Click for YF Listing Service Click for Burger Click for Delta Click for Nordhavn Cick to Clean Black Water

Need advice on issues before purchasing a boat

Discussion in 'General Yachting Discussion' started by Frenchy206, Sep 6, 2025 at 3:49 PM.

  1. Frenchy206

    Frenchy206 New Member

    Joined:
    Friday
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Seattle
    Hi all!

    I wanted to get your advice or suggestions about a Yacht I'm pretty close to closing on.

    It's a 2005 Cruisers Yachts 540 Express. I've done a sea trial and just did the marine survey and inspection. Here is a list of the things that don't operate.
    Exterior running lights as well as some interior lights don't turn on.
    Horn doesn't work.
    HVAC below deck works great, however up top, it doesn't work.
    Stern thruster is not working. I inspected the props on haul out and they don't spin freely. It's completely seized.
    During the sea trial, just several days ago, the engines ran amazing. They both ran at about 170⁰. During the survey sea trial yesterday, the starboard motor got up to around 200⁰ after running full throttle for several minutes. Once we backed off and slowed down, the temp dropped down fairly quickly.

    Please share your thoughts. Are these issues a serious concern? What do you think are possible causes for these issues? What should I expect these repairs to cost?

    I appreciate any input.

    Thanks!
  2. Seasmaster

    Seasmaster Senior Member

    Joined:
    May 25, 2016
    Messages:
    294
    Location:
    USA
    LET ME BREAK IT DOWN FOR YOU:
    Half the boat works & half doesn't.
    You decide how much to want to spend fixing sh!t on a 20 year old boat!
    That's all I want to say.
    IMG_2025.jpg
  3. Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 29, 2008
    Messages:
    8,775
    Location:
    Miami, FL
    Not unusual to find issues like these on a 20 year old used boat.

    lights and horn… minor cheap things.

    air con for the flybridge, “doesn’t work” is vague and it could be a variety of causes ranging from cheap to real expensive. For instance if it doenst work because the breaker trips when the compressor tries to start, it may need a new compressor / condenser…. $2-4k. Or it could just be tripping on high pressure due to poor flow and just need a descaling.

    Seized stern thruster… likely needs a new gear box and possibly motor. Not needed on a twin diesel, get a price adjustment for around $3k from seller and sont fix it.

    overheating …. Likely needs a new impeller or raw water pump. Or could be more serious. Have seller repair before closing and do another sea trial

    not unusual for temperatures to creep up at WOT.
  4. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Messages:
    142
    Location:
    Chesapeake/Florida
    Everything Pascal said is spot on. AC may need new compressor or something more simple. Stern thruster, just get a price reduction to cover a rebuild.

    You did not say what kind of engines they were. I would absolutely have an engine surveyor on your team. My experience is they always pay for themselves. What kind of diesels? Maybe they need to have heat exchangers rebuilt or gear coolers? How were the engine oil samples, standard practice for an engine surveyor.

    If all the fundamentals on the boat like any coring or below water running gear and bottom paint are good, thats important.

    Did the engines make WOT recommended RPMs?
  5. Frenchy206

    Frenchy206 New Member

    Joined:
    Friday
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Seattle
    Thank you all for the replies and info.
    The engines are Volvo Penta D12 715. They both have just under 1100 hours each. I'm hoping it's something as simple as salt buildup on the heat exchange. But wanted your opinions.

    The oil samples all came back with zero issues. Everything was marked green.

    Regarding the AC. Below deck, it works perfectly. The control panel on the flybridge doesn't turn on or respond. No breakers trip.

    The outside navigation lights as well as the lights inside on the flybridge don't work, nor does the horn. My thought is that it could be an issue with the main control board panel as all the switches are built into a one piece soft panel where each switch is not accessible. From that panel, there are 4 or 5 wires that go down to a main control unit. As the boat is not yet mine, I haven't been able to dig further into this.

    Most likely, I will ask for a price adjustment to cover repair costs. I just want to get an idea as to what would be a fair number.

    I've worked on my own cars for many years including electrical work. I'm new to working on boats.
  6. Frenchy206

    Frenchy206 New Member

    Joined:
    Friday
    Messages:
    3
    Location:
    Seattle
    I wouldn't go that far. The vast majority of things do work on the boat and it was very well maintained. It's incredibly clean. The hull is perfect and was surprisingly very clean with zero buildup. The only mechanical issues are the stern thruster and the starboard engine running hotter than it should. It never got to the point of being considered overheating.

    I've yet to be on any boat where absolutely everything works. It seems like either the horn, speedometer, or fuel gauges don't work on every boat I've been on.
  7. Capt Cole

    Capt Cole Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2017
    Messages:
    135
    Location:
    Pittsburg CA
    Strongly recommend you get bids for all repairs and factor that in to a price reduction. Would probably add 20% on top of bids. I almost always want a price reduction to cover repairs vs seller having items fixed. You want to go with someone you have faith in that will make repairs correctly
    Frenchy206 likes this.
  8. Silver Lining

    Silver Lining Member

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2008
    Messages:
    142
    Location:
    Chesapeake/Florida
    I agree with the above about getting a few reliable quotes to set your price reduction. You need to gauge the quality and state of the interior, wood, carpets etc. to judge future investments. Same with bottom condition, running gear etc. Are the electronics all operational and have they been replaced on a 20 year old boat.

    Regarding the engines, what is their history? Do they have their 1000 hr services complete? Did they reach WOT RPMs? A temp creep at WOT is often an indication of a cooling system in need of service. Aftercoolers, heat exchanges and gear cooler service can be $20 or 30K on a boat like that. Most of these are addressed at a 1000 hr service, has that been done? A good engine survey will answer these questions.
  9. SplashFl

    SplashFl Senior Member

    Joined:
    Feb 2, 2021
    Messages:
    653
    Location:
    S. Florida _ Bertram 46
    A couple items not mentioned; the generator(s)? The fuel and other rubber hoses that may or may not have dates on them, but get stiff & crack with age ? What about an auto fire system? I had thought both the hull & engines surveys I had done prior to purchase were very thorough but have since learned there's nothing like everyday use to discover things that were missed and I'm sure there will be more to come.