Advice on Haines 530C??

[CRAFTY24]

Hey guys,

As per some of my other posts I have been in the market for a new boat for fishing but also taking the family (2 young girls) out on day trips to Bribie and in the bay. I currently have a quintrex Kingfish which suits me but no good for the family. I launch at Redcliffe and on good days shoot to Moreton.

Anyway I am after something that will also get me out to flinders on a decent day as I also dive with the wife. Basically am chasing an all round family fishing boat and I think the 530c fits the bill.

I have come across one that is not a bad price. It's a 2004 model and only done 86 hours. I am a little concerned as it is docked in a rack but looks like it has spent a fair bit of it's life sitting in the water unused. The barnacles on the motor give this away. It also has some decent scrathes on the skeg but no real damage. I would say they have run over a sandbar. My concern is that the owners live OS so it may not have been well looked after or cleaned.

I was going to get a mechanic to go over it as part of the conditions of sale but is there be anything I should look out for or be aware of with this model? All in all it's a nice rig but needs some TLC ie good wash and polish etc.

Oh the motor is a 115 four stroke suzi.

Thanks

Dave

[jason p]

hey dave nice boat your looking at. it would certanly get you out fishn were you want to go and be comfy for the girls. my only concern would b the motor, if it has been sitting in the water for a long time im sure that it would never have been flushed (6 years)?? i guess if you get the ok from the mechanic should be fine. as to the scratches on the skeg, if it isnt bent i dont think it would be too much of a problem, hows the prop? if thats all good should nt be an issue. just my 2 bobs worth anyway. good luck with it all.

jp

[Jarrah Jack]

Howdy crafty................It should be straight foward except for that bit about sitting in the water .Great boat and motor package. Its a curly one again as its hard or impossible to tell the condition of the innards re corrosion without looking at them. That means some major pullaparts..What has the mechanic said about finding corrosion issues? A computer printout will tell you lots about the motor but not corrosion.

[bigjimg]

Okay the motor needs a very rigorous inspection,leave nothing unchecked.Barnacles tend to grow where you don't want them.If she has clears check all the stitching for degradation and clarity of the vinyl.Check the press studs for seizure.Hows the carpet look?What does the pinstriping look like,gone brittle? Perspex screen or glass.if perspex has it crazed?Look over all fittings and screws for salt formation of crystals and possible failure.Does she have a trailer to go under her?If so what condition.Check the steering for stiffness.Check behind the helm and have a look at the wiring thoroughly.Does the bilge pump work.All these things,and there are plenty more,need to be scutinised with a keen eye otherwise that good price will do a sharp u turn and bite you.Also give the under belly a good going over,if she was in the water it would be antifouled.Happy hunting.Jim

[CRAFTY24]

Thanks Guys,

Yeah I checked over the boat on Sunday and you can tell that it has been left in the sun purely by the stickers on the motor being faded and peeling and the back part of the cover being quite sun damaged. This suggests the motor was at least raised (point to the sun) for only this bit to fade. It does have full storm covers and the stitching is fine. They probably are a little faded and 4 of the 6 elastic straps have snapped/perished. The press studs were all fine. Inside is like brand new. Seats carpet everything is immaculate from little use and I would say from having the storm covers on it. The boat could do with a really good clean and it definitely needs a polish. There is hardly a scratch on it but just some scum stains again from being in the water. Stickers on the boat were also a little faded and the bottom ones are peeling as they would have been below the water line.

Really the motor is what concerns me. The 115 Suzuki four stroke seem to be a good motor (according to ppl on here) but I just worry about how long it has been in the drink without proper care. Having said that I drive past boats at my local marina which sit in the water 24/7 with outboards. How do they maintain these?

Going back tomorrow to see if we can do a water test. Will organise mechanic after that. I suspect a major service will also need to be factored into the cost including an injector clean.

The skeg is scratched up but prop is fine. If it hit anything they may have replaced it or it came through all right.

Really tough one. I have actually lost sleep thinking about what to do.


Oh and no trailer included but I have a loan trailer that would suit organised if need be.

Dave

[jason p]

dave i know a few people that have there boats mored up in the water 24/7 and the only maitanence they get is the yearly service, no flush. if the motor has been tilted up then i would think that there would always b salt water sitting inside of it. its 1 of those things, you get back from a trip and flush your motor out!! mate dont loose sleep over it, get it thoroughly checked out and use it as a bargining chip. al the rest sounds like cosmetics.
good luck

jp

[CRAFTY24]

Thanks Guys for the response.

Website crashed at a bad time as I was looking forward to hearing peoples thoughts.

[Vitamin Sea]

Hi Crafty

My 2 bobs mate, if you are not 100% happy with what you are buying, or, as you say have doubts about a certain aspect of the boat, Don't do it,
there is always another boat.

The savings initially buying a boat at a good price can be very quickly eaten away in repairs, especially when it comes to the motors.

14 hrs a year for 6 years would definatley concern me, outboards need to be used regulary, think of pro boats, how often do their motors play up?

your call mate.

Cheers

Bill

[Moonlighter]

Hi Crafty

I agree with the others - I have a rule that applies to lots of things: if in doubt, DON'T!!!

Re motors left in water at marinas, I have a friend who right now has his DF250 in pieces because it sits in the water at the local marina and it seems that there is some stray electrical current probably from faulty dock lights underwater nearby that has caused major corrosion in his water jackets. He has gone thru 4 or 5 sacrificial anodes in 3 years!

So even if that motor tested fine for compression etc, how will you know how it looks on the inside after all that time sitting in the water ... it would worry me for sure.

Anyway if you do go ahead and need someone to test the motor for you, I'd highly recommend Jon Eadie who does visit this site occasionally (jon80), and is a Suzuki expert, authorised, and a mobile mechanic. Can find his contact details on the Haines Suzuki website.

Cheers

ML

[Fiction]

Hi Dave ,

How much are you paying for it??? I recently purchased a 2005 Haines Signature 542F for $39500 with 250 hours powered by a Suuki DF140 4 stroke. I am also surrounded by women with wife and 2 daughters now always wanting to go out in it . Didnt before in the 4.6m Quintrex. We have been to Murphys Reef and Caloundra wide recently in 1.4 m swell . The boat feels very safe and secure and the girls feel very safe when in it. If the price is right i dont think you will go wrong . Whats a new engine worth??

Fiction / Shane