2005 Yamaha VMAX 150 - Advice please

[jmartinfb]

I purchased a used boat with a 2005 Yamaha VMAX 150. Since I am not experienced for what needed to be inspected on the boat I paid a local boat shop to inspect it for me. They told me all was good on the boat but made two recommendation for preventative maintenance, change oil in lower half and change water pump. They said the oil level was good in the lower half just that I should change it every year.

This weekend, my third trip on the boat I heard a huge knocking noise come from the motor and it started to run like a motor that would have thrown a rod. When I got it home I pulled the top plug to see if there was any oil. I couldn't see any in there but saw metal all over the plug. I tried sticking a weed eater line to test the depth but it really didn't show much. When I pulled the drain plug just a little it would not go back in so I took it all the way out. It was covered in metal so I know my bottom half is shot now. There wasn't even a half a cup of oil that came out of the lower half.

There is no leak from this motor. If so, I would have seen it on my driveway and had it fixed before using the boat.

I feel as I was setup by this shop... or maybe it was an honest mistake.. since they said it was good and the oil level was good should I hold them responsible?

 

[99yam40]

What are you calling the lower half?
The lower unit with the prop on it?

lower unit lube does not just vanish without it leaking out, it is a sealed unit.
drive shaft seals prop shaft seals, shift shaft seal, carrier o ring, and and the gaskets on the drain and vent plugs are all places it can get out.

Just because they saw the correct level in the lower unit does not mean that something else could have caused the bearings or gears to come apart.

call them to see what they say, but I would not hold my breath waiting for them to do anything