Hi people,
Recently, I purchased a Four Winns 235 boat of 1980's. Owner stated that engine has upto 30 run hours since "block-up restoration" and alos provided computer generated list of all parts, labor and costs as evidence of the work performed. I did not have a professional, in-depth inspection performed on the engine, and purchased "As Is". Taking possession, I scheduled the boat for an annual-type service at a local dealership. The servicing dealer diagnosed the engine as "hydralocked", and requires total replacement. I haven't even started the boat yet. Is this a fraud? Please advise.
Thank you so much!

You should have gotten your own inspection of the boat before finalizing the deal. You purchased the boat "as is," without warranty. Unless the seller was a professional boat seller, a boat mechanic etc, it's hard to see how reliance on the seller would be "reasonable." Relying on a lay seller's word that something was done will probably not be sufficient to prevail if you try and sue him on the theory of "detrimental reliance. Try to get in small claims court, if you have some written evidence of his claims that the boat was recently rebuilt, maybe you can convince the judge.