Newbie Wannabe..is this an MX16?

[stadacona]

Hey Everybody!

Well I have been lurking a little on this site and love the community and knowledge base! I just sold my Four Winns 17' bowrider with the hope of getting a retro ski boat and came across a listing for a "1973 16' Checkmate". The owner didn't know the model but said the boat is solid, had a new floor done about 2-3 years ago. He thought the motor was original to the boat, it is a Merc 1500...but he says it has PT and from what i could tell Merc didn't have PT until 1975? At any rate he said he had it in for a tune up last spring and compression numbers were 145# across 5 and 125# on the 6th. He also said they replaced a "fuel bladder thing"..I'm assuming fuel pump rebuild or new bulb? I'm going to check it out this week so wanted to know anything specific to look for other than obvious transom separation/cracking/softness. Anything to look at and listen on the old mercury inline? That 6th cylinder compression number is about 14% off...what should I be concerned about?

Thanks for your help!

Here is a pic of the boat...does it look like an MX16?

By stadacona at 2010-10-04

 

[Great East Predictor]

I do believe that is an mx-16 and it looks to be in really nice shape. If compression is down that much, its probably going to need some work...possibly some rings at least. I'd bring a compression gauge and check myself to be sure. If it is down that much, pull the head off and look for scores in the cylinder.

 

[Seacall79]

Did you ever buy it? Got any other pictures of this one? Its a pretty sharp looking boat!

 

[RNGRDVE]

Good luck getting an answer on that one. O.P. hasn't been online in over 2 years.

 

[kingsbiship]

... and good luck getting that head off! The block is one piece!

 

[SKRAMER]

Looks like a cool boat.