2008 R25 Inspection Help (pre-purchase) for New Owner

prbpryl68

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Hello....after a long search I've found my boat....2008 R25. Conducting a thorough inspection which includes the engine. Would like to know from any owners what to look out for during the surveys?
 
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Congratulations! We’ve had a 2008 R25 for 8 years now and I can say there is nothing in particular to watch out for in my experience. Just look for unusual wear and tear for a 13 year old boat. If you have a Raymarine MFD, I suggest you will not be impressed with its user interface, however it does the job. If it has a Wallas stove, they recommend factory performed maintenance be done every 5 years(?), but I have only had a problem lately and that was solved by diy glow plug replacement. My Wallas stove is glued in and therefore very difficult to get out without major issues. I would consider that a design issue. Otherwise, just regular maintenance issues, no real design issues other than the fact they have stuffed a lot of things into a 25 footer making maintenance difficult.

Good Luck
 
We purchased a 2010 R25 SC last June and did our homework. I created pre-survey and sea trial checklists, which I followed religiously and it paid dividends as I didn't find any concerning issues with the mechanical/electrical/hull.

If you email me at spinard1975@gmail.com, I can forward these checklists.

I had the engine/transmission fluids tested as part the marine survey, just in case. As well, I requested complete maintenance logs from the previous owner, which were complete and very detailed.

A few things that sold me right off were: 1. I opened the engine bay and you could have had dinner in there as it was so clean and the bilge was dry; 2. The salon and cockpit were clean and no obvious issues; 3. The owner started the engine the first time I visited the boat, without prior knowledge that I wanted to start the engine.

If well maintained and operated by previous owners, regardless of the manufacturing year, these are great boats.
 
A 13 year old boat is still a relatively new boat that should have many more years of service. The common maintenance inspections should be performed.
*engine mounts should be inspected for tightness to the stringer, and overall condition
* bilge pumps function and all compartment wiring is in good condition
* inspect all bonding connections and thru hull fasteners. The fasteners are 304SS and can appear to be ok but severely corroded if the boat was primarily used in salt water.
* Inspect the Exhaust hose from the muffler can to the exhaust thru hull. Inspect the fasteners anchoring the exhaust thru hull.The fasteners are not bonded and tend to corrode faster then the rest of the thru hull fasteners.
* Inspect the running gear, packing gland, shaft runout, cutlass bearing for wear, and prop. Record the prop size
*Inspect the heads components, head, hoses, tank vent, and tank for leaks and overall condition. Many raw water flush heads will require a full replacement of hoses after ten years of use.
* A survey that includes a full inspection of the hull, decks and cabin roof for structural integrity and moisture.
*A survey that includes a full inspection of the electrical system. This is a very important inspection. This inspection should be for complete 12V system , including the batteries, charging system, engine and shore power charging, along with a complete inspection of 120V system including shore power connections and inverter wiring to confirm it is properly wired and meets ABYC standards.
* Engine and reverse gear inspection, oil samples of both and ask for a maintenance record, belts, alternator, overall condition of fasteners, corrosion at split lines of after cooler, heat exchanger, coolant hoses, engine anodes if used, Raw water system thru hull seacock, hoses reverse gear cooler, strainer, electrical component connections. A Sea trial operating the engine at several different rpm ranges. Record the rpm, engine operating temperature, oil pressure, boost pressure and fuel burn GPH use the data information to compare to the manufactures specifications. Operate the engine at WOT to confirm the engine is propped correctly being able to operate at the engine manufactures Max rpm + 1%-3%. When operating at this rpm confirm there are no overheating issues.
* Check trim tabs for proper operation, fluid level and overall condition.
* Inspect rudder box overall condition, steering anchor linkages, condition of hydraulic lines, and hydraulic cylinder.Confirm a good solid look to lock when turning the helm wheel.
* inspect the fresh water system, plumbing connections, hot water heater for proper operation and overall exterior condition.
* inspect all under deck storage are's for proper drainage and the overall condition. The decking is plywood and if drainage is plugged theses storage areas are susceptible to water damage and rot.
* If the boat has a trailer, a overall inspection of the trailer should be performed. Look at the date codes of the tires, look at the overall condition of the tires, Remove the dust caps or bearing buddies to see the condition of the grease. ( any moisture would indicate it would require a full inspection of bearings) Inspect the breaks for condition and them operate the breaks for inspection of proper function.

After a full inspection you now know what the boat will need to make it aa dependable cruising boat. The more you know about the condition of the vessel the better you can be prepared if there is a component failure. No matter how well the boat has been maintained components fail new or old.

If the boat passes survey and your overall inspection of the boat. Congratulations on your purchase of the TUG and happy cruising.
 
Thanks to everyone who responded, such a generous group. Look forward to applying your advice and hopefully in time helping out the next person who needs some guidance. Have a good one!
 
One thing you have not mentioned is the 2008 boats engine model. There were several (110, 120 and 150 hp) Yanmar engines offered and a Cummins engine. All quite different engines with significantly different issues.
If a Yanmar engine make sure all service bulletins were completed. Several of them are posted on this site under Ranger Factory Technical Bulletins tab on this site. Our 2009 had the oil hose issue addressed with the wrong replacement hose used which cost us when the incorrect part failed a couple of years after purchase.
If a Cummins engine search for “hard start Cummins” which should give info on the ECM issues with these engines.
Without starting a flame war, be sure you have qualified service people who can perform maintenance on your specific engine when you need professional help that are in your area.
 
Hi
You asked if there were any issues you should look at prior to purchasing your 2008 R25. I purchased 2008 R25 with a cummings 150 3 years ago and have several issues you should look into prior to purchasing your boat.
1. Fuel gauge and fuel sender. Had to replace mine and it is difficult to get to on an R25.
2.Had to replace the exhaust elbow and that part is difficult to find.
3.Boat is very hard to start in cold weather. I will have to also look into another respondents suggestion to check out "Hard to start Cummings.
Even with these issues My wife and I both love the boat. The boat has a great comfortable ride and is a pleasure to use. We previously had a day cruiser and my wife did not like bouncing over and through the waves. So if you like a nice comfortable ride you will enjoy this boat.
Good luck
Bryant
 
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