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

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.

"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

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

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).


The marinization parts (externals) are different, the internals would be the
same. Things like fuel delivery, sea water delivery (cooling), exhaust, and
electrics would be unique from Volvo to Mercruiser. Block and internals
such as pistons and crank should be the same.

"RCE" wrote in message
...

"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

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.

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


Low hours for a 7 year old boat. Make sure to have it both structurally and
mechanically surveyed, including a compression test of the engine.

wrote:
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

250 hrs for a 6 or 7 yr old boat is very low. That is 35 to 40 hrs a
year.

More importantly is how was the boat maintained. Ask to see service
records and have the boat checked out by a mechanic and have a survey
done on the boat. They both should be very reasonable, and can save you
from buying a lemon.

--
Reggie
************************************************** *************
That's my story and I am sticking to it.

************************************************** *************

wrote:
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

Most people would consider 250 hours on a 7 year old boat to be very
low.
Average usage in most climates wouold be 50-100 engine hours a year.
Are you sure the hours are accurately represented?

Is there a hour meter, and if so are there supporting service bills,
etc, that would
encourage you to believe the 250 hour figure?

Certainly consider having an indpendent mechanic thoroughly check out
the entire engine and drive system. Odds are it won't be "perfect", but
if the seller is trying to hide some major defect it's a lot cheaper to
find it now (and either pass on the boat or negotiate a lower price to
offset some or all of the work required) than it would be to discover
serious problems the first hour after the ink has dried on your bill of
as-is sale.

With a moderate amount of luck and a comprehensive maintenance
schedule, that engine will more than likely serve you well past 1,000
hours. You could easily see 1500, but going well beyond 2000 hours will
require more than just a little luck as well as rigorous maintenance.

On 31 Jan 2006 14:03:40 -0800, wrote:

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?

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

You don't say whether or not this is a sal****er boat. If yes, age is
just as important as hours, perhaps more so.

Components touching sal****er will rust out regardless of low hours
unless the engine was flushed after every outing. After 6 or 7 years
this would put expensive components such as the exhaust manifolds,
risers, and oil cooler at risk. Unfortunately it is difficult to
assess the condition with out a tear down, so when you are negotiating
price ignore the hours and treat it like any other 1999 boat. Also,
get an experienced engine surveyor to look at it and go on the sea
trial.