.

[@zepplinfan9000]

I’ve got a 1997 quantum with a 120 mercury force on the back, and at first I was super paranoid and saved up to repower... heck it’s been the most reliable motor I’ve owned so far! Better than my evanrude and Suzuki

[@mriphone1000]

If the hull gives when you push on it from the ground. Do not buy the boat. Oil canning is a symptom of structural damage and/or lack of sound design, which will continuously bend the metal from pounding waves, making it weak and leading to mayor leaking. My advice is from experience is get all the information you possibly can before buying a used boat. Read reviews or forums, Test, and inspect everything before considering a purchase.

[@boatinglessons]

Sounds words of wisdom!

[@johntodd1086]

As far as OMC goes, you failed to mention that BRP bought them. I can't vouch for the reliability of their I/O's, but there is nothing wrong with Johnson or Evinrude outboards, except for the early Ficht models, but even those problems were resolved. Most if not all OEM parts are readily available, and there are thousands and thousands still powering boats reliably.

[@boatinglessons]

Yes, I should have made that clear that I was referring to the stern drives.

[@danmanr]

I have a 1992 Four Winn's with a 4.3 OMC Cobra I/O. It runs great and shifts great. It is the last year this engine was available and I believe the main reason I don't have issues is because OMC fixed their shift cable issues that year but didn't survive the reputation the old cable created for them. I have it professionally maintained and I treat it like someone might treat their classic car, I don't abuse it. So far aftermarket parts have fixed a couple small electrical issues i have had.

[@Spirited_Driver]

Nice Clip, I like the note about low hours! People are so blind to that fact that super low hours might NOT always be "turn key!!

[@mustang8619]

Volvo Penta XS is the same as OMC Cobra. Volvo bought the rights from OMC and parts are available for the cobras

[@stevemicahel8733]

Thank you so much I think that you just may have save me a $65K mistake. I put in an offer on a 34 foot 2007 vintage Express Cruiser. it looked to be very well cared for but I thought that I would check out some videos that may be helpful in the process especially things to have the surveyor and mechanic focus on. In asking the broker it turns out the boat has the notorious Volvo XDP out drives. I ran for the hills. You're a life saver.

[@Chris-hx3om]

That's the first time I've ever heard of the XDP drive. They didn't make it to Australia, and now I can see why.

[@RaleighRich]

The best first boat to buy is one with the 3.0 Mercruiser I/O. Reliable, easy to maintain & get parts for.

[@ronbenfield6182]

Not much power if you’re pulling skiers.

[@RaleighRich]

@@ronbenfield6182 Granted, but it's your "1st boat" you're definitely not experienced enough to be pulling multiple "skiers". 🙄

[@mannyruiz9011]

I bought a Glastron Bowrider 2004 with a penta volvo engine 4 cylinder, and 223 hours, so far so good boat looks and drives good.

[@briansadler5502]

Penta & Glastron probably the best combo ever made !

[@mannyruiz9011]

@@briansadler5502 so far so good🙏🙏

[@boatinglessons]

We love it when everything goes well!!

[@xtr3m3fLx]

I call BS on the OMC cobra drives. Lots of parts availability, and easy to work on.

[@marctreglown2503]

Wow my 21 year old jet boat with low hours needed a little maintenance, but my son did the work on my 350 Chevy inboard. Did I mention it is a custom boat made for the first owner. The boat is worth way more than I have into it. Your points are very good. I think I got lucky huh?

[@boatinglessons]

Sounds like it Marc!

[@triasc8469]

I bought a 1987 boat that needed everything done…new floor, new upholstery, new lights, new paint, engine overhaul, trailer completely redone…when all said and done I have a new boat done how I like it and was worth the time and money to fix….awesome project and now I love my boat…would do it again…as long as you can do your own work…OMC Cobra engine…can find parts and not difficult…worst case swap out the engine…still way cheaper than a new boat

[@CaptainRon1913]

It's not the engine, it's the outdrive thats the problem.

[@TheGarywilliams]

I have scrapped so many stringer drive boats over the years I couldn't count . That big rubber boot on the back always made me think it's something a kid would have thought of . I did enjoy scrapping them though , Engines almost always ran or were salvageable ,drives you could not give away . Disassembly was a breeze too. Hook the motor and lift ! Stringers were always just soft enough that bolts pulled right out !

[@Chris-hx3om]

The difference between an OMC engineer and a 5 year old kid? The kid knows he can't design a propulsion system.

[@EnergyMonsterCrack]

@@Chris-hx3om😂

[@j.thomas7128]

So that 2023 Eliminator Daytona with 8hrs on twin Merc 860's and #6 drives sitting on the showroom floor is probably something to avoid... Good thing I saw this. Who knows how much fun we could've had. LoL. Just playing with ya... It's great that you are bringing boating education to a large audience.

[@boatinglessons]

You had me there for a second ;) Our pleasure!

[@j.thomas7128]

​@@boatinglessonsThe boats got a little angry. They all felt jilted and singled out... The Eliminator twin was very upset by the low hours comment. The 1978 Biesemeyer 460 BIGBLOCK jet boat got downright angry with the two-stroke comment. Luckily, we've settled them down. We got a can of liquid LEAD for Biesey and told him that he didn't sound like a weedwhacker, so he's good now. I'm not sure what to tell the STV with the high compression 2.5 Merc drag motor though. THAT ONE... that milled headed high compression pain in the backside wants new rings every 20 hours. The nerve of that thing. Sheesh!

[@boatinglessons]

@@j.thomas7128 Thanks for the good chuckle! 🤣

[@glenntremblay5406]

I had a friend in BC that bought a brand new Campion inboard with a 4.3. It jamshedpur very poorly in rough water and, much worse, the hull flexed so much that on rough water the pass through windshield for the open bow would actually jump underneath the drivers side glass. The factory attempted a warranty fix but it never was what it should be. If memory serves it was a 535 in the early 2000s. A list of these boats would be a handy guide for boat buyers as that's the kind of problem that only treats it's ugly head long after the purchase when it is far too late. I mean even if you test drive who does it on a stormy day?

[@Specialized1993]

Great advice regarding structure, Allot of these boats are 20 years old and get people in trouble...

[@libertarian1637]

Had an old boat that sunk a few times; had an old Mercury 50HP that always came back to life after it was re-floated. Boat was just a bad design with a really low transom that just loved taking water over it in bad weather. Agree with most of it, especially the “soft” components as some things just aren’t fixable. Owned a lot of boats over the years, all used. Had a 85HP Force and never had issues with it; though I think I was the exception as everyone else I knew with a Force had issues.

[@richmac918]

All good suggestions but in addition there is another one that I use personally and that is if it spent it's life in the ocean. Granted, with larger boats this is unavoidable, but with the smaller boats that I buy (under 25') I absolutely shy away from boats that have lived in salt water and look for lake boats. In my opinion salt water easily doubles the age of a boat. It's an extremely corrosive environment that effects everything from engines and hardware to anything electrical.

[@boatinglessons]

Yes - absolutely true!

[@Cowboy.underwater]

Depends on the situation, My buddy has a boat that gets used on fresh water as much as it does salt. Any time it comes back from salt use it gets scrubbed down and flushed, and we usually try to do a freshwater trip in between salt trips, just ro really rinse and flush it out. So far it has aged quite well.

[@basher5107]

So you spend twice the time on maintenance because of salt water use? Stick with a lake boat

[@Cowboy.underwater]

@@basher5107 but they don't have halibut, sturgeon, sharks, rays, and giant striper in lakes.

[@richmac918]

@@Cowboy.underwater LOL - that's true, lakes (at least the ones I've been in) don't have these game fish

[@beauknowz]

Having grown up in the Midwest, WI, IL, MN, and seasonal boating for over 50 years, we have found ski boats, Nautique, Master Craft, & Malibu have been the most reliable and safest for inland lake boating. Outboards on aluminum hulls for fishing, light recreational boating, or outboards on long term boat manufactures of fiberglass boats.

[@BellavistaPEI]

All great information to have! Very informative for someone new to boating!!

[@markgrano8137]

🤔 my 73 jet boat is not 2 stroke, maybe update this to say late 90s early 2k jet boats are unreliable. Mine is powered by a fuel injected 502. The real old ones are actually awesome and dependable.

[@boatinglessons]

Yes, someone else pointed that miss out also. Sorry for that

[@ronschwolsky1626]

Berkeley Jet?

[@freightshaker82]

I agree on the force engine I have a 1997 90hp on my baymaster and it’s hard finding someone to work on it.

[@nicksperry9936]

Get rid of the Force and have a Mercury on it instead.

[@danielstehura9657]

If your boat is kept in the ocean make sure it doesn’t have an out drive! And out drive perfectly fine for freshwater but when it sits in salt water you have so much corrosion and you have to put seals in it every 2 to 3 years otherwise your outdrive transmission will fail and you’re in for an expensive repair! If you use and keep a boat in the ocean it’s best to buy a boat with diesel engines number one or if it’s a small boat Buy a boat with outboard engines and be sure to flush them and get all the salt water out of them before you put the boat away for. Of time

[@matthewtully110]

Gonna have to disagree with one point. Johnson/evinrude/omc are some of the most historic, well known, plentiful, reliable engines you can buy. Parts will still be available for many, many years to come.

[@boatinglessons]

Matthew, for the outboards you are 100% correct. For the stern drives we have witnessed a reduction of available parts of about 50% in the last two years. The volumes are dropping too low for aftermarket suppliers to get the tooling going.

[@scottvickery2057]

But stay away from FICT or E Tech!

[@BARADAUSA69]

How much are low hours and high hours? 500h is considered a lot or not? First-time buyer.

[@CMDAVISs]

Mercury made force and we had one for 10 years never had a issue and it got used alot . Mabe we got lucky but I always herd they were bad but it was great for us.

[@markbarry9945]

Great video! For some reason, this made me think of my two favorite boat names: "Runaground Sue" and "Unsinkable II"

[@boatinglessons]

Lol 😂

[@triasc8469]

And….because of videos like this I was able to buy a 1987 Chris craft with a 350 v8 GM engine for peanuts…neee work but the engine runs well…nothing wrong with the omc cobras if they were well maintained…they’re strong engines

[@schmarrenheimer80]

Today I learned something about buying used boats. Thank you Len.

[@fritglassware9165]

I knew....I just knew in my heart my exact boat would be in this video 😅. OMC stringer Drive owner here. I love my boat. but please for your own sake. listen to this man.

[@michaelking42]

Great video, thank you. Reading the comments I am grateful you are spending time answering questions.

[@boatinglessons]

We appreciate your kind words Michael!

[@Malonesify]

looking to purchase a 1994 Four Winns Horizon 190 hp, 5.0 OMC engine, your video mentions staying away from OMC engines but a friend who owns a marina told me there is plenty of aftermarket parts for OMC, not sure what to do?

[@chadkarmann8067]

I am a factory certified technician of 25 years of experience here in the great State of Nebraska. LISTEN TO THIS MAN!!!!!!!!! Everything he says is absolute truth!!!!!! He did leave one thing out though. STAY FAR AWAY FROM ANY PLEASURE BOAT THAT HAS BEEN USED IN SALT OR BRACKISH WATERS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Pleasure boaters are extremely careless about maintenance. That is a sad fact but a fact just the same. EVERY salt water boat I have dealt with has been a huge bucket of fuck! Take this advice seriously! Have the shit checked out by a certified shop before you even speak of money or show interest.

[@jedpratte]

My dad had a 93 crownline 182 BR with the 4.3 and alpha 1. He kept it so crazy nice and maintained. Sold it few years back with 400 sometbing hours on it. New owners still using it and love it. So there is older deals to be had when ya find the boats who had owners who really cared.

[@boatinglessons]

That is 100% true. So many great boats that have been loved over the years!

[@jakemedley7423]

I personally steer clear of I/O boats because they add to complexity of the boat. I prefer traditional inboards or outboards. I/O boats have the accordions and extra hydraulics I also don’t like the giant hole in the transom. With true outboard you have the bracket that is bolted you get a small leak rtv can save you for a bit and with inboards you mainly just have to add packing to the out shaft and rudder thru hulls.

[@n40tom]

To me the main problem that comes with buying a boat that has sunk is water intrusion . Even if you changed everything all your electronics and powertrain engine Etc you may still have water in your stringers floor etc and no way for the moisture to get out or dry out , just rot out .

[@boatinglessons]

It is a real concern, you are right

[@davekana8388]

Years ago we had a Larson small 🚤 boat with a Force outboard that blew the stern drive while trying to get me out of the water on a tube. For the rest of the vacation we said, “you Force it and she will blow!”😝

[@nomadrenegade]

I've seen much negative on bayliner cuddy cabins on the web as well but I broke down and bought a 37 year old (1987) ciera 2150 for $800 ANYWAY, WITHOUT A SURVEY OR A MECHANICAL INSPECTION! I wish I would have seen this video first but hell, I'm already out there onerniting, fishing, got a bedroom in the rear, dinette/sleeper in the front, bathroom and a kitchenette all in 21 feet..............just took that chance.

[@tracycampbell4526]

I bought a 1993 Skeeter recently. The guy had put in new ply and carpet over the floor hiding lots of rot. I dug out all of the rotted wood, which was the consistency of potting soil. Replaced it with treated ground contact wood and used 2 layers of fiber reinforced cement board for the floor surface. The transom was solid, thank goodness. He swore the boat had never sunk, but the wood was water-soaked.

[@boatinglessons]

That is really unfortunate Tracy! It may not have sunk, but it definitely had plenty of moisture in the hull over the years obviously :(

[@tracycampbell4526]

@@boatinglessons Thanks for the reply. It took me about 2 months, but the boat's in the water, runs well and looks almost new. New carpet, new seats, new wiring, new dash panel, speedo, steering wheel, and wet sanded and buffed the snot out of it. I got it cheap, so can't complain too much.

[@quailshootr6389]

I own a 2000 Bayliner Trophy 18' with a Mercury 125 2 stroke o/b, runs like a champ.

[@GDTRUCKREPAIR1]

I just bought a 1991 starcraft. Bought it soleoly because it has a new motor. We bought it with intent of spending the winter stripping and painting it and re imagining the inside in my shop

[@lisamitchell1355]

I was given a Beismeyer jet boat that has been sitting for so long the gas turned into turpentine, I’ve redone the wood, carpet, new carb, it has the original Oldsmobile engine, the boat has 40 hours on it, but, I’m mechanical inclined, It depends on the person who has knowledge of repairing things back to its original state

[@DougsterCanada1]

Excellent video. Makes lots of sense! Thanks for posting this.

[@jeffreypinder9398]

OMC Stringer and Cobra drives are a nightmare. I worked part time on the Cobras and Force outboards. I owned a Stringer drive (given for free) for a very short time, never again.

[@RS-cd9cf]

Was just looking into a 2000 Yamaha jet boat and was willing to replace one of the motors knowing it was a project boat but after watching this video I will just look for a newer model and stay away from any two strokes !

[@boatinglessons]

I think that will save you hassles in the long run

[@ervingricnik2470]

@@boatinglessons I'd never buy a project boat. Especially as a first boat owner. I wanna enjoy it not work on it. But it's hard for a new boat owner to decide which boat is suitable. Any ideas which boats are great chioce for the first owners?

[@SeanHorsfall]

@@ervingricnik2470 that depends on where you are going to use it, what you want to use it for, how many people will be on board, and your budget

[@richardroldan7783]

I'm new to boating..I live on the oregon coast, so we have rivers for salmon, bays for crabs, ocean for multiple fish and crab..I need to know if a 19ft not would work and what aluminum boats are best. Center console outboard preferred..

[@JBAutomotive794]

The OMC Cobra drive isnt that bad. Many Volvo Penta parts will work in place of the older OMC exhaust parts and many of the parts are still available for the drive itself. I keep quite a few of them going in my area.

[@skyking6612]

1978 Glastron CVX-16 “James Bond Live & Let Die Boat” trailering it home was wondering why my vehicle was pushing and pulling down the highway. It was all the water in the hull sloshing! Cracked kiel, cracked block and soft floor everywhere and would jump out of gear under power. Have had this boat now 5 + years and I’ve learned a lot, esp. there are many fore lorn abused boats out there.

[@boatinglessons]

You are 💯 correct. That is a collector boat though. How is the project coming?

[@scharftalicous]

If a boat has low hours the other danger is that the boat doesn't properly fit it's purpose. Depending on the make of boat an example might be structurally fine but have no where to cast a rod or keep your drinks cool respectively.

[@BrawndoQC]

I sold my Robalo R200 because I didn't use it enough, but it was very well cared for with only 40 hours. There are exceptions, I had a guy take care of it every week.

[@jkutyna]

Why didn't you mention the keelbolts, especially when you have an iron keel? Blisters on the hull which is VERY common in certain brands of older boats and is VERY expensive to dry out and fix. Heck, any kind of evidence on the hull that indicates it has water in the coring would be a walk away type of deal, but I admit you did lightly touch on that. So many other issues you left out in here. Bad standing rigging, a rudder that shows a gap or wiggles on it's post, what about mold or cleanliness issues inside in the cabin which indicate a boat that hasn't been tended to or taken care of in some time? Heck, I would throw in any boat that has lewmar winches into that list for that matter because walmart does NOT belong on your sailing vessel. Not so concerned about some of these outboard brands you mentioned with their issues, as you don't find that sort of thing on a proper boat, and even if that were your cup of tea, that stuff is very cheaply repaired or replaced. At the end of the day, any used boat is going to have some issues. Heck, all NEW boats have some issues to some degree that need to be dealt with. That is the nature of production boats. There are just some things that are far more expensive and time consuming. Just about everything is repairable, but the worst would be boats that were sunk or those that grounded and the keel heaved up on the hull. Now you have to go in and repair the entire grid or matrix in the boat, if it even can be repaired, as well as the hull damage itself.

[@treyperry9722]

Also keep in mind maintenance can go up with prestige just like cars. That 15 yr old Malibu or mastercraft for 40k was a 6 figure boat brand new. Parts for it are gonna be pricier

[@boatinglessons]

Yes, as parts availability decreases, the price will rise

[@zandemen]

Some very good advice, I bought an OMC stringer and had to pull wrenches and search for used parts constantly. Sold it for a profit, lol.

[@aqualibrium3776]

You have given a good info on boat buying. Donno what to say after watching your whole video. I just bought a 2000 model seadoo challenger2000. Its a 2stroke engine as you know. Its my first family boat as of now, after selling my Yamaha XL700 jetski couple of years back. What are your thoughts on my purchase? What are the things that I should be careful about the boat going on further. Looking forward to hear your advice

[@Boatfisherz1]

Avoid OMC? I thought OCM made Evinrude & Johnson 2 strokes in the 90s which are very reliable. Why would you say OMC is bad (maybe just those 2 stern drive Cobra/Stringer models)? Totally agree on the Force engines.

[@rivirme]

Volvo duoprop; had one on a 20' Chapparal with Carb 5.7 250 Hp. Ran the heck out it. I sold boats and demoed a 24' side by side with Mercruiser. I told the customer, if you drive a VP, you won't buy a Mercruiser B3. Customer agreed.

[@propertymanager75]

I just took my 71 laveycraft out and the high-pressure oil lines exploded stuck in the middle of the lake and a big mess to clean.

[@bajamike9276]

In 2001 I bought a 1999 Baja H2X that only had 60 hours on it. A Steal! Practically brand new! The only reason was because the captain was having a baby with his wife and he had to get rid of the boat. Lucky me. It has been an awesome boat and now I have 1074 hrs on it. Low hours with a good reason is not a bad thing.

[@banshee8989]

Boats to watch out for : Any fiberglass boat over 10 years old. Chances are something is rotted and it needs a new interior which will far exceed the value of the boat. If your looking for a runabout on the cheap and your not sure what your looking at.... go aluminum. Its alot harder to hide problems on them, transoms can be changed out in a weekend, but, they aren't as nice.

[@boatinglessons]

I think your 10 year time frame is more true in certain areas and under certain conditions, than others. We have many 20-30 year old boats here with little to no rot

[@rebelsnappingturtle5097]

I maybe waited too long to sell my powerboat. I (tried to) contacted 3 places in the Kawarthas and received NO return calls. Guess business is good with them or there is not a good market for boats over 10 years old.

[@willsummers1245]

I ran a force engine for ten years it was a good engine

[@shanechostetler9997]

In the Fall of ‘22, the price of fuel has sure dampened the demand for boats now!

[@CanadianCharby]

I find your videos are honest and informative as I just purchased my first boat this past summer and look forward to your new releases. As I’m in the Thousand Islands, I may drop by your dealership some day.

[@boatinglessons]

We would love that! Thank you for the kind words…gives us fuel to keep going :) Would you have any content suggestions?

[@zachrich7359]

Good advice with this, I have been looking at acquiring a 1986 Bayliner Trophy 2159* and this has given me some things to look out for when I got see it. Thank you!

[@darrylmcleman6456]

My neighbour gave me an 18 1/2 ft hardtop fiberglass boat on trailer because I was newly retired and wanting something to do.With the help of "how to fiberglass" KZbin vids I put in new transom, stringers and floor.I installed 2 gently used motors and new trailer axel and wheels.I still need to paint but am able to fish as is. That boat had sat as yard art for 12 yrs. Sanding fiberglass not fun but do-able.

[@boatinglessons]

All of it is possible, just a ton of time and energy! Way to go for working through it :) I hope it works great and know you will Fort a lot of satisfaction when you get it out on the water :)

[@FabioPrato]

Nicely delivered, I have watched a few of your videos. Well done is being clear and direct.

[@boatinglessons]

We appreciate your kind words, thank you! 😊

[@madmanmechanic8847]

I do marine repair for a living have my own shop. This guy is spot on @ Avoid the OMC stringers you say Sringer around a Marine Tech and you are no going to get a very good response what water leaking pile of sh t Very good advice from this man , How ever I do love the OMC Cobras . I have a customers boat out here that has a 454 with a King Cobra on it and the Water pump kit is NLA . I lucked out and found a NOS for his boat . Its an old performance boat its been spanked pretty hard. Some dumb ass put a Holley 850 double pumper direct drive on it . Not progressive so both the primary and secondary open the same time. And there is no power to the elec choke it was drowning the poor engine in fuel.

[@jamesstuart3346]

Well done! I would add be careful of older sailboats with engines by Petter, Vire, Lehman, Westerbeke and such, as parts and service will be scarce

[@johnrayson6212]

was watching auction in Australia to repower my good working 75 Mariner 1986 with a more modern 75 Force thanks for the heads up

[@davemc162]

Exceptionally good guidance. Thank you! 🇱🇷

[@frederickwhite6416]

Outstanding. Boats and planes both a joy and money pits. I was paid to fly ac and take boats out just to keep them fresh. The old use it or lose it is so very true. Here on the Chessy we get a lot of boats from down south. You're absolutely right, many have taken the plunge only to be revived and sent North. I've passed this on to numerous friends who actually believed what the salesperson told them only to discover the truth later. It's always rewarding to be able to say, "I told you so." Backed up by a professional is always gratifying.

[@autoshotty]

Glad the Mercruiser 470 series was not mentioned. most marine techs will tell you to avoid them. Yes, they have a few quirky items which should be monitored. Once understood they are a gem of a large 3.7 liter 4 cylinder I/O powerplant.

[@Chris-hx3om]

Great idea, but very poorly implemented. An outboard style charging system, in the bilge? What WERE they thinking? 🤦‍♂

[@autoshotty]

@@Chris-hx3om With $500 for a failed voltage regulator most changeover to a standard charging system.

[@Chris-hx3om]

@@autoshotty I know, I've done quite a few of the conversions...

[@Dailyfiver]

I just got two jet boats and two trailers for $1000 this summer to see if I can fix one of them up to be my first boat. Worst case scenario I sell it all. The trailers alone are like $1000

[@warrengraham5419]

Others to avoid. 2007 (specifically) evinrude Etec outboards, especially ones with a high ratio of idle speed hours. these engines have a very complex fuel injector that was only made for this specific year model so replacing them because of carbon buildup from low hour usage is insanely exensive if not impossible. Part availability is like a couple in the entire country every couple of months. And parts for it in general are drying up since evinrude went out of business in 2021.

[@boatinglessons]

True, we are cautious of those as well

[@dansmock656]

I would clarified that the exception to the rule towards staying away from older boats with low hours, that unless they are truly stored and kept in climate control “indoor” environment (including during the summer) - theses would be the rare exceptions and the types of boats (if you can find) to look for - !! reiterating that boats truly being taken care of in this manner are not the same as boats that have sat for long periods of time (years)!in shrink wrap, or sitting outside or in an outside building (non-environmentally controlled building) are the types of conditions to possibly shy away from - just a suggestion

[@michaelking42]

I just looked at a jet boat today. Only 7 years old but looked like it was 20 based on the weathering it had been subjected to. Seemed solid floors, but I wouldn't know what to look for. Excellent comment Dan, thanks for sharing.

[@dansmock656]

@@michaelking42 yes - Unfortunately that’s the majority of the boats that are out there - it always amazes me as to how poorly people treat their water crafts - but there are a few of us that truly take pride in taking care of our water crafts - Seven years is not all that old and most likely structurally it’s still in good shape it just looks poor - if it’s one of the namebrand jet boats Sea-Doo Yamaha etc. - they make pretty good products - Unless you walk around and find a soft spongy spot in the floor - otherwise it might be just fine -

[@jesuslua5070]

I sold my boat after 7 years and I only put 88 hours gas prices plus hotels plus food I was dumping about a 1000 dollars every time I would go out now I just rent it and I don’t have to worry about a spot in my garage

[@MrHellested]

I have a 2004 Polaris ex2100. It has a Mercury 3.0 direct injected 2 stroke with a Mercury jet drive. Parts for the boat are impossible to find but at least the drivetrain is Mercury. I can still keep it running lol.

[@boatinglessons]

That sounds about right! Most boat companies aren’t that great at keeping parts available. Just not enough volume for them to bother

[@dwreed63]

This video just kicked me right in the teeth. I'm 95% done restoring a Four Winns Fling.... OMC TURBOJET... I sure wish I had seen this video a year ago!!! Oh well, I guess I'll keep my fingers crossed for the next few years lol🤕 Very good video, great information

[@boatinglessons]

Luckily with the market the way it is today, you might be able to flip it. If not, enjoy your hard work and have fun out there. I hope it all goes well!!

[@acemannw]

When I bought a used boat a few years ago I looked at 14 boats before I found one that I wanted to buy.

[@rondye9398]

Bad information regarding "jet boats"! Yes the smaller jet ski/ snow mobile 2 cycle powered jet boats of 20 years old would be problematic. Older yet jet boats used very reliable automobile engines and Berkeley or Dominator jet pumps that are fully supported in the aftermarket. Lumping 'jet boats' all together is a mistake, as they are some of the most efficient and safe of propulsion systems.

[@boatinglessons]

I never thought about that segment of the market because in our area the jet boats you are talking about are so rare. You are right, those are totally different. They are still less efficient than a prop, but only minimally so.