Hi guys.
I took my 1997 50hp Honda outboard out this past weekend, it was my first time using it as I just got the boat. Before taking it out, I put 'earmuffs' over the water intake, hooked up to my garden hose and started the motor in my driveway after checking the oil, sparks plugs and replaced the fuel filter. Engine started fine.
After I launched at the lake though, the engine never had any power, even throttled out it was barely more than trawling speed. After 3-5 minutes or so, white smoke started coming from the cover so I shut it down and got pulled back to shore. The feeling was kinda like building a huge house of cards and it topples over when you're adding the last one!
When I got it home and opened it up, the cylinder cover was warped due to the heat produced by the engine. I put the motor in gear and was able to manually turn the engine in a complete rotation, telling me the engine isn't seized. I took it in to a marine shop who said a new water pump and impeller are required, but my compression readings are 130/90/120. They say a new head gasket is probably required as well but wanted $250 to do a teardown to give me an accurate assessment.
How much work is required to fix this? Am I better off using this as an anchor now?
Thanks, any help is MUCH appreciated.
I took my 1997 50hp Honda outboard out this past weekend, it was my first time using it as I just got the boat. Before taking it out, I put 'earmuffs' over the water intake, hooked up to my garden hose and started the motor in my driveway after checking the oil, sparks plugs and replaced the fuel filter. Engine started fine.
After I launched at the lake though, the engine never had any power, even throttled out it was barely more than trawling speed. After 3-5 minutes or so, white smoke started coming from the cover so I shut it down and got pulled back to shore. The feeling was kinda like building a huge house of cards and it topples over when you're adding the last one!
When I got it home and opened it up, the cylinder cover was warped due to the heat produced by the engine. I put the motor in gear and was able to manually turn the engine in a complete rotation, telling me the engine isn't seized. I took it in to a marine shop who said a new water pump and impeller are required, but my compression readings are 130/90/120. They say a new head gasket is probably required as well but wanted $250 to do a teardown to give me an accurate assessment.
How much work is required to fix this? Am I better off using this as an anchor now?
Thanks, any help is MUCH appreciated.