Buying a 2001 Air Nautique - What should I look for?

[nautique_stealth]

Volt guage is pinged, but battery shows proper volts. Exhaust valves are leaking a bit. Other than those, that's it...

[DanielC]

If the exhaust valves are leaking, the engine needs a valve job. it will not last long. Once the engine is apart, there may be other issues.

You could save a lot by removing the cylinder heads your self, but you could easily run into trouble dealing with all the fuel injection stuff, if you are not familiar with it.

Some boat dealers are not really set up to do major engine work. The labor alone on tearing into an engine can quickly exceed the cost of just replacing the engine. If the boat had a GM engine, easy to do. GM engines are still readily available. It will take a lot more work to find a good Ford engine.

My advise, look for another boat.

It is March. My guess is you want to have a boat you can use. If all the parts you need are available, this boat could be fixed in about two weeks at a properly equipped shop. If there is a problem, it could easily be sometime into summer before this boat is good to go.

[WakeSlayer]

^^ Agreed ^^

[jimmyj]

lots of boats should be popping up pretty soon anyhow.

[AirJeff]

I'd say tell him you're still interested, but worried that more problems could be found when they pull the heads. Tell him to let you know when the water opens up and you can take it for a water test. In the mean time keep looking and see if you find something better. If nothing new pops up and you like it after putting it in the water, offer him $13k? If it only needs a valve job you'll be getting a sweet deal, if it needs more you'll still be ok.

P.S. You'll look good in pinky behind that boat.

[nautique_stealth]

P.S. You'll look good in pinky behind that boat.

Funny. Too bad it can only be used on the boat YOU ride on! I'd have to say, it looks better on you than Dad!

[nautique_stealth]

Yeah, sounds like either I talk him down to some crazy low number, or I move on.
More boats will be on the market soon, but so will more buyers!

Thanks guys for all your input. Really appriciate it!