Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

[450xDaD]

I'm knocking around the idea of buying my first boat. I've done some searching, some reading, more searching, more reading....ebay auctions to compare general prices and setups. And a couple boat shows so far.

So far I'm leaning towards an I/O, because I like the swim platform, and the style/make/models I'm looking at only come I/O...21'-24' BR or DB.

I'm fairly mechanically inclined, but know very little about boat engines/drives and thier design yet(pumps, impellars, props, ect....It's all new to me). I DO however, perform my own PM on my cars and motorcycles. I'm looking for something with less than 200 hours. I'm thinking that's pretty reasonable. I'll definitley have it checked by a mechanic before I buy but.......

Am I being over optimistic expecting I can do my own PM on a 5-7 y/o boat? What has to be done regularly, that I probably CAN'T do myself?

 

[mcleaves]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Am I being over optimistic expecting I can do my own PM on a 5-7 y/o boat? What has to be done regularly, that I probably CAN'T do myself?

Absolutly you should be able to do most of it yourself depending on a few things.

1. Access - more and more mfgrs are creating situations where you have to pull an engine for simple items. Looks for access to oil/fuel filters, spark plugs etc

2. Special tools - as long as you can put your hands on them either buying borrowing or making. Most things a normal mechanics set will do you fine. Things like gimbal bearing pullers and installers you need to get specialized ones.

3. EFI - Same problem as a car. If it's if got a computer there is only so much you can do.

M

 

[Robj]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Whatever you buy, get an OEM manual for it and you should be able to do most of it yourself. Many items on a boat are similiar to that on a car. There are differences, but the manual will help you figure those out.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Howdy,

Anyone with "normal" mechanical skill should be able to do most "PM" things on their boat.

Things to consider.

1. Ensure that you can get good OEM service manual.

2. Make sure you have a good service and maintenance parts source.

3. Find yourself a boat/engine/drive that is relatively "new" that is, new enough that parts will not be a problem to find either from a local dealer or online aftermarket parts supplier. (probably no more than 10 years old.... understand that parts ARE available for older Volvo and Mercruiser powered boats)

4. Older is ok but it should be low time and meticulously maintained.

5. Lean towards fresh-water boats. That is, boats that were operated only in fresh water.....nothing really wrong with salt-water boats if very carefully maintained......but......a lot of people don't even maintain their cars!

6. Lean AWAY from OMC powered boats.........well......OK.......DO NOT BUY AN OMC POWERED BOAT. (of course if you stay with boats that are less than 10 years old that somewhat limits you from getting an OMC powered boat....they were mostly Volvo by then........OMC stern drives were pretty much gone in 1998....they sold the whole thing to Volvo)


Good luck!


Rick

 

[450xDaD]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Thanks for the replies! I appreciate it. I can't tell you how many times I've gone and bought something on impulse without researching first. I'm really trying to do it right this time.

In fact, I just went out and bought a truck just so I could tow the new boat...THAT'S how impulsive I am! It's a sickness.

A couple more questions, if I could....

I'm expecting I will have to:

Change oil/filter: A neighbor told me 100 hrs....That seems a bit slacking....what's a sensible interval?

Outdrive: Gear oil right?? How often?

Gimbal bearings: How often?

Plugs: I would imagine not too often...right?

What else am I missing and how often?


My ideal boat will be model year 2000 and up, less than 200 hrs, buy from original owner, Volvo Penta, fresh water only,....not stored in water....21'-24'...EFI only(I have enough headaches keeping my bikes jetted right to fuss with carbs on a boat)

SeaRay Sundeck, Rinker BR, Monterey BR/DB, Regal BR, and a few similar others.....

 

[Don S]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Besides getting the OEM manuals which also give you maintenance schedules, here are a couple of threads I posted that will cover most of them.

How To winterize

How To summerize

Should explain a lot anyway.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Change oil/filter: A neighbor told me 100 hrs....That seems a bit slacking....what's a sensible interval?

You could look in a mercruiser manual. I do every 50 hours or once per year, which ever comes first.

Outdrive: Gear oil right?? How often?

Once per year.

Gimbal bearings: How often?

No idea on this one.

Plugs: I would imagine not too often...right?

I don't regularly change plugs with an EFI motor, carb'd boats could probably use more regular changes. I'd say general tune up every couple of years, maybe every other. Cap/Rotor/Plugs.

What else am I missing and how often?

Raw water pump, IE the thing that pumps water to your water pump from the outside. The impeller (rubber) needs to be replaced once per season. I've seen people that let it go 2 seasons, but I wouldn't recommend it. This is critical, because if it fails you'll get rubber in your cooling system and you'll have no water to cool the boat. It's a common failure point.

Boats need to be winterized or kept in heated storage. Failure to do so can crack a block. Winterized means draining water out of the block, stabilizing the fuel system, draining/refilling the out drive (you don't want water in there either), and sometimes coolant in the block.

The exhaust manifolds on boats have limited lifespans and are expensive. In salt water they can have very limited lifespans and need to be replaced somewhat frequently. Maybe once every other year. The more salt and or more dirt your water has in it, the more care manifolds will need. Clean fresh water, they can last a very long time... My boat (1998) still has original manifolds.


Other things - keep water out of the boat, cables need to be lubed once every 1-3 years depending on how exposed they are, various rubber components replaced.. general boat stuff as needed.


My ideal boat will be model year 2000 and up, less than 200 hrs, buy from original owner, Volvo Penta, fresh water only,....not stored in water....21'-24'...EFI only(I have enough headaches keeping my bikes jetted right to fuss with carbs on a boat)

SeaRay Sundeck, Rinker BR, Monterey BR/DB, Regal BR, and a few similar others.....[/QUOTE]

 

[Dakota47]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Get a OMC Cobra .. very strong.

 

[Lou C]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

If you are mechanically inclined, and like to do things the RIGHT way (using an OEM manual, proper tools) then much of it you can do yourself, provided the boat has decent access to things like the spark plugs, oil filter, fuel filter, water drains on block, manifolds, p.s.cooler, etc.
Here's a pic of winterizing my old Cobra, doing the oil change, it's not bad to get at most things, I have to move the port side battery out to get at the oil filter. Here's a shot of the new starter I installed the year before, you can see it's tight in there but I was able to get at the bolts which are underneath and toward the rear of the engine. The last pic shows the location of the oil filter, you can get at it, but you need to be fairly limber and not too big
It's really important to follow the manual, and not the advice of well meaning but mis-informed backyard mechanic neighbors and friends.
When you get to removing and reinstalling the drive, you will need a drive stand of some kind, because you can easily throw your back out if you try that yourself. Here's one I made for my OMC Cobra.
One other thing, that seperates I/O boats from cars, boats can accumulate gas fumes in the bilge, and if you cause a spark, the results can be disasterous, so be VERY careful about that.

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

One other things - like cars, boats tend to vary wildly in how difficult they are to work on and maintain.... It's largely about access to the parts that you need to get to.

 

[superpop]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

The most important factor to consider is not the age of the boat but how it was treated. I purchased an 8 year old boat for super cheap because I knew that it was going to need a lot of work. But I did it and now 4 years later I have a boat that I could sell for what I have into it. But it all depends on your ability and tolerance for working on a boat and the little differences between a boat and car. If it is laid out well a boat motor is very easy to work on but if the motor is shoe horned in with 500 pounds of seats and walls around it then it can be very frustrating. The most important question should be "do you have all maintenance records". My boat only had 50 hours on it when i bought it but low hours are bad on a used boat. Low hours means it sat somewhere usually on a trailer and all of the rubber hoses and gaskets dried out and now it has leaks like a sieve. Tons of hours is not necessarily a bad thing but maintenance is paramount. Good call on Volvo Penta, that is what I have and they are bulletproof and pretty much idiot proof. I would also recommend a boat that has snap in carpet, not so much for the carpet but the boats with a finished fiberglass floor typically are a lot less likely to rot like a carpeted floor. just a few lessons i learned when I purchased mine.

 

[450xDaD]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

My boat only had 50 hours on it when i bought it but low hours are bad on a used boat. Low hours means it sat somewhere usually on a trailer and all of the rubber hoses and gaskets dried out and now it has leaks like a sieve. Tons of hours is not necessarily a bad thing but maintenance is paramount.

Great tip...makes sense. Where are the most common areas for floor rot? or does it vary from boat to boat?

I've always been nuerotic about PM...I've always considered it cheap insurance. Thanks for the info guys. This is exactly what I was looking for.

 

[Don S]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

If you go over to the Boat Restoration and Building forum here at iboats, there are lots of discussions of rot, rebuilding, and repairing it, locating rot etc.
But this is the forum you want for engine and drive maintenance.

 

[450xDaD]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Get a OMC Cobra .. very strong.

Hmmm...one of he other guys said NO to OMC.....I wonder why?

 

[450xDaD]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

If you go over to the Boat Restoration and Building forum here at iboats, there are lots of discussions of rot, rebuilding, and repairing it, locating rot etc.
But this is the forum you want for engine and drive maintenance.

Gotcha...thanks

 

[Lou C]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

OMC has been out of business, since about 2001, they sold the left over parts for the Cobra drives to Bombardier, but they are not making any new parts from what I heard, and some items are getting hard to find, I have been able to get everything I need though...then there is the problem of finding some one who can set them up...not easy in some places, save yourself some aggravation and get a Merc or Volvo. I have had good luck with mine but would not advise someone to buy one now.............
Thank goodness Sierra makes a lot of aftermarket Cobra parts.

 

[Don S]

Re: Considering a boat...but DIY maint?

Get a OMC Cobra .. very strong.

Hmmm...one of he other guys said NO to OMC.....I wonder why?

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