Thinking Of Buying a 2005 SN 196 ,Any issues to watch for ?

[VTCharlie]

I'm thinking of buying a 2005 SN 196 550 hours. The seller has agreed to take my 1992 196 650 hours in trade and I kick in 13 ,000. He is asking 23,500.00. Anyway the boat looks good in the pics and the only known issue is the knock sensor is on ,he replaced it but the light is still on and says it runs great and not a big deal just have to go to the dealer to get it shut off via laptop. He also recently replaced the kevlar shaft packing . Any known issue with this year SN ? Is the knock sensor something to worry about ? Any advice appreciated. Thank You ,Charlie

P.S. Does this sound like a decent deal?

[DanielC]

Have the knock sensor problem diagnosed BEFORE you make the trade!

[TRBenj]

I would say the deal is somewhere between "ok" and "decent". Depending on condition, that '92 is worth 7-10k, and about $18-22k on the '05, assuming its a LE with PP and the Excal. I would make sure any error codes or lights are checked out by a dealer before purchase.

[vtjc]

I agree that the issue with the knock sensor should be resolved before swapping. There could be several simple reasons for why that is being triggered, bad sensor, bad wiring and bad gas come to mind, but it could also indicate a more significant issue. Do you have maintenance records for the ’05 you can review? Has a compression test been done on the motor? It sounds like you have worked out a decent agreement, but some travel is involved. If your boat is free of issues, ensure the ‘05 is before you trade. This list is a good boat buying prep guide: http://www.tylerskiclub.com/usedboat.html
Where is the ’05 coming from? That will be a nice upgrade from your ‘92.
I ski on Lake Iroquois and Waterbury Reservoir in northwestern VT.

[VTCharlie]

The seller has agreed to have the dealer check it out then we will move forward with the transaction. ( most likely ,have to see the report on the 05) Thanks for the info. Charlie