"RCE" wrote in message
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"Dan J.S." wrote in message
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wrote in message
oups.com...
Greetings group.
I'm interested in purchasing a 1999 Chris Craft bowrider with a Volvo
Penta engine. The vessel has around 250 hours on it and I'm wondering
if that is acceptable?

Thanks


I owned a 1997 Wellcraft with the Volvo Penta and I dont think I went a
month without something breaking on it. It would not start if warm (so
after you let it sit for 30 minutes). I swore that I would never get
another Volvo Penta - the higher end ones are better, I guess.


Other than the unique outdrive section, just what makes a Volvo Penta
"engine" any different than a Mercruiser? Both are based on a GM 350
engine block (for most applications).

RCE


Volvo folks made a bunch of engineering mistakes, this is why certain things
were never fixed. For example, the fuel line was actually touching the
engine block, and it would basically boil the fuel in the line. I had a
mechanic re-route it, at my own expense. This helped with the warm starts
(and it helped with fuel being pushed into the carb). Then the alternator
just flew off one day. Both bolts were ripped off and it caused all kinds of
damage inside the compartment. This happen after a trip to the dealer where
they specifically checked all the belts. I spent close to $700 in tow fees,
and once I was stuck in a middle of a lake and had to brave a storm because
I was dead in the water (after the storm passed and the engine cooled, it
turned right over)

So I thought, well I will just get something with a Japanese engine. I
bought a pontoon boat made by Bennington with a Honda. Well - last year I
spent $1000 on fixing that engine because the computer on it went out -
$1000 also included tune up and a few mods I had them put on it (for some
reason Lingenfelter doesn't do a Honda 90 supercharger - damn!!)

In either case, I hope that my luck turns for the better with the boats this
season - I am off to a good start - a marina I was gunning for opened up a
dock for me - right across from an awesome country club.