If You were selling a boat.....

[Will S.]

Would you let a potential buyer for your boat personally check the compression of your motor ?  I’ve been looking around for the boat I want, but I am always burdened by getting someone to check the compression. I have never personally performed a compression check, but it does not look to difficult.  I’m not sure I would let a stranger take tools to my motor.. What’s your thoughts on this.

[MOPanfisher]

Can you take it to a dealer and get a printout or something certified by the dealer?

[aarchdale@coresleep.com]

When i sold my boat, i offered to do one in front of the buyer. And i wouldnt want to buy a boat if they told me i couldnt do a check. Ive had two different sellers that were perfectly fine with it.  It also depends on the motor in question. If the plugs are really easy access its no problem. My brother got a 4 stroke a few years back and he went to do a compression check and the plugs were buried under all kinds of crap and it was going to be more work that it was worth.  

[Will S.]

2 hours ago, MOPanfisher said:

Can you take it to a dealer and get a printout or something certified by the dealer?

Yes this would be ideal, but traveling it becomes a pain trying to coordinate it “on the spot”. The few boats ago, I had a shop check the compression, took them a week to get it in. I was “Suppose” to be there to see it myself. Compression ended up being suspicious anyway. A couple of weeks ago, in Bella Vista, I was on a weeks waiting list to get shop time to check the compression.. Another buyer bought it from under me without checking it over.

[Will S.]

1 hour ago, aarchdale@coresleep.com said:

When i sold my boat, i offered to do one in front of the buyer. And i wouldnt want to buy a boat if they told me i couldnt do a check. Ive had two different sellers that were perfectly fine with it.  It also depends on the motor in question. If the plugs are really easy access its no problem. My brother got a 4 stroke a few years back and he went to do a compression check and the plugs were buried under all kinds of crap and it was going to be more work that it was worth.  

Agree...

[fishinwrench]

Tell them you will hold their check (minus 250.00/500.00/or whatever) for a few days.   If they think you sold them a rig that wasn't "as advertised" then they can bring it back and only be out a little "rent".

That's the way I do it.  Have never had a problem.  Typically I'll fire it up cold on the hose, let it warm up, rev it a few times, shift it a few times....and they throw down the cash or write a check.  Test drives on the lake? "No sir, ain't nobody got time for that".