What would you do?

[giz]

Hi......<br /><br />I am looking for some advise.<br /><br />We have a 1986 21ft bayliner with a Volvo penta I/O engine model no. AQ225D.<br />We have owned the boat a couple of years but after the first summer of use the boat wouldn't start. Husband took it apart and snapped a part of the starter motor which had become brittle with age.<br />Subsequently he hasn't had time to fix it and it sat all last winter without being winterized.<br /><br />I eventually got a marine mechanic to come look at it and he could replace the starter and put everything back together for about $300 BUT he couldn't guarantee it will start because the engine may have seized.<br /><br />He said that this engine was the worst design ever and the use of raw water was eating away at all the mtal components. He suggested trying to sell the boat 'as is' to someone who had the knowledge to do the engine repairs themselves and to look for another boat.<br /><br />We only paid $6000 for this boat but we don't have the money to buy another boat.<br />We could spend a couple thousand on a rebuilt engine if they do such a thing for this model.<br /><br />The rest of the boat is rough looking but mostly cosmetic.<br /><br />There is a small amount of wood rot in one place but husband is confidant he can repair that.<br /><br />What would you do???<br /><br />Scrap it or try and save it?<br /><br />Angie

 

[jasonnb]

Re: What would you do?

Your husband can probably determine if the engine is seized by pulling the spark plugs and trying to spin the engine with a big socket on the crank. The starter shouldn't be over $1-200 (just a guess). The corrosion is an interesting one. Is this a salt water boat or freshwater? If salt, I'm not sure. If fresh, corrosion should be minimal. My fear would be freeze damage. Are you in an area that gets hard freezes? As you sauid the engine wasn't winterized, there may have been water left in it.<br /><br />Someone else will be along soon that can correct me and/or fill in the blanks.<br /><br />Unless there is major freeze damage, all things being equal, It may not be that bad. You can probably get an idea of the corrosion by pulling the risers to see what shape they are in. It is more a question of time. Do you want to invest the time?

 

[bbracken]

Re: What would you do?

Although I am not an expert on boats specifically, I am going to offer some advice anyway.<br /><br />1. Find a different mechanic. One who doesn't badmouth and discourage you. I don't know a lot about your machine, but there are certainly a bunch of them out there and they can't be junk.<br /><br />2. Whether you keep it or sell it, a boat that runs and floats is going to be worth a whole lot more than a bunch of parts.<br /><br />3. Get a factory shop manual.<br /><br />4. I don't know what broke in the starter, but consider taking it to an automotive starter shop. I know, I know, marine starters are different than autos, but the shop still might be able to rebuild yours. Look in the yellow pages for auto repair shops that rebuild starter (the same shops also usually do generators and alternators)<br /><br />5. Do not be discouraged if you can't crank the engine. I work on antique automobiles at a museum and have faced this problem before. As the engine sits, the oil very slowly flows out from under bearings and piston rings until there is none left. Put light oil (Marvel Mystery Oil or automatic transmission fluid) in the cylinders. Squirt it in through the spark plug holes, putting at least a couple of ounces in each cylinder.<br /><br />6. Assuming you were able to get that wrench on the crankshaft, don't be afraid to use some force. Do make sure the wrench won't slip off. Grind off the bevel on the end of the socket so you have full contact with the nut. Put a piece of pipe on the wrench and PULL. Just be careful that the wrench is on securely and you have clearance so you don't hurt yourself.<br /><br />7. Good luck and think positive.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: What would you do?

Agree with SonOfBill,<br /><br />Would like to emphasize the importance of proper tools when you attempt to crank the thing:<br /><br />If you use a socket - get a 6 (not 12) point (designed for impact or airpowered tools) as it holds much better on to the nut. The suggested piece of pipe should be as long as you can handle in the space allowed. Your power (torque) is greatly improved by it. Prefer a fixed (sliding T-bar) handle over a Ratchet as the teeth in it may snap.<br /><br />If you crank counterclockwise you may loosen the nut instead of turning the crankshaft.