To buy project boat or not - 97 speedster

[Swampwrench]

Hello all this is my first post! Either late today or tomorrow I'll be looking at a '97 speedster. The hull and interior are in great shape (interior redone last summer). The owner says that he left the boat in the water at his lake house for 4 days untended and came back to find that the bilge pump had failed and the back end of the boat was underwater. Supposedly the engines still turn and he thinks it needs a ring set and would run OK. I'm skeptical and going into this assuming that both engines will require a complete rebuild. My question to you fine folks is twofold - 1) What do you think the boat is worth assuming the interior is in excellent shape? He's asking 2000 OBO. 2) Assuming both engines require rebuild, where would you start examining their current state and what are some other potential problem areas I should look for? I guess that's actually 3 questions... Thanks!

 

[timmyboy76]

perfect...

considering, my boats, are from the "dead", i'd jump all over that deal, except, needs to negotiate the price, some..not much, but some.
With nuth'n to lose, but new engines, i'd pull plugs, install/charge battery, go thru ebtire electrical box/s, and dry them out, replace any of the corroded wires,cables, and connectors that you see, might be questionable, then when thats done, install landyard, with plugs out, and crank til nuth'n left in motors (water).
When you feel thats all, then remove the carbs, and go clean/rebuild them, install them, and IF motors were able to turn, them with now, clean/rebuilt carbs on, pour cup of gas in plug holes, until she fires up...
If they need rebuild'n, i'd look into this company...http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Sea-...30324842924QQptZPersonalQ5fWatercraftQ5fParts

 

[sporsterjoel]

Hello all this is my first post! Either late today or tomorrow I'll be looking at a '97 speedster. The hull and interior are in great shape (interior redone last summer). The owner says that he left the boat in the water at his lake house for 4 days untended and came back to find that the bilge pump had failed and the back end of the boat was underwater. Supposedly the engines still turn and he thinks it needs a ring set and would run OK. I'm skeptical and going into this assuming that both engines will require a complete rebuild. My question to you fine folks is twofold - 1) What do you think the boat is worth assuming the interior is in excellent shape? He's asking 2000 OBO. 2) Assuming both engines require rebuild, where would you start examining their current state and what are some other potential problem areas I should look for? I guess that's actually 3 questions... Thanks!

id look at how much new motors are and what a running boat is selling for in your area but the doest sound like to bad of a price. If you do buy it can you post some pics of the engine bay with the motors out.

 

[Swampwrench]

Thanks for the advice guys - I'm going to look at the boat tomorrow afternoon, I think. After futher discussions with the seller, he told me that one of the engines is removed and on a workbench, so I guess I'll get a chance to closely examine it. I'll try to take some pics and post tomorrow night. I figured if the rest of the boat looks great then I'll offer 1500ish and see if he bites. Hope springs eternal...

 

[Swampwrench]

Post inspection

Just got back from looking at the boat. The cushions are new, the hull and rest of the interior need to be cleaned but are otherwise fine. I took a look at the engine that was pulled - It is currently disassembled. The piston sleeves show very light rust and the pistons look good. The piston rings show some pitting and would need to be replaced. 4 OEM rings would cost nearly as much as a top end rebuild kit... what to do. The other engine is still in the boat and likely still has water in it(since last october). I'm assuming this engine is a total loss. I'll call the owner in a little while and make a low offer. It's looking like mid-to-late June before I'd be able to get the boat out on the water, but the price might be right... Y'all keep your fingers crossed for me.

 

[Swampwrench]

I got it - time to go to work...

After about 12 hours of phone-haggling, I've agreed to buy the boat! I'm excited and a little scared of the job ahead. I'm wondering if I should chance putting the passenger-side motor back together after honing the cylinders (light rust evident only - no gouging) and putting a new ring set on the pistons. The drivers' side motor probably still has water in it, so I'm assuming it's a total loss and will need a total rebuild. I'll be picking the boat up on Thursday. I was going to go ahead and order the ring kit, but thought maybe I should wait and measure the pistons to make sure that I don't order the wrong size rings. I don't think it's been bored over yet but better safe than sorry! I think it would be safe to go ahead and order the carb rebuild kits...

 

[timmyboy76]

rite on, wrench...dude, worst can happen to motor in boat now, is rebuild it,..so, get it cranked over and get the water out, then get it fired up. Do compression, if above 100psi and not 10% difference between the two barrels, than, leave it alone and work on other motor.
For the carbs, just go thru entire fuel system, get the old gas out, take carbs off, CAREFULLY, and take apart, VERY CAREFULLY. Have few cans of carb cleaner, and go at it. Put back together when good, and see what happens with motors/boat...:cheers:

 

[Swampwrench]

Thanks for the encouragement! What carbs are on the engines and who do you recommend I buy the rebuild kits from?

 

[Swampwrench]

Here she is!

Just brought the boat home - plenty of work to be done, but I figure it's worth the 1300 I paid... pics of the one engine out of the boat and various other views including the cylinders(you can see the rust) and the pistons and one of the piston rings that I tried to get a close up of...

 

[Swampwrench]

having issues uploading photos - pto piston from removed engine

 

[Swampwrench]

now im getting it...

 

[Swampwrench]

cylinder walls for one of the jugs

 

[Swampwrench]

seats were redone last year...

 

[Swampwrench]

starboard engine still in boat

 

[Swampwrench]

empty engine bay

 

[timmyboy76]

pics...

Swamp....ur crak'n me up, with all the new post w/ pics. You can load them on, one post/thread...lol

CONGRATS, stud...boy looks, how my daughter looked, when brought my boat home.:cheers:

 

[Swampwrench]

rear view - looks like the small hatch cover came off and I don't have one - anyone know where I can get a replacement? Does seadoo still sell them?

 

[Swampwrench]

I'm showing my rookieness... it wouldn't let me load more than 1 photo... maybe file size is too big? Just trying to up my post count!:cheers:

 

[timmyboy76]

I'm showing my rookieness... it wouldn't let me load more than 1 photo... maybe file size is too big? Just trying to up my post count!:cheers:

lol...yeah, really..at this rate, you'll be labeled "Forum Administrator"...:rofl:..:cheers: