trying to wake up from a 15 yr nap.....
 

I'm new to OSO and would like an honest opinion from some seasoned Formula owners. I've been in the market for a 272 SR1 for a month or so. I'm majorly digging the late '80 s styling and most color combos. I came close to owning an '87 earlier in the month but it was sold out from under me. Anyway, trying to find one in really nice shape, priced right is becoming a hard find and even more so with small blocks. I have located another '87, 300 hour, all original 272 small block boat that looks like is just came out of a time capsule and the color is right as well. A few minor cosmetic issues, cockpit cover and a new rub rail will be near future projects. Otherwise this thing is in really nice shape. No trailer, just the boat.

Here's the catch....it hasn't been in the water in 15 yrs. It was winterized and put in rack storage in 1998 and hasn't seen the light of day until about month ago. I'm no stranger to boats, small block Chevy motors or Alpha drive so I do know that carb rebuilds, fuel system components (tank lines filter etc), all ignition parts, all bellows and lower shift cables, impellers, lubricants, and other wearable parts will need replacement or at the very least, cleaning or servicing. A good squirt of fog oil in every spark plug hole and priming the oil pumps prior to firing the motors would be a good measure as well. Even so, I still do not know the condition of piston rings and cylinder walls from the being in one spot all those years.
I also rapped on all the rear stringers with a large screw driver handle and all sounds solid- no signs of delamination or hollow stringers.

Here's the question. Without hearing those motors run is $12K too much to pay for the boat?

Provided the motors are fine, add a new trailer at $5K and price out all the above necessary parts at approx $1800 and I'm $20K in this thing with tax.
Finally, is this 25 year old boat worth this money?
No flaming please, just an honest gentleman's opinion would be very helpful. Thanks.
Dave......

Nada book
total price $66,200 low $8,050 avg. Retail $9,200
non running w /????
12k seems a bit high - maybe have the seller get it fired up

i think i sent a pm about a 272 baja sorry did'nt notice the frmula

keep looking..if i had the cash http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...ula-312-a.html needs some tlc but?

Depends on what its worth to you, if your in the boat of your dreams for 20k seems reasonable to me, as far as the particular boat 12k is on the high side, you can buy a decent 272 with small blocks for 12-15k running, Ive seen a few recently I'll link em for ya when I find them again,

This will give u a feel,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/BEAUT...item35c06b9041

Little high,

http://detroit.craigslist.org/okl/boa/3317446469.html

What's ironic about the boats you've sent links for is that I've considered all of them. In fact, I was the high bidder in the auction on the first ebay boat you have linked (reserve not met and seller wouldn't respond to my messages to find out what it would take to buy that boat- it was sold before the auction end- IMO). I think I've seen every SR1 on the net and most seem like their priced high. The lower priced boats looked like they been run hard a put away wet one too many times.
Anyway, this boat is the right color and has the right engine package for me. The overall condition of the boat is great. My concerns are with the unknown inside the motors from sitting so long. I am a bit concerned with other issues that may arise in connection with it sitting as well. I was hoping someone else reserected one that had been parked for a decade and could shed some light on any age related issues etc. as a result of sitting. It's just that the damn thing just shows so very little signs of wear everywhere else...makes me want to take the gamble and drop the asking coin.
Thanks.

I've got a pretty nice 272 big block bravo boat for sale for quite a bit less.

Thanks 'lil red. I like those colors but the big motors aren't for me. I would imagine at that money it should sell.

IMO that boat is worth about half of what he is asking. You have to assume you will have to tear down both motors. You probably won't but you never know. I think your list is a worst case but that is the way you HAVE to look at it in order to make sure you don't get burned. Even if the guy got the motors up and running you would have to sea trial the boat in order to put load on them to make sure you don't have oil preasure issues once they get warm and run with a load at high RPM's.

Jon

Thanks Jon. I do have to say the outside of these motors, and everything else in the bilge for that matter, look like they did in '87. No paint peeling, rust,......nothing. Even things like the water pump pulley bolt heads look new...and they aren't. My point here is, if moisture from temp changes etc.didn't attack the outside of anything that never saw oil, then perhaps the insides of the motors are in good order. Just a thought?

fixx
 

if thats the case then you may want to bring a 5/8 socket and a 1/2'' breaker bar and see if he engines turn over by hand but dont turn them too far with out putting oil in the cylinders first..you will also need to drain the fuel tank or even remove it to have it boiled to get all the tarnish out of it..

I agree. The tank will have to come out for cleaning as well as carb rebuilds. Oil each cylinder through plug holes and pull distributors to prime motors by spinning oil pumps with a drill. Then give it some fire and see what happens. I'm thinking this can be done with a portable gas can to temporarily run them.

You really think that boat is worth all that work? On top of the high end of the spectrum price? Take away the fact I have one for sale, that's s lot of work to do to a boat that is priced 4-5000 too high

Perhaps its not. I figured the best way to find out would be to ask the folks who know these boats the best. Yours is nice but I'm really after a 350 Mag boat. Thanks.

fixx
 

his is soon to have no motors so all you will have is paddles lol..

I think the pulling the tank is a little over the top. My 311 sat for over 10 years when I got it. I put a pony tank in it to start the motors and it ran fine. Did not even have to rebuild the carbs! Went to the pumps and filled it up with high test and 2 years later not so much as a hickup. Remember the gas back them was WAY better then what we have now.

Hmmm...noted. Thanks Audiofn.

Big motors VS small motors:
bbc is quieter than a sbc
bbc is 2.5 gph more efficient than sbc
bbc power is smoother handling than sbc

I like a good sbc but in the water they don't seem practical to me, all things considered.

True dat,,

then comes time to due water pumps on a twin BBC 272 :lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::l olhit:

I agree... I would not look at BB as a disadvantage at all, plus a stronger more reliable driveline if comparing alpha's to bravo/trs.

I made the mistake of purchasing a cruiser with small block power thinking it would be a significant fuel savings... wrong!!
The torque just isn't there, it's harder to get on plane, and harder to keep on plane. Turning smaller props at a higher rpm does not save fuel. (however small blocks with a Bravo III package is a great setup,, well on a cruiser anyway)

Anyway, you could try disconnecting the fuel line from the fuel pump and sucking the old gas out with an oil transfer pump... put it in your lawn mower or something. Or at the very least, dump a pint or two of sea-foam additive in the tank, that stuff is amazing!
Pull a couple plugs and check for rusted electrodes.... they also make some nice fiber-optic bore scopes now.

I've watched a few episodes of 'Fast and Loud', and those boys have started up some old engines that have been sitting around forever... however, in your case,, seals, gaskets, belts hoses, all that stuff dries up sitting around. And it may not be obvious at first, just be prepared, hope for the best but plan on getting your hands dirty and turning some wrenches if you have to.

Can you really get a clear pic of the cylinder wall, piston and combustion chamber? You fish it in thru the plug hole, right?I've never used one.
I would have to hope for the best on the seals and gaskets etc.

Oh yea. A boroscope ? <--spelling cops used to be a very pricey item but now Snap-0n has then readily available at a fraction of the cost. Pull the plug and slip it in, very nice to use.

Last winter I purchased a 38 fountain that sat for 8 years unsold, computers showed 3.5 hr and 3.7 hrs. I was surprised on how well the internals held up, borescope showed clean walls, the oil was clean and smelled new. They started both on a gas can before delivery, engines ran great. Below is a list of what I had to replace.

Both starters
Both mechanical fuel pumps
Gas was drained from both tanks, it wasn't even gas anymore, get it out!
Went through countless fuel filters, as the gas resin in the tanks broke down and started clogging them
Both impeller housings cracked after use
All cockpit interior, was still intact but cracked
Above the rail had to be repainted and clear coated, stock clear was peeling.

Engine and drive internals performed flawless, they are all out now at 60 hrs. Engines are getting new head gaskets and top end fresh, drives are being inspected.

The one thing that you should know, everything appeared new on my boat when I picked it up. Drives, engines, however the stuff shows its age quickly after use. Drive and engine paint starting falling off quickly. There was hidden corrosion that shows after some use. Not the end of the world, just a note that sitting is sometimes worse than use. Be prepared to remove and polish every little piece of metal that you can see, once you get it in the sun you will know what I am talking about. The lack of cleaning, waxing, and protectants shows its face quickly, just be aware and buy it right.

Great info! So all of that and it was practically brand new with less than 4 hours on the whole rig? Wow!! Are you doing top end motor work because of a gasket or part failure due the lack of use or for piece of mind because of everything else that went south on you?

I'm doing the head gasket only because they did not use an mls gasket on this series of engines and they are known to fail. The heads and valve springs are being done at the same time just because. I had no internal problems. If the head gaskets were not an issue I would most likely just be doing valve springs.