New Member - Looking to Purchase

[RSoo1]

Hello,
I’ve been looking on here for a couple of days. Going to look at a 1998 220 with the 5.0 Volvo dual prop Saturday. Anything I should be looking for/avoid?

The only thing in the pictures is a small amount of corrosion on the outdrive, but only below the prop on the skeg. I’m trying to get a better picture from the current owner.

Thanks for any inputs. Seems like Cobalt is a great brand.

[AsLan7]

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So glad you found us RS1.

Be sure to check the bellows for rips or tears. How many hours on the engine?

Are you going to get a chance water test her?

Ask about battery age, plugs, fluid and impeller service and when they were last performed.

And welcome aboard mate!

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[dustinm]

220 is great boat, we had a 97. Along with A7s list look over the hull for shoddy repairs or exsisting spider web cracking in the gel coat, these can be nothing or big red flags. Shoddy repairs will look discolored or have an uneven surface.
Also at this age interior vinyl will be nearing its service life. Any hard spots or cracks will only get worse, so I would run my hands over all of it looking for these signs. This wouldn't be a deal killer for me but will be added cost that need to be factored...
I also hope you can at least take a ride in it. That series of 220 is a large boat and I am betting the 5.0 was the base engine. This could be less than spectacular if you are a speed demon or planning to tow large tunes. Ours had a 7.4 which on our small lake was never taxed but would be average on a larger lake

[RSoo1]

Thanks for the pointers. I had forgot about the bellows. The last time I owned a stern drive was an ‘86 Bayliner in 2010.
I know the vinyl will be showing age. My hope is that it’s good enough for 1 or two seasons.
A7, when you say “plugs” are you referring to spark plugs or freeze plugs?

Thanks again.

[AsLan7]

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Spark Plugs.

[RSoo1]

I bought the mentioned boat boat. Yes it needs some work, but it seems sound. I’ll be taking the project over to the older models section. Looking forward to the discussion.

[Big Block Power]

Congrats

[AsLan7]

Hey great to hear RS. Looking forward to your Captain’s report.

[RSoo1]

Question: The in floor cooler as an approximate 3/4” drain hole. Do you guys plug it (with what?) or leave it open? It just drains into the bilge?

Thanks.

[Snowman8]

I have an R5 and it has a threaded plug in the cooler. I had a Sea Rat that didn’t have a plug in the cooler and the ice would melt so fast that we could hardly keep ice in it, there wasn’t ever any cold water in it because it drained right out. Nobody wants warm kool aid! I went to our local hardware store and bought a cheap drain plug like this. This particular one is for a 1” hole but I just wanted to give you an idea of what I used.

[Krob1114]

Question: The in floor cooler as an approximate 3/4” drain hole. Do you guys plug it (with what?) or leave it open? It just drains into the bilge?

Thanks.

I'm don't know the about the floor cooler in your boat, but our first boat had something similar. We used a rubber coated brass plug that you could twist and it would get tight, then untwist to take it out. The water stayed in, which pretty much kept the drinks in a cold ice/water mixture, which kept them cold longer.

Congrats on joining the Cobalt family. Hope you have a great summer without too much expenses and headaches.