Considering buying a 2004 Sportster - diagnosing problem first

[trip]

I test drove a 4-tec Sportster (155 hp) yesterday and it had some cavitation and top end issues. It wasn't efficient getting planed off, and it topped out at 40-43 mph via GPS.

I eyeballed the impeller and wear ring and it had some small chips and what looks like warping on one blade. The wear ring has some mild scoring but nothing deep. I've never owned a jet boat so I have no idea how much damage an impeller can take before causing a performance hit. My question is does this photo show enough damage to explain the sub-par performance?

Is rust expected on the shaft? The was quite a bit, but I don't see how rust here can be avoided in saltwater use.

The seller acknowledged the existence of the problem and intends to have a mechanic take a look. What should I require the mechanic to check other than what was described above?

This is a 2004 with 50 hours.

 

[crisso]

I have been around salt water all my boating life.That shaft has a shitload of corrosion on it.Skis don't have sacfrificial anodes on them,and outboards do.That shaft looks like it is off a 30 year old outboard(in terms of corrosion).I would look a LOT further into the maintainence of the ski.My ski is early 99 and the shaft is still silver in color.
The impellars don't warp.They get damaged.Get some idea of prices from the guys here and hit the guy with a different offer.I can't help in that respect 'cause I am in Oz.
By the looks of it.Yes.It would have an effect on perfomance

 

[diggin4aliving]

That shaft definetly looks rough. Maybe you should be the one deciding which mechanic shop looks at it and be the person who gets the report on what it may need before an offer is made. I just bought a 2004 (not salt water but i would have been very hesitant if I looked at it and it looked like that on first glance. Keep us posted.

 

[crisso]

:agree:What Diggin said.Don't let his guy look at it.The owner could flick him a quick 100 to underquote 600

 

[trip]

Thanks! Do you guys do anything to maintain and protect the shaft beyond flushing it after use? I'm wondering what it takes to cause this amount of corrosion and what it likely means for the parts I cannot see.

 

[crisso]

That boat has been left on saltwater over a period of time.electrolysis is what does the damage.
Bolt 2 metals together, and put some current through them.Drop them in salt water.the one with the least resistence to corrosion will get eaten away.With those 2 bits.Bolt a lump of zinc to them.The zinc will corrode away.Outboards have them bolted all over them,They are called,sacrificial anodes.Any and every boat that is left or used in salt water,should have them.If you protect one part,another will corrode.Anodes are cheap and they work

 

[Seadoobuddy]

Wonder what he decided?
He probably didn't buy it, otherwise he would be asking more questions.

 

[trip]

Nope, I did not buy it. Still looking.

 

[Seadoobuddy]

What did the seller want for it?