New to boating and new to the forum

sslater0679 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:34 am

Hey everyone. Going to be a first time boat owner here. I think I found a good starter boat. Its a 1997 Four Winns Horizon 200, it has the 5.7 GI with Volvo Penta outdrive. Took it out on the water last Thursday seemed to run real good. Also here are a couple of pic. The condition of the boat is pretty clean for being 16 years old. Nothing a little TLC cant take care of. Anything i should be on the look out for other than the usual stuff?

Thanks, Spencer

88Liberator261 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 9:52 am

The usual: service the drive if there isn't a recent service record/receipt...
nice looking boat. Check the trailer's wheel bearings, and a safety course is a good idea.

kyboater · **Joined:** Wed Oct 07, 2009 8:36 am **Posts:** 69

Welcome! Nice looking boat. My advice is to spend as much time reading the various posts on here as possible. Everything from safety, to etiquette, upgrade ideas, etc. I can't begin to tell you how helpful and enjoyable this forum is.

Happy and Safe boating!

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 10:11 am

Welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have not made the purchase yet? Most would agree that you really should get a marine surveyor to check the boat & engine. There are a lot of things to check in a 16 year old boat. If this boat is in good condition, I would expect it to be a good deal at about $8-11K

That's a nice looking boat, and the Horizon 200 is a great choice. A manageable size for a first owner, yet much more roomy (and better ride), then the 17-18' boats that many people start with.
17-18' boats are good for lakes without to much waves, and comfortable for 4 people
200 can handle larger waves, and comfortable for 6 people.
(yes, we know they are rated for more than that, but that is what is comfortable)

Good luck.

sslater0679 · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 10:47 am

rpengr wrote:

Welcome to the forum.

It sounds like you have not made the purchase yet? Most would agree that you really should get a marine surveyor to check the boat & engine. There are a lot of things to check in a 16 year old boat. If this boat is in good condition, I would expect it to be a good deal at about $8-11K

That's a nice looking boat, and the Horizon 200 is a great choice. A manageable size for a first owner, yet much more roomy (and better ride), then the 17-18' boats that many people start with.
17-18' boats are good for lakes without to much waves, and comfortable for 4 people
200 can handle larger waves, and comfortable for 6 people.
(yes, we know they are rated for more than that, but that is what is comfortable)

Good luck.

Right i have not made the purchase yet. I have had a couple seasoned boaters go with me to look at it a couple different times. They both agree that its a really good deal. The guy is actually wanting $5500.00 firm for it. Which sounded like a real good deal. One I shouldn't pass up.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:10 pm

Ask the owner if he will let you pay for a mechanical survey after you give him a refundable deposit. They cost around $350 for a boat that size and a qualified mechanic goes over the whole boat. They remove the drive looking for issues there, wiring, safety equipment, the trailer and it's workings, you name it. Every boat I purchase I get one done and it comes with a nice "report card" of what's good and what might need attention and estimates of those repairs.

That $350 survey could save you thousands in repair if you purchased a boat with a bad/broken outdrive without knowing about it. Sure you're out $350 and no boat, but that's better than what could have happened.

If you don't care to run a survey (you're brave) just do one quick check. Undo the drain screw for the drive after it's been sitting for a few hours and let out a few ounces . If it's clean oil... you're probably fine. If there's milkshake/water/metal shavings/looks like tar... run!

Also ask for any service records. If there are none that can be produced, there's few things that should be done before you use the boat:

Replace water pump impeller
Thermostat
Serpentine belt
Cap/rotor/plug wires/plugs
Change engine oil, oil filter
Change drive oil
Fuel filter
Drive bellow replaced/u-joint inspected
Check age of battery, if over 5 years replace
Replace all navigational light bulbs
Inspect hoses for cracks/dry rot

Keep all receipts in a log book with date/time/hours replaced.

rpengr · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 12:37 pm

One of the biggest "hidden" damages to the engine would be if it had been "hydrolocked", but then they got it running again.

Hydrolock occurs if the exhaust manifolds/risers rust through and allow water to enter cylinder(s) through the exhaust valves. Water doesn't compress, so the engine will not crank (hence the term hydrolock). Removing the spark plugs, clearing the water, a lot of WD-40 and you could get the engine running again, but if this happened, then a valve job or complete rebuild might be necessary in the near future. A problem like this can sometimes be determined by a compression check.

Even short of a Hydrolock, rusty/leaky manifolds will cause engine damage, so you need to determine their condition, or just replace them right away if you don't know how old they are. I just replaced mine for $600 + shipping as detailed in this thread: http://www.smwebhead.com/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=12059

+1 to Ric's comments about having a survey done at your expense. If they will not allow a licensed surveyor to do a survey, then run away!

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 3:18 pm

I agree with all the above comments and to add my bit, make sure to check for any flex in the deck (floor) that could be a sign of rot in the wood core of the deck. Walk all around the deck feel for springy ness and flex. Grab the helm seats try to flex them and look at seat base and see if it's lifting up from the deck. Look all around the ski locker (underneath) see if the underside of the wood looks dark and rotted. Watch out for sharp edges of fiberglass. Also check the transom, tilt the lower unit up, and grab the lower unit and try to flex it. If you see any flex of stress cracks in the transom that's bad.

200 Horizon is a great boat we have had ours 11 years, it's 25 years old now and needed a LOT of work..

fiznuka · **Posted:** Mon Aug 19, 2013 8:51 pm

Check the oil for water. Check the oil for water. Check the oil for water. Did I mention CHECK THE OIL FOR WATER. :wink:

Don't make the same mistake I did and buy a boat without CHECKING THE OIL FOR WATER and end up building an engine.

TX H210SS · **Joined:** Thu May 27, 2010 9:10 am **Posts:** 1488

At some point you have to take a chance...and the boat looks nice in the pics for sure. I would like to check compression if me too, but a couple shortcuts that aren't as reliable are...
Pull the ignition kill cord and crank the enginea few times. Not too long but listen for uniform sound. If you hear some skips in the cranking that could suggest a low compression cylinder.

Then with boat on muffs start it up while its cold...look for blue smoke. If there until warmed up then there is some ring wear. Most will smoke a little if not run for extended time or coming off a winter storage with fog oil.

Once running then remove valve cover fill caps and hold hand above opening. You may feel a little air but it shouldn't be hard pulsating air...check both sides...if strong pulsating air then there is blow by reflective of valve or ring failure. This is not a guarantee check but an indicator.

Shine a flashlight into valve cover opening once turned off...if you see sludge that means infrequent oil services as does charringor varnishing on dipstick.

Pick up an I fared thermometer for auto parts...you will get alot of use out of it anyway so its a good buy...let engine run on muffs until up to temp and see if temp holds steady...then get temp readings at exhaust manifolds and see if consistent on both sides.....your looking for excessive hot spots indicating clogged water circulation points. In absence of the thermoter you should be able to place your hand on risers momentarily...kind of like the lid of a smoker BBQ pit....if scalding hot then cooling issues.

Another thing I look at is the interior of transom...look at interior portion of bolt through hardware..if you see rust stains below these that suggest water coming through transom and possible rot due to improper sealing of hardware.

Just some additional checks in addition to what's been mentioned....I second the floor check for soft spots...one soft spot means the floor rot is much larger. Make sure to look under rear seats for this as well as mentioned.

Not bashing that boat at all but there just alot to check on a boat. Nothings perfect but engine, drive or rot can be a deal killer unless you want a lot of work is all.

sslater0679 · **Posted:** Tue Aug 20, 2013 6:32 am

Wow! Thanks for all the great advice everyone. Looks like the best thing to do is to take this information and make a checklist. I have done a few of these things already. I have checked the oil for water, I have looked in all the storage areas and in and around the motor for rot, i have tried to flex the transom. I can say that these few items are all good. For the rest of the mechanical stuff I think i will go the way of having a mechanical survey done. This would be the easiest for me.

jontmiller · **Joined:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:16 am **Posts:** 296

I paid 5k for a similar boat (98 but with the 4.3)

While I did a lot of amateur looking around while I took it out for a test run I did not do as much as I knew I should have and as much as these fine gentleman are suggesting. I got lucky for sure as with mine it only has some minor electric issues and scratch / dent type stuff, we have thoroughly enjoyed the boat this summer and love not having to worry about putting the first scratch in it.

good luck with your decision.

sslater0679 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 21, 2013 6:02 am

Just a general question about this boat. The carpet that is currently in it, I did not notice any snaps. Is that something they started doing later on? If I didn't want the carpet in there would the flooring underneath be visually appealing, or is this model boat made to have carpet and not be taken up?

jontmiller · **Joined:** Thu Jul 26, 2012 8:16 am **Posts:** 296

Mine does not have snaps, don't think they were available back then. Not easy to pull up, its all glued down to wood in the back.

sslater0679 · **Posted:** Wed Aug 28, 2013 8:31 pm

Well to give a little update. I had a local boat mechanic go over the boat and they gave it a clean bill of health. So with that i made the purchase. Gonna try and take it out on the water tomorrow. I do have another question though. I want to get a new stainless steel prop. The one on there now is a little chewed up. The one currently on the boat is a 14-1/2 diameter with a 19 pitch, which the service guy said was stock. He recommended to put an OEM stainless one back on. The one i was looking at getting is a Solas 14-3/4 diameter with a 19 pitch. What would that 1/4" do?

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