New member, new boat, 1 question

[waybomb]

Welcome aboard and tread carefully with this one.
Fwiw, we bought the 3697 for 2,500 knowing we'd be putting allot of sweat equity into into it. Just money spent was about 20,000 more. Survey insisted a value after we modernized everything we could was 45,000. Since then I added radar, a couple radios, and just recently a new fridge. We are happy with what we have, because it was worth it.
Putting 16,000 into a 1992 vessel might be good deal. But again, tread carefully. I'd be all over that boat checking everything and figuring what it needs to make it a proper boat.

[Viper]

Source of the post

Source of the post

Source of the post....requires new sterndrive bravo 1 or 2? ....Needs upper lower and transom. So basically new sterndrive. Price 6,000......

I'm curious where you're getting a "new" Mercruiser Bravo drive for $6,000! A rebuilt or aftermarket copy maybe but not a new OEM. Also, what part of the transom assembly are you talking about? A new gimbal ring for example is about $2K. You're over $10K easy for OEM and that doesn't include labour.

You better be getting the boat for next to nothing from a strictly financial point of view, but only you can decide what is financially reasonable for your set of circumstances. We always say that one should take the emotions out of buying a boat but we all know there ends up being more to it than that. Unfortunately now isn't the best time to buy as the demand is high, it will be when the pandemic is over though and people can safely travel and congregate again. At that time, folks that bought boats and RVs on a whim as getaways will likely sell and flood the market which usually results in lower prices. I suspect next year and the year after will see a lot of inventory at great prices but it's hard to wait.

Thank you for your opinion I really do appreciate it. The 6k is what I'm buying the boat for. I'm expecting to spend another 10k to fix. Am I crazy? You can't find nothing in its 90's unless you spend 20+ k

Okay I thought you were saying $6K for a new drive. Let us know exactly what part of the transom assembly needs to be replaced, and whether this is a Bravo I or II. Is the drive currently mounted or is it off the boat? You'll want to inspect the spline on the drive's input shaft and the spline in the engine coupler. You're looking for signs that the engine coupler may have been damaged in the impact as this will mean removing the drive again later so you can remove the engine to replace the coupler.

It's gotta be a really good impact to break transom assembly hardware. If that much energy was transferred to the transom, you'll want to have it inspected for sure. All this money for a new drive will mean nothing if the transom has a problem. Did the old unit have a stainless prop?

[C0ps]

Source of the post

Source of the post

Source of the post I'm curious where you're getting a "new" Mercruiser Bravo drive for $6,000! A rebuilt or aftermarket copy maybe but not a new OEM. Also, what part of the transom assembly are you talking about? A new gimbal ring for example is about $2K. You're over $10K easy for OEM and that doesn't include labour.

You better be getting the boat for next to nothing from a strictly financial point of view, but only you can decide what is financially reasonable for your set of circumstances. We always say that one should take the emotions out of buying a boat but we all know there ends up being more to it than that. Unfortunately now isn't the best time to buy as the demand is high, it will be when the pandemic is over though and people can safely travel and congregate again. At that time, folks that bought boats and RVs on a whim as getaways will likely sell and flood the market which usually results in lower prices. I suspect next year and the year after will see a lot of inventory at great prices but it's hard to wait.

Thank you for your opinion I really do appreciate it. The 6k is what I'm buying the boat for. I'm expecting to spend another 10k to fix. Am I crazy? You can't find nothing in its 90's unless you spend 20+ k

Okay I thought you were saying $6K for a new drive. Let us know exactly what part of the transom assembly needs to be replaced, and whether this is a Bravo I or II. Is the drive currently mounted or is it off the boat? You'll want to inspect the spline on the drive's input shaft and the spline in the engine coupler. You're looking for signs that the engine coupler may have been damaged in the impact as this will mean removing the drive again later so you can remove the engine to replace the coupler.

It's gotta be a really good impact to break transom assembly hardware. If that much energy was transferred to the transom, you'll want to have it inspected for sure. All this money for a new drive will mean nothing if the transom has a problem. Did the old unit have a stainless prop?

I'm having a surveyor go look at it. I'll report what he says.

[Viper]

It's unlikely the surveyor will report on the engine coupler as most don't get into inspecting the mechanical side of things except for obvious stuff that can easily be seen. The engine coupler is one of those items after a severe impact who's condition is an unknown even with a visual inspection. While a twisted spline can be obvious, a spun hub in it is not so evident until the boat is put back into service. Were this an insurance job, replacement would be an automatic must in my book. Outside of a claim, it's the owner's call but one should be prepared to deal with the expense of removing the engine and replacing the coupler later should signs indicate that the hub has indeed spun. BTW, I guess an obvious question is why weren't these repairs covered by the owner's insurance? The only reasons I can think of is either they weren't insured or the insurer thought the repairs outweighed the value of the vessel and wrote it off. That has to tell you something about the implied value of the vessel even after the repairs depending on the policy's conditions. Hope things work out in your favour.

[C0ps]

Source of the post It's unlikely the surveyor will report on the engine coupler as most don't get into inspecting the mechanical side of things except for obvious stuff that can easily be seen. The engine coupler is one of those items after a severe impact who's condition is an unknown even with a visual inspection. While a twisted spline can be obvious, a spun hub in it is not so evident until the boat is put back into service. Were this an insurance job, replacement would be an automatic must in my book. Outside of a claim, it's the owner's call but one should be prepared to deal with the expense of removing the engine and replacing the coupler later should signs indicate that the hub has indeed spun. BTW, I guess an obvious question is why weren't these repairs covered by the owner's insurance? The only reasons I can think of is either they weren't insured or the insurer thought the repairs outweighed the value of the vessel and wrote it off. That has to tell you something about the implied value of the vessel even after the repairs depending on the policy's conditions. Hope things work out in your favour.

So I did buy the boat. I was told it's a sound solid condition. I went up to inspect myself and the boat has been really taken care of. Only had 2 owners. Thank you for the heads up regarding the coupler. Visually I can't see any damage to it. This situation was very complicated as to why the insurance did not pay for damages. I did confirm the story and basically the broker had to buy the boat from its client due to thier error. I pickup this weekend and start my planning. Thank you all for your comments. Really helped me alote

[RGrew176]

Hope all works out in your favor from this day onward. Good luck.

[dthomso1]

Hi, I know your post was a couple of years ago but I was wondering if you eventually went ahead and bought the boat? If so, how has it worked out for you? Any regrets?
Cheers

[C0ps]

Source of the post Hi, I know your post was a couple of years ago but I was wondering if you eventually went ahead and bought the boat? If so, how has it worked out for you? Any regrets?
Cheers

The boat worked out great for me! I found a Bravo 3 with props for only 7k. I had to change a few more things such as the Inside gimble plate. put a new fridge. changed the old grey water lines because most were leaking. new electronics. I have 20K into it. but boy does she run great!