Wellcraft Caostal 238

willy · #1 03-21-2013, 09:43 PM

wv20 I believe you are comparing the old open transom version versus this line which was Wellcrafts top of the line. It has the Euro transom where some cockpit space was lost but the transom was considered the best in the industry. No water entry in this model at all.
I looked at it tonight. Very solid boat. The hull and components were outstanding.
I have some questions about the 225 Johnson which are to be answered and I will go from there.

THEFERMANATOR · #2 03-22-2013, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willy

wv20 I believe you are comparing the old open transom version versus this line which was Wellcrafts top of the line. It has the Euro transom where some cockpit space was lost but the transom was considered the best in the industry. No water entry in this model at all.
I looked at it tonight. Very solid boat. The hull and components were outstanding.
I have some questions about the 225 Johnson which are to be answered and I will go from there.

It's a big, smoky, noisy, thirsty pig of an engine, not much else to say other than also known for being reliable(carbon buildup in the ring lands is the biggest known killer of them). Compression should be around 105-110 if it's a 94+, roughly 90 if it's a 88-93, and around 90-100 for a 86-88. To bad you don't still have your ETEC to slap on it.

willy · #3 03-22-2013, 12:07 PM

Ferm does it make sense that the Johnson 225 on there, which is a 93 according to the serial # is also a 30" Shaft?

THEFERMANATOR · #4 03-22-2013, 12:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willy

Ferm does it make sense that the Johnson 225 on there, which is a 93 according to the serial # is also a 30" Shaft?

WELLCRAFT lists the 238 as a 25" transom, so I would make sure it's got the right length on it. A 93 on a 94 sounds normal to me as WELLCRAFT buys engines in big lots and puts them on, so being 1 year older is normal. Also 93 was a sort of redheaded year for OMC as it might be the 92 or 94 style engine, no way to know which one it is until you open it up.

willy · #5 03-22-2013, 04:26 PM

All right saw saw the boat, hull in very good shape, but motor needs a good paint job. I took the serial and model numbers before i left. Got home and found out the engine he had said was a 99 was actually a 93, and the shaft size as per the motor tag is 30 inch, and it looked it.
So, called the guy today and told him and he said he would call his father and the boat shop which I know and see what the deal was.
He calls back and said he talked to the shop and they took the power head off of a 99 which was a trade in motor and in good shape and put it on his 93 engine as the trade in motor was a 25" shaft. According to them the 94 238's required a thirty inch shaft for a single engine application and a 25" shafts for a twin engine set up.
So I told him I was interested still and we are going to do a sea trial first week of April.
He just called me back and says he has two guys that want the boat, same money and that they just want to hear it run on a hose no sea trial.
I told him I won't do that, to go ahead and sell it if he cant wait.
Supposed to call me and let me know.

spareparts · #6 03-22-2013, 05:53 PM

sounds fishy, if you look on the power-head, on the top side there is an aluminum "freeze plug" that will have the serial number of the "new" power head on it so you can confirm what it is. If he is advertising the engine as a 99, its not a 99, its a 93 with a used power head on it

THEFERMANATOR · #7 03-22-2013, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by spareparts

sounds fishy, if you look on the power-head, on the top side there is an aluminum "freeze plug" that will have the serial number of the "new" power head on it so you can confirm what it is. If he is advertising the engine as a 99, its not a 99, its a 93 with a used power head on it

OMC stopped doing the model number on the powerhead around 90 or so, so that most likely won't do you any good. It will have a number on it, but a dealer has to break it down. I couldn't find any info on the 94 238, but the 95 238 lists a 25" shaft. The engine situation sounds fishy to me, and I wouldn't even consider it without a sea trial. Unfortunately I know your coming into your boating season up that way, and boat prices are skyrocketing.

I just went and looked up 4 different 238's, and they all had 25" engines on them. I did notice they had a small cutout made in the center of the transom for the 25" engine to sit low enough, so there is a chance it could have had a 30" engine put on it. Since he says it had a powerhead swap done, there is another issue that could arise from it. Around 93 OMC changed the length of the driveshaft and made it longer for the new style cranks in the fingerport engines. An early lower will bolt on, but will not have very much spline engagement into the powerhead. It is unclear if the switch took place in 93 or 94 as like I said earlier 93 is redheaded stepchild for the 200/225's. From what you are saying I wouldn't offer him but what you feel the hull and trailer are worth as you could be getting into somebody elses basket case of parts for an engine. So if you buy it I would find somebody who KNOWS OMC's of this era VERY well and have them go over it and see what is what.

willy · #8 03-22-2013, 06:27 PM

You are correct, and I know the place that did the work, D&R Boat Works, a very pro shop.
I think he is just confused, because it was his Uncle and Dad that had the work done last fall.
But we had made a deal pending sea trial and compression check which he agreed to but now says he thinks the boat will sell this weekend with just a hose run.
So be it. I am not buying it that way.