Spare parts availability in the future

[Chris51280]

I was wondering. How long do you think will spare parts available for a 30+ year old boat. I have the alpha 1 gen1 drive. Even with today's internet access, some parts won't be around forever I assume. Like water impeller or gaskets, risers or elbows. Whats your take on this? Not talking OEM, just in general. I know OEM stops a lot sooner.

 

[racerone]

It depends on supply / demand.------Total # of units built comes into it.------Easier to get parts for say a 1966 model 6 HP johnson than some much newer motors.-------Water pump impeller for that 6 HP Johnson was first used in the early 1950's 5.5 HP and up to 1978.------Lots of those fine motors still running and therefor most dealers have that impeller in stock.

 

[Rick Stephens]

I don't think there will be much issue for quite some time getting parts for Alpha 1s. So many of them still in use. The measure is how big the market is, not how old the design is.

 

[Chris51280]

good and valid point

 

[Scott Danforth]

mechanical parts for your 1990 boat will be available long after EFI parts are no longer available for motors built this year.

 

[achris]

Things like bearings will always be available. Merc don't make those, they buy them in from Timken..
Same with seals and 'O' rings.

Chris.....

 

[Lou C]

mechanical parts for your 1990 boat will be available long after EFI parts are no longer available for motors built this year.

Which is why I prefer carbs and points on older boats despite their drawbacks. Not running perfect 100% beats not running at all because Merc or Volvo decided to make your ECM or ignition module NLA!

 

[racerone]

Exactly.-----Availability of complex / expensive electronic parts is key for those on a budget.-----You can clean and set points out on a fishing trip.----Difficult to go into the bush to build a new ECM module.

 

[Scott Danforth]

The 1991 McLaren F1 relies on a 1991 Compaq LTE 5280 laptop Computer from 1991 to keep running. :facepalm:

https://jalopnik.com/this-ancient-laptop-is-the-only-key-to-the-most-valuabl-1773662267

Hot-Rods built in the 90's with aftermarket EFI can no longer be serviced because the systems are no longer supported and the computers they ran on are 5 operating systems old

Ford Marine EFI parts no longer exist, so OMC and Volvo Penta owners will have to re-power

biggest issues with todays cars is electronics going belly up after only a few years....

Heck, Apple's software developers are crashing their new Teslas because they would rather have the car drive for them in Auto-drive mode than actually be bothered with driving.

https://www.npr.org/2020/02/25/8092...re-deadly-crash-but-tesla-software-failed-too

the people designing fuel systems and electronic systems of today's powertrain and controls do not understand product life cycles more than 6 months from conception to disposal....

 

[Lou C]

Exactly. When the apocalypse comes points and a Quadrajet or Holley can still be made to work. Just like DC-3s with their Pratt & Whitney engines still fly in the most desolate parts of South America rain forest and most barren frozen Alaska.

 

[racerone]

The high tech electronic parts can be made by robots.-----Tested by robots at the factory.-------Snapped together by workers / robots in a factory / vehicle assembly plant.------No adjustment or skilled work needed before the product goes out of the factory.--------This stuff is difficult to diagnose should something go wrong on a fishing trip.----Even worse in areas where a short boating season translates to few skilled people who know or want to learn about this new stuff.