Buying question? Engine replacment in new boat, concern?

[danrs]

This is not specifically an engine question, but an overall boat condition question, so hope it's okay to go here.

On a 8 to 10 year old boat, is an engine replacement a good thing or bad thing? I guess I'm kind of equating it to a used car in my mind...I think a "engine replaced" or "engine rebuilt" or "transmission rebuilt" is not necessarily a good thing. If the engine had that many hours on it or was maintained so poorly on a 8 year old boat (or car), then that has got to have carried over into the rest of the boat (vehicle), no? And it always seems whenever something that major is replaced, it never quite goes in as well, or performs as well as the original new item.

I guess when I see that coupled with a pretty low for year price, it gets me worried. Should it? Or are engine replacements a common enough thing that it is not to be of concern?

 

[tmh]

Re: Buying question? Engine replacment in new boat, concern?

Depends.....give specific info on which engine came out and which went in for more help, but....

Sometimes and otherwise well cared for boat can have a mistake made winterizing it - the block cracks and next season the owner re-powers. Now, what does "repower" mean in this case? Did they buy a NEW engine or just a block? WHY did they need to replace the engine????? Did they upgrade the power while tey were at it? How long ago - don't want one if they repowered just to sell because maybe corners were cut to save $$$.

Do they have all receipts of the repower so you can know what was done exactly? If not, hmmmmmmm.....

You can look at the rest of the boat and get an idea if it was cared for. Have a mechanic YOU pick go through the engine and drive for sure before buying. I'd have no problem buying a repowered boat if all else checked out.

 

[Nandy]

Re: Buying question? Engine replacment in new boat, concern?

tmh has real good points. If I look at the boat and it is in great condition then I would feel better about the repower as proably this is a boater that took care of his boat. Added to that, if I can see a receipt that shows a competitive price on the motor repair and the reason the motor failed you know they fixed it right or at least they were not trying to cut corners and why it failed. If the owner dont have a receipt but the repower was done and he used it for a few seasons that would also lead me to believe the work was done properly. In reality, there is not a way to tell for sure either way...

 

[MikDee]

Re: Buying question? Engine replacment in new boat, concern?

Pretty much what tmh says, but also, did they do the right thing, and replace the engine coupler with a new one also? This is like the flywheel, & torque converter on your car,(only it has large rubber hub inside, that dries out, and possibly slips after a number of yrs) all the power is transferred through it, And you have to take the engine out to get to it. The engine, & coupler are 1st concern, the drive is a 2nd concern, because at least you can get to it, & remove, and or, replace it fairly easily.

 

[dingbat]

Re: Buying question? Engine replacment in new boat, concern?

In my circles (SW) repowers are pretty common place and are looked upon as good things.

We typically put a ton of hours on motor in a season so it's not uncommon to need new power from time to time. Not to mention that fuel efficiencies have increased significantly in the last several years which makes new power very attractive now that fuel is over $4 a gallon.

I know of quite a few people that took perfectly good motors off their transoms and replaced them with more fuel efficient motors as cost savings measures.