Hi I’m seriously looking at buying an 86 312. I know more about formulas my uncle has always had 382 sr1s and fastechs. This will be my first older go fast boat, I have an old 20ft bow rider with a 130 evinrude which is rotting away up in New Hampshire where I’m from but now I live in Miami and it’s definitely time for a stinger. I obviously love miami vice so I like stingers and scarabs. This stinger seems nice for $13k I understand it’s an old boat and will need work. I’m trying to learn as much as I can about stingers before I possibly buy this boat.
Are there transom problems in 86 for the 312s? Any known electric problems?
Do the hulls still want to split in 86?
It’s a freshwater boat and the owner said the 454 420 spec engines were rebuilt in 2017 and have 9 hours on them. 600 hours on the boat overall. He said it has been sitting since 2017 so what kind of problems could I be looking at on a few rebuilt 454s that sat after. He said the drives are solid but again they’ve been sitting and he said one gimbal needs replacing. Not sure if it’s the housing or the bearing but I’m guessing both housings should be replaced, do the motors need to be pulled??

sorry to write you guys a book but any insight on 312s would be greatly appreciated!!

Good day and welcome to OSO, the traffic on the Chris Craft section of the forum is a bit slow these days. I can't offer any specific information on that boat, but I can tell you that most production boats in the 80's were poorly constructed, assume all the wood will need replacing until proven otherwise. I would also assume the electrical system will have some gremlins, especially if someone had previously done some modifications or repairs and just sitting things will corrode. Depending on what fuel was left charged in the system will determine the extent of the mess left behind. Again I would assume the worst until proven otherwise, fuel tank flush (including a visual inspection of the inside), filters changed and carb disassemble inspect/clean, and change the engine oil and filters.
What model are the drives? Bravos didn't come out until 87 or 88 and Alphas behind a big block are the weak link. TRS in that application are bullet proof but discontinued, SSM2 and 3 are very difficult to find parts for.

Thank you for responding! I figured this would be a low traffic section I might post it on general but wasn’t sure if that was frowned upon.

It has TRS drives, if they’re discontinued and if they needed replacing what would be the modern equivalent??

Im not close to the boat it’s a few states away from me, After I’ve asked all my questions and if I like the answers I would have a survey/moisture test done. I am absolutely assuming the worst haha

4 year old fuel would be my biggest concern, all depends on how it was put up

Used TRS drives show up occasionally, but are still old used drives. I believe the direct TRS replacement drive is a Konrad 520, but I could be mistaken.