We've got an offer in on a Marine Trader 40 and have engine and marine surveys being completed later this week. It's a 1981 and the CAT 3208NA has 5400 hours. The owner is out of the country and the broker could not give me many details regarding past service. The owner will supply those details upon his return. I will say however that it's evident that the boat has been very well maintained and clearly professionally upgraded. All of the electrical and plumbing appear very neatly run, marked and well secured with a lot of new switches, busses, inverter and cabling. It's also been boathouse kept for at least the last 10 years at least.
My main concern was for what I perceive is high hours (5400) on the engine. I had spoken with a few CAT shops this past week and both said "if" and it's a variable "if", the engine has been well looked after and run fairly regularly at cruise speeds, then it's not uncommon to see 10K + hours out of the 3208NA.
Here's my question. I noticed tonight that my picture of the engine shows it to be painted white from the mounts up, not yellow. Would this indicate a major amount of work and if so, how much? Is it ever done simply for aesthetic reasons or is this a sure sign of a certain level of overhaul?
I know I'll get the answer in 4 -5 days but I usually learn other things by asking a question.
Thanks!
My main concern was for what I perceive is high hours (5400) on the engine. I had spoken with a few CAT shops this past week and both said "if" and it's a variable "if", the engine has been well looked after and run fairly regularly at cruise speeds, then it's not uncommon to see 10K + hours out of the 3208NA.
Here's my question. I noticed tonight that my picture of the engine shows it to be painted white from the mounts up, not yellow. Would this indicate a major amount of work and if so, how much? Is it ever done simply for aesthetic reasons or is this a sure sign of a certain level of overhaul?
I know I'll get the answer in 4 -5 days but I usually learn other things by asking a question.
Thanks!
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