Ericson 29? Need quick response, please

[GlenDC]

I came across a good deal on Ericson 29. The boat is in good shape but inboard A4 does not work. The boat has a temporary installed outboard. The owner asks 6k.

1. Is Ericson 29 good as a first boat?
2. How much to install a new Atomic 4? And BTW what is A4? Is it a brand or just engine type supported by many vendors?
3. Does is make sense to try to repair the existing A4? I do not know much about A4 but hardly can imagine situation that an engine is totally unrepairable.

[Sailormann]

1. Is Ericson 29 good as a first boat?

A little large maybe - but yes it's a decent boat

2. How much to install a new Atomic 4? And BTW what is A4? Is it a brand or just engine type supported by many vendors?

They don't make them anymore. A4 = Atomic 4. It is an inboard gasoline engine that was installed on many thousands of boats from the sixties through the eighties (maybe even the fifties to the nineties - not sure when they stopped making them). Parts are easily available. You may need to get it rebuilt - anywhere from $800.00 to $2,000.00 You could install a diesel instead, Universal (manufacturers of the Atomic 4) produce a diesel that is designed to fit the Atomic 4 engine mounts..

3. Does is make sense to try to repair the existing A4? I do not know much about A4 but hardly can imagine situation that an engine is totally unrepairable.

Yes

[cardiacpaul]

whoa there big fella...

I seriously doubt the owner or broker has another offer in hand that you will lose the chance at this boat if you don't come up with a down payment within a day or two.

Ericsons are decent boats depending on condition, and of course, what YOU plan to use it for.

About the A-4.

Whats wrong with it?
They were installed in about 40,000 boats. They're simple, decent, reliable little workhorses. Unless there is MAJOR damage, rebuilds are relatively cheap. torrenson has a rebuilt for 3500, moyer sells exchange rebuilts for 4500.00 thats top end. Youu can buy the parts, have a machine shop do the tough stuff (crank grinds, valve job, stuff like that) for about 2000.00

Like I said, unless its been run out of oil over heated to the point of cracking a block, or the rings are frozen, not too much goes "that" wrong with them. Have it checked out.

[GlenDC]

c-paul

In other words, 6k is too much for (supposedly) overall good Ericson 29 but with broken A-4 and O/B instead?

Thanks

[cardiacpaul]

wwe're doing the pm thing now, answering you there...
but for this question, is it depends on the other systems and integrity of the hull... because he slapped on an outboard rather than fix the inboard tells me he's doing this on the cheap. makes me wonder what else is.

[LaPlaya]

Not necessarily a bad deal. You have to look at the overall picture. Not to be neglected is the condition of the sails,elec system and very important the hull condition. Good luck
AL