Liability for a cracked block and OMC questions?

H

hostage

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My neighbor is a retired painter/handyman who has a had a small runabout for years, they recently purchased a 1969 Aluminum House Boat and spent the past year refurbishing the whole inside. He had it winterized by a mechanic, I can't say if this mechanic is employed or just referred to by the marina. The engines were fine last season and it was the last thing they were going to check, before launching. They just found out both V8 blocks were cracked. My neighbor speculated that the mechanic pulled the plugs and let it drain, but the drains might have been clogged by muck. If a mechanic and/or marina winterizes and the blocks are cracked, are they liable? When I winterize I pull the plugs after I heat up the engine, then run marine AF through it, before I defog the engine. I wonder if some of the water wasn't flushed out, though muck could be possible reason, though for both engines?

Both engines are GM 307s, which looks like they haven't been made, since 1973. My neighbor seems a little anxious about this as he put a lot of time and money into this boat, he does seems a little worried about where the liability lays. He said the mechanic is a nice guy. It seems like the mechanic is working with him to resolve the issue and is suggesting 305, which is a newer engine.

Can a 305 be used in place of a 307, also could he move from OMC to Mercruiser?

Would it make more sense to move to a Merc at this point as he is down two engines? The boat is aluminum, I wonder if any differences in mounting could be adjusted by welding.
 
southkogs

southkogs

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Jul 7, 2010
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14,920
If they're I/O's you're stuck with OMC unless you do a buncha' transom work. As far as liability, you'll need to look at the paperwork from the mechanic - generally when you sign the "do it" form, the liability is listed on there. I would think most of 'em protect themselves from eating too many mulligans.
 
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