New to boating, hoping to join the Rinker family! Help!!
TokyoX
Member Posts: 11 ✭
Hi everyone! My name is Lu and in the next few days I will be making my first "major" purchase when it comes to a boat. I am completely new so all the constructive advice is super appreciated. To give a little background story, I am a 29 year old entrepreneur and own my own car dealership. I am not into water-sports can certainly enjoy it. I plan on using the boat on weekends to lounge and hangout, at times show clients a good time and not so much long distance cruising or intensive water activities.
I've done extensive research and found that I really liked the style, design and most of all the reviews I've dug up on Rinker boats. I came here today to ask for advice and guidance so that I can hopefully make my first boating experience a good one and a enthusiast for life and not be a part of the many horror stories I've heard surrounding boat ownership.
I'm currently under contract on a 2004 Rinker Fiesta Vee 270 with a 300hp single Merc 350 with a B-III outdrive. The boat has approximately (420 hours) scanned on engine but (472) hours on the meter on the dash...
First question, is that normal? I've heard that can happen sometimes if the key stays turned.
Now, just to save time on this piece of advice, I will 100% get a surveyor to look at it this week and give me a professional feedback but would like to learn more from you, the actual owners!
A few other questions are:
1. Is this boat reliable?
2. What is your opinion on the single engine? I've hear they are underpowered but I also don't plan on doing too much "speed" activities and more of a short trip anchor and hangout type of use.
3. What are common problems with this boat?
4. How much should I be paying a surveyor for a boat like this?
5. Is it a good boat for a first time owner?
6. How is the handling?
Deal breakdown:
Located in Florida.
Seller wanted $21,900.
We've gone under contract at $20,000
The boat looks fantastic cosmetically and was kept dry on the back of the owners house on a lift at his dock. Seems to never have been bottom painted either.
I quickly brought a mechanic over to take a look overall and was made aware it's a buyable boat but to leave it in top share would need the following done:
Water Pump
Alternator
Crank Pulley
Intake Manifold (Not readily needed but advised to do eventually)
Spark Plug (I requested)
Water Intake Hose Kit
Outdrive Gasket Kit
Labor @ 10Hours 105xH
Totaling recommended work: $3700 ($2700 without intake manifold).
Any Advice? Thank you in advance!
I've attached photos of the boat.
though I
I've done extensive research and found that I really liked the style, design and most of all the reviews I've dug up on Rinker boats. I came here today to ask for advice and guidance so that I can hopefully make my first boating experience a good one and a enthusiast for life and not be a part of the many horror stories I've heard surrounding boat ownership.
I'm currently under contract on a 2004 Rinker Fiesta Vee 270 with a 300hp single Merc 350 with a B-III outdrive. The boat has approximately (420 hours) scanned on engine but (472) hours on the meter on the dash...
First question, is that normal? I've heard that can happen sometimes if the key stays turned.
Now, just to save time on this piece of advice, I will 100% get a surveyor to look at it this week and give me a professional feedback but would like to learn more from you, the actual owners!
A few other questions are:
1. Is this boat reliable?
2. What is your opinion on the single engine? I've hear they are underpowered but I also don't plan on doing too much "speed" activities and more of a short trip anchor and hangout type of use.
3. What are common problems with this boat?
4. How much should I be paying a surveyor for a boat like this?
5. Is it a good boat for a first time owner?
6. How is the handling?
Deal breakdown:
Located in Florida.
Seller wanted $21,900.
We've gone under contract at $20,000
The boat looks fantastic cosmetically and was kept dry on the back of the owners house on a lift at his dock. Seems to never have been bottom painted either.
I quickly brought a mechanic over to take a look overall and was made aware it's a buyable boat but to leave it in top share would need the following done:
Water Pump
Alternator
Crank Pulley
Intake Manifold (Not readily needed but advised to do eventually)
Spark Plug (I requested)
Water Intake Hose Kit
Outdrive Gasket Kit
Labor @ 10Hours 105xH
Totaling recommended work: $3700 ($2700 without intake manifold).
Any Advice? Thank you in advance!
I've attached photos of the boat.
though I
Comments
The only thing I can think of on your boat is if the swim platform has been raised so it doesn't drag, I may be thinking of a different model and I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can get the correct info.
Go Steelers!!!
It looks to be in fantastic shape- I really try to stay after mine and it does not look that good. Perhaps current owner is retired or could afford to have it cosmetically maintained- it looks great and the price good from what I would know.
Yes, not a water rocket but the cost of keeping up with two motors and out drives for my boating was not in the picture. I also did my research and sought this boat. Flew out to TX to look at one, found mine up in the panhandle in a lift also, one owner boat. Some boat designs I saw in this size had much less deck space and a little more cabin space- I really like the 270 design as we spend little time below other than to sleep and it's very comfortable. Also, the single motor you can actually get to- if you look at some of the twins you'd have to pull the motor to change a starter. It does ok- will run nicely at 25 or a little higher and will plane out in 6 seconds or so. You start adding people you may have to move the weight forward to get planed out- or I need a tune up which is over due. I can't really think of anything I don't like about our boat. Make sure there are no gas smells from a leaking tank which all boats are prone to in our year boats...not pretty. No leaks to the bielge are acceptable and do find out when the manifolds we're done. Surveys from my experience are making sure everything operates and the hull is solid- they are not mechanics and do compression checks etc. on the motor so if you have the ability, you might get a mechanic to really look at the power train but with the hours...mine was 100 so I figured worse case he missed an oil change.
Good luck! It's a lot to take in for a first boat but I have no regrets! I don't even have onefootites after 5 years.
Don't worry about the discrepancy in engine hours. As you've heard, sometimes the hour meter will run when you turn the key to "accessory" to play the stereo.
The labor seems a little high, but I agree 100% with doing preventative maintenance. Ask the mechanic to clean the engine room as part of those 10 hours of labor.
Are you going to keep the boat in the water? You'll need bottom paint, and that won't be cheap. And you'll definitely need to touch up any corrosion on the outdrive. Corrosion prevention is a big deal on the Bravo 3.
It is a good looking boat.
Most newer marine engines use an enclosed cooling system. This means that there is a small tank on the top of the engine that uses a combination of fresh water and coolant. This fresh water is circulated through the engine and through a heat exchanger. The fresh water, in this system, absorbs the heat of the engine.
if that intake manifold is toast, i'd be thinking the entire engine is. if the exhaust manifolds need new gaskets, then you need new manifolds... that crank pulley being in the condition it's is tells me the bilge was either full of water past that point, or, the boat sank at some point. most likely it was standing water in it based on the remainder of the boat.
a new engine- an MPI 350 built by mercruiser and with a closed cooling system can be had for around $10k total... if you're going that far you should consider at least a big block and if moving mounts for a big block you may as well consider a 496 or 502.... putting around is fine and fun- but... you NEED that power to push that boat when you need it... throttle has gotten me out of far more trouble than it has gotten me into. i'm a speed demon of sorts, so me saying that means something. most cruiser types STILL NEED that power at times... again- you could be chasing a breaking wave or getting out of the way of idiots...
the boat is worth it, i'd guess, if it were dropped to around $15k- that is the current owner donating the $5k toward repowering that you will match... there isn't any way around it after just seeing the pics of that engine and seeing and reading the tell tale signs. it's toast. at the absolute minimum i'd perform a leak down test on each cylinder... not just a compression test but a leak down test.
The rest of the boat looks good though. Might be a good opportunity to get a deal and repower with a new bigger engine.
As far as the suitability for what the listed uses are, I think it's great. As a 270 owner I'm biased though. I find the power in my older EFI to be more than adequate and I beleive the MPI version has a few more horses. A good size starter cruiser. Nice and beamy for a "27 foot" boat which in reality is closer to 30. Handles heavy water well enough and less expense than a twin.
Get a survey for sure, usually $300 to $500 or so for a boat that size. But they won't look at all the mechanical elements unless you find a surveyor that does both hull and mechanical. Or hire a marine mechanic for a couple of hours to check over the engine and drive. Insist on a sea trial and if possible bring the mechanic with you. There are some out there that specialize in sea trials and can even give you pointers on the operation of the boat. Good luck!
2018 Cherokee 39RL Land Yacht (Sorry...)
1) Take a boating safety course. Find a real one, not one of those free 30-minute online classes. You need to learn about safety, navigation, anchoring, boating laws, being responsible for your wake and much more.
2) Practice docking. There are lots of threads here about this topic.
3) Are you in the US? Sign up for a free Vessel Safety Check by the Coast Guard Auxiliary (http://cgaux.org/vsc/ ). They will help make sure you have all required safety equipment.
how many boats have you looked at ?
270s a great boat
if i was in florida i would prefer closed cooling
i would prefer a generator
my 2cents
most offer hull and structural, compression and oil sample testing and electronics.... one even offered “thermal” imaging
I’ve requested all the available service records from the owner and he’s provided me with these, (attached) some are super old so I don’t think I should even count it right?
the thing about this one is that it comes with a trailer when the Rinker does not and I can take it for a really low price based of the current comps on the market ... and would have plenty of room to overhaul it 5-7k budget.. so now I’m trying to see which would be the best bet As I’m always for “getting it done myself” and knowing what’s been done then believing Invoices.