New Sunsation
 

Hi guys I have spent all my boat research time on fountains and baja. I just had a guy offer me a 2004 28' Sunsation with a fully built fuel injected 502 with a whipple supercharger with 150 hours. He said it does about 85. Does this sound right?


I have two questions...


Boat looks like its pretty well maintained. How much should I look into offering him for the boat?

Is an engine that is built like this, problems? I have no mechanical experience and don't want to be dumping money into a worked engine. I was always told to buy stock.

85 MPH in a 288 would be sporty to say the least. Hydraulic steering and K-planes? If you are not into turning wrenches and don't have deep pockets to pay a shop I'd continue my search.

If this is your first boat of the offshore/performance type; I'd go with stock power.

I have boated all my life but only center consoles and cruiser type boats.

The guy says he hasnt put a wrench on the engine in 5 years. Is that even possible with a motor that isn't stock?

Just depends on the build/builder, how it has been maintained, how many hours it has been run, etc. Got a link to an ad?

I had a 502 with a Whipple in a Baja 252 fun boat for a while but I spent thousands having things corrected that were not done properly the first time around. I'm not a mechanic and had to pay for the work to be done so it got expensive quick if you just want a nice Sunsation and don't care to go 85 keep looking and find stock power. if you take a look to the left you will notice the Baja and its whipple are long gone. Three plus years now with nothing more than impellers and oil changes. If you want to pursue the boat get the engine details and call Eddie Young at Young Performance he's one of the best when it come to Whipple's.

Guy messaged me on facebook. Here is the details....

I have a 2004 28' sunsation intimidator. Top of the line boat with a fully built fuel injected 502 with whipple supercharger. Beautiful boat, runs 85-90 mph. Only 150 hours

I think it's around 5psi boost at moment so prob around 650hp, nice reliable strong setup.

http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/...ps1b9a7625.jpg
http://i1379.photobucket.com/albums/...ps4ddb72dd.jpg

From the pictures that looks like Canada Jeff's boat....that was his screen name on the Sunsation site. They have removed the forum so I would not be able to confirm. Seem to recall the engine started life as a 500EFI....valve covers look like it also. He seemed to take good care of it.

Also my 99' 288 ran 80 on GPS with 575 or so HP.

i believe the guy is from canada.


what kind of expense am i looking at with this boat vs a .....stock 496ho

I agree looks like Canada Jeff's old ride. It did start like as a 500 EFI boat. Can't tell for sure but looks like they may have replaced the stock cast iron heads with aluminum when they added the Whipple.

Expenses could come in the way of breaking something in the outdrive (top gears, vertical shaft, lower gears, etc.), piston damage due to detonation (for various reasons), head gasket failure, valvetrain problems (rocker arms/springs/valves), etc. But if the motor was built, setup, and properly programmed and you never run into bad fuel it could go 300 + hours since the time it was built before it would need the top end done. I would ask the seller if he has detailed information on the engine build, who the builder was, and if anything was done to beef up the Bravo I. I would not run from this boat yet. It is worth looking into.

I agree don't run yet it does look nice, and that's a different set up from the 502/whipple set up I had problems with. Mine was not a blue motor and had the older side mount whipple.

Yeah, the side-mount Whipple on a 502 I would say steer clear of. A Whipple on a 500 EFI is a good piece if properly done.

Does that bring back memories of the out of control fly by Canada Jeff performed at the Sunsation rally that one year?:cartman: And his hot chick with spike heels in the boat!:picard1:

If memory serves we all were navigating a large cruiser wake in the narrows when he launched and almost landed on the dock off the sea wall. He was just behind us.

if a worked motor should be rebuilt in 300hrs...i think I'm going to steer clear

The entire motor wouldn't necessarily need to be rebuilt. The top end would need to be inspected to determine if valvetrain components needed to be refreshed. Preventative maintenance. Again, depending on the build, components used, the builder, and how hard the boat is run that could stretch to 400 hours.

Any 500 boat will need valve springs checked between 300 and 400 hrs. If that is a true blue motor it will have a strong bottom end as far as crank ,pistons and rods so as long as the tune on the ecm is right I would not worry about the motor but be more concerned with the total hrs on the outdrive. I had a 288 with a pro-charger and the drive broke at 250 hrs but it was just a run of the mill bravo 1. That boat should have a xr on it if it is a blue motor boat from the factory.

Wakeboarrder: do you have the guys contact info on the 288? Btw your pm box is full