advice 2008 DF225 - overheat/compression results/water

[pmcquillen]

I am considering buying a 2008 pilothouse boat powered by a Suzuki DF225. ~450 hours. Original owner who did all the maintenance himself. When I had the survey/engine inspection they found the following: rust around one spark plug with signs of water stain in that cylinder, compression overall low (~151-164) but higher in the cylinder with water (178 - 14% variance). Only two alarms in the engines history, but one was overheat when the owner started the engine when he was showing me the boat. Since the owner did all the maintenance, I don't know if he did things like changing the zinc oxide anodes.

How worried should I be about these findings?

[Moonlighter]

Run Forrest, run!

Clear signs of water in a cylinder - why would you buy a problem like that?

The survey mechanic should have been able to take zincs out (quick and easy to do) to check if they've been changed and this also allows a view of what the internal water passages look like.

But probably abandoned this when the water in cylinder issue became evident.

Find another boat/motor without someone else's issues to fix.