Whaler Central - Boston Whaler Boat Information and Photos

Posted by rfuerst911sc on 10/31/13 - 5:07 PM

In my search for a 17 ' Whaler I have come across what appears to be a clean hull with a 1999 Evinrude Ficht 115 outboard. I have just started email dialog with the dealer selling it but they told me the engine has 1.5 hours on it ! I have asked for the details and have done some searches on this engine and it looks like most folks are stating the 115's were pretty good engines. The 150 + 175 were the real problem engines. So have any of you had a 115 in the past or currently ? Good or bad ? What's the performance and fuel usage like ? Right now just doing my research but boat , motor and galvanized trailer are being offered for 6500.00. Was told the boat recently had a 400.00 service I have asked for the details on that service.

Posted by whalerman on 11/01/13 - 5:50 AM

Get a complete engine history report from this engine. 1.5 hours may be just a new emm and not real engine hours. A certified evinrude tech would be the way to go on finding out about this engine and not just the broker/dealer.

Posted by butchdavis on 11/01/13 - 7:09 AM

911,

I'm a former owner of the same engine type. I owned it for 11 years and it never missed a beat. In general the 115s are considered bullet proof.

If you buy the engine use the BRP oil, make sure the spark plugs are properly indexed, avoid ethanol or use Startron or similar, ensure the software updates were installed when you have a certified tech hook up the laptop for the engine history report, and enjoy.

Posted by rfuerst911sc on 11/02/13 - 3:32 AM

OK I have a little more info. The folks that are selling this boat ( dealer ) were a OMC dealer. They rigged this boat a few years ago for the boat owner. The motor was run at the dealership and a few times on the water and then the owner decided to have the boat refinished. They had the interior/exterior sprayed in Imron paint and then put the motor back on. The dealer says all the latest software upgrades have been installed on the motor. They recently ( a month ago ) did a service ( $400.00 ) to clean all fuel related items like filters and fuel lines just as a pre-cursor of the owner selling the boat. As others have stated on internet searches I have done the V4's were not as problematic as the V6's of this model year. The dealer says this engine runs perfect with no issues. If I were to purchase this boat it would be to use not really concerned with resale down the road. Thoughts ?

Posted by wannabe on 11/02/13 - 4:57 AM

Anything with Ficht written on the side is going to have some negative reaction based on reputation. If you like the boat and can get it priced correctly with this outboard, I'll push you over the edge. Go get it.

Posted by rfuerst911sc on 11/02/13 - 5:56 AM

I have sent the seller a few more emails this morning to ask for more info. Sooner or later I will have to go look at the boat to get a feel for how good or bad it is. But it's 2 hours away so I want to get as much info as I can before firing up the dually. The seller/dealer was a OMC dealer and this was a left over engine from their 100 engine fall buy. So they bought it new, installed it and know it from day one so that is a plus. But missing a helm seat ( $700.00 ) has to be figured into the deal. Plus no helm gauges is a problem, at the very least I would want a tach, amp gauge maybe trim/tilt and temp so that has to be factured in also.

Posted by rfuerst911sc on 11/02/13 - 9:42 AM

Actual engine hours are 1.5 per the shop selling the boat for the owner. Was a left over new 1999 model they installed a few years ago. Boat was rigged by them and only ran on the water a few times. Total run time 1.5 hours. Then the owner decided to have the boat restored. I'm being told the hull has never had any major issues just normal bumps/bruises from use. After the boat was completed they installed the motor, got it all set and then the owner got sick. Health issues are the reason for sale. Exterior via pics is easily a 9 out of 10 and so is the interior. New plastic fuel tank in the console new Interstate battery. Navigation lights on the console. The dealer sent me more pics today showing the trailer and more of the rig. It does look good.

Posted by butchdavis on 11/02/13 - 1:22 PM

GET THE ENGINE HISTORY REPORT from the servicing dealer. IF the engine truly has only 1.5 hours of use the REPORT taken from the engine EMM will verify the accuracy of what is claimed..