Mercruiser I/O vs Outboard SeaCraft?

[jjcwheeler]

$5,000 is what he's asking. I don't know if that's a good deal or not? I'm a 1st time buyer, that's why i'm so nervous about buying an older boat like this. Floor seems fine, but looks to need a paint job, spider web cracks in the paint.

[jjcwheeler]

testing to post pics? spider cracks in paint, transom, motor
[image][/image] [image][/image] [image][/image]

[bigeasy1]

There's a couple things i see that i are not right. ask the seller what in the world is a deck plate doing on the outside of the transom?.Did you unscrew it and check inside?See if you can feel the wood core.

The aluminum plate where the outdrive bolts to is not normal,and is there for one of two reasons.#1 is that the transom core is bad,or #2 it's some kind of adapter plate to fit with that outdrive,although the outdrive in the picture(at least the upper part)is an early 70's to early 80's model,so it shouldn't need that aluminum plate.

Mabe I'm wrong,but I think the price is high for this boat,and from the picture you posted,I'm thinking that once you start digging,you're going to find lots of areas that need replacement.
I'm sure some other guys will chime in to give their advice.

You may want to keep looking,there are other seacrafts around,and prices now in this economy are pretty good.There was a nice 20'scepter that sold for $6,000.00 near me a couple of months ago,and it was in good condition.They are around,you just have to keep looking,and be patient.

[3rdday]

Wow! I second that . That is definitely 2 red flags! Not normal!

[Fr. Frank]

The cracking in the fiberglass you see is more than normal crazing, and indicative of excessive stress. The deck plate of the left of the transom goup is a sunk boat waiting to happen. The gimbal housing is newer style, but the drive itself loks to be original pre-Alpha. The aluminum plate around the transom group would cause me to avoid this boat without figuring on absolutely replacing the transom core.

[Tiny]

Seariously, I've been lurking for a while...reading a whole lot of the acrhives...I was feeling so inspired I bought a 74 20 savage (outboard).

When I saw the pic above with the pie plate thru the transom !!!! below the waterline!!!! it was motivation enough for me to regester...

That's a classic, are they kidding????

This was well worth spending my first post on!!!!

[hermco]

I could be wrong but the pyhi/deck plate has to do with the livewell?

[NoBones]

I could be wrong but the pyhi/deck plate has to do with the livewell?

Your not wrong Don..
My 20 has the plate in the same place.
I put a strainer plate on the outside and a sealed one
on the inside of the live well. The original was drilled
holes through the glass skin. It looked hokie with the holes, hence the 4 inch strainer plate.

See ya, Ken