Mastercraft with "high hrs"

skybum · Newbie Joined: 16 May 2004 Posts: 2

As a first time boat buyer I am liking at a Mastercraft Maristar 21'. It looks like it's in great condition and all Mx has been done so I am told. I am concerned with the 440 hrs on the engine.

Should I be concerned with the high time?
What should I be looking for in terms of worn parts?

Can anyone give me some advise as what to look for or what to stay away from.

Thanks
Derek
Confused

AndyDeeJay · Outlaw Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Posts: 239 City: Belfast

Hi

I hope it's not too late - Ive written this and only just noticed your log date - D'Oh
But it might be useful for others....

Mastercraft use 5.8Litre (351CI) small block Ford and Chevy V8 engines. They produce around 300 hp and rev on average around 3K which is practically nothing for a big engine. This equates to around 20K miles on a car (440x50mph).

Formula 1 engines are 2 litres and produce 700 hp. They rev to way over 15K - That equates to over 20 times the stress.

I wouldn't think twice about buying a boat with that low an hours. Ski clubs can put 2000 hours on a boat in a season and will keep them for a couple of years and there is still plenty of life in them after that.

As long as it has had an oil and fliter change every 100 hours it should be fine. It wouldn't do any harm to put 8 new spark plugs in it give it an oil/fliter change and greese all of the steering joints and teleflex and the throttle/gear linkages and teleflexes. Probibly a good idea to pull the rubber waterpump impellor out (4 brass screws) and check for wear. These things need replacing every 3 years or so.

Don't worry about the 3 inch hoses that bring the air down to the engine and run up from the blower. These are made from crap and just break - they are not dear to replace.

Final check for your piece of mind - check the dipstick for milky oil. If it is, walk away and don't look back. If there is oil coming out the exausts making the lake oily - walk away. If the engine is burning oil and is smokey walk away.

Good luck and I hope it goes well

chaz28o · Posted: Aug 06, 2004 9:57 am Post subject:

What year is that Maristar? Cuz 440 would put it about 4 years old, if it's considerably older than 4 years.... You gotta wonder how old that hour meter is Shocked

HYPERLITE_103 · Criminal Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 90 City: Windsor

Well what i am told from asking the dealers on what specs on used boats are...they all say anything under 600 hours is good, nothing over that though. So i would say your good to go

jvanick · Posted: Aug 13, 2004 5:11 am Post subject:

I've got a 99 with over 900 hours on it and it's still going strong.

440 hours is practically brand new as long as it's been very well maintained.

-J

BleedingDead · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jun 2004 Posts: 110 City: Granbury

if the boat is white smoking, that doen't mean it's bad... you just are running a little rich. plus a lot of those boats burn oil in the first place.

savage3221 · Posted: Aug 13, 2004 7:08 pm Post subject:

98 with 600 or 700 last I looked...running damn fine