Surveyor/Mechanic Recommendation

[kochler]

I hope to purchase a 1998 Express Tournament that is located in the Colonial Beach, VA area. In the process of negotiating the terms now.

Can anyone recommend a qualified surveyor and diesel mechanic in the area? The boat has a Peninsula "Beast" 6.5 liter diesel which I understand have been problematic.

While I am at it, any issues particular to this vintage and style Albin that I need to be sure the surveyor and mechanic check?

Thanks for the feedback.

[RobS]

She should be balsa cored so a hull sounding is important. Did you read my prior posts about what was the problem era with the GM blocks supplied to Penn?

[kochler]

Rob S. I have searched the web site for anything I can find about the Peninsula engines. It is a big concern of mine. I may have seen your posts, but there are so many, I cannot be sure. Can you steer me in the right direction?

[RobS]

Rob S. I have searched the web site for anything I can find about the Peninsula engines. It is a big concern of mine. I may have seen your posts, but there are so many, I cannot be sure. Can you steer me in the right direction?

viewtopic.php?f=29&t=1098&hilit=+block

[kochler]

Thank you RobS. That was helpful.

The boat I am looking at probably has one of the suspect blocks. It only has about 250 hours on the engine, which is another concern.

I am a rookie, and by no means a mechanic, but my impression is that a block is cracked or not cracked. In other words, unless the block is already cracked (which I doubt) there is no test or mechanical inspection that can be performed to predict whether it will crack. I suppose I can just look at the inspection records, have a diesel mechanic give it a good going over, and hope that if I maintain it properly it will not fail.

Sound about right?

[RobS]

Probably? You can find out for sure via serial number. I'd call Matt at Penn. diesel, get his advise and get prices on a long block, get a handle on local labor availability and costs and then make sure that you get into the boat for a price that would allow you to make the repairs and still have a fair deal.