salt water and motors
 

hey guys, looking for some guidance on salt water since i boat on the Ohio
river. I am looking a purchasing a formula that is in Florida that is a 99
with 502 motors. Two years rack stored, two and half years in the water
with bottom paint, bottom paint put on last year. Outdrives replaced in
december. Motors have 700 hours with 160 psi compression, but what I am
worried about is the salt water going through the engine. How bad is this?

All advice will be heeded





--
Jim

salt water and motors
 

Jim, I had a marina owner tell me once "never violate the five year rule". In
his opinion, as far as buying used went, anything older was worthless. Turned
out to be good advice I think.

salt water and motors
 

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:52:30 GMT, "jim" wrote:

hey guys, looking for some guidance on salt water since i boat on the Ohio
river. I am looking a purchasing a formula that is in Florida that is a 99
with 502 motors. Two years rack stored, two and half years in the water
with bottom paint, bottom paint put on last year. Outdrives replaced in
december. Motors have 700 hours with 160 psi compression, but what I am
worried about is the salt water going through the engine. How bad is this?
==================================================

It's bad. If the engines are salt water cooled, they are getting near
the end of their useful life, particularly on a boat which has been
pushed hard. If freshwater cooled with heat exchangers, then you need
to worry about the exhaust manifolds, risers and oil coolers, all of
which are about due for replacement. In either case, those engines
with 700 hours on them are no bargain at any price.

salt water and motors
 

hey guys, looking for some guidance on salt water since i boat on the Ohio
river. I am looking a purchasing a formula that is in Florida that is a 99
with 502 motors. Two years rack stored, two and half years in the water
with bottom paint, bottom paint put on last year. Outdrives replaced in
december. Motors have 700 hours with 160 psi compression, but what I am
worried about is the salt water going through the engine. How bad is this?
================================================= =

It's bad. If the engines are salt water cooled, they are getting near
the end of their useful life, particularly on a boat which has been
pushed hard. If freshwater cooled with heat exchangers, then you need
to worry about the exhaust manifolds, risers and oil coolers, all of
which are about due for replacement. In either case, those engines
with 700 hours on them are no bargain at any price.








My thinking would be that if the engines were fresh water cooled you may get a
few years out of them. The compression is good so the mechanicals shouldn't be
a problem. As mentioned the risers and manifolds could need replacing soon, but
they may have been replaced already.

The main thing to consider is you have a nice hull with new outdrives. If you
go into this figuring on new engines in a few years and if the boat is priced
right, it still could be a good deal. Gas engines ar relatively cheap when
compared to a new boat.
Whether or not it's a good deal really depends on the price.

Barry

salt water and motors
 

Thanks guys, that is what I thought, I do not think it has closed cooling.
I believe it is priced right as it is by far the least expensive I have seen
advertised but as the saying goes, if it sounds too good, it probably is.
I got pictures of the boat and it seems to be in very nice shape, but I
thought the engines might need to be replaced. Thanks for the info.



--
jim

salt water and motors
 

Most of the sailing fleet in this area was manufactured in the 70's or 80's.
Up here the season is about 5 months long so our five years might be equal
to 2 years in Florida.......or 12 years here equal to 5 down south.

Shwackman wrote in message
...
Jim, I had a marina owner tell me once "never violate the five year rule".
In
his opinion, as far as buying used went, anything older was worthless.
Turned
out to be good advice I think.

salt water and motors
 

"jim" wrote in message
news:yloNb.56252$nt4.87270@attbi_s51...
Thanks guys, that is what I thought, I do not think it has closed
cooling.
I believe it is priced right as it is by far the least expensive I have
seen
advertised but as the saying goes, if it sounds too good, it probably is.
I got pictures of the boat and it seems to be in very nice shape, but I
thought the engines might need to be replaced. Thanks for the info.



--
jim

Unless the engines have been abused, I figure they should get 12-1400 hours
running. At 700, that is maybe 1/2 life. My 351W Ford in a river jetboat
has about 1300, and still runs fine. I run both salt and fresh. Closed
cooling, and aluminum exhaust manifolds.
Bill

salt water and motors
 

Hi Jim,
What you are describing is a great boat with run out engines. New
outdrives are a big plus though. The Formula Boat line is extremely well
made! With an engine replacement should last a good long while. I own 3
Formula boats (or my company owns 2 and I 1) My favorite is the '91 26
PC. She is fast and comfortable. The company boats both 33 pc's have
stood the test of being "rental" units and come through with flags
flying. Not many problems except the Lecta San units. We finally ripped
the Lecta San units out and went to large holding tanks. The problems
were mostly due to user (renter) errors like flushing cigarette butts
and female sanitary products. Both have bee run aground with no hull
damage. It did tear up the outdrives though. We perform most of our own
repairs and maintenance.

la Dolce Vita (My personal boat.) is on her third engine, second
outdrive and second air conditioner. Most bolt on engine accessories
have been replaced as well. I did a ~ Complete ~ overhaul last spring
and it cost me about 13,800.00 for new engine, drive overhaul and
replace pumps, water heater, radar, radio package, sonar, and a couple
of add on gadgets. About 3 grand in electronics.

If you are buying from an owner in Florida, be sure to examine the
various pumps thoroughly. I do not think you will find any problems with
the hull, fittings or cabin components. All are premium grade and built
to last.

Have a look at my website for a little Formula info.

http://www.home.earthlink.ner/~aartworks

Email me from link on website with the Formula model you are looking at
and I will give you any information I can. Formula makes a great
product, and I will be a lifelong customer.

Good Luck,

Capt. Frank



jim wrote:
hey guys, looking for some guidance on salt water since i boat on the Ohio
river. I am looking a purchasing a formula that is in Florida that is a 99
with 502 motors. Two years rack stored, two and half years in the water
with bottom paint, bottom paint put on last year. Outdrives replaced in
december. Motors have 700 hours with 160 psi compression, but what I am
worried about is the salt water going through the engine. How bad is this?

All advice will be heeded

salt water and motors
 

There are better, but much more expensive (and I mean by at least 20%)
this is the only one I can afford and with an engine replacement due soon,
I cannot afford it either.

--
Jim

salt water and motors
 

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:36:50 GMT, "jim" wrote:
There are better, but much more expensive (and I mean by at least 20%)
this is the only one I can afford and with an engine replacement due soon,
I cannot afford it either.

=============================================

It's a good strategy to not buy a boat that is right on the edge of
your budget. There are always surprises somewhere, and they just keep
coming.

salt water and motors
 

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 20:31:14 +0000, Wayne. wrote:

On Wed, 14 Jan 2004 23:52:30 GMT, "jim" wrote:

hey guys, looking for some guidance on salt water since i boat on the
Ohio river. I am looking a purchasing a formula that is in Florida that
is a 99 with 502 motors. Two years rack stored, two and half years in
the water with bottom paint, bottom paint put on last year. Outdrives
replaced in december. Motors have 700 hours with 160 psi compression,
but what I am worried about is the salt water going through the engine.
How bad is this?
==================================================

It's bad. If the engines are salt water cooled, they are getting near
the end of their useful life, particularly on a boat which has been
pushed hard. If freshwater cooled with heat exchangers, then you need
to worry about the exhaust manifolds, risers and oil coolers, all of
which are about due for replacement. In either case, those engines with
700 hours on them are no bargain at any price.

I think our salt water must be different from yours. Although Far Cove is
fresh-water cooled, the heat exchanger, riser, etc. has been exposed to
salt water for 20 years (3000hrs or so) and are still good. If 700 hrs is
"real" (ie the hourmeter has not been disconnected, etc) I'd say the
engines still have lots of life left.

Hell, sweat is salt water. If it was THAT damaging, everything we touched
would be corroded and falling apart.

ALL outboards are "raw-water cooled" and ones that are in the water
24/7/364 are usually not flushed after every use. Yet, they seem to last
for more than 5 years...

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36

salt water and motors
 

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:32:49 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter"
wrote:
I think our salt water must be different from yours. Although Far Cove is
fresh-water cooled, the heat exchanger, riser, etc. has been exposed to
salt water for 20 years (3000hrs or so) and are still good. If 700 hrs is
"real" (ie the hourmeter has not been disconnected, etc) I'd say the
engines still have lots of life left.
===================================

The difference is in the type of engine. Yours is a small sailboat
diesel which weighs about 15 pounds per horsepower and is fresh water
cooled.

The engines under discussion are LARGE high performance gasoline
engines which weigh less than 3 pounds per horsepower and are raw
water cooled.

Which engine do you think will last longer?

salt water and motors
 

On Fri, 16 Jan 2004 07:01:46 +0000, Wayne. wrote:

On Thu, 15 Jan 2004 13:32:49 -0800, "Lloyd Sumpter"
wrote:
I think our salt water must be different from yours. Although Far Cove is
fresh-water cooled, the heat exchanger, riser, etc. has been exposed to
salt water for 20 years (3000hrs or so) and are still good. If 700 hrs is
"real" (ie the hourmeter has not been disconnected, etc) I'd say the
engines still have lots of life left.
===================================

The difference is in the type of engine. Yours is a small sailboat
diesel which weighs about 15 pounds per horsepower and is fresh water
cooled.

The engines under discussion are LARGE high performance gasoline
engines which weigh less than 3 pounds per horsepower and are raw
water cooled.

Which engine do you think will last longer?

OK, what about all the raw-water-cooled, high-hp high performance
gas OUTBOARDS that are in salt water 24/7/364?

And to answer your question: I'm spending $10K to put in a new,
low-performance fresh-water-cooled diesel. I think that says which engine
*I* think will last longer... (btw - I always tell people to get fwc, even
if they're running in fresh water. Unless, of course, they're running an
outboard)

Lloyd

salt water and motors
 

OK, what about all the raw-water-cooled, high-hp high performance
gas OUTBOARDS that are in salt water 24/7/364?

Outboards are aluminum?