2001 Challenger with twin Rotax engines?

[Canadian Watchmaker]

Hello,

I am negotiating to buy a 2001 Challenger 1800. The owner is over 300 kilometres away, so I am asking a lot of questions before making the drive. He says the boat is driven by twin 160 hp Rotax engines - rebuilt 20 and 30 hours respectively. All my research shows that a 2001 Challenger should have Mercury M2 engines. Am I missing something, or should I back away slowly from this long drive to nowhere?

All help and advice much appreciated.

 

[jhjesse]

Check the vin number on the back of the boat. Last two digits will tell you the year model. No such thing as a 2001 twin engine Challenger 1800.
If it indeed has twin rotax engines the will be 110hp each displacement will be 787, not 160hp. Most probably a 97, 98 or 99 year model.
Boats with 160hp total hp would be earlier years and different models with the twin 657 or twin 717 engines.
Get the owner to let you perform a compression check. If no, walk away.
Check the engine name plate on each engine and look for the letters SBT. If it has those letters I (only speaking for myself) would walk away.
With good compression everything else can be worked out.

Final note: MPEM’s (brain) are expensive and hard to find.

 

[Canadian Watchmaker]

Thank you. I did ask the owner to send a photo of the HIN, Turns out it's a 2000 year model built in May 1999. Not sure about the engines but will ask about the SBT letters. And will ask about a compression check. Thanks again.