Buying Older DAUNTLESS 17

[95Dauntless13]

I have a [1995–ALWAYS USE FOUR DIGITS FOR YEAR] Dauntless 13, and I don't plan on getting rid of it. But I am considering buying a [1996] Dauntless 17 Dual Console that is local to me.

This DAUNTLESS 17 has an Evinrude E-TEC 90 HP engine, which I assume is original.

The [1996 DAUNTLESS 17] appears in pretty good shape for its age in pictures. There is no bottom paint.

The boat does not have a registration sticker so maybe it has been sitting.

The price is around $5,000, which seems a little too good to be true.

Is there anything to look out for when buying a 1996 DAUNTLESS 17 with an E-TEC 90?

[jimh]

This DAUNTLESS has an Evinrude E-TEC 90 HP engine, which I assume is original.

The first E-TEC was a 2003. No E-TEC engine could be original to a 1997 boat.

[Phil T]

Something is very wrong.

Too many red flags.

[95Dauntless13]

Thanks. I will ask.

They did not indicate the motor was original, I just assumed.

I am not familiar with Evinrude. I'm a Yamaha guy. I will ask for some more details.

Maybe the motor is blown, not sure.

Not worth $5500 to me with a blown motor.

I can tell it is a real boat and it is near where I live and not a fake craigslist ad because I know where it is parked.

[95Dauntless13]

Got some more info. The hull is in good shape. The engine is not a 90 HP E-TEc. The engine is an Evinrude 150-HP engine. This engine is an unknown. I do not want to put a new $10,000 engine on this boat. If the original engine could be fixed, the package is worth much more than $5500.

[Phil T]

The hull for $5500 would be a good price. If with a trailer, even better.

[jimh]

If you buy the boat you can get advice on the rehabilitation.

Right now it’s a moving target. To give advice when the boat and engine and asking price are changing is rather silly.

It takes about 90-seconds to find out if the engine will start and idle smoothly. You should invest some time if you are really interested in the boat.

[95Dauntless13]

It does come with a trailer. Seems like it is a decent hull and trailer. Engine is a big question mark. Could be salvageable or garbage.

[jimh]

Let us know if the engine starts and runs smoothly at idle when you make the effort to test it before buying.

[Indiana Dave]

A 150-HP engine is too much for [a DAUNTLESS 17]. The rated maximum power was130-HP.

Something [about the boat that the OP has been describing] is fishy.

[jimh]

A 130-HP engine would weigh the same as a 150-HP engine. I wouldn’t pass up a great deal based on the engine decal saying 150-HP.

If the engine is an Evinrude V6 60-degree 2.7-liter block, that is a great design. It’s one of the best classic carburetor two-stroke engines ever made. Now if the engine is a FICHT engine, that is a completely different history.

So far readers know almost nothing about this boat, and the OP has not even seen it. What exactly are we supposed to be discussing? A mystery boat at a great price. It will probably be sold soon if the engine runs—or not.

[Phil T]

As has been stated ad-nausium, the horsepower rating on the capacity plate for a motor boat only applies to the manufacturer at the time of original sale. There is no restriction on exceeding the horsepower requirement.