I am sure rev limiter is the correct name.

50 MPH for a new boater on the Allegheny is plenty! It is not like he can go from Oswego to Rochester, MarbleHead to Detroit, Port Huron to Manitoulin. What is it, 10-15 miles lock to lock? If he gets on down river to the Ohio lock to lock goes all the way to 20-25 miles!

A survey is not a bad idea, but likely another $250 cost with the most important thing for you to learn is the moisture content in the transom.

Sprink58 is correct about seal/gasket concerns. That us why a good idea to do outdrive service, hook to hose and let come to operating temp with a qualified mechanic on hand.

So Sprink and BoatShow gave me some good things to look into. I'll e-mail the guy today and see what he says.

I like the boat estetically, so just want to make sure it is mechanically sound. I have looked at so many boats where the hulls were toar up or had blisters or had structural damage, etc. that this one really caught my eye inside and out.

Someone mentioned the boat hadn't been driven for 5 years; it has. The current owner operates it every summer. It say for the 12 years prior.

OK...my bad...worse still... according to the ad the boat sat unused for 12 years!!

In any case...get a boating friend to go with you to look at this rig...start it...put the drive in gear...raise and lower the drive,etc.

If you feel comfortable...buy it.

Based on some of your statements and answers....I STRONGLY suggest that you take a Coast Guard Auxiliary Safe Boating Course or a US Power Squadron Course. Boating is a lot of fun but putting yourself in a boat without being familiar with "The Rules of the Road" could result in disaster.

+1 on what sprink said plus i still advise a survey

I fully intend to take a boating safety course. Also, have a friend going to go out with me to show me how to get through the locks the first couple of times.

Sprink, you mentioned "start it...put the drive in gear...raise and lower the drive,etc."

Can you or anyone elaborate on what I am looking for when I do this.......what am I listening for and feeling for? Don't have anyone to go with me.

I am calling the guy tonight and see about having the boat surveyed. There is a place not far from where the boat is that can do this for a couple hundred bucks.

survey
 

If you are getting it surveyed, just make sure the surveyor includes in evaluation. A good survey will mention leaks, stains, odd noises and much more.

Be more interested in the report of the survey rather then the surveyor's $$$ evaluation. Generally a survey is about as misleading as NADA pricing, but that also depends on the purpose of the survey.

Surveys could be a whole other discussion with another thread!

What is the news on the boat?

The ad has been removed by the seller. Did the OP buy it?

So I had the boat looked at by a local marina with mercruiser mechanics and then I bought the boat. The guy at the marina said the boat was in excellent conditions and, by the looks of it, had been very well maintaned over the years. They didn't "survey" it but they looked if over from top to bottom.

Now I am looking at the boater safety courses before I put it in the water. Also, have talked with a guy at work who offered to go out and show me how to get through the locks. Then the previous owner agreed to come out and show me how this particular boat drives and stuff.

Thanks everyone for the advice. I can say that I feel like I did the right research and am happy with the purchase I made.

Funning thing was that the night before I bought it, I was looking on CL just to see the pics again and BAM a 2008 Liberator with a 454 for 6500 showed up. I was like oh you have to be kidding. Anyway, I didn't go look. I've seen so many boats that looked great online and crappy in-person.

Anyway, thanks again everyone.

Post some pics when you get it home. We all love to see someones new purchase. BTW welcome to OSO