A few 268 questions...

jmac572 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 5:24 pm

Hi... Ok so I am looking at a 2000 Vista 268 with the volvo 5.7 and duo prop.... The boat has about 680 hours on it and its in decent shape, cabin is clean, cockpit shows wear, and hull has a few spots that need minor gel work.... I am pretty sure im getting a good deal on the boat, my offer was accepted at $17,500 WITH a 2007 trailer with brakes and mag wheels AND a Lowrance HDS7, along with some safety equipment (no windlass and no AC).... This boat also has a brand new factory Volvo complete outdrive just installed and under warranty (not refurbished).

As far as the gel work goes..... What is the proper color to get? I see a few online and am not 100% sure which to get so it matches the white hull 110%. I think a quart should do the three spots which need attention.

As far as the seats go... Has anyone reupholstered the U-bench seat and the double wide helm seat on their 268? Im looking to maybe do the Mastercraft carbon fiber look vinyl, I can get the stuff with a padded backing for $28/ yard, just looking to get an idea of what the labor might be if anyone has had it done before.

Gauges - where can I get new gauges for this boat? some are blown...

On the windshield frame, it looks like the metallic paint is bubbling up... Any ideas on what to do with this? This is also happening on the window frames in the interior of the boat.

Anyone ever replace the windshield wiper motor? I heard somewhere it may be behind the instrument cluster??

Why does this boat have an OMC throttle? Is that normal? I figured it would have a Volvo throttle...

I had my mechanic look at the boat and hook his computer up to it, he said everything looks good but there was some water on the dip stick... Said it was probably just condensation in the dip stick tube.

Where are the speakers on the deck of this boat? I can only locate 2 outside and 2 in the cabin....

Thanks guys, I think ill have some fun with this boat, moving up from a Horizon 210...

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:47 pm

I stopped at "some water on the dipstick". I would make double dang sure why that water was there. Was it actual water droplets, or milky looking oil?

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 7:58 pm

NiagaraChillin wrote:

I stopped at "some water on the dipstick". I would make double dang sure why that water was there. Was it actual water droplets, or milky looking oil?

Yup I agree that would have me conserned. But sounds like a good deal if engine is good

jmac572 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:33 pm

The dipstick had waterdroplets on it..... The oil was the correct color and after running the engine for about 10 minutes it was still the correct color. The engine was started for the first time after being winterized in the fall so I guess condensation wouldnt be too unusual. My mechanic, who is also a very good friend of mine, wasnt worried about it, he said if there was a head gasket problem the oil would have turned milky after 10 minutes of running and circulating through the engine.

Anyone have any advice on the other stuff?? I am in no way new to boating, but am new to this type of boat, with this many features on it.

Also, what is the engine model for this boat? Is it the GSi? Thanks guys

neutron · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:40 pm

Hopefully its a 5.7 gsi which is the lowest hp rated engine I would want for that craft.

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 8:58 pm

I would also question why it got a new outdrive. Was it because it had the dreaded VP XDP drive? I know there were a lot of probs with that particular drive around 2000. Not trying to nitpick your purchase, just would hate to see ya get hosed.

I don't own a Vista, so can't help on the Vista specific questions. Good luck with it, hope ya get it for that price.

jmac572 · **Posted:** Wed Apr 24, 2013 10:44 pm

When I asked him why he put a new outdrive on it, he said it blew at the end of last season when in the middle of the water, had to get seatow to pull him home... If it did have the XDP drive is that a problem even if he changed it to the new drive? Thanks guys

I know the engine is def a 5.7 and its def fuel injected... Other than that dont know, my buddy has his laptop scan tool hooked up to it. It my boat if I want it for $17500, private party sale

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:10 am

Hmmm, something doesn't sound right. Drives don't just blow up. Unless the U-Joints let loose, a gear throws a tooth, or the gimble bearing fails badly. Again, I would ask exactly what happened to the drive. XDP drive was a bad design that was actually recalled back then. If it was replaced with another XDP, I would walk away from the deal, but I doubt it was, since they discontinued them shortly after (I think).

As far as your 5.7. It more than likely is a 5.7 GXI or GSI. It should say on the plastic cover over the intake manifold.

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 8:20 am

Hey guys I think we just got our first hurricane Sandy storm damaged boat on the forums. That boat screams of being sunk/storm damage from your description..

Bliss36 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 9:41 am

ric wrote:

Hey guys I think we just got our first hurricane Sandy storm damaged boat on the forums. That boat screams of being sunk/storm damage from your description..

+1. New drive,water in engine, gel coat damage...I bet your right! Is there a "carfax" for boats?

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 9:58 am

Bliss36 wrote:

ric wrote:

Hey guys I think we just got our first hurricane Sandy storm damaged boat on the forums. That boat screams of being sunk/storm damage from your description..

+1. New drive,water in engine, gel coat damage...I bet your right! Is there a "carfax" for boats?

Nope, and scrubbing a dirty title is easy.

I'd run away. If it wasn't Storm damage, still sounds beat and 17k isn't a deal. There's a 1996 v258 local in awesome condition with a 2008 8.1gi DP, with AC. Its a boat shops owners boat. Can get it for like 16.

JeffLW · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 10:21 am

ric wrote:

Hey guys I think we just got our first hurricane Sandy storm damaged boat on the forums. That boat screams of being sunk/storm damage from your description..

I was thinking the same thing. The different throttle control, guages not working, and the "metalic paint bubbling up on the window frames". :shock:

I personally would walk away from it. But if you want a project boat to work on go for it.

acguy · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 1:51 pm

My 2000 248 had an OMC throttle control on it. I think around that year is when all the OMC stuff got rebranded to Volvo or something like that. But that being said the guy could of ran into a rock and took the drive off!
I have never had condensation on my dipstick that sounds fishy but I can see how it cou;d happen depending on how and where the boat was stored. I have see the paint bubble on the windsheild in some salt water locations in pics

ric · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:44 pm

I'm pretty sure with a 20k budget you can get a nice cruiser with AC around the 2000 model year. In fact I know you can.

jmac572 · **Posted:** Thu Apr 25, 2013 5:31 pm

Haha, wow you guys have me thinking now.... I should have said that I actually went to see the boat and it's not that bad at all, I may have described it a little on the poor side... There is no engine cover as he took it off and never put it back on, the outdrive definitely is not the composite black outdrive, it's a nice brand new Volvo DP. Also I have been on boats that were flooded and the cabin smelt terrible on them, this doesn't give me that vibe at all. With the gel coat it's 2 small spots which need repair and one spot which was repaired but the color isn't exactly the same. Ill get some pics up...

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A few 268 questions...

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