Used Air Nautique 220 with wrong hours! Would you buy?

[Mattskiboat]

Hey All,
I'm looking at a used Air Nautique 220 with a PCM 330. This is the story from the seller: 2 years ago the ECM went bad at 484 hours, so he sent it out to a guy in cali to be refurbished and the guy took his ECM and never sent it back. Basically scammed him. So he searched around and bought a used ECM that came from a boat with 1,500 hours. He don’t know what hours the ECM had on it or that it would change his hour meter on dash. The boat is in nice shape and exactly what we want in our budget at this time but I’m afraid of resale issues. I tend to believe his story and he even told me he’s had a hard time selling due to the ECM swap.. he would just assume be selling a boat with 1,500 hours ..
what do you think? He’s asking $36,500

[pSchwade]

Think of it this way - 1500 well maintained hours is better than 450 poorly treated ones, so your value shouldn’t really come from the number of hours but the condition it’s in.

I’d be more concerned with the power of the 330, if you’re at anything other than sea level you’re gonna want the 6.0

[s_kelley2000]

I agree with above about conditions being more important than hours. His story seems like it could be legit. Maybe ask if he has any emails or other reciepts that show proof of him sending the old ECM out and/or buying the new used one etc. Could also ask for any service paperwork he might have as most shops will note the hours when service was done.

As for the 330 motor not being enough power, I wouldn't worry too much about it unless you plan on moving to the Rockies, etc. My 230 has the same block in 343 form and I have no problem getting to surf speed slammed (1100 in each rear locker, factory belly plus overflow under bow seats) with the factory prop (ACME1235) and it's even better now with the ACME 2079. It struggled to get to 23 MPH with the 1235 but not too bad with the 2079. I'm trying to keep what's left of my knees intact so I don't fill the rears completely when wakeboarding anymore and it hops right on plane with the 2079. I was skeptical about buying a 230 with the "small" motor but I read something that Buxton ordered all of their stock boats with that same motor and if its good enough for one of the biggest dealers in the country then its good enough for me. 2 years later I have no regrets on my purchase.