Hi everyone - I just joined this forum as I've heard a lot of great things about it from a local yacht club I belong to. I'm somewhat between a rock and a hard spot and getting some conflicting information about my boat and was looking for recommendations.
Here's the history:
I purchased a 1986 19' Stingray Supersport (Mercruiser Alpha One 140) with trailer at an estate auction back in 2012 for $400. Not knowing anything about boats other than I wanted one I decided to take a chance on it. It started and appeared to be in acceptable to good condition as the previous owner stored it indoors. I took it to a highly recommended mechanic in the Portage Lakes area in Akron, Ohio since the auctioneer said it hadn't been out on the water in roughly 8 years. I also noticed the engine had a Jasper tag on it so it has likely been rebuilt. Repair bills for the two visits totaled up to about 2k.
The initial mechanic seemed very helpful, but immediately indicated it needed costly engine work. He pulled the engine and showed me a small buckle between two cylinder heads. He ground it out and filled it with Marine Tech filler. This did not hold and blew out the next time the boat went out. I took it back to the mechanic where it was then welded. The weld seems to have held up.
For the most part, the boat was serviced by this mechanic - winterized by me. Since this initial repair some things that have been done include bellows, impeller, shift cables, starter, points, battery, seat rebuild, bilge pump and tuneups amongst other minor things. The simple things were done by me, some of the more advanced things were done by area mechanics.
Over the years from being stored outdoors and docked in the lake the decking began to soften which concerns me.
I started having some additional quality issues with the initial mechanic (having to take it back over twice since the shift cable wasn't right, them taking an entire summer to replace bellows and also being accused of abandoning the boat on their lot and not wanting to pay storage when they never contacted me to pick it up despite me leaving multiple messages with them before going out of town) so I took it to and have brought it to some other shops - one of which was DRASTICALLY more expensive, the other two of which are now closed.
The boat was in for service last fall when it had the shift cables done. The boat had a tuneup at the "drastically more expensive place" by a mechanic I know who basically indicated it was not worth replacing the decking and I should just "run it until it's time to trash the boat".
My friend and I took the boat out to Berlin Lake in August where my friend ran over an underwater hazard which shattered the composite prop. I took it back to the initial mechanic for a new prop since I was told the turnaround would be relatively quick and figured the bill would be cheaper. I casually mentioned I'd appreciate it if they could check the boat and trailer since I would like to try to take it to a larger lake before the season is over. One month later I had to call and show up multiple times and was eventually told my "engine is knocking" and that I should "get rid of the boat as I will just be throwing my money away since it's not worth anything". I was informed it is "likely a slap pin but will cost an up of $3500 to repair, rebuild or replace the engine so it's not worth proceeding".
A prop change and the "diagnoses" of the "knocking engine" bill was $300 - which seems to me about double what it should have been.
I'm not too proficient with engines, however, I can't help but thinking something is a little off about this situation since the boat had been back to them multiple times for the shift cable they replaced and was not adjusted right and the other (expensive) mechanic said it could be run.
I don't get out much on the water, so I can't justify a new boat. I'm hesitant to buy a used boat since I may essentially have to start over with all the repair work I have already done. If it weren't for the soft floor, I'd honestly just pay to have the engine repaired or replaced - but I am worried since the floor is soft there may be issues with transom, stringers etc. I'm fine with learning and doing some work myself, however, I'm not really sure what the best option is at this point.
Sorry for the long story and hopefully I am posting this in the right place - I would like to see what some of the veteran boat builders and repair guys and gals might say.
Here's the history:
I purchased a 1986 19' Stingray Supersport (Mercruiser Alpha One 140) with trailer at an estate auction back in 2012 for $400. Not knowing anything about boats other than I wanted one I decided to take a chance on it. It started and appeared to be in acceptable to good condition as the previous owner stored it indoors. I took it to a highly recommended mechanic in the Portage Lakes area in Akron, Ohio since the auctioneer said it hadn't been out on the water in roughly 8 years. I also noticed the engine had a Jasper tag on it so it has likely been rebuilt. Repair bills for the two visits totaled up to about 2k.
The initial mechanic seemed very helpful, but immediately indicated it needed costly engine work. He pulled the engine and showed me a small buckle between two cylinder heads. He ground it out and filled it with Marine Tech filler. This did not hold and blew out the next time the boat went out. I took it back to the mechanic where it was then welded. The weld seems to have held up.
For the most part, the boat was serviced by this mechanic - winterized by me. Since this initial repair some things that have been done include bellows, impeller, shift cables, starter, points, battery, seat rebuild, bilge pump and tuneups amongst other minor things. The simple things were done by me, some of the more advanced things were done by area mechanics.
Over the years from being stored outdoors and docked in the lake the decking began to soften which concerns me.
I started having some additional quality issues with the initial mechanic (having to take it back over twice since the shift cable wasn't right, them taking an entire summer to replace bellows and also being accused of abandoning the boat on their lot and not wanting to pay storage when they never contacted me to pick it up despite me leaving multiple messages with them before going out of town) so I took it to and have brought it to some other shops - one of which was DRASTICALLY more expensive, the other two of which are now closed.
The boat was in for service last fall when it had the shift cables done. The boat had a tuneup at the "drastically more expensive place" by a mechanic I know who basically indicated it was not worth replacing the decking and I should just "run it until it's time to trash the boat".
My friend and I took the boat out to Berlin Lake in August where my friend ran over an underwater hazard which shattered the composite prop. I took it back to the initial mechanic for a new prop since I was told the turnaround would be relatively quick and figured the bill would be cheaper. I casually mentioned I'd appreciate it if they could check the boat and trailer since I would like to try to take it to a larger lake before the season is over. One month later I had to call and show up multiple times and was eventually told my "engine is knocking" and that I should "get rid of the boat as I will just be throwing my money away since it's not worth anything". I was informed it is "likely a slap pin but will cost an up of $3500 to repair, rebuild or replace the engine so it's not worth proceeding".
A prop change and the "diagnoses" of the "knocking engine" bill was $300 - which seems to me about double what it should have been.
I'm not too proficient with engines, however, I can't help but thinking something is a little off about this situation since the boat had been back to them multiple times for the shift cable they replaced and was not adjusted right and the other (expensive) mechanic said it could be run.
I don't get out much on the water, so I can't justify a new boat. I'm hesitant to buy a used boat since I may essentially have to start over with all the repair work I have already done. If it weren't for the soft floor, I'd honestly just pay to have the engine repaired or replaced - but I am worried since the floor is soft there may be issues with transom, stringers etc. I'm fine with learning and doing some work myself, however, I'm not really sure what the best option is at this point.
Sorry for the long story and hopefully I am posting this in the right place - I would like to see what some of the veteran boat builders and repair guys and gals might say.