this boat fell in my lap

[BCFISHON1]

i am out estimateing a job and i notice a 18 ft open tiller willie preditor sitting out side,i joke to the gal i will do the job for the boat and she says let me get my husband while you add things up,i figure the job and it works out to 8700 which actually cost me about 5500.the husband comes out we go over the bid and he mentions my boat trade gesture and ask"s if i"m serious,i say lets look at the boat.its a 18 ft open willie predator with a suzuki tiller jet that says 100 horse on it,the boat is sound and the paints not too bad and there is a 9.9 4 stroke honda kicker,bimini top two or three good seats on boxes and 1 guide type seat that with legs.the husband tells me the main motor runs great but just wont get on plane,or at least not all the time,he says it use to plane out just fine but slowly lost its ability to plane.the trailer is rusted out but i am sure i can find a replacement but it"s the motor im worried about.does anyone think it could be the jet and if so what should i look for because i"m gonna get this thing no matter what and im hoping not to have to repower.

<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/?action=view&current=fish020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish020.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

<a href="http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/?action=view&current=fish022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish022.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>

[fishgetter]

Hard to tell what it might be, it could be the pump being out of adjustment, it could be a wore-out motor (doubtfull).

My old man has a 18 Thunderjet with a 100 suzuki pump (140 hp power head), 1997. It is slow to plane but it does with 3 people. We did have to adjust the wear plate.

Another time it would not plane because rain water was actually held up in the floor, 100's of pounds worth.

I bought a similiar style boat a 1987 18ft Alumaweld with a 175 merc that did not run, it had a 9.9 kicker that ran. I gave around $5K for the boat thinking I needed to repower, went to the marina and all I needed was a starter for the 175.

Bottom line is you never know until you dig into it. If it ran fine the price should be higher, $5K is not too bad for a hull and a 9.9 4 stroke kicker.

My:twocents:

[fishkisser]

Pass on it ...:twocents:

[Willie Ketchum]

You need to shim the impeller, then the jet will have more thrust.

[HntnFsh]

The hull is probably worth that.

If it runs fine I bet the power issue is something simple.

[tafish7]

I have to agree with " fishgetter ". Thats not a bad price for a hull and a 9.9 kicker motor. If the big motor is just a simple fix you win big! :)

My :twocents: Worth.

[Flatfish]

Compression test the big engine. So long as it aint blown up, it's fixable within your budget.

[Chrome Bumper]

If it came on slow it may be water built up in the flotation foam, dig out old foam, put in new. Like flat fish says, if it has compression its fixable, could be carbs, or ignition, but if was gradual look for weight gain. Run it across a scale, and dicker the price if you need to and want the boat. Barter might save you at tax time.

[tyeeterror]

check the impellor, and the intake grates. Make sure the impellor is not bent or dinged up. If the grates are bent or damaged they can change the water flow. Also check the clearance between the impellor and the wear ring. I can not remember what its supposed to be. Google "outboard jets" made in san leandro, ca. Pretty much any jet unit on the west coast is made by them. They list the clearance, and the proper way to sharpen the impellor blades. If the clearance is sloppy, the pump looses bite, which could cause loss of performance. These are things you can do yourself. If this isnt the issue, I would take the motor to a shop and have it checked out.

[BCFISHON1]

lets try these

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish021.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish022.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish023.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish025.jpghttp://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii32/roofmasters/fish020.jpg

[willierower]

I bet the impeller needs shimmed and sharpened. It amazes me how many outboard jet owners have no clue that you need to keep up on that.

[Starfish]

Do it!

Check the compression first but assuming that's okay it's probably a shim job as stated above... and you just scored big.

[BCFISHON1]

the job is done all that is left is to check out and finish the deal when i get back in town next week.i can hardly wait to tear into it,i feel like a kid before christmas.thanks for all the input.im sure the pump needs sharpened and shimmed and a new water pump will be in order.diamond plate floor and get rid of the floatation foam and replace with something better like fish blood!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jager]

check the compression on the motor, replace the aluminum impeller and wear ring, it did wonders for my 140 suzi. If you dont like the boat after you run it some, sell it you should come out ahead. Probably already a waiting line here.

[smalldog]

You can always put a prop lower unit back on it too.... and I would replace the floatation, not remove it...just a thought about safety.
You just scored,big time.

[fishslayer2]

Well did you get it? Let us know...

Fishslayer