Went and looked at a 1992 Sunsation Rocket on Sunday and came to a tentative deal...

He's going to get a trim tab/hatch hydraulic pump up and working again
Also is contingent on a surveyor checking it out and making sure everything is in good order...

Its a 454 that was rebuilt 2 years ago, ~90 hours, a new transom assembly this spring, and presumably stock bravo 1.
Motor has aluminum heads, intake manifold, and EMI Thunder (aluminum?) manifold with SS risers...
So unfortunately the first thing I will have to do is install a closed cooling system... Any suggestions?? Im thinking thats going to be around $1500 all said and done?

He claims its a 500hp motor, but im thinking a little less...
There were 3 of us on board and he just refueled it, not sure how full tank was... and it ran 67 on GPS with a 4blade 26pitch prop, turning 5k RPM. What would be best prop for this?

Felt pretty strong out there... Idled very low after the run, ~500RPM but didnt stall at all or seem it was going to.
Only thing I wasnt a fan of was some stiff steering... Any suggestions on this? What steering did the Rocket come with originally, cable or hyd?

Other than that, all the cushions in the cockpit are original but look in decent shape other than a few imperfections and cabin is also original, a lil rough, but bearable.

The hull looks solid, no cracks, spider cracks, doesnt sound hollow anywhere... The only issue is on the port side some of the clear coat looks like its cracking off...

Boat also comes with a 1992 Continental painted dual axle trailer with surge brakes... Bearing buddies install, and a few rust spots
Might sell trailer, whats something like this worth realistically?

We agree'd on a price of 10,500, but wish I wouldnt have to dump so much into it right away for the closed cooling.

does this sounds fair if he gets the trim pump working and no issues with a surveyor?

Anything to look at/for at final inspection?

Thanks... Chris

The gel design looks real similiar to my old python. That boat looks to be a similiar 24x7 hull and it doesn't appear to have hydraulic steering. My python would run 74.9 on the GPS with a 500 hp motor spinning a 23+ Mirage at 5000 rpms. I gained 6mph just going from 4800 to 5000 rpms. My boat had a 1.36 drive ration so that throughs the pitch off from yours.

Rockets are fun boat, like any boat get used to it before going crazy. I had one with a stock 330 and I thought it was a mid 60 mph boat but could be wrong. I would think with 500 hp you would be over 70. I sure someone will chime in that has a better memory than I do.

Gary is correct. A stock 330 will run mid 60's. Should run mid 70's with 500hp.

thanks for the reply guys. anything 70 or over works for me. Maybe there's a little more in a proper change?

they're definitely wasn't any hydraulic steering. and only had bennett trim tabs...

but, overall this seems like a good deal, no?

Surveys well and mechanically sound? 10k? Alot of fun for that $. The 24x7 boats run awesome in some slop. Put some hours on learning how it runs and you will like it.

Great deal if all is solid.