Quote:
Originally Posted by LoveBeingAMommy
TheBucks:
Thanks once again. I went with my parents to look at the O/B...it was a nice size, had a wide beam, immaculate condition. The guy tried to start it and it wouldn't turn over for 3 or 4 tries. He then said he needed gas. He went and bought some. It did turn over, he let it run, but it sounded really rough and was blowing white smoke while running. What the?! Is that normal?? I was telling my mom to walk away, and he said it just needed an oil change and tune up. Of course, if my parents really wanted this, they would bring in a marine mechanic. But should they even bother to waste the $300 if this is how the motor sounds already?
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Well - maybe it means something - maybe it means nothing. Smoke from an OB is not abnormal - and could indicate that there's too much oil mixed with the gas (if it's not oil injected), a problem with the oil injection system, or has a fouled spark plug, etc. The other poster's comments are right on the mark - a compression test is a must when buying an OB. My first boat had a 20 year old OB which I used for another 5 years without issue - age has less to do with the desirability of an old OB than the level of service it received during its service. It's hard for me to imagine that someone would keep a boat in "immaculate" condition as you state - would, at the same time, neglect the boats power.
I'm going to give you a VERY valuable piece of advice - which I apologize for omitting to give you previously (middle age is affecting my memory). Never - under ANY circumstances - buy a boat from a seller that either CAN'T or WON'T put the boat in the water for a sea trial prior to purchase. There is NO exception to this rule - irrespective of how great the boat is - how great a price is - or how nice the seller is. NO exceptions! Remember this and you will go a LONG way toward steering clear of bad experiences. Trust me on this one
On a more personal level, I would never entertain buying a boat from someone who refers to the galley as the "kitchen", a bunk or berth as a "bedroom", a head as a "bathroom/toilet", or lines as "ropes". Listen to the seller as they talk. You want to size them up and determine if you are buying the boat from a weekend boating neophyte or a reasonably seasoned boater. Of course, you prefer the latter.
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