potential 91 sunsport owner

[jeepjake]

Hello everyone, I have been looking around here for a while and would first like to thank you for the good information that I have found already. I have spent the last 19 years behind my parents 1994 185 rinker with the 4.3. I primarily wakeboard, but do barefoot and slalom. With that being said I am looking to buy and have found a 91 sunsport with 400 hours. I did look at it once already but I forgot to pull a motor mount bolt, the bilge area did not have a funny smell and the floor did feel solid. Now I am just waiting for the ice to melt off of the lake the guy lives on to take it for a test drive and pull behind it. I just hope I'm not getting to excited and overlook or try and justify and problems. Pretty much this Wisconsin weather is making me crazy with 40 degree temps, snow storms and sunshine all within an hour. Do any of you see any concerns with the rust spots from the wake plate mount. also what is the big white thing that connects the exhaust I haven't seen that before, and it sits on a 07 Mariah trailer.


http://i50.tinypic.com/mhympy.jpg

http://i45.tinypic.com/1o3r40.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/333jy83.jpg

http://i46.tinypic.com/1ymwap.jpg

[haugy]

Good looking boat.

As for the rust, I wouldn't sweat it too much, but it most likely means some water has passed through that fitting and rusted on the inside and then drained out at some point when pulled. Check the bottom of the hull interior (under the engine hatches) for signs of water levels, rust, filth, etc. It's not too terribly uncommon, but I'd still make sure that boat doesn't take water on through there regularly.

As for the "white thing" That's part of the exhaust system. They put those on there starting in 91 up to I think 94-95. It's basically an exhaust baffle. It does nothing to hurt or help performance. The only thing it's bad for is blocking access to your transmission. Honestly I never knew why the heck they put it on there unless it was to subdue the sound. It won't get hot enough to burn excess vapor off, and compared to the original it's more restrictive on flow.
It's ugly, but normal. And easily removed I believe.

Good looking boat there.