Looking to buy used Ranger 31CB, anything to lookout for?

[tphipps]

Hello all:

My wife and I have been boating for 12 years or so both 19' runabout cuddy outboard and sailing up to 41' during our charter classes. We have found a 2016 31CB, it has 333 hours on it. We are thinking of making a trip to see the boat and just curious if anyone here would have any suggestions on things to look for. I am not sure with the hours if that is considered low, avg, high and what could I expect as an average overall life for the diesel.

I am already intending to look closely into all the hatches for oil, dirt, etc. Test all bilge pumps, appliances, electronics and heads. Also making note of the battery bank. What is the normal running engine temp that you have experienced? Will also look at the oil. Anything that I need to consider regarding the transmission? Boat is in the water so not sure if will have the opportunity to look at the bottom. It is currently with a dealer, hoping they have some additional info regarding when the bottom was last done.

Final question is do any of you know the boat Tazlina? If so I would love to hear what you know.

Thanks in advance,
Tony

 

[Bruce Moore]

Bumping delayed post.

 

[Happyjack]

I looked at this boat before buying another from somewhere else. Should you wish to discuss then call me. Malcolm 925-989-3468

 

[Gin]

You do plan to have both the boat and engine surveyed, yes? It’s great to get an added list of things to look for from forum-member owners. But as probably everyone on this forum will urge, don’t forgo a professional survey by someone with a top notch reputation.

To answer your specific question about running temp, when my D4-300 (2019) is fully warmed up, it runs steady at 185 degrees.

On hours, 333 strikes me as ballpark for a 4-5 year old boat. Seems like folks who are lighter users often put on 50 or so hours a year. Those who do more multi-day cruising and have longer boating seasons double or triple that. And then there are those lucky dogs who put on over 150 hrs a year (long seasons and/or long multi-week or month cruises in the summer). At least, that’s my impression. Other forum members likely will chime in with a better basis for comparison than I have. But those hours on a 2016 boat, if the boat and engine have been well maintained, seem like a plus to me (boat has been used, but not overused). For comparison, I took delivery just a little over 2 years ago. I’m at about 265 hours. So I may be averaging about 125 hrs a year. Before I retired, on my 2013 R27, I averaged half of that.

Good luck with your quest!

Gini