Considering a purchase

[cordale]

New to the group, possibly staying awhile.

Considering purchasing a 2005 Sportster 155 (hopefully I've posted to the correct spot)

This is someone I know selling it, so I feel good that he wouldn't sell me anything with a known or obvious issue. Last weekend we put a brand new battery in it, backed it down the ramp, and it fired up quickly.

After opening the engine hatch I could tell water was coming in the bilge. We didn't have much time to investigate so we pulled it back out. I talked to him yesterday and he said after taking it back down to the lake and backing it in, he could see the water was coming in the bilge via the rub rail on the back. I guess it was following that channel into the bilge. Anyone seen this before. Would this be a simple caulking fix? He said he was going to take the rub rail off to see what the proper fix should be.

I'm basically wanting to purchase this sportster so toy around on the lake, and pull my 6 and 3 year old on a tube / water toys. It should be good for my family of four since you can only ride three people on a jet ski.

Looking for feedback on how this will suit my needs.

Thanks!

 

[timeman]

New to the group, possibly staying awhile.

Considering purchasing a 2005 Sportster 155 (hopefully I've posted to the correct spot)

This is someone I know selling it, so I feel good that he wouldn't sell me anything with a known or obvious issue. Last weekend we put a brand new battery in it, backed it down the ramp, and it fired up quickly.

After opening the engine hatch I could tell water was coming in the bilge. We didn't have much time to investigate so we pulled it back out. I talked to him yesterday and he said after taking it back down to the lake and backing it in, he could see the water was coming in the bilge via the rub rail on the back. I guess it was following that channel into the bilge. Anyone seen this before. Would this be a simple caulking fix? He said he was going to take the rub rail off to see what the proper fix should be.

I'm basically wanting to purchase this sportster so toy around on the lake, and pull my 6 and 3 year old on a tube / water toys. It should be good for my family of four since you can only ride three people on a jet ski.

Looking for feedback on how this will suit my needs.

Thanks!

I believe the hull is made in two halves, the rub rail is applied at the seam. I've read that some water leaking in at the seam is normal, the stern is below water level much of the time.. My challenger used to allow a small amount of water to leak in to the point where I'd get a couple gallons (not enough to kick on the bilge pump) over a half day+ on the water. For what ever reason, the water seemed to flow into the ski locker instead of staying in the engine bilge. I was unable to find anything that looked like a possible leak so I sealed the rub rail trim(top / bottom, to the hull with clear silicone about two years ago..... haven't had a problem since. Now when I open the drains on the ramp, I get next to nothing running out. You said you didn't have a lot of time and had to pull the out out of the water? that makes it sound like there was a lot of water running /gushing in? if that's the case the boat may have been hit or backed into something to crack the seam between the hull sections wider than normal wear and tear ? Good luck