2002 Hydra-Sport 2596 with twin Yamaha 225's
08-12-2020, 10:19 AM
#1
Admirals Club 
Thread Starter
2002 Hydra-Sport 2596 with twin Yamaha 225's
Good morning everyone.
I have been a member of this forum since 2005. I have been without a boat for 5 years now. You guys have provided me a lot of laughs, good information and plenty of boat dreams. I'm hoping I can get some feed back from you guys on a potential boat purchase.
I have the opportunity to buy a 2002 Hydra-Sport 2596 vector with twin Yamaha 225 4 strokes (also 2002) with just over 200 hours for about 15K. The person selling it is the original owner who basically had it hanging behind his 2nd home in the Keys. I know this because I work for him and know the history of the boat. The hull is in magnificent shape because he was able to maintain it with an open checkbook. The reason I am hesitating is because 1 engine is basically shot. Corroded from the inside out.
I have found a few used engines in the 5k to 10k range to replace it. My main concern is the other engine which hasn't shown any issues yet. I spoke with a mechanic and he told that in order to check for corrosion on the supposedly good engine the powerhead has to be removed.
My question is, is that the only way to check for the corrosion that affects those 1st generation years ? I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can take a mechanic to the boat to check out the good engine without any major disassembly before I dish out the money. I can afford to replace 1 engine but not the 2nd one so I would really need to know with minimal disassembly
Any thoughts would help.
Thanks
I have been a member of this forum since 2005. I have been without a boat for 5 years now. You guys have provided me a lot of laughs, good information and plenty of boat dreams. I'm hoping I can get some feed back from you guys on a potential boat purchase.
I have the opportunity to buy a 2002 Hydra-Sport 2596 vector with twin Yamaha 225 4 strokes (also 2002) with just over 200 hours for about 15K. The person selling it is the original owner who basically had it hanging behind his 2nd home in the Keys. I know this because I work for him and know the history of the boat. The hull is in magnificent shape because he was able to maintain it with an open checkbook. The reason I am hesitating is because 1 engine is basically shot. Corroded from the inside out.
I have found a few used engines in the 5k to 10k range to replace it. My main concern is the other engine which hasn't shown any issues yet. I spoke with a mechanic and he told that in order to check for corrosion on the supposedly good engine the powerhead has to be removed.
My question is, is that the only way to check for the corrosion that affects those 1st generation years ? I'm trying to figure out if there is a way I can take a mechanic to the boat to check out the good engine without any major disassembly before I dish out the money. I can afford to replace 1 engine but not the 2nd one so I would really need to know with minimal disassembly
Any thoughts would help.
Thanks
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08-12-2020, 11:09 AM
#3
Admirals Club
If that hull is in as good of condition as you say, even with two blown engines $15k is not a bad deal. Look on Boat Trader and on here at what similar boats are selling for. I would personally pay around that if it has a decent trailer and everything else checks out. Buy some good used motors on here and you would be set.
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08-12-2020, 12:58 PM
#5
Member
It might make sense to look for used engines to see if the boat/motor is within your price range. You might get lucky on someone repowering trying to unload newer well maintained engines.
If you find used engines for $10-15K, that is still a good deal on that hull and you won't lose money later.
If you find used engines for $10-15K, that is still a good deal on that hull and you won't lose money later.
08-13-2020, 07:02 AM
#8
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by v303x
It might make sense to look for used engines to see if the boat/motor is within your price range. You might get lucky on someone repowering trying to unload newer well maintained engines.
If you find used engines for $10-15K, that is still a good deal on that hull and you won't lose money later.
If you find used engines for $10-15K, that is still a good deal on that hull and you won't lose money later.
08-13-2020, 07:05 AM
#9
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by lifestarts@forty
Repower with a pair Suzuki 200's and be way ahead of the cost of a new comparable boat.
08-13-2020, 07:07 AM
#10
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by cwhite6
If that hull is in as good of condition as you say, even with two blown engines $15k is not a bad deal. Look on Boat Trader and on here at what similar boats are selling for. I would personally pay around that if it has a decent trailer and everything else checks out. Buy some good used motors on here and you would be set.
08-13-2020, 07:08 AM
#11
Admirals Club
Buy it! If you don't, please send me the contact info. I'll buy it and give you a finder's fee for hooking me up. 
Love these hulls.
Plan to repower as soon as possible. Finding good used engines can be a real crap shoot. People usually repower for a reason and there are a lot of shady people out there... I'd recommend biting the bullet now and buying new or if you can wait around and find a deal on a couple year old motors with warranty. Replace all the fuel lines while you're at it. If you put another 225 Yamaha on you still have the corrosion issue to worry about, plus the 225s were considered a "weak" 225.
id also g recommend repowering with 225s or even 250s. These are heavy hulls. You can probably find newer used motors with warranty for around 18-20k with rigging.
You can check for corrosion by removing the lower unit and looking up the mid section. You can also put a scope in the exhaust, but the problem is you see some corrosion you won't know if it has made it to the powerhead yet, where it becomes a real issue.
Love these hulls.
Plan to repower as soon as possible. Finding good used engines can be a real crap shoot. People usually repower for a reason and there are a lot of shady people out there... I'd recommend biting the bullet now and buying new or if you can wait around and find a deal on a couple year old motors with warranty. Replace all the fuel lines while you're at it. If you put another 225 Yamaha on you still have the corrosion issue to worry about, plus the 225s were considered a "weak" 225.
id also g recommend repowering with 225s or even 250s. These are heavy hulls. You can probably find newer used motors with warranty for around 18-20k with rigging.
You can check for corrosion by removing the lower unit and looking up the mid section. You can also put a scope in the exhaust, but the problem is you see some corrosion you won't know if it has made it to the powerhead yet, where it becomes a real issue.
Last edited by acteg; 08-13-2020 at 07:27 AM.
08-13-2020, 08:14 AM
#14
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by ReleaseMeMako
Thats a steal. Get it. I picked up a 2796 about 5yrs ago for $26K with crap running fichts and trailer, nursed them for a few years and repowered. No way would i let it go now.
08-13-2020, 08:40 AM
#15
Admirals Club
Thread Starter
Originally Posted by acteg
Buy it! If you don't, please send me the contact info. I'll buy it and give you a finder's fee for hooking me up.
Love these hulls.
Plan to repower as soon as possible. Finding good used engines can be a real crap shoot. People usually repower for a reason and there are a lot of shady people out there... I'd recommend biting the bullet now and buying new or if you can wait around and find a deal on a couple year old motors with warranty. Replace all the fuel lines while you're at it. If you put another 225 Yamaha on you still have the corrosion issue to worry about, plus the 225s were considered a "weak" 225.
id also g recommend repowering with 225s or even 250s. These are heavy hulls. You can probably find newer used motors with warranty for around 18-20k with rigging.
You can check for corrosion by removing the lower unit and looking up the mid section. You can also put a scope in the exhaust, but the problem is you see some corrosion you won't know if it has made it to the powerhead yet, where it becomes a real issue.
Love these hulls.
Plan to repower as soon as possible. Finding good used engines can be a real crap shoot. People usually repower for a reason and there are a lot of shady people out there... I'd recommend biting the bullet now and buying new or if you can wait around and find a deal on a couple year old motors with warranty. Replace all the fuel lines while you're at it. If you put another 225 Yamaha on you still have the corrosion issue to worry about, plus the 225s were considered a "weak" 225.
id also g recommend repowering with 225s or even 250s. These are heavy hulls. You can probably find newer used motors with warranty for around 18-20k with rigging.
You can check for corrosion by removing the lower unit and looking up the mid section. You can also put a scope in the exhaust, but the problem is you see some corrosion you won't know if it has made it to the powerhead yet, where it becomes a real issue.
08-13-2020, 08:49 AM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Fort Myers Beach, FL, USA
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Originally Posted by John Patrick
The boat is 6100 lbs. Do you think 400 HP would push it along nicely?
The boat in my signature was purchased new with a single 250HP OX66, and three years later we repowered with twin F150s. Boat weighed about 7,500+ and the F150s let us cruise comfortably at 27-30kts, with WOT speed of 37+kts. No problem running 70nm offshore VaBch with full fishing gear, 300# of ice and four or five pax.
IMHO, a pair of 200HP Yamaha or Suzuki engines would move that HS just fine.
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08-13-2020, 11:52 AM
#18
Admirals Club
Great hull, great deal. for the price I would jump on it while you can if you don’t I’ll be second in line (behind the finders fee comment above) as a buyer.
I bought a 225 EdgeWater with an old mercury engine on it with plans to repower if it works well with the wife and kids. It seems you’d be in the same spot.
Sell the bad engine for parts. Buy a matching used engine and hope to get 6-8 months on both. Sell the old pair and upgrade in the spring. That will give you sometime to see if you like the hull and set up.
If you don’t - you’ll 100% be able to resell that set up with working power for 20-25k (Which is what you’ll be in it for). Heck at that price you’ll always be able to resell for your out of pocket cost.
finance the power upgrade in the spring if you have to. Youll end up with a warranty and an excellent long term solution for the water. Which brand of repower would be the next question and expect a long list of opinions on that!
just my 2 cents.
I bought a 225 EdgeWater with an old mercury engine on it with plans to repower if it works well with the wife and kids. It seems you’d be in the same spot.
Sell the bad engine for parts. Buy a matching used engine and hope to get 6-8 months on both. Sell the old pair and upgrade in the spring. That will give you sometime to see if you like the hull and set up.
If you don’t - you’ll 100% be able to resell that set up with working power for 20-25k (Which is what you’ll be in it for). Heck at that price you’ll always be able to resell for your out of pocket cost.
finance the power upgrade in the spring if you have to. Youll end up with a warranty and an excellent long term solution for the water. Which brand of repower would be the next question and expect a long list of opinions on that!
just my 2 cents.
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08-13-2020, 02:50 PM
#19
Admirals Club
Originally Posted by Robalo1226
Great hull, great deal. for the price I would jump on it while you can if you don’t I’ll be second in line (behind the finders fee comment above) as a buyer.
I bought a 225 EdgeWater with an old mercury engine on it with plans to repower if it works well with the wife and kids. It seems you’d be in the same spot.
Sell the bad engine for parts. Buy a matching used engine and hope to get 6-8 months on both. Sell the old pair and upgrade in the spring. That will give you sometime to see if you like the hull and set up.
If you don’t - you’ll 100% be able to resell that set up with working power for 20-25k (Which is what you’ll be in it for). Heck at that price you’ll always be able to resell for your out of pocket cost.
finance the power upgrade in the spring if you have to. Youll end up with a warranty and an excellent long term solution for the water. Which brand of repower would be the next question and expect a long list of opinions on that!
just my 2 cents.
I bought a 225 EdgeWater with an old mercury engine on it with plans to repower if it works well with the wife and kids. It seems you’d be in the same spot.
Sell the bad engine for parts. Buy a matching used engine and hope to get 6-8 months on both. Sell the old pair and upgrade in the spring. That will give you sometime to see if you like the hull and set up.
If you don’t - you’ll 100% be able to resell that set up with working power for 20-25k (Which is what you’ll be in it for). Heck at that price you’ll always be able to resell for your out of pocket cost.
finance the power upgrade in the spring if you have to. Youll end up with a warranty and an excellent long term solution for the water. Which brand of repower would be the next question and expect a long list of opinions on that!
just my 2 cents.
Might as well put on wedges while your at it
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08-13-2020, 03:51 PM
#20
Senior Member
Originally Posted by John Patrick
Does anyone have any experience using the website below?
Seems a little too cheap.
225HP Outboards Sale
Seems a little too cheap.
225HP Outboards Sale
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