looking at an F32 to buy

[Happy Ours]

So i was up lookng at an 1977 F32 today. The boat is docked at the same marina I am at, it actually came to the marina last july 2013. The owner bought it in June 2013. Sometime this winter the owner slipped on ice and hurt his shoulder, he needs surgery this spring sometime so the boat would be sitting probably all summer and not used, he sent me a text and asked if i was interested in it, my response was YES. So i went today to take a closer look and do my own inspection before i get a survey, boat is in great shape been in a covered slip most of it's life, no soft spots on fly bridge, bow, walkways, rear cockpit or any other place, stringers look good, hull recoated last june 2013, alternators rebuilt august 2013, carburators rebuilt august 2013, and electronic ignition installed, it has 350 chevy engines with 4 barrel rochester carbs, velvet drive trannys, boat is in overall great shape, interior dinning seats reupholstered june 2013. So today when we were going over the boat the owner told me what has been done since he has bought it, as mentioned above. So we lifted the hatchs to look down below and thats when he told me the electronic ignitions he put on where from a chevy truck. So now i am wondering about the rebuilt alternators he said they were rebuilt not replaced, so i am hoping that they should still be marine protected. So i am assuming that these electronic ignitions need to be replaced and am now interested to see what the survey says. I am hoping to get the survey done this week and have some pics to post. Any info or help would be greatly appreciated, sorry for the long post but there will be more i am sure of it. This is the reason i sold my F26. Thanks Craig

[captainmaniac]

Sounds like he put a lot of money in to it last summer (or did a lot of things on the cheap). To decide to get out of it because he hurt his shoulder and the boat may sit for the summer seems a bit extreme to me. You will know more after the survey, but be careful that it isn't just lipstick on a pig for a quick flip! Don't get me wrong - I hope it is an awesome opportunity, just make sure you have done your due diligence before you sign.

Don't know if other Ontario boaters on the forum may know of the boat - what year is it, and what is its name? You say it has 350 chevy engines - are they really Mercruisers, or actual Chevs? If actual Chevs, then I would wonder how much more of the engine guts, electronics, and fuel system are not to marine specs?

[Happy Ours]

They are 350 chevy mercruisers, he also said that he is not really a boater so besides his shoulder injury i am assuming he is just not to into boating, from what i know the boat seems solid but i am worried about the electronic ignition if this is the only issue I may choose to just replace them, should i go back to original or stay with new electronic ones, also will the surveyor be able to tell if the alternators are marine grade, the boat does run great and starts no problem just worried about the electronic ignition not being marine grade. Not to sure of the name

Craig

[Big D]

Not all surveyors are qualified enough to know what to look for when inspecting some of the mechanical systems.

If the alternators are OEM, you're probably okay but ask the owner where they were rebuilt then give them a call and ask how much marine experience they have, and if the units would still be ignition proof.

There are a few ways to upgrade to electronic ignition. If it's a simple points and capacitor upgrade kit, no big deal though I'd wonder why they didn't simply buy the marine version. In this case, the same Merc cap and rotor would typically remain the same except for the odd make like MSD but they have marine specific ratings. Keeping the cap is suitable for marine use is important. If it's an entire distributor replacement, I'd be worried. If the upgrade includes a computer/control box, I'd be double worried as chances are it's programmed with an automotive advance curve which is not suitable for a marine application. Find out what it is and make/model, then let us know.

[Happy Ours]

Thanks for the replies, I am having the survey done this week, the person doing the survey is a certified marine mechanic who also does surveys, I have checked around and he has a good reputation, when the survey is complete I will let you know what was said about altenators, electronic ignition and anything else of interest.

Thanks Craig