Is there a Reliable Boat?

[DALOW]

My contention is there is no such thing as a reliable boat but rather a smart boat owner can make the boat reliable. I especially don't think a boat just off the showroom floor is configure to be reliable enough.
You ever been towed back to port. I have too many times.
Overheating, fuel filter clogged, water in the fuel, ignition points worn out, prop ruined, grounded on a sand bar, lower gear case failure; just to start out the discussion. I also contend that if you boat long enough you will eventually need to be towed.
Of course none of these was my fault .

But I was wondering what do you think an astute captain can do to make the boat more reliable? Any horror stories? and what did you do about it?
Thanks
Doug

 

[tpenfield]

No, there is not a reliable boat.

 

[Scott Danforth]

everything man-made will fail.

as you simplify the boat, it becomes more reliable to the point where you end up with a paddle board. Human propulsion on a floating board.......about as reliable as it gets.

 

[sutor623]

I love working on my motors, so I stay on top of lower unit service, fuel system service, etc. The thing that drives me nuts is how randomly electrical issues will surface. I have up to $500 covered in tow insurance. If I have to get towed, so be it. I just hope its not on an inland lake in the winter time. Even the coast guard winterizes their boats on lake anna!!!!

 

[MTboatguy]

No and Yes, depends on what you define reliable as, boats are high maintenance, there is no doubt about it. When you are mixing, fuel, air, electricity and throwing in a big puddle, then Nope, not reliable, fortunately for most of us, when ours is not reliable, there is always good Samaritan that is on that lake, that his is reliable that day and can give us a tow back tow he dock! Just remember the old saying:

B=Bust
O=Out
A=Another
T=Thousand

 

[oldjeep]

My last carbureted boat wad as reliable as the last carburated car I owned. My Malibu is as reliable as my pickup. No reason they shouldn't be.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I agree. Going on 6/7 years with my FI O/B. Haven't done a thing to it except regular maint..... Maybe FI is the key....

 

[Ned L]

The easiest way to make a boat more reliable is to educate the operator.

 

[JimS123]

My contention is there is no such thing as a reliable boat.....You ever been towed back to port. I have too many times....
Overheating, fuel filter clogged, water in the fuel, ignition points worn out, prop ruined, grounded on a sand bar, lower gear case failure; just to start out the discussion. I also contend that if you boat long enough you will eventually need to be towed.
Of course none of these was my fault .

Boy you really stuck your neck out on that one......LOL.

I've been boating since 1955 and owned my own boat since 1968 and I've never been towed. First of all my family boat has a kicker and even though the engine had an issue in the first year when new, the kicker got me home safe and sound.

I have another outboard boat that is a 1964, with a 1970 engine and in the 31 years I've owned it there has never been so much as a burp.

Do regular maintenance, buy a stupid navigation chart and use some common sense.

(OMG what does a sand bar have to do with reliability...!!!)

 

[Dave-R]

I wouldn't want one if there is one. I have had more enjoyment from repairing, restoring, and adding things than I would if I bought a new one every year. That's probably the biggest reason I love to go boating, and be around people who do the same. If you don't think it's worth cruising up a river or being out on the water with the kids or friends, try stamp collecting or do like most (watch TV) . No never been towed. Dave-R

 

[roscoe]

Been towed once, first boat that I owned, controls were broke and I was too green to know.
That boat was red. Several mechanical issues, but I fixed them.
Just like a used car, NEVER own a RED boat !!

Have never had an engine failure, fuel issue, battery failure, impeller issue, etc., while on the water.

Worst that happened was motor would't start after towing the boat 800 miles.
Popped the cowling and found a broken ground wire, fixed in 5 minutes.

Only carbs I've ever rebuilt, were used engines that I had just purchased.

And so far, the rocks and sandbars have been kind to me, a few nicks and bends, but not enough to disable.

I have several motors from the 80's and 90's that purr like kittens. And a couple from 1971 that do pretty well.
Been boating for 47 years, and owned my own boats for 33 years.

So, the next 10 days at the cabin, I expect every possible thing to go wrong.

As long as I don't crack a gearcase, I'll be ok.

 

[jigngrub]

My contention is there is no such thing as a reliable boat but rather a smart boat owner can make the boat reliable. I especially don't think a boat just off the showroom floor is configure to be reliable enough.
You ever been towed back to port. I have too many times.
Overheating, fuel filter clogged, water in the fuel, ignition points worn out, prop ruined, grounded on a sand bar, lower gear case failure; just to start out the discussion. I also contend that if you boat long enough you will eventually need to be towed.
Of course none of these was my fault .

But I was wondering what do you think an astute captain can do to make the boat more reliable? Any horror stories? and what did you do about it?
Thanks
Doug

Sounds like your problems stem from poor maintenance, poor planning, and operator error to me... none of which are the boats fault.

 

[DALOW]

I agree with all of you about one thing, There is no reliable boat but only an educated and skilled operator. I'm getting smarter and more skilled as I make mistakes.

 

[redneck joe]

yep

 

[Chris1956]

Here on the salt water, corrosion is a large issue. It will attack even marine-grade components, but more slowly. My opinion is that simpler boats will be more reliable than more complex boats. For example, a lot of outboards use marine-grade wiring, which is resistant to corrosion. Couple that with their all- aluminum construction and you have a more corrosion-resistant package, versus an I/O. i.e., every I/O system I saw had standard automotive-type copper wire, which is not nearly as good as marine-grade wire.

If you have a 2 cycle, premix outboard, the oil helps cut corrosion further, and the premix is simpler than a VRO system. Nearly all modern marine engines (Outboards, I/Os, IBs) use marine-type ignition components, so that is a wash.

So the simplest and most reliable runabout-type boat would be a 18-21 footer, single, pre-mix, 2 cycle PTT outboard with a tach, fuel gauge and a water pressure gauge.

A much more complex boat of that type is an I/O powered 18-21 footer, with tach, water temp, oil pressure, blower, impressed current anti-corrosion system, and the other electrical accessories they come with.

Also, it is important the operator knows how to recognize some problems, know how to fix a few things, including how to change a prop and to hotwire the boat, in case the keys are lost, or something goes wrong at the helm. Also important is to keep the boat/motor maintained. If something breaks on a trip, jury-rig it to get home and fix it before the next trip.

 

[Silvertip]

None of my "new" boats and only one of my "used" boats ever required a tow. That one tow was for about 100 yards. I was below the lock & dam Hastings, MN on the Mississippi when we noticed an older stern drive boat having trouble getting on plane. When attempting to go, the bow would point skyward and each attempt caused the stern to become lower in the water. It was obvious they had taken on water and were in danger of sinking. I quickly approached but the boat went down. Another boat arrived and took the two folks aboard. I and my crew gathered the debris and tied some of the bigger items to the boat. I located a bow line attached to the sunken boat and tied it off and made an attempt to drag it the short distance to shore. My 70 HP Johnson was not up to that task but a cruiser appeared and took over the task. When I tried to restart my boat it failed to fire. The Power Squadron boat now on scene advised that a tow of barges was delocking and I needed to clear the path. They tied on and got me shore. So what was the issue with my motor? It finally started and ran fine the remainder of the day but did not want to idle well but at days end it was an adventure. A few days later during an inspection I found a inch flap had been pushed outward from the block on #2 cylinder. A piston skirt had broken and created the flap. I stripped the engine, took the block to a welder I knew who welded the flap back in position. I installed a new piston and set of rings and the old Johnny performed nicely. I might add that I've been around the block a time or two so I've owned lots of boats. If one is careful during the buy and equally careful about inspection and routine maintenance, boats are about as reliable as reliable as your daily driver.

Forgot to mention that the boat that sank was on a test drive by prospective buyers. It had a rotten transom and it separated at the hull. Ain't a pump big enough to pump that much water (that is a pump that would fit inside the boat).

 

[shrew]

Overheating, fuel filter clogged, water in the fuel, ignition points worn out, prop ruined, grounded on a sand bar, lower gear case failure;

The problem is, none of the reasons listed are actually a fault of the vessel or its 'reliability'. Most of what you mentioned is the result of the failure of an individual part (clogged fuel filter, water in fuel, worn ignition points). ANY boat will be susceptible to these problems. In fact, these are serviceable items and their failure may points to inadequate maintenance. The exception being fuel in water, which could be the fault of the tank where it was purchased. Again, any combustion engine will suffer as a result of that problem. These are not exclusive to boats or any particular boat.

The remaining points are operator error (e.g. grounding). Prop ruined and lower case failure are also the result of grounding. The exception being if you strike an object floating just under the surface, such as a waterlogged container or a log. Again, ANY boat would be susceptible to this and is not indicative of the boats reliability.

That being said, I'm not sure I'm clear on your question. Maintain the boat, buy fuel from a reliable source, use the boat frequently, stay paid up on insurance and towing coverage, have PDF's on hand, and just go boating.

 

[JimS123]

I agree with all of you about one thing, There is no reliable boat but only an educated and skilled operator. I'm getting smarter and more skilled as I make mistakes.

I think you missed the point. All boats are reliable. The perception of poor reliability is due to uneducated and unskilled operators.

It ain't rocket science. Most all that is needed to know is contained in the Owner's manual, and reinforced in a boating safety course. Common sense don't hurt either...

 

[sublauxation]

I think a couple people on here should be knocking on wood right now:lol:! I've been towed once when a lower U joint in an outboard died. I also had a starter die once but got in with the trolling motor. Last year I had a 4 year old starting battery die with no obvious warning. I swapped it out for the trolling motor battery and all was well. I've had a brand new bilge bump automatic float switch fail which came close to resulting in a sunken mess in an intense overnight rain storm. These things happen and you can't prepare for or prevent all of them.

 

[JoLin]

To answer the question 'Is there a reliable boat', you have to ask, 'Compared to what?' As the degree of complication goes up, so do maintenance requirements and possibility of individual component failure. I own an old 16' aluminum fish 'n ski with a 2-stroke outboard, nav lights, vhf, bilge pump... and that's it. I own the boat in my sig with 2 engines, 2 drives, a fully equipped galley, head, plumbing, pumps, 12v and 115v electrical systems, etc., etc. To compound the potential problems with this 'beast', I'm 90% finished installing a complete air conditioning system from scratch.

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.