8 original hours on 2008 GW and Yamaha 200 questions

Msp381

Msp381

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Seafarer
What’s the thoughts on a 2008 GW with only 8 hours on the hull and Yamaha 200 four stroke. Unfortunately it sounds like the owner ram into some health issues and hasn’t been run for 4 years. Sounds like it was hardly used at all. It’s Been in a garage. This is a freshwater used boat. What issues are things should a person be looking at when checking it over? Due to conditions this time of year and ice on the lakes what can I do to make sure the outboard has no issues? Thanks!
 
Look for freeze issues with the engine and boat. See if you can tell if it was winterized before being put away.

If they can bring it inside get some heat in there and warm it up. Pick a decent day outside. Run the engine preferably in a tank but muffs and a split hose to the flush is ok too. Fill up the water system and look for leaks. When done testing re-winterize it.
 
Since the engine sat its whole life, I’d remove the plugs and spray fogging oil into each cylinder. Then turn the cylinders by hand. Then, have to assume the fuel is bad, so check the fuel filter and attach an external tank with clean fuel to the engine. Batteries are likely bad too, so bring a battery or jump pack, and turn over the engine first without the plug cables in place to prime the oil. Oops , forgot about that. Assuming you are serious about this boat, I would drain and replace the oil first too. (Your big issue here is your fluids are likely all bad and cylinder walls dry as dust.)
Now, reattach the plug cables, attach the hose and muffs and start it up.
That said, my old 2005 Yamaha 225 would not pee on muffs, so you may need a tank.
For a few bucks and an hour of time you may find you have a great engine. Good luck.
 
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My advice is to spend most of your time looking for issues with the hull and mechanical things and assume that the engine has major problems. It may not be but you won't be able to easily tell. One of the worst thing to do to a boat is not use it. If the boat is priced where it would be if sold without an engine, it may be worthwhile.
If you are mechanically skilled and familiar with boat issues, especially electrical, that would help since I suspect that some problems won't be obvious at first. There are one and a half positives; The boat was used in fresh water and was garage stored. The bad news is that if the garage wasn't heated, the boat was exposed to many seasons of Michigan winters , maybe without winterizing.

I personally would not try to start the motor with out lubricating the cylinders, draining all the gas, and running a compression test and testing the LU oil for water.
You will probably need a new battery just to crank the motor. Normally it would be at your expense for any parts, , filters, oils and the like
 
If the owner was like most of us, those 8 hours would have happened in the first 2 days. Unless a read-out tells you differently, the boat has likely sat for about 16 years. I would still be interested.
 
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I guess I'm confused... so you sold your 2006 GW 228 Seafarer last summer to then buy a 2008? Or is this a different model of Grady? Also, you didn't mention your experience in terms of if you have any mechanical knowledge with working on boats, cars or whatnot. Whether you do or not, there's going to potentially be a good long list of things that could have issues with them from the boat sitting off and on, but mostly off, for almost 20 years. The same goes for the original motor being almost 20 years old now and only having 8 hours on it. If you don't have much mechanical experience and especially if you're considering purchasing the boat or haven't purchased it yet, I'd have a Yamaha tech look over the motor and/or have a surveyor inspect the entire hull/boat/trailer in general.
 
Mustang65fbk said:
I guess I'm confused... so you sold your 2006 GW 228 Seafarer last summer to then buy a 2008? Or is this a different model of Grady? Also, you didn't mention your experience in terms of if you have any mechanical knowledge with working on boats, cars or whatnot. Whether you do or not, there's going to potentially be a good long list of things that could have issues with them from the boat sitting off and on, but mostly off, for almost 20 years. The same goes for the original motor being almost 20 years old now and only having 8 hours on it. If you don't have much mechanical experience and especially if you're considering purchasing the boat or haven't purchased it yet, I'd have a Yamaha tech look over the motor and/or have a surveyor inspect the entire hull/boat/trailer in general.
Click to expand...
Mustang,
Yes I did end up selling my 228 last year. Loved the boat but and 250hp it had but didn’t like not having to keep it under a cover. I like to keep my boat in my garage when I’m not using and the hard top and length were just a bit too high and long. I really loved my previous GW to the 228.

Anyway I have mechanic abilities but was curious what others thoughts were on an amazing low hour GW basically new condition minus the age. It was winterized prior to storage.
 
Msp381 said:
Mustang,
Yes I did end up selling my 228 last year. Loved the boat but and 250hp it had but didn’t like not having to keep it under a cover. I like to keep my boat in my garage when I’m not using and the hard top and length were just a bit too high and long. I really loved my previous GW to the 228.

Anyway I have mechanic abilities but was curious what others thoughts were on an amazing low hour GW basically new condition minus the age. It was winterized prior to storage.
Click to expand...

So, what model of Grady White is this current boat then?
 
Motor would be a big focus area. I'd agree to get a tech to look at the boat. If it cranks, get her going and see how she runs in a barrel or with muffs. If you do the deal, get all the maintenance stuff done over several years done. Have the tech go through it fully and change whatever else he recommends. The smaller the boat, the less complex systems. You likely can take as is and go through when you get it on the water. Price is key, the better the deal the more risk you can assume.
 
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Thanks for all the responses. Good information!
 
Well... I found the boat that you're looking at and imo the price isn't even in the ballpark for what you're getting. Even with the boat only having 8 hours on the motor. I think I'd personally spend half the money, get a boat with a few more hours on it, as well as a bit more usage out of it. These boats sitting for years and years on end, especially in very cold climates like Michigan, oftentimes can be a very bad thing. Just my opinions on the matter of course, good luck either way with whatever you decide on doing.
 
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I just got title to an abandoned 2008 Rinker 280 Express Cruiser. V8 Volvo Penta gas engine. Boat hasn't been used since 2012. Sat on my storage property for the last 10 years. While I was waiting on the title all plugs were pulled and cylinders lubed with Miracle Mystery Oil and PB Blaster. Let sit for 6-month, re-oiled, hand cranked then starter cranked. More oil in cylinders and put away until this spring. Fuel system has to cleaned out and will try to start motor in the Spring using a small 5-gallon fuel tank.

You have a similar situation. When the motor stopped some valves are open and others are closed. This exposes the cylinder to the damp air. You have to be sure to get some oil to the rings and any rust that forms in the cylinders. Gently hand crank. If you break a ring you have a big problem. Good luck.
 
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