new boat buyer woes

[POPEYE_59]

I purchased my first boat on Friday 27 June. It was a 1974 18 foot open bow mark twain. My son and I went and looked at it everything seemed fine the outboard was rebuilt the motor was a jasper rebuilt interior great. He didn't have water muffs so couldn't run it long we started it, it ran and idled fine. He assured us It runs fine and it had been properly winterized last fall. We bought it and the next day we hooked water muffs up to it and water came from every where. The casting plugs under the motor mounts, the bottom of the exhaust manifold, under the thermostat housing casting plug left front head. We also found the right side head is cracked under the valve cover and the block is cracked between cylinders 5 and 6 internally in the water jacket. Bought the boat with cash as agreed upon Now he says the motor was fine and we must of broken it We bought the boat in good faith is there anything we can do to reclaim our loss.

 

[Bt Doctur]

you cannot cover up freeze damage like that. Try a lawer but if you bought it without a water test your hosed

 

[bspeth]

You could slash his tires,you wont get any money back but it might make you feel better.

 

[RicardoMarine]

Document what you are able to.
File a small claims court suit.
Cross your fingers and hope that the court is able to see the seller's intent to commit fraud.

Better yet.... politely contact the seller, and suggest that the deal be turned around, or...........

 

[sandkicker]

The real clue here was that he allowed the engine to be run for even a few seconds without waterflow. Anytime without water flow more that the time it takes the water pump to prime, ie. a second or two, will damage or totally trash the water pump impeller. They are not designed to run dry. Installation instructions for new impellers often specify lubing the new impeller before installing them.

 

[RicardoMarine]

I believe that the arguement here is not regarding the seawater pump.... but should be regarding seller fraud or misrepresentation.

He didn't have water muffs so couldn't run it long we started it, it ran and idled fine.
An engine with a cracked block can run just fine for a few minutes.
In fact... it's one of the most disappointing things about freeze crack damage! They sometimes run beautifully... but won't hold water.

He assured us It runs fine and it had been properly winterized last fall.
Do you have witness, other than yourself, to his statement?

Funny thing about winterizing........ Quote from my friend Doug McB.
"All winterizing is PERFECT during the lay up..... it's not until spring time when we learn just how perfect is was!"

We bought it and the next day we hooked water muffs up to it and water came from every where.
So... are you suggesting that the boat never saw the lake or river? IOW, it only saw the garden hose muffs????


The casting plugs under the motor mounts, the bottom of the exhaust manifold, under the thermostat housing casting plug left front head. We also found the right side head is cracked under the valve cover and the block is cracked between cylinders 5 and 6 internally in the water jacket. Bought the boat with cash as agreed upon Now he says the motor was fine and we must of broken it
It's now July. If you are in the Northern hemisphere..... and if you bought this boat on June 27th, I doubt that you've subjected the engine to freezing temperatures..... unless you stored it inside of a wharehouse freezer for a few days! :rolleyes:

Over-heating in one thing.... but severe freeze crack damage is another. It simply does not occur if the temperatures have remained above freezing.
We bought the boat in good faith is there anything we can do to reclaim our loss.
As said... document anything and everything that was said or written down during the discussion and/or sales.

 

[al ralston]

If it makes you feel any better, I bought a 260 Sundancer last July after having a mechanical survey. Then found water in cylinder - had to rebuild heads, replace manifolds, risers, etc = $4.5K. Had the boat in the water for one month and had a great time. Launched this year and had low oil pressure at idle. After removing the motor and replacing the oil pump (told it was fixed), still had the problem. It is now in the shop getting a new engine. After paying $30K for the boat, I now have $14K into it and have only run it for one month. I'm sure there are many more stories like mine!