Re: boat manufacturer question.
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So, you own a Maxim? 4 cyl?
Stuff happens with motors as we all know, and at least it's been addressed on the Ebb Tide hopefully well. Nor does the OP state what he's intending to use it for so the call that a 4 cyl. Maxim is OK powerwise is a bit assuming also. Definitely find out why it needed motor work and who did it.
I agree that apparent maintenance is a big plus, but a shiny boat does not make it reliable. As my son the sprint car driver reminds me "there's no substitute for horsepower". And in my eyes, initial quality is a big deal. The Ebb Tide is a better platform to spend the inevitable dollars on IMHO.
Well, we both threw out the "IMHO" card and that's what the OP was asking for. This is not a fact finding question.
No, I don't own a Maxim, but the local dealer is about a mile up the river from us, and there are probably 8 or 10 of them tied at docks in between. I didn't say they were a Caddy; my implication was that they should not be overlooked. Reading people's "opinions" on the net usually makes me chuckle. "IMHO" some of the favored brands aren't all that good, and some of the trashed ones aint all that bad! My next door neighbor is on his second maxim - he traded up in size and his son now owns the old one. Both have given them vg service.
I've never personally had a rebuilt engine installed, but I know several people that have. Some were Ok, some didn't last very long. As they say, "YMMV". It all depends on how good the job was done. As I said, for ME that would be the deal breaker.
I DO own a 3.0 liter on a 19 footer. We ski, tube, fish, whatever. Its propped for what I want to do. The boat I owned before it was a 16 footer with a 75HP outboard. That boat was rated for 90 max. The switch to the I/O was awesome. I never knew my boat was underpowered until I heard it here!
