Is there a Reliable Boat?

[JimS123]

In the end, neither boat is unreliable, but the Carver is less reliable then the 16'... and neither is as reliable as a push lawnmower.

Good comparison.

In contrast, in the last 42 years I have owned over 8 lawnmowers. The one I currently own won't last much longer. However, I have several outboard motors that are 50-60 years old and still run like a top.

 

[superbenk]

I think the frequency of use comes into play too. Mechanical things don't like to sit. Sludge settles, fuel varnishes, oil drains off parts leaving them dry, seals dry out, etc. The more you use a boat the sooner you deal with problems & the less of an issue they become. Same with anything mechanical, if you ignore problems they get bigger & things break.

 

[Chinewalker]

Schtuff happens everywhere - car, boat, motorcycle, trucks, aircraft, submarines. Doesn't matter what the conveyance is - stuff breaks. Heck, my wife even has issues walking - she busted a heel off her shoe awhile back!

Reliability is only the perception of the operator in regards to how much time passes between issues. A boat that only breaks down once every other season might be perceived as more or less reliable. A car that breaks down that often might be deemed unreliable. It's all about what your perception and expectations are...

 

[FirstRealBoat]

What I don't understand is automobiles have been reliable for years with little to no issues! Basic maintenance can make a truck last for upwards of 300,000 miles.

So why can't a boat be engineered this way? Money? Greed? I don't know, but seems for what a boat motor cost, parts and material should last longer than what they do.

Example, I am working on a 1977 Mercury 1150. I just sold my 1978 Ford F100, yet I could still find aftermarket parts for it. Why can't I find after market parts for the 1977 outboard? There has to be a demand for them, I see power of towers all over the place.

Just my thinking.....02$

 

[JimS123]

What I don't understand is automobiles have been reliable for years with little to no issues! Basic maintenance can make a truck last for upwards of 300,000 miles.

So why can't a boat be engineered this way? Money? Greed? I don't know, but seems for what a boat motor cost, parts and material should last longer than what they do.

Example, I am working on a 1977 Mercury 1150. I just sold my 1978 Ford F100, yet I could still find aftermarket parts for it. Why can't I find after market parts for the 1977 outboard? There has to be a demand for them, I see power of towers all over the place.

Just my thinking.....02$

I'm currently running a 1953 Evinrude. Other than a carb rebuild, its 100% stock. Is that reliable enough for ya?
I also run a 1970 Evinrude. Its NEVER had a part replaced other than routine maintenance. How bout that one?

People that buy boats tire of them quickly. They also know little about how to maintain them so they rot in the back yard.

ost of us NEED a car to get to work, etc., so there is a little more care taken. Since there are a bunch of old cars around, there is a demand for parts. Not many '77 Mercs left, so there is no NEED for parts. Strictly supply and demand.

On another note, the Towers of Power were probably one of the least dependable of OBs around. I would venture to say that most JohhnyRude parts can be had if you do a search.

 

[MTboatguy]

What I don't understand is automobiles have been reliable for years with little to no issues! Basic maintenance can make a truck last for upwards of 300,000 miles.

So why can't a boat be engineered this way? Money? Greed? I don't know, but seems for what a boat motor cost, parts and material should last longer than what they do.

Example, I am working on a 1977 Mercury 1150. I just sold my 1978 Ford F100, yet I could still find aftermarket parts for it. Why can't I find after market parts for the 1977 outboard? There has to be a demand for them, I see power of towers all over the place.

Just my thinking.....02$

You can get parts for your motor, there are lots of places on the internet that carry parts for just about any Mercury that has been built since at least the 50's Then there is always ebay, if your patient you can find just about any part you need on there.