To Buy or Not to Buy

[SWM]

I am looking at a 2001 Challenger 2000, the boat is just like brand new with very low hours.. I was pretty exited about getting this boat untill reading all of the posts about starting problems with the 240EFI. Is the motor really that unreliable or am I just reading about problems instead of good things. I really would like to buy this thing but kind of scared now.

I was told that if you had a 240 EFI that idled right over 1000RPMs in the water not to buy it PERIOD. They had a bad run of 240s early on and there was no fix for the low idle/not enough power to run the system issue.

Ok so I took the Challenger to the water today and it idled in the water right at 1000RPM's... Does this mean this boat is OK.. I also took it to my local dealer and it has had the fuel filter and voltage regulator campaings done. Also there were no other campaings that the boat needed done. I tried to pull the hours off the PCM but dealer said 2002 model was first year with the option to check hours (Motorola PCM).. I know the person selling the boat and he has never had a minutes trouble from it and when I took it to the water and ran it with multiple starts if performend flawlessly.. Going to take it to the lake in the mourning if there is anything else I should test please let me know. I wouldn't be so concerned about this boat but it is truly in new condition as well as the trailor.. It looks like it has never left the garage.. Please help me make a decison on this 240EFI, because the rest of the boat is perfect...

Thanks

 

[Craigmri]

SWM,

I used to own the identical boat your considering. Mercury makes a good product so dont think its gonna be a pile of do-do. You mention you took it to a dealer to have it checked. Was this a Seadoo dealer or a Mercury dealer? I recommend before purchasing boat make certain you have a reputable MERCURY shop lined up. Seadoo dealers are not Mercury experts. If a Mercury specialist says the engine is in tip top shape your probably going to be OK. Did they compression test it??

There were a couple of things I didnt like about the one I had.
1) mine was a smoke maker. When idling specifically I would leave a trail of smoke and the wife and kids hated the smell. I suspect I had something wrong with the auto oil system(Too much??)

2) Low speed manueverablity was not the greatest. They have a system on that boat when you turn the wheel to either lock it gooses the rpms some to help around docks but I never really liked it. Also idling down a canal I could never keep the boat straight as it used to wander untill you had a little more rpms.

3) On the loud side. I thought that at cruising RPMS on plane the Mercury was a little loud.

4) When on plane and cruising I felt the boat was difficult to steer in one direction(but easy in the other). I think this was normal for that boat but I still didnt like that.

Otherwise this boat got me hooked on Jetboating. I loved the performance of the thing when on plane. The feature-set of that boat was great and the size perfect for a family.

Seadoo really enhanced things I believe when they moved from Mercury and went with their own Rotax engines. Until now I always thought the twin engine deal was a negative(twice the maintenance, twice the chance of problems) but now I'm a believer. The slow speed and on plane performance is stunning. The 4-tec engines are alot quieter, no smoke and unbelieveably fuel efficient. For example, I went out the past two Sundays and did alot of running around and some wakeboarding. Both weekends combined I burned a total of 12 gallons. Impressive.

On my twin Rotax Utopia even in "nuetral" I can spin the boat either direction on its own axis. Its slow speed maneuverability is incredible to say the least. Very responsive!

Without knowing what the selling price is on this boat all I can say is if your really comfortable with the condition and performance on the water and the price is right you will love the boat. If your talking greater than $10,000 I would look for a newer 4-tec boat.

Craig

 

[SWM]

SWM,

I used to own the identical boat your considering. Mercury makes a good product so dont think its gonna be a pile of do-do. You mention you took it to a dealer to have it checked. Was this a Seadoo dealer or a Mercury dealer? I recommend before purchasing boat make certain you have a reputable MERCURY shop lined up. Seadoo dealers are not Mercury experts. If a Mercury specialist says the engine is in tip top shape your probably going to be OK. Did they compression test it??

There were a couple of things I didnt like about the one I had.
1) mine was a smoke maker. When idling specifically I would leave a trail of smoke and the wife and kids hated the smell. I suspect I had something wrong with the auto oil system(Too much??)

2) Low speed manueverablity was not the greatest. They have a system on that boat when you turn the wheel to either lock it gooses the rpms some to help around docks but I never really liked it. Also idling down a canal I could never keep the boat straight as it used to wander untill you had a little more rpms.

3) On the loud side. I thought that at cruising RPMS on plane the Mercury was a little loud.

4) When on plane and cruising I felt the boat was difficult to steer in one direction(but easy in the other). I think this was normal for that boat but I still didnt like that.

Otherwise this boat got me hooked on Jetboating. I loved the performance of the thing when on plane. The feature-set of that boat was great and the size perfect for a family.

Seadoo really enhanced things I believe when they moved from Mercury and went with their own Rotax engines. Until now I always thought the twin engine deal was a negative(twice the maintenance, twice the chance of problems) but now I'm a believer. The slow speed and on plane performance is stunning. The 4-tec engines are alot quieter, no smoke and unbelieveably fuel efficient. For example, I went out the past two Sundays and did alot of running around and some wakeboarding. Both weekends combined I burned a total of 12 gallons. Impressive.

On my twin Rotax Utopia even in "nuetral" I can spin the boat either direction on its own axis. Its slow speed maneuverability is incredible to say the least. Very responsive!

Without knowing what the selling price is on this boat all I can say is if your really comfortable with the condition and performance on the water and the price is right you will love the boat. If your talking greater than $10,000 I would look for a newer 4-tec boat.

Craig

craig

Thanks for taking the time to address my post.. The price of the boat is 8500, which is more than fair for this boat. The dealer I took it to was a mercury dealer and a good friend as well. I have used a couple Utopias for days with the Optimax and been very impressed but this isn't a Opti. I was just concerned about the charging issues and the quiting issues associated with this motor, I just don't want to be stranded. I wish I could afford a new one with the 4 Strokes but just out of reach.

Shawn

 

[Craigmri]

$8500 sounds good for the condition you described. Sounds like you know someone in the industry too which is awesome! What were your impressions when you had the boat on the water.

Craig

 

[SWM]

Im getting ready to leave the house now, the river is too high so I have to take it to the lake.. I love the way they handle and the shallow draft is awesome. I'm just concerned about this 240EFI. I didn't charge the battery last night trying to make the worst conditions for the electronics to see if it will fail. Also taking volt meter to check charging while at idle.. I thinks it will work out will post results when I get home..

Thanks

 

[SWM]

Seems Fine

I took the boat and rode it for about two hours. The boat started and ran fine in the no wake zones and at full throttle. I noticed that the boat idled about 900 RPMs when cold and not "cleaned out", and when warm it idled at about 1100 RPMs. I tested the charging at both 900 and 1100 and it was 14.44 volts which is good. I when coming out of a no wake zone the boat does smoke some, and on the initial throttle up there is the standard cloud of smoke left on the lake. After the engine is warm it starts and runs clean. I think this boat will do fine.

Shawn

 

[rexsteiner]

congradulations on selling yourself a new boat!!!:driving:

 

[seadoosnipe]

Sensors....

There are a couple sensors used in enriching and leaning the motor. The engine temp sensor and the air temp sensor have direct relation to each other and can cause this small amount of smoking. If there is no change when the engine comes up to temperature, then it could be a bit more.

I wouldn't worry about it right away, just see how it shakes out in further test drives............congrats on the new purchase!:cheers:

 

[Craigmri]

We want pics!!!!

Craig

 

[SWM]

There are a couple sensors used in enriching and leaning the motor. The engine temp sensor and the air temp sensor have direct relation to each other and can cause this small amount of smoking. If there is no change when the engine comes up to temperature, then it could be a bit more.

I wouldn't worry about it right away, just see how it shakes out in further test drives............congrats on the new purchase!:cheers:

When the boat is up to operating temp I didn't have any problem with smoke just when I came out of no wake zone after long idle.. Even at that just a puff then good to go

 

[SWM]

We want pics!!!!

Craig

Will post pics soon...