65aircooled Posted July 19, 2013 Report Share Posted July 19, 2013 (edited) Hello all! I am new to the site and to boats in general. I am considering buying sord of an "all around" type of boat and I like the 20-22' walkaround fishing boats. I have been looking around in marinas around my area, asking questions and looking for a decent quality and decent price boat that I can purchase. My brother who lives in Costa Rica owns a 21" cc polar for about a year and is already looking to upgrade to a 26" WA so he can better accommodate his family of 5. I will not be using it every day during the season and my 2 boys are 7 and 9 so I think a 21' would fit us perfect. Anyway, this coming Sunday I am supposed to be looking at an original owner 1996 2140 Robalo with the original Mercury 225HP (guessing not fuel injected and unknown hrs) 2 stroke engine with no trailer. The boat is stored off season and power washed/ cleaned and under coated (whatever that means) and put in the water from April to Oct every year. Owned by a female who says kids have grown and has no more use or time for the boat. She said the toilet hasn't been used in years so there is no saying on wether it even works. All cabin cushions are missing but other than that in "very good" used condition. It has a hard top and dual gps/fish finders. I guess what I want to do is take advantage of your vast knowledge and also know what to look for when I go see the boat on Sunday. Also if there are ppl here that own or have owned 2140's it'd be great to hear your opinions on this specific boat, know how choppy is the ride, are there any know problems with this particular model/brand and also any good or bads that you may know about them. Owner wants $7K which seems fair based on what I have seen on the Internet and at marinas so far. Boat is located in NJ Any input would be greatly appreciated. Edited July 20, 2013 by 65aircooled Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65aircooled Posted July 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted July 20, 2013 Wow, 11 reviews but no comments yet I'll take some pictures tomorrow and post them here to see if I can get any opinions then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2-N-TOW Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 The 2140 is an excellent all around boat in the 21 to 23 ft range. Slightly deeper deadrise that the 2160 I own, so it can handle the swells and chop a little better. That model has a reputation of being an excellent boat for off shore fishing and the one I have been on handled ocean swells just fine. The 2140 and 2160 were both on my short list of boats...just happened to find the 2160 first. Definitely sounds like a carbed motor. Do a quick visual on the motor...any signs of excessive corrosion? Have the owner do a compression test to verify all cylinders are within a 10% range of each other. Pretty safe bet the hours are not known unless the owner had installed an hour meter in the dash. Look the lower unit over for any signs of damage or oil leakage. Toilet is probably a porta-potty. I don't recall that model having an installed head unless the current owner had it done. Undercoating...boat has anti-fouling paint on the hull to prevent any marine growth from forming while it is in the water during the summer. Report back on the electronics (make and model). Depending on their age, they may not figure into the overall cost of the boat. Cushions...not a deal breaker. Then can be found on the internet or custom made by a local canvas shop. What to look for on the hull. Transom...any signs of cracks along the top of the transom? Any brown stains from any thru-hull fittings on the transom? This could be a sign of water seepage. Really, to do a good check on the hull, the boat needs to be either on a trailer or on land at the marina. Do a search on this forum as to what to look for when purchasing a used boat...gives you a good comprehensive list of things you can check. Sea trial....make sure the tachometer works and the gps functions properly. Next, run the boat wide open and record the speed from the gps and the rpms. Next, start slowing down until the boat almost falls off plane, then bump the throttle back up so it stays on plane. Record the speed and rpms. That boat with 225 horses should cruise comfortably at 4,000 rpms and if properly propped, run around 27-29 mph. Record the speed at 4,000. Now, check how the boat runs from a dead start. Does it jump on plane fairly easy? Does the boat have trim tabs installed? If so, these can be a big help when running in sloppy water, allowing you to drop the bow down so the sharp entry will cut through the waves instead of pounding on top of them. Definitely post some pictures for us to see and report back how the trial goes tomorrow. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris-R Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 I suggest that you hire a reputable marine surveyor to go through this boat from stem to stern. Make sure to do what Dan said and get a compression test on the motor. An oil analysis isn't a bad idea too. You don't want to have to re-power the boat or that nice $ 7,000 price will end up being 3X. You can find marine surveyors in your area by going to the Boat US web site. Twice, I have picked surveyors using the Boat US surveyor lookup and both times, I was very satisfied. Here is the web site: http://www.boatus.com/insurance/survey.asp Please report back and let us know how things work out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shag Posted July 21, 2013 Report Share Posted July 21, 2013 I have this exact boat and find it comfortable, planes well with the same motor as yours. A few issues as of late but overall I love the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65aircooled Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Thank you all for the responses. I wasn't able to see the boat until this past Sunday. The boat is pretty rough cosmetically speaking. The transom is good, though there is some cracking on the hook from where the winch pulls the boat. The boat was on land on wood blocks, so I was able to crawl in and out and under it. Hull is good all around, the side hatches seem very, very tight but there are some water stains. Not sure if they are currently leaking or were left open at some point and rain got in. The hard top is in excellent shape but the stainless steel all around hasn't been maintained in years so its pretty rough. Coaming pads are raggedy as expected, not a big deal. I got a price on detailing the boat for around $450 which seems fair. The motor is indeed a carbed 225 offshore. I inquired about a surveyor but everyone came back at around $800 which I think is not worth it based on the price of the boat, so I am taking a captain and a mechanic to help evaluate it. Electronics don't reach above the $150 retail based on age and what they are so they need to be updated. I am being told compression on the motor should be around 125 with no more than 10% difference between cylinders. Other than the above the boat is a diamond in the rough. I tend to be anal about my vehicles and I know this boat won't be any different so I know I will be replacing coaming boards, cabin cushions, cabin wall carpet and whatever is broken or missing so I need to get it as cheap as I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
65aircooled Posted August 7, 2013 Author Report Share Posted August 7, 2013 Here are some pics of the ugly side of the boat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2-N-TOW Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 I take it this boat was kept on a mooring during the summer. Bow eye...not sure how that got banged up but does not look bad since there are no cracks radiating out from it in the gelcoat. Don't worry about the water stains in the cabin below the window...for a 17 year old boat that does not look bad. Good thing I see when looking at that view of the transom; no brown stains under any of the fittings (no water penetration in the transom!). Start watching a number of the larger boating forums that have classified sections for electronics. Nothing wrong with buying a used unit. Also consider a factory reconditioned component. I have tried both and no bad experiences so far. Let us know how it works out once you and your mechanic give it a good inspection. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shag Posted August 9, 2013 Report Share Posted August 9, 2013 My hull was clean as a whistle when I bought it. I just had an issue with the timing (key on the throttle position sensor) but had it out since and it will plane in about 45 seconds and achieve near 40 mph. The boat has an hour meter and it now reads 256 hours. My compressions are all within 5 lbs at 120 PSI. The retiming with the new throttle parts made a huge difference in performance for me. Timing correction reduced amount of oil smoke from the exhaust drastically. This boat gets all the looks at the Marine when we launch. The profile of the hull in unlike any others in this area. I am sure even if you don't decide on the one you are looking at you will be pleased with a 2140. 2-IN-TOW is a very helpful guide for you to follow. Cheers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearo Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 I have a 2140 wa. original owner. If you need any help or have any questions just let me know. The 2140 is a great heavy lady with nice curves. I keep her near Oregon Inlet in the North Carolina Outer Banks. This inlet is the worst on the east coast and she has never let me down since 1995. The boat has no bottom paint to date and she still show room material. I have had many boats before this boat but this year boat/model has been the best boat I ever had. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2-N-TOW Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hey Spearo - You live down there? We have on the beach road across from Lowes...can't miss it as I have a big red anchor ball in the front yard. I am heading down there this morning to take advantage of the nice weather and finish up some maintenance work on the cottage. I run my 2160 out of OI and Hatteras when we trailer down from Suffolk. Same opinion here on OI...nasty run from about a half mile east of the bridge until past the outer bar. Boat has done just fine as long as you use good throttle management running into or with those swells. We have ran out to the Point and Tuna Hole, both "C" and "G" towers, and points in between from OI. Out of Hatteras, Rock Pile, Monitor, Dixie Arrow, Abrams. Its all about watching your conditions and knowing when to wait for another day. By the way, Hatteras can be a little sporty, especially when you are returning when the charter fleet are coming thru the inlet at the end of the day! Fun lining up right behind a 60 footer and having another one just behind you...wish I had snapped some pictures that one time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spearo Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Hello 2-n-tow, Not full time as of now but I will in two more years, I hope. Have a place in Pond Island. We all had a great inshore fishing this year, better than offshore in total for us. Can't wait for April to get here. Happy Hollydays Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shag Posted March 15, 2014 Report Share Posted March 15, 2014 Well time to get back in the boat, just wanted to add to my experience with my 2140 last summer. Carry a short heavy gage jumper wire in your tool box. My solenoid went out about three miles across the bay. Could't attract anyone for a tow so called the coast guard who put out a call for me. No response, finally the coast guard said they would come and tow me in. I took it to the marine dealer the next AM and he looked at it and stated it appeared to be the starter, I suggested he look at he solenoid first. He went to the shop and got a jumper wire, bypassed the solenoid and went from positive side of solenoid directly to started and the engine fired up immediately. I now have a jumper wire in my emergency kit onboard. PS coast guard done an inspection on the boat and I had forgotten to load the fire extinguisher that morning (I remove it at night and take it in the house as I have had things not attached permanently disappear from time to time). No bug deal had to show them it was there the next day out. Solenoid $ 35.00 Labour $95.00 (minimum charge). Jumper wire 50 cents. Solenoid $35.00 install $0.00 5 minute job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
519 Posted March 16, 2014 Report Share Posted March 16, 2014 Jump wire is a good idea for the boat tool box. I made one out of an old car battery cable. Were you in Texas or WA when this happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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