PQ Hull Troubles-How can you tell?
 

How can you tell if a 1999 380 Avenger is one of the hulls with the infamous problems and/or was one that went back to the manufacturer to be fixed? I'm looking at a 1999 in Texas and don't want to make a mistake.

http://www.yachtworld.com/boats/1999.../United-States

Does anyone know this boat?

Steve

Look at the inner lifting strakes...if they go all the the to the transom its original...if they stop about 12-16" before the transom its been corrected by PQ.

Sorry I don't know this boat but I have seen it advertised for quite some time now...not that it matters, takes the right person. Looks good from the pictures and write ups state it's clean. My hesitation on this one is that in most of the ads the engine make is listed as Chevrolet and not Mercruiser. Yes I know they're GM 502's but I am overly suspicious why the owner wouldn't be boasting Mercury Racing HP 500's. Are the engine original? That would be my first question...
And I'm not trying to hurt any seller's chances nor put off any buyer because it does look like a good one but it is buyer beware out there.
My two cents since you did ask:drink:

Thanks Boatnt
I found a post from a couple of years ago that said outer strakes. Was thinking the inner strakes would make more sense.

Need4
Correct me if I'm wrong but those are HP500's in the picture or am I missing something. I realize I need to see them...what should I be looking for?

The hull should of also been blue printed. Edges shoud be sharper than standard. Drive it, I personally would pass on it. I have been down this road before.

Thanks Jmackin
"Down that road before".... Does that mean you owned one. If so, what should I look for when driving it?
Thanks again

Yes I had one. Also put a straight edge on bottom of hull and see if they removed the hook in it. Bow steered pretty bad, Ride sucked in following and quartering seas. It would lose 2-3 moh in anything over a 1' chop from prop slippage.

BTW- this was even after it was "fixed".

Looks like a nice boat to me, take a look at it in person, and take her for a spin,:coolcowboy: good luck and keep us posted.

Great info Jmackin...thanks.
Have you heard of anyone having a good experience with a '98 or '99 hull that was fixed?

Agreed...go and look...water test...work a deal with owner for a survey.

"Need4
Correct me if I'm wrong but those are HP500's in the picture or am I missing something. I realize I need to see them...what should I be looking for?"

I'm just overly suspicious...why it's not being advertised with HP500's. Are the bottom ends original? Check for the wire 'seals' on the crank bolts, should be seals on the back corner intake bolts too.

I looked for almost a year until I found mine...and love it. I have overhauled the engines $$$ after I got it but knew the hours going in and have no regrets. I got the engines I wanted and majority of options too. The hull is immaculate so what's some coin to redo the mills.

Just go in with both eyes open:drink:

"Scott" seems happy with his 98. Some are worse than others. Just drive the thing as much as possible in different conditions if you can. Loved the boat itself and think they are well built overall. Mine never was any faster than a straight bottom 38 but had many handling issues. I might get another 38 PQ some day but most likely will be a 96 or 97.

Thanks for all of the great information. Going to look at the boat next week and hope the weather cooperates for a splash. If not...I'm going to try to postpone.

Any suggestion for someone to do a mechanical and/or survey on this boat in the Northwest Dallas area (Decatur)?

Yea me.

Send mine back to the factory in 2000. They redid the bottom removing 30 inches of the outside strake. Blue printed the bottom at the same time. I am running 500 efi's with Lab 30's. Boat will run 82mph on the GPS with 2 people and 1/4 tank of fuel. Hope this helps.

Wildman...thanks for the feed back. Was
Beginning to wonder if anyone had a good experience with a 99. Did the strake fix take care of the bow steering issue alone or did it take new props to get the bow out of the water.

Yes it did. I think they got the x demension to high or I got to much cup in my props. I can only trim out to 2 1/2 on the trim indicators before blowing the props out. The boat did settle down in the back and I got a better ride but I still think the boat runs to flat. I have been thinking about 1 inch spacers on the drives but haven't done it yet. As I have gotten older speed doesn't matter as much any more as looking good does. I rather have a full load of blondes on the boat then going fast now if you get my drift. In the picture posted we were only running about 3500 rpm that day on Ky Lake because we went all the way to Tenn and back to Ky. It was about a 100 mile run and the channel on the lake is very narrow.

Thanks again Wildman. I hear you in regards age and the blondes...priorities change. From what I can tell, low 80's on that hull with 500's is good. The attitude in the pic looks pretty good for 3500 rmp. How much hook did your hull have before it was blueprinted?

Captain, my 99 is just fine, I had bow steer issues with 4 blades, but once I bought 5 blades for it no problems at all. I love the boat and have had no issues with it, other then motor stuff but that is what you get with bigger power. I say go drive it and see what you think. If the bottom has been worked I strongly suggest you buy a set of 5 blades and run them, to me the whole boat ran better at take off (planned better) mid range and WOT. Boat looks good I say go for it but I am a fan of these boats.