How much discount for a flooded engine?

[Andrew_tug]

HI,

I am looking to purchase a classic R25, ideally with a Yanmar 150 hp engine. I found one, but was told a sad story by the broker (who was very straight forward). The second owner of the boat had a service done after purchase but before use (including some new hoses), and the raw water hose came loose during the new owners maiden voyage (new owner and wife). The engine compartment partially fIlied with salt water and stalled the engine, but i don't know if the engine overheated, invested water or electrically shorted. They got towed back to the marina, and the engine got $16k of service including salt away, fluid changes and flushes, and some electrical component replacement.

I am pretty leary of this boat, and the potential for on going problems, but would appreciate any thoughts.

Thank you

 

[NorthernFocus]

Unless it is a rediculously low price I'd not bother. If the price is attractive enough then I'd ask for the name of the shop that fixed it and talk to them and find out exactly what they did. If they won't provide that info then I'd just move on to the next boat.

 

[baz]

What does a new/used Yanmar 4BY2-150 engine cost I wonder. If the boat is well priced (a low price) a new or used engine replacement might be worthwhile to have peace of mind. Just a thought of the top of my head..... 🙂

 

[knotflying]

Interesting, you can get a new engine installed for about $20,000. Why spend $16,000 and have a lingering question of performance. If I were the owner I would have sprung for the new engine. I am sure that under those circumstances the insurance paid for the work. I would have thrown in the extra bucks and gone new.

If I was the potential buyer I would want to know how long ago the work was done and how many hours on the engine since. The more hours the more confident I would feel. Also important are the thrusters. With that much water they may have gotten soaked as well. How are they operating?
In any event I would be looking for a discount off the going price. Probably in the $20,000 range. And if the thrusters are suspect probably more.

 

[Andrew_tug]

Thand you all for your great comments here and through pm. I appreciate your expertise and agree with the consensus that this is in fact a "big" issue, and if I move forward with this boat, it would have to at an adequately reduced price for the risk / hassle / cost of fixing and replacing lots of things going forward.

Thank you

 

[doke01]

I have a classic R25 with this engine. It is quite durable. However, based on your description and what I know about how the raw water flows through it, it is likely that it overheated.

Once the engine is started it uses no electrical power at all. There is no computer. There are no glow plugs or electric fuel pump. Once you've started it, you can basically chuck the battery overboard and it will run until it is out of fuel or you shut it off. Remote shut off requires power, but you can just pull a lever on the engine so even this doesn't need a battery. The battery is just there to kick over the starter and run the gauges.

If the raw water hose to the exhaust came loose, the water lift muffler would melt, but the engine would keep running. It would eventually fill the engine compartment, but it would take a long time because the bilge pump would be pumping it out as it came in. If any other hose came loose, the engine would overheat. You'd need to almost sink the boat before water entered the air intake side, since it sits on top on the engine. I'd think you see extensive damage to the interior of the boat if that were the case.

Based on this, it likely overheated, which stopped the engine and that's normally very bad. Overheating can cause a lot of issues with warped/cracked heads, destroyed piston rings, bent valve rods, and too many other issues to name. If the mechanics were good and there was nothing wrong with the block, then maybe you'd be OK and I think $16,000 is probably about what it would cost to fix an overheated engine, but there are a lot of unknowns here and, as you say, if you are seriously thinking about buying it you should get a hefty discount for the risk are taking.

 

[knotflying]

As Doug said, it is a great engine and the fact that there are no computer elements, it is so easy to work on and trouble shoot. Sixteen thousand dollars sounds almost like a rebuild. As also suggested, information from the firm that worked on the engine will provide a lot. Hey, if you get a good price allowing for an issue (new engine) and it never happens you will be ahead of the game.
You never did say how many hours are on the engine since the repair. I would also do an oil analysis and see what that shows. However, depending on what was done and how many hours are on the engine the report could be misleading. An engine rebuilt or new tends to make metal until worn in.