Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

[frozone]

I'm cross posting this my original on the Maintenance and Tech Forum. I'm new to the site and trying to figure out the best place to post.

I'm interested in 211's and could use some insight from folks who know more about Nautiques than I do.

I'm considering buying an 06 211. I went out on it today with they guy selling it. He bought it as a bank repo to resell, the original owner didn't winterize it and cracked the block. The boat had 32 hours when this happened. The seller bought it knowing he would need to replace the block.

The seller bought a new block, exhaust and intake manifolds from Michigan Motorz and had a local shop (not the Nautique dealer, but the mechanic has supposedly been a Nautique mechanic). They did the rebuild and transferred all the PCM parts to the new block. We didn't drive it above 3000 RPM today because it's only got a few hours on the new block so it's in break in. The boat started right up, seemed to run great.

I'm not a mechanic, so I don't understand everything involved in this process. I'm concerned about a boat with a rebuilt engine and don't really know how to have it checked out. I can take it to the Nautique dealer, I think they're good guys but have little interaction with them. I think they might already be biased as they know about this boat (seller called them looking for replacement engine and they called him at some point looking to consign boat).

I have a mechanic buddy who would be happy to look at it, but he's not a marine mechanic, although a very solid engine guy. What would they be looking for, what could they tell without pulling it apart?

I had a long conversation with the guy at Michigan Motorz who sold the block, he happens to own a 211 as well. I felt comfortable with our conversation, I feel pretty comfortable with the seller. Haven't been able to talk to the shop who did the work.

So, this boat has almost everything I want (3 ballast, keyless, perfect pass, upgraded stereo, board racks, bimini, pull out heater, swing away tongue trailer, tower speakers) but no shower or snap cover , 38 hours, 6 on the new engine, we like it a lot and part of me would love to just buy it right now, but my practical, scared side says I need to wait and do more research on the engine rebuild.

The price seems decent, I can probably get it for around $35K. There's another 211 in my market, 1 owner, 450 hours, team edition, selling for $36K with a little room for negotiation.

As mentioned, the engine thing is a concern to me, but looking for opinions of folks who know more about this stuff than I do.

Help me out here, should I be seriously considering this boat and trying to get it into the shop for a used boat check or should I be running away. Part of me thinks I know as much or more about this boat and the engine as I would about any used boat purchased from a private party.



Thanks,

[HS]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

keep shopping is my opinion

[SNobsessed]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

Frozone - It probably is OK. There are CC owners all over the world, maybe one of them is in your area & could ride in it with you. About the only early indicators of improper build are vibration, noises, sloppy gasket placement, fastener torques, iginition timing, alignment. Everything else is buried. You could listen to the engine with a mechanics stethoscope. One last idea is to pull some engine oil & have it analyzed (costs about $15).

Let us know what area you are from & I am sure someone would love to look at this with you. Try CCF also.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

There is no Special Edition. It is either a Limited Edition or a Team Edition, based on the options that you listed above.

Also, since it was a bank repo, there will be NO factory warranty.

[SkiTundra]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

What engine does it have? 6 hrs s/b beyond the initial break-in and shouldn't be a problem running higher RPM's, just make sure you vary it occasionally. I also don't think there'd be any problems running max RPM's for 2 or 3 minutes and I would do that a time or two. Download the manual from the Mfr. I'd certainly get someone to look at it. A mechanic friend whom you trust, even if not marine, should be fine I'd think.

[frozone]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

The boat in question is a Limited Edition, i was thinking one thing and typing something else.

The engine is the Excaliber 330. The block was replaced with a standard GM marine block that would accommodated a straight swap of all the PCM parts of the engine.

I understand there would be no warranty on this boat.

Does $35K seem like a good deal for this boat given the circumstances or is it about average. Seems like the 211s I find around the country are in the $40s but i also doesn't seem like they're actually selling, but it's hard to tell.

[AirTool]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

I can't comment on the price.

On the engine, there is nothing wrong with the concept of getting a short block or long block replacement.

There is nothing wrong with the concept of getting an auto mechanic to do the work.

I'd first just look at the detail/care taken with the engine swap. Did the mechanic do a nice job of putting it all back together? are the wire looms neatly organized? does it look like all the parts are back on? does it look like new?

If so, go run it. Follow the break in procedure from the manual. It is simple. The only break in necessary is to seat the rings.

If it all checks out and the price is right, buy it and enjoy it. I would.

[bchesley]

RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

My gut reaction is that because the guy was not willing to let the nautique dealer do the work then there were short cuts and or compromises made due to cost. I would run from it. Was the long block assembly even equal to a 330hp assembly? It just kills me when people do this to save a buck.

[HS]

Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

There is no Special Edition. It is either a Limited Edition or a Team Edition, based on the options that you listed above.

Also, since it was a bank repo, there will be NO factory warranty.

I was able to get the CC transferreable warranty on the deck, hull and stringers; the CC 2nd owner warranty on the remainder of the orig. 5 year warranty on parts, plus the engine warranty from PCM for a nominal fee.

One of the reasons Nautiques retain their value has to be the length of warranty -- among build quality and design -- but IMO you are forfieting a main part of the value. Just sayin'.

[CradGen2]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

I'd pass. There are a lot of 06 211 out there for around that price. I'd buy a better 04 or 05 then a repo/rebuilt 06 any day for 35K.. IMO

[zapada]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

I'd feel comfortable with it. Perhaps you can get an engine warranty from the guy who put the new block in. The loss in CC warranty should bring the price down because it has a few years left. Once the boat is 4 or 5 years old, the value of the warranty/bank repo issue is obviously NA. Good luck, I really like the 211.

[NautiqueJeff]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

Correct Craft will NOT warranty ANY repo boats. If you don't believe me, call your dealer.

[frozone]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

Alright, interesting feedback here. I'm either hearing "Buy it" or "Run like ****."

Crad, if there were a bunch of 211's out there for $35K I'd definitely keep shopping. There are only two in my local market, this on and an 04 with 450 hrs for the same price with warranty through October (lot of good that does me). Every 211 I've found online has been at least $40K. Suppose I find one out of state, then I buy sight unseen and pay for shipping?

In this market, the best deals are going to be Repos, so I'm screwed on warranty. Everyone else is trying to get more money out of their boats cause they paid too much for them 2 years ago, I can buy new for what these folks want for their used boat. I had about a $30K budget that is now up to $38K out the door (tax, title and license).

At this point, I'm feeling pretty comfortable with the engine story. I've talked to the provider of the block twice, it's got a one year warranty, and I've talked to the shop that did the work and have buddies who have used them, they're 20 year shop and know their stuff. I'm not as confident in the Natique dealer, they were the ones trying to tell me that it sounded like the seller was trying to use a Mercruiser Block and that a Ford platform wouldn't work because the Excaliber is a GM block. WTF!?! Never mind that Fords been out of the Marine business for many years and all these engines are using the same GM block. That conversation did not give me high regard for the technical acumen of the Natique dealer. At any rate, the block was the right block, clean and purty, it has a new exhaust and intake manifold, the install and swap over of all the PCM parts went great according to Wasatch Marine, the shop who did the work.

I called another Nautique dealer to get another perspective, gave him the whole background. He basically told me it was an awesome deal and I should buy it right away or regret it in a week.

So back to my original point, folks either say buy it or run like ****. Maybe I'll just go buy a bass boat instead, this is making my head hurt...

[SkiTundra]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

Agree on the bass boat. That little live well under the seat on the 211 don't even have no circulat'n pump. He he he he :-)

I think a repo and rebuilt engine will always be controversial. Many people just aren't comfortable with them, others are. If you're comfortable that the rebuild was done well and that otherwise the boat's in good shape and no damage to the hull then you're probably getting a good deal. Thing with good deals is that sometimes there's a bit more risk than buy'n new (in this case risk reduction will cost you about $20k). Post pics after you get it (with and without the fish'n chairs in place.)

[Mikeski]

RE: Re: RE: Should I buy this 06 211 Special Edition?

If I checked it out and liked it I would not hesitate to buy it, warranty or not. Anything that can be done under warranty can be done with cash. These boats are hand built and hand repaired, nothing sacred about the dealer or warranty. I have seen a corner taken off a boat get repaired back to new condition, it's fiberglass and not hard to repair if you know what you are doing. The motors are also simple automotive motors, again easy to repair if you know what you are doing. Even the upholstery is easily repaired.

Put that $5k you save into the bank. If you need it use it, if not, put it towards something more productive, like a college fund for the kids. Never understand why so many put so much faith into the dealer or manufacturer and their support?