need advice on boat purchase

[TITANSFAN2104]

Alright guys I need some advice. I found a 21' javelin with a 200 Johnson, both 97 models. The boat needs new light fixtures for nav and anchor lights , has had two black light plugs installed and removed from top edge of the boat. It's gonna need a new bilge and aereator pumps along with wiring. It also needs new seats and could use some carpet. The clear coat is good but slightly cracked in a couple places. I still need to get a compression test on the motor and get it in the water before I buy it. So here's my questions, what things do I need to check to ensure the motor is good and sound and how am I on the price @$3600??

And my new toy to go on whatever I decide to buy

Any info or help as to what I need to look at would be greatly appreciated or if anyone lives close to smith county and can direct me toward a good mechanic and marine store. I would do it my self but I work alot and between work ,my daughter and girlfriend I really don't want to tackle a big project

 

[arctic_cat]

you will drop alot of money if you take it to a boat mechanic. I think the going rate is about $80+ an/hour just labor these days. the pumps and lights should not be to hard to replace. if motor checks out good, I would say its a decent deal if you can do all the other work it needs.

 

[turkeyhunter64]

Im not sure that is a 1997 model motor. I believe the 97 model 200's were the vindicator series. I believe the GT series was produced in the late 80s. I have a Johnson 175GT and it is a 1989 model. The draw back to this style motor is it is slow in relationship to what is on the water today and It drinks gas like you would not believe. (mine does anyway.) If it has the VRO oil sending unit make sure it works. VRO stands for Very Risky Oiling not Variable Ratio Oiling. Blew up my 175 because is quit sending the right amount and never alarmed one time. I run straight mix now. I would suggest replaceing the water pump in the lower unit and checking the lower unit gear oil. If it is brown or milky color it has water in it. That is a very bad thing and the lower gear case is suspect to damage. It should be black if it has not been changed in a while. Trim it up and down to make sure the trim unit works good.. I would double check the year model on that motor..I might be wrong but don't think I am. On a positive side if the compression checks good and everything is working properly that is one tough motor. I run mine hard and it still runs as good as it ever did.

 

[Winchester]

I think TH may be right. I may be wrong but I think you may be dealing with an 87 model rig instead of a 97?? I too once had an 85 model Johnson gt 150 and it was cowled very similar thos this one. I would chck it out closely if I were you. Good luck.

 

[TN Larry]

The boat itself looks like a 97, but I don't think that the motor is. TH and Winchester are right. The GT series are slow and gas guzzlers. I would also be afraid of issues with an older model 200 hp motor. I would not buy it based on the motor alone no matter how good it seemed to run. JMO though. Good luck with whatever you choose.

 

[Jon]

That motor isnt a 97 model. I have a friend with one just like it. VRO with checkered flags on the front cowl. late eighties, early nineties motor. His runs good but not very speedy.

 

[Kirk]

I would have a leak down test run on the motor. A compression test is ok but a leak down finds the problems. That good deal could turn into a $3000 rebuild in a hurry. Especially if it has been running ethanol blend fuels.

I have a 1998 Evinrude 175 that showed perfect compression during the compression test. HOWEVER, it had two badly damaged cylinders. The leak down test revealed the problem. I was standing there when the guy tore the motor down and saw the damage. It cost me $3200 to get it rebuilt and another $500 to get a new injector and have the others recalibrated.

 

[93civEJ1]

just get the numbers off the motor itself, and the number off the hull of the boat as well....both will give you the dating info you need.

 

[spitndrum]

Offer 3k ;)

 

[Football Hunter]

Id be a litle scared of a 14 y/o boat.

 

[David]

Agree with others on year of the motor. No matter the extra cost, I would take it in and get it checked out. You would regret it for a long time if you buy without getting it checked out then find out you need a motor rebuild.

If you decide to get it, just make sure you can find someone to work on it and you can get parts for the motor. Im always leary of Johnson since i had an old OMC motor on a runabout one time and couldn't find anyone that would touch it or parts for it. Granted it was a runabout and a OMC...

I personally stick only with Mercury or Yamaha now as the motor of choice. Just my opinion. Seen a lot of boats with Johnson on there, and sure they are fine motors as well.

 

[David]

Oh. Should have mentioned. For that price, it could be a good deal if motor is good!

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

Well , the boat ran good and fired up with ease every time. It Gps at 62 mph ,probably does need a new water pump as it wasnt shooting the water very hard , more like a good solid stream. It idled great and seemed alright. For 3500 its hard to find anything that's much to look at. I know the guy I bought it from pretty well and he doesn't fish much anymore but has had the boat for going on 6 years and said it always ran good but probably did need a carb cleaning because he had only had it out two times the previous year. Everything else I found in this range was a grand or two higher on average. And yes I believe yall are right he said it wasn't a 97, I misunderstood. Thanks for the input. We ran it for almost 5 hours on and off with a lot of slow idling to play with the hb 998 , and it performed pretty darn good !!

 

[stretch]

I am thinking that 1991 was the last year Johnson made the GT series. They went from that to the Fast Strike. I had a GT175 and you will spend a small fortune in gas if you go very much. Never had any problems with my motor but I did know a couple of people that had theirs blow up. That javelin hull is a good one.

 

[Rackseeker]

Is this the same boat? Dang you already trying to sale it?

http://www.golsn.com/listings/recreatio ... 02740.html

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

Yep... Always trying to turn a profit. I'm don't really care if I sell . Just seeing what's out there. Anything I have is for sale.

 

[Rackseeker]

Yep... Always trying to turn a profit. I'm don't really care if I sell . Just seeing what's out there. Anything I have is for sale.

I hear yeah, I hear yeah,,,,,anything I have is for sale to. Well just about everything.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

Yep... Always trying to turn a profit. I'm don't really care if I sell . Just seeing what's out there. Anything I have is for sale.

I hear yeah, I hear yeah,,,,,anything I have is for sale to. Well just about everything.

Lol... My girlfriend don't want me to sell it. I just kinda priced it to where if someone slapped money in my hand I wouldn't be sick. No negotiating, either pay it or I'm keeping it.. not really a sellers mentality, but oh well. It's still early summer!! I just need some people to teach me how to fish and use this depth finder. I really don't know what the Heck I'm looking for on the hill. It's all deep water with rock banks and a few sandy/ muddy banks. I found some old road beds but don't know what kind of structure to look fort all looks the same. It's gonna take a while since I only get out a couple times a month :P

 

[wg24]

I am glad I am not the only one. I love listing stuff on craigslist or lsn that I'm not trying to sell but if I get a perfect offer then I will sell. Ive gotten some good deals this way.

 

[Rackseeker]

I'll give you $500 for the Hummingbird

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I'll give you $500 for the Hummingbird

The best offer I've had all day!!

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I am glad I am not the only one. I love listing stuff on craigslist or lsn that I'm not trying to sell but if I get a perfect offer then I will sell. Ive gotten some good deals this way.

Well you never know, you might find that one person that really wants it. Or people like me that want it but will shop around till I find the absolute best deal.
One guy asked me if I would take 4000 cash today, I told him not today ,tomorrow or if it was at the bottom of the lake. Then I asked him if he would give 10,000 cash today.... Haven't heard back.

 

[Rackseeker]

I'll give you $500 for the Hummingbird

The best offer I've had all day!!

Is that a yes? :grin:

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

I will sell you the box for that... Lmao

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

It must be pretty popular, I have had 18 emails with interested people. Fixing to pull the ads before someone buys it and leaves me sitting on the bank.

 

[Rackseeker]

If I could sell it for what your asking, I'd sell it. Its not everyday a man can turn that kind of profit. ;)

 

[TeamMainStreet]

The 200 Johnson on my brothers 97 Stratos is a Venom.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

If I could sell it for what your asking, I'd sell it. Its not everyday a man can turn that kind of profit. ;)

Mostly tire kickers, Im afraid I won't be able to replace it for what I sell it for.

 

[TITANSFAN2104]

The 200 Johnson on my brothers 97 Stratos is a Venom.

Yep we.have established that this is not a 97. More like a 88-91