water testing

[JustinNC]

Went and looked at a 2005 Ranger Z21 with a 192hr 2016 Mercury 250 Pro XS. Boat looks great for a 2005. Few dings along the transom, to be expected after that many years of use, but nothing that was eye brow raising. Supposed to go water test Friday. Things to look or? Things to do? Things to ask? I feel like the guy is a straight shooter. We've got several mutual acquaintances that speak well of him, and how he maintains his equipment. Just not entirely sure what I should be checking/checking for at this phase other than it running well and everything functioning as it should. My most substantial boat purchase to date. In the past Ive just hopped in, and if it ran and electronics worked as advertised, then good to go.

Thanks!

[I fish 4 Bass]

Does it have a jackplate? The Z21 did not have the integrated set back built into the transom like the 521 or after the Z521. Not a deal breaker if it doesn’t but don’t expect bow lift.

[JustinNC]

It does. Has a Bob's Flats Jac

[jimsch]

Check for blisters on the bottom and trailer for welds.

[retiredmechanic]

Rick P. of Bass Cat posted a pretty good list of things to look at/check. I don't know how to find the post tho.

[JustinNC]

Didn’t see any blisters today when I went to look at it, and welds that I could see looked good.

[JustinNC]

Rick P. of Bass Cat posted a pretty good list of things to look at/check. I don't know how to find the post tho.

I tried searching but I got a ton of hits or everything else with the terms I used.

[JustinNC]

Also spoke with a local mechanic today, he advised me of a few things, mostly regarding compression testing, or if I didn’t do that, what RPMs I should be looking at during idle and top end once I gave him some details of boat, motor, prop.

[WarEagle24]

Check to make sure the bilge pump works as well as the live well pumps. Check the lights, switches, etc.

[99R93S]

Right but what he was saying above is once the boat is launched, go take a good look at the trailer while it’s fully exposed. Look for welds, rust, rusting brake lines, bunk condition. I would say for the water test take your time and go thru everything, have him show you how it works and that it works. All the lights, switches, bilge pumps, live wells, any electronics. Then how it runs and rides, how engine sounds, rpm,s it reaches, oh and of course stick your head in the bilge and check battery age and any water leaks. I know it’s a lot, but so are repairs. Just take your time and be thorough. If he doesn’t like it then he doesn’t want to sell you a boat.

[JustinNC]

Right but what he was saying above is once the boat is launched, go take a good look at the trailer while it’s fully exposed. Look for welds, rust, rusting brake lines, bunk condition. I would say for the water test take your time and go thru everything, have him show you how it works and that it works. All the lights, switches, bilge pumps, live wells, any electronics. Then how it runs and rides, how engine sounds, rpm,s it reaches, oh and of course stick your head in the bilge and check battery age and any water leaks. I know it’s a lot, but so are repairs. Just take your time and be thorough. If he doesn’t like it then he doesn’t want to sell you a boat.

thanks. I’ll probably copy and paste this and turn it into a check list. Most I’d thought of, some I hadn’t, and it’ll be handy. My head gets to spinning and I forget things in the moment lol.

[RonCat]

Yes to the checklist, I did that when picking up a new boat and found a few issues (luckily nothing major). I did mine by each component to make it easier for me (trailer, electronics, motor, TM, compartments, bilge, batteries, switches). Some required a little jumping around, but nothing crazy, and it allowed me to focus on a single area. Mine was pages long and if I could find it would send it to ya.

[I fish 4 Bass]

Here’s a good simple article on this subject.

https://www.wired2fish.com/boats-mai...used-bass-boat

[99R93S]

Making a list is a very good idea. The article above this is really good.

[BigFishSteve]

Witness a cold start up.

[skeeterator]

Didn’t see any blisters today when I went to look at it, and welds that I could see looked good.

You can't see the blisters with it on the trailer because the blisters are only where it sits on the bunks. Have a 2005 Ranger with all kinds of hull blisters, they're only on the area of the hull that sits on the bunks. Trust me, they are there and so are the bad trailer welds, those shitty welds are just covered with road armor and if you don't peel it away and look for them with the boat off the trailer then you won't see them. My axle welds broke on mine, it then rolled backwards and got in bind, started bouncing and broke a trailer wheel. The shitty axles were on the trailers built from 2005-09. Had a buddies axle welds break while on the interstate, it ended up in a ditch. I've got pics of my garbage welds fyi.
Great boats but those 2 issues aren't cheap to fix and really well known in those years.

[JustinNC]

You can't see the blisters with it on the trailer because the blisters are only where it sits on the bunks. Have a 2005 Ranger with all kinds of hull blisters, they're only on the area of the hull that sits on the bunks. Trust me, they are there and so are the bad trailer welds, those shitty welds are just covered with road armor and if you don't peel it away and look for them with the boat off the trailer then you won't see them. My axle welds broke on mine, it then rolled backwards and got in bind, started bouncing and broke a trailer wheel. The shitty axles were on the trailers built from 2005-09. Had a buddies axle welds break while on the interstate, it ended up in a ditch. I've got pics of my garbage welds fyi.
Great boats but those 2 issues aren't cheap to fix and really well known in those years.

How do you suggest checking for both of those issues? How long should it take for it to show up? Boat has been ran all over the east coast, repowered twice. I’d think you’d expect to see that stuff by now but maybe not?

**EDIT** just went down the ranger trailer weld rabbit hole. Thanks!

[skeeterator]

How do you suggest checking for both of those issues? How long should it take for it to show up? Boat has been ran all over the east coast, repowered twice. I’d think you’d expect to see that stuff by now but maybe not?

**EDIT** just went down the ranger trailer weld rabbit hole. Thanks!

Glad you're looking into the trailer issues, plenty of threads about it all over the internet, not just here. Tie Down Engineering made the axles in the years I mentioned. They welded a bracket onto the top of the axle which bolts to a bracket under the trailer. They only welded that bracket in 2 places, inside facing the trailer wheel instead of all 6 contact areas.
Only way to see the hull blisters is swim under the boat while it's in the water or jack it up off the trailer bunks and look for them. I'm guessing 90% of the guys that have them don't know it because they can't see them.
Good luck, I honestly hope you're lucky and find neither issue.

[Bass Cat Boats]

https://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=590067

suggestions from BCB

[JustinNC]

Thank you all. Everything went well and has been kept up in good shape. Hopefully the paper work process goes by quickly and smoothly this coming week.