Old I/Os = Money Pits?

[flashback]

I think pulling an inboard boat engine is easier than most if not all auto engines. You pull the drive and disconnect the wiring harnesses & linkages & fuel lines. You have 2 nuts on the rear engine mounts & 2 lag screws on each front engine mount. That’s it…

You are right, the only thing I found hard was the availability of a cherry picker tall enough, I had to take the wheels off the trailer.

 

[salvageyard saviour]

You are right, the only thing I found hard was the availability of a cherry picker tall enough, I had to take the wheels off the trailer.

Creativity
Reminds me of way back when we dug a hole in the ground, pushed the car over it, drop the trans into it and push the car back away.

A nice tree limb has been perfect for lifting motors out of taller boats. I'll never cut that tree down!

 

[QBhoy]

I might be in the fence about this to be fair.
Very briefly…have you seen the price of an outboard these days ?
I get the upside of being able to take off and put on an outboard quickly to replace…but doing the same with a GM inboard isn’t as scary as you’d think.
I’d also say that a new 260-300hp carb v8 GM can be had for a fraction of the price it would cost for a 250-300hp outboard. It will cost you $40,000 for a mercury 300hp !!!
I’ll also come clean and mention that I own a boat with a new merc 115 2.1l CT…it’s an amazing thing. No doubt. Way more power than the badge suggests…so good on fuel and will out perform the same boat with a 125/130 2 stroke motor…but…I’m not the one that paid for the engine that she has…the last owner before me did…even now…knowing how good it is…if I was in his situation…I’m not sure I could justify the cost of it to get installed, over just throwing an older 2 stroke engine on her to replace any broken one originally fitted. I’ve a garage full of 70’s and 80’s 2 strokes that have no inclination or signs of breaking any time soon…and owned and own many bigger v6 and v8 GM engines that also showed or show the same.
Would I pay 20k for a 115 new mercury engine and gauges etc if I had to replace it ?…likely not…

 

[LaqueRatt]

Sounds simpler to get the inboard motor loose than I was thinking, but yeah, the tall cherrypicker thing is what was making me think it was a lot of messing around and maybe harder than pulling a motor out of a car. Can any old Chevy be adapted if necessary? Good running SBCs seem to be everywhere. Bet it has to be boat specific.

So if a guy was ambitious (aka: dumb and stubborn) enough to take on an old I/O project, what would he be looking for besides something stored in a dry place? Sounds like glass boats are wood inside. Didn't know that and sure don't like the sound of it. Guess this is where the water-logged issues arise? Do the transoms generally hold up well over time? If not what should a guy look for, cracks? Swelling?

 

[QBhoy]

Sounds simpler to get the inboard motor loose than I was thinking, but yeah, the tall cherrypicker thing is what was making me think it was a lot of messing around and maybe harder than pulling a motor out of a car. Can any old Chevy be adapted if necessary? Good running SBCs seem to be everywhere. Bet it has to be boat specific.

So if a guy was ambitious (aka: dumb and stubborn) enough to take on an old I/O project, what would he be looking for besides something stored in a dry place? Sounds like glass boats are wood inside. Didn't know that and sure don't like the sound of it. Guess this is where the water-logged issues arise? Do the transoms generally hold up well over time? If not what should a guy look for, cracks? Swelling?

Less likely to have transom issues with an I/O than an outboard usually. But if it’s sat full of water for years, can be an issue.
Before the 2000’s generally, most boats had a wooden influence of some sort…floor, mounts for machinery or seats. Stringers etc. not my specialty at all…but I gather that you’ll get an idea of condition by looking at any exposed wood or by sound of a tap test on the transom. Moisture meter might tell a story too. Things like that scare the life out of me.

 

[Lou C]

Sounds simpler to get the inboard motor loose than I was thinking, but yeah, the tall cherrypicker thing is what was making me think it was a lot of messing around and maybe harder than pulling a motor out of a car. Can any old Chevy be adapted if necessary? Good running SBCs seem to be everywhere. Bet it has to be boat specific.

So if a guy was ambitious (aka: dumb and stubborn) enough to take on an old I/O project, what would he be looking for besides something stored in a dry place? Sounds like glass boats are wood inside. Didn't know that and sure don't like the sound of it. Guess this is where the water-logged issues arise? Do the transoms generally hold up well over time? If not what should a guy look for, cracks? Swelling?

If you are looking to restoring an I/O boat & want to repower it with a Chevy small block from a car there are certain things that must be marine specific:
Head gaskets & freeze plugs
Distributor starter alternator & carb all
must be marine specific units
Wood in the structure is a given in any boats older than 15 or so years. Look in the resto forum for info on what to look for.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Any boat under $5000 is a project. A $700 boat is definitely one needing work

You definitely want to watch out for deals like "free trailer with boat" ......
Probably should keep walking unless you are looking for a project.

 

[tpenfield]

'Old' anything in boating can be a money pit. Not exclusive to I/O engines.

 

[LaqueRatt]

Thanks for the solid advice gentlemen. Assuming I'm talking to guys, but who knows these days. I figured decent looking boats for next to nothing would be a bad bet, but would like to know what to look for in case I run into a rare gem. Lots of farms out my way, not too rare to find old boats inside. Would this qualify as dry storage?

The free trailer makes me chuckle. A long time ago when a decent trailer came along with a piece of crap boat on it, my buddies would "ghost launch" it in the middle of the night, returning with an empty trailer. Always wondered what became of those boats.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

My free trailer comment is how I acquired mine. I never owned a boat before so had no idea what I was getting into. If this forum and the good people that are more than willing to help weren't around my boat would be sunk somewhere I'm sure.
I'm glad I'm experiencing this project but I wouldn't want to do it again personally because it beat me up pretty bad.

 

[matt167]

I bought a 1986 boat for parts. It is mechanically good and the boat even looks okay at the surface yet completely rotted.!But it was in the water earlier this spring by the previous owner. Point is it’s mechanically sound yet a total basket case. It’s a 3.0 mercruiser

 

[LaqueRatt]

Wow, that's pretty crazy Matt! I'd have never thought a glass boat hull would deteriorate. So do I have this right, "fiberglass" boats are just wood boats with some glass slapped over it? Geez, what a crappy was to do something. Seems like it would be simpler and even cheaper just to make them out of 100% molded fiberglass. Does this cut costs somehow?

Sure glad I asked you guys before I did something stupid. Way back in my mind, I still recall looking for boats with my old man. He used to rant about "dry rot" all the time. Even on fiberglass boats. I was real little at the time, barely in school, so it pretty much went over my head.

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

Wow, that's pretty crazy Matt! I'd have never thought a glass boat hull would deteriorate. So do I have this right, "fiberglass" boats are just wood boats with some glass slapped over it? Geez, what a crappy was to do something. Seems like it would be simpler and even cheaper just to make them out of 100% molded fiberglass. Does this cut costs somehow?

Sure glad I asked you guys before I did something stupid. Way back in my mind, I still recall looking for boats with my old man. He used to rant about "dry rot" all the time. Even on fiberglass boats. I was real little at the time, barely in school, so it pretty much went over my head.

If you look at my project thread it will give you an idea of what one may find.

88 Capri Restoration (Splashed 08/2022)

I had another thread but the boat is going to be a total restoration. Please keep in mind I picked her up for free. My purpose of this thread is not only to catalog my journey but also to info people about flaws in the construction of these boats to look out for, I am by no means trying to...

forums.iboats.com

 

[LaqueRatt]

Started reading your thread. Think I'm hooked. Gonna need some popcorn for this......LOL So far I'm just flat out amazed how that boat is constructed. What an ugly mess. Hope this story has a happy ending!

 

[garbageguy]

Started reading your thread. Think I'm hooked. Gonna need some popcorn for this......LOL So far I'm just flat out amazed how that boat is constructed. What an ugly mess. Hope this story has a happy ending!

 

[Baylinerchuck]

These threads usually start out with denial, acceptance, hard work, then eventually celebration. Epic tales of making things right, to be sure.

 

[Willyclay]

Our son has a 1995 Ebbtide 19ft. bowrider powered by a 4.3L Chevy V6 with a Weber/Quadrajet carb that is connected to a Mercruiser Apha 1 GEN2 I/O that he purchased new. In freshwater use only, there have been no major issues but he is meticulous with maintaining his cars, boats, lawn equipment, etc. IMHO it is a great combination of looks, quality, comfort, speed, power and economy. Good luck with your search!

 

[froggy1150]

Also along with the right head gaskets, freeze plugs etc..... it needs a marine cam. There is no overlap in the valve lobes so you dont pull water back into motor

 

[88 Capri (2022 SOTY)]

These threads usually start out with denial, acceptance, hard work, then eventually celebration. Epic tales of making things right, to be sure.

Such an accurate description!

 

[Scott Danforth]

I posted this back in 2014 https://forums.iboats.com/threads/hull-integrity-question.631409/page-3

Remember, we have a 12 step program for boat restoration.
Step 1 - Deny you have a rot issue (we all do this)
Step 2 - try to convince yourself you dont have a rot issue
Step 3 - that gnawing ominous feeling that something is amiss every time you step on the boat
Step 4 - accept that you may have a XXX year old rotten boat - 37 year old in this case
Step 5 - weight your boat. Compare that weight to known dry weight
Step 6 - drill test holes (you have done this)
Step 7 - determine if the boat is worth it to you to restore, or cut up into a planter
Step 8 - pull out the implements of destruction
Step 9 - post pics of the process - we can help
Step 10 - start to loose faith, we help see the end
Step 11 - your now applying gel and buffing it
Step 12 - you are now enjoying your boat, you feel good, you realize how solid it now feels.