Considering a 1993 Cobalt 196 BR

[chrispdx]

New member, longtime boater, mostly on under-powered entry-level boats. I'm tired of them, ready for an upgrade, but fairly limited on budget.

I've found a convenient 1993 Cobalt 196 bowrider with a 4.3L LX Mercruiser Alpha One at 843 hours, freshwater only in the PNW. Asking about $8K. Was owned by a wealthy family for most of its life, kept indoors, and appears to be in excellent condition. Had a good long talk with the seller, who seems reasonable and honest and is willing to offer a sea trial.

Described as running great with the following new equipment: ignition, starter, Dorman 300-122 power-steering pump-pulley, assisted-throttle linkage, spark plugs, distributor, rotor, plug-wires & coil. Two new solenoids, shift-plate kit, Calkins dual-axle boat trailer with NEW trailer tires. Waterproof boat cover, marine horn and marine boat LED pole light. No electrical problems.

I would have my mechanic check it out, pressure-test the outdrive, etc.

Would you advise me to steer clear of a 31yo Cobalt ? Or, as I expect, is it all a matter of how it was maintained? Will follow items listed in the Buying a Used Boat thread, but are there any things in particular you would suggest I look out for on this model?

I am the owner of a late '80s Mercedes that remains the finest vehicle I've driven. I know that initial build quality combined with proper maintenance can mean a lot. I have done the annual winterization, de-winterization, motor oil and drive oil replacements and one-off fuel pump and solenoid replacement on my current Merc 3.0L without problems, hoping I could do the same on a 4.3L. Will also expect to pay for professional service as needed.

At this point, only two issues identified:

1. No snap-on covers for cockpit and bow.
   • Any idea how much replacements would cost and where to turn ?
2. Outdrive tilts up and down smoothly, but the trim toggle-switch on the throttle only lowers it, the up toggle doesn't work; requires using the Trailer button lower on the throttle to raise it. This isn't acceptable as I tend to jockey the trim often based on speed and load and water conditions.
   • I assume this is just a matter of replacing that trim toggle-switch on the throttle, or the whole throttle assembly, either of which I imagine would be a fairly simple and inexpensive fix. Any reason to assume it's more serious ?

Any insights, words of warning or encouragement most welcome and appreciated !

[jhnmdahl]

If there are snaps but no covers, your local Cobalt dealer may be able to order replacements from Commercial Sewing (not from Cobalt). As to your second question, it's likely either the switch or a bad electrical connection to the switch.

Bigger picture, you want to make sure the engine has good compression in all cylinders, there isn't water intrusion in any of the stringers or transom, and a few other things that a pro would know to look for. The process of checking out a boat in that way is called a survey, and if you ask around for a boat surveryor for a small runabout you may find some good recommendations.

If the boat's been taken care of well and carefully used by adults, it could be a good value. Keep in mind that even though it's an $8k boat, parts and maintenance will still be priced based on the $50k boat that it was when new (at least in today's dollars).

John

[AsLan7]

.
So glad you found us cpx..

+1 on John’s recommendations.
Also check the trailer bearings. I’ve always had more issues with trailers than my boats. Great to hear it has new tires.

I would change all fluids and filters if not recently done. Yes the trim switch is a simple fix as most likely is worn.
How are the batteries ?
any pictures?

And welcome aboard, mate!
.

[Kate]

"pressure-test the outdrive"

The seller's going to let you do that?

[chrispdx]

I expect so. If not, that would raise some red flags, right? Does it seem like an unusual request or beyond the scope of a reasonable pre-sale inspection/survey of a 31yo boat by a qualified mechanic ?

[Kate]

"If not, that would raise some red flags, right?"

Not at all.

That is a very invasive, time-consuming test. If done wrong, it can wreck the outdrive. (I've never heard of it being on a surveyor's checklist.) There are other, far less invasive ways to check the condition of an outdrive.

[LKN_blue]

I would make sure the survey *does* include a detailed examination of the exhaust hoses, bellows, manifolds and risers. On a 31 year old boat, if any of those haven't been replaced at some point in the recent past, you'll likely be doing so.

[chrispdx]

Thank you for all the quick and helpful advice and suggestions! Glad to have connected with this forum and for the generosity of spirit and knowledge to help out a relative noob.

After a 6-hour drive, I was able to meet the seller and check out the boat this early evening in the owner’s driveway, getting dark under heavy rain, tomorrow (sunny) will have further inspection, a sea trial and survey.

Observations & Questions

Seller (60s IT manager for a regional federal department) and his son-in-law (service manager for a regional commercial plumbing contractor) both very friendly and welcoming, accommodating, not pushy, good vibes. They are gutting and restoring a 1960s classic Cutlass in the garage.

STARTING the Merc 4.3L … we put the earmuffs on and ran it for awhile. First time running this season, took a few tries to start turning over but once it caught it ran nicely. After a few minutes I cut the ignition and it restarted instantly, multiple times. Throttle arm felt a bit stiffer, a little less smooth than the 3.0L Merc I’m used to.

HULL looks good, just a few scratches and one well-patched hole in back corner.

ENGINE and bilge look very clean. Hoses appear to be in good condition. TRANSOM and outdrive mounting seem very solid. Nice looking SS prop.

Drained some gear lube from the Alpha One (Gen 1) OUTDRIVE into translucent plastic container. It’s from last season when the boat was used about five times. Minimal amount of small metal debris on the magnetic drain plug. Added a few drops of fresh oil for comparison. Never actually engaged the drive unit while on the earmuffs. Would be interested to hear your impressions:

IMG_0769.jpeg

IMG_0768.jpeg

What do you think of the Gen 1 Alpha One ? Boat will be used for pulling slalom skiers pretty often. Is the Gen 2’s increased performance and efficiency significant ? Would it be feasible/reasonable to consider upgrading to a Bravo outdrive ?

UPHOLSTERY looks good, only two small tears in bow rider seat cushions. In the captains chair (back-to-back lay flat style), the hinged bracket between seat and back is torn loose from the moving part on the track below. Looks like it would be a simple part to replace.

Awaiting a quote from local Cobalt dealer on a set of new aftermarket snap-down bow and cabin covers.

Any quick impressions much appreciated. I can get better photos tomorrow.

[Kate]

"What do you think of the Gen 1 Alpha One ?"

If maintained, it's excellent -- and an ideal drive for your boat and engine.

". . . used for pulling slalom skiers pretty often."

If drag becomes an issue, consider changing the prop -- especially the pitch.

"Would it be feasible . . ."

That is not as doable or easy, and can be a lot more expensive than you might think. Gear ratios and matching to the engine are just two of the complications.