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 Boating Newb buying an 85 [Archived]
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Irish916
A Boating Newb!

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Lehighton PA
 Boating Newb buying an 854:16 PM 10/28/2009 Reply  Edit

Originally posted in someone's thread and I figured I should probably make this a new topic (SORRY).

I found what appears to be a honey-of-a-deal I'm about to close on and I had a few questions. Please excuse my ignorance, I'm a bit of a boating newbie.

I have my eyes on 1985 VL 485-DC. The boat has a 1999 Evinrude XP200 on the back and appears to be in great shape. In spot checking the kevlar hull, there are no signs of misuse or abuse. No scratches or areas that appear to have been repaired. The boat was covered and garage kept, with detailed service history.

I'm looking for feedback on the areas I should be focused on to ensure it's a good investment. I'm planning on compression testing the V6 to ensure all the holes are in good working order. I'm reading a lot of posts about the transom on these boats. Sounds like I should be checking that area for stress cracking? What else should I look for?

In addition, any idea what the weight of this boat is? Approximately 1,000lbs without fuel???

Your feedback would be greatly appreciated.



HydraSports
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Klinger Lake MI
 Re: Boating Newb buying an 85 (Irish916) »6:06 PM 10/28/2009 Reply  Edit

Check the wood in the transom, battery well floor, knee boards etc. Basically all the wood in and around the battery well/fuel tank/bilge area.

Don't fret to much about any stress cracks around the transom on the deck. That isn't a structural part of the transom.

I'm curious about the weight of the boat. I'm going to weigh mine in the next couple weeks, just because the shop I'm working on it in has a hoist/scale system for weighing hulls.
hsb
I hate people



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Middletown CT
 Re: Boating Newb buying an 85 (HydraSports) »8:21 PM 10/28/2009 Reply  Edit

Easy way to check the transom, tilt the motor up, grap the lower unit and lift, should be no flex in the transom. Good luck, sounds like you may have found a good deal.

Kevin D
Middletown, CT
1996 LS 185, Johnson 150
Irish916
A Boating Newb!

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Lehighton PA
 Re: Boating Newb buying an 85 (hsb) »9:43 AM 10/29/2009 Reply  Edit

Thank you Hydra and HSB for the feedback. Definitely pointing me in the right direction. I appreciate it. Any other tips, especially for this year of boat, please let me know.
Irish916
A Boating Newb!

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Lehighton PA
 Re: Boating Newb buying an 85 (Irish916) »10:16 AM 11/10/2009 Reply  Edit

Thanks again for your feedback. We went out and gave the vessel a once over. It took us a while to get it started (bad gas). Seemed like the starting soleniod might be bad on the XP200. The starter would spin, but it wouldn't pop up an engage the flywheel. We had about 2 chargers connected to the battery and finally got enough juice in there to get the candles lit.

Pulled the plugs and confirmed we have a solid 85psi of compression in all 6 cylinders, so we're pleased the outboard passed the test.

We checked the transom trim up and down and there was zero flex. We noticed some superficial cracking, but zero flex - even after practically standing on the lower unit.

All in all I think she passed the test and I'm ready to do the deal. I had a question about the trolling motor on the front. The seller agreed to swap out the troller for a larger unit, but the plug type is different than the one on the boat now. Is this common? Do they sell adapters to connect one plug type to another? Do I cut an splice the old adapter onto the newer troller? Feedback on this would be helpful.

Once I close on this, I will share pix!

toddgot5fish
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Warrior Al
 Re: Boating Newb buying an 85 (Irish916) »11:10 AM 11/10/2009 Reply  Edit

that starter pinion should be greased about once every 6 months , just a light touch of reel grease on a q-tip should do the trick. and yep , i would just change out he plug end of the trolling motor to fit your receptacle ...bass pro, academy . etc . shoud have one


 


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