Worth saving this mid-1970s Bayliner with Mercruiser 120hp I/O ?

[Michael Dempster]

Hi. Hoping to get some experienced opinions about what to do with my mid '70s Bayliner runabout. The engine (153 GMC) runs beautifully. Raw water cooled, and I run it in salt water, about 50 hrs/yr in southern Puget Sound. Have replaced/reamed out the exhaust manifold jacket, overheating is not a problem, but the seal between jacket and riser leaks very slightly, enough to rust the outside of both.

Presenting problem now is that, due to my inexperience, I never serviced or even examined closely the bellows between engine and outdrive, and a few days ago I got a leak, found the bilge full of water, and did WOT for the launch ramp. Discovered it was leaking shift bellows. (By filling the bilge with a hose and looking to see where it was leaking from.) Got a rough estimate of 4-5 hour job at about $100/hr labor, about $200 for parts.

I can't afford much of a new boat (never could afford a NEW boat) and never want to be without this kind of boat, that is, one I can launch and retrieve easily, planes, fits in my carport, and I can land it on beaches here in Puget Sound. So I could bite the bullet and expect to pay about a grand when all is said and done, and be back on the water. BUT: surely the exhaust manifold/riser problems with overheating will re-occur, and parts are probably getting harder to find, keeping the shift linkage working well has always been a pain (kill-switch problems), the upholstery is getting pretty ratty. Fuel tank is new 20 yrs ago, always keep it full. I'm ok at tinkering with the thing to keep it going, but I'm 74 with other irons in the fire, so I don't want to spend weeks doing big maintenance on this thing. But it's a bird in the hand, I love it, and do not look forward to shopping for and paying for another used boat, which would have it's own problems. And one other thing, in my naivete about the bellows, I never realized that all that's keeping an I/O boat like mine from sinking, maybe with my granddaughters aboard, is the integrity of a few pieces of rubber. I feel pretty stupid for overlooking this maintenance item, but that's what it is. I'd really appreciate some advice about whether to get the bellows fixed, or give up on this baby and go shopping! Thanks a million to anyone who takes the time to give me your two cents!

Cheers from Olympia!

 

[achris]

If you like the boat, consider repowering with a 3 litre... New engine, new drive, all new rubber bits between you and the water.

 

[Scott Danforth]

Wecome aboard.

Only you can answer if its worth saving

All boats need maintenance
If you can follow directions and can work on things, you can do you own maintenance

Drive ahould be pulled every year for inspection

If your drive hasnt been off in a while, you may need more than just a bellows job

 

[Michael Dempster]

Thanks achris! I'd love to repower this old baby, but a new engine and outdrive would likely cost more than a savvy deal in my humble price range (maybe $4k?) on an old but well-maintained used boat from Craigslist.

And thanks, Scott! I do take the stern drive off almost every year, grease the U-joint, clean and lube the shift shaft and rod, as well as checking the gear fluid. I understand the bellows job requires going deeper than this and needs special tools, and this is an old rig which might resist backyard dismantling by a guy of my skills.

Will attempt to post a photo of the object of this poor man's love-affair:

 

[Luv2fish36]

For starters if that starter went under water you can plan on replacing it. They dont like saltwater. You can run it like it is for a while but chances are it will seize up on you by next spring.

To get an accurate estimate your outdrive really needs to come off. Too many possibilities there with U-joints, bellows, oil leaks, gimbal bearing, coupler,

Is the rough estimate you got just for a shift cable? Sounds pricey if so. I'm also in the south sound.

 

[Michael Dempster]

Thanks, Luv2fish, yeah, the boat shop guy (John at Sound Marine, by the airport in Olympia) said the starter'd be toast, and he was right. Tried to turn engine over with starter, it was dead. The estimate was for all bellows replaced. But of course I know there may be other worn out parts that'll up the cost. Sounds like you know a thing or two. Do you think I should save this boat? Do you recognize the beach?

 

[achris]

A few things you need to consider...

1. How much will it cost to get everything on this current engine repaired?

2. How much for a new 3 litre engine package?

3. Can you get a reasonably late model engine and drive package from a junk boat and just swap it into the current hull?

4. Can you buy a 'new' boat, without knowing exactly how much money/time needs to be spent on getting THAT engine and drive up to scratch?

5. Would golf be easier and cheaper?

My take...
#1 is 'far more than it's worth', and once you start 'repairing' it often doesn't stop, especially with something 40+ years old...
#4 is 'you're buying someone else's problems'.
#5 is 'probably'....

Hope this helps.

Chris........

 

[Michael Dempster]

Ha! Well, you're right. Golf is easier and cheaper. And it doesn't hold a candle to messing about in boats! Thanks for coaching my thinking on this. I think I've been fearing that you're right about #1. And all the other options seem like way more work, unless I throw a lot more money at it. Hmmm....Thanks again.

 

[Scott Danforth]

actually, spending the weekends racing is cheaper than owning a boat..... my bud races about 25 races per year and his out of pocket expenses are about half of what I pay to boat per year. (he has sponsors)

 

[Luv2fish36]

Thanks, Luv2fish, yeah, the boat shop guy (John at Sound Marine, by the airport in Olympia) said the starter'd be toast, and he was right. Tried to turn engine over with starter, it was dead. The estimate was for all bellows replaced. But of course I know there may be other worn out parts that'll up the cost. Sounds like you know a thing or two. Do you think I should save this boat? Do you recognize the beach?

Near Fox Island?? I'm in Tacoma on the other side of the narrows bridge so i guess technically I'm not in the south sound, but close. Haven't done a whole lot of exploring back there but I hear it's nice.

As to your boat. Most of those repairs you need done is work you'll have to do on any sterndrive powertrain eventually. Even if you do find a used package off craigslist or something chances are it'll need bellows, shift cable, G-bearing etc... The starter and manifold, elbow are costly but they dont last forever either and they need replacement every so many years on any motor. Another thing. Is your engine coupler ok. If its original and was not greased very often Its likely on it's way out. At this point your pulling the motor out and the cost may go beyond justification with all the other repairs on the list. You'll be into it quite a bit of money with a shop doing the work. But if it's a good boat with good bones and you know the motor is healthy then why not? Shopping for used a boat can be a headache you dont need.

 

[Michael Dempster]

Well, thanks again, Luv2fish. The location in the photo is S side of Anderson Island, my favorite fair weather picnic moorage. I've lubed the drive shaft U-joint annually (is that what you mean by 'coupler'?) and replaced the exhaust manifold water jacket and riser about 6 years ago, but I don't expect much more life out of the water jacket parts, and they are getting rarer. At the moment I'm inclined to go for the shop doing the bellows R&R, and biting the bullet on the total bill. If it lasts a year and then dies some other death, I'm out a grand or so, and then can go shopping, having had a year of boating for a grand. If I sink more money into another used boat, it may present a costly problem that isn't visible at first. Plus I'd have this boat to discard somehow. Really appreciate your help with this. Come over and say hi if you see me on the water in this old boat!