Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

[rlb2252]

(First, let me say that I hope the following is not true because I definitely expect to buy my first boat this season and I?m not mechanically inclined.)

I?m getting the impression?and perhaps it?s an erroneous one?that boat reliability is vastly inferior to that of autos.

In my search to buy a boat, I?ve had the following experience. Of the three boats on which I?ve done water trials each has had a problem. (Each boat was a mid eighties model.)

One boat cut off several times at idle speeds.

One cut off once at idle speed.

The third wouldn?t start. After a new battery and a successful trial, the boat wouldn?t start the next day.

Even though a boat engine is essentially a modified auto engine there seems to be a vast difference in what a boat owner expects as regards vehicle reliability.

What do I mean? Well, if a car owner paid five thousand or more for a car, I think he?d do so with the expectation that when he turns the key the vehicle will start. Not maybe, not might?but will start.

And not only that, the auto owner expects to turn that key hundreds if not thousands of times and fully anticipates the vehicle will start on each and every occasion.

Is boating any different? Why?

Finally, how would you answer the following:

When you turn the key to your boat, you expect:

A: The boat WILL start and WILL continue to run until I shut it off.

B: The boat MIGHT start and MIGHT continue to run until I shut it off.

C: The boat MIGHT NOT start and MIGHT NOT continue to run until I shut it off.

 

[pmat1]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I think my car wins! my car will never stall at idle or just sputter out. it runs or it dosent. and 100% of the time it runs. My boat on the other hand... if it starts right up and idles fine i know something isnt right....

 

[wyocobra]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

Something from the '80s is over 20 years old now. I am still new to boating, but I imagine boats are a lot like cars in that a good number of them are poorly maintained. Also, boats appear to be generally more expensive than cars. I'm assuming that's because cars are built in much greater numbers and boats are more "custom built".

I wouldn't be afraid of buying a boat if it's only problem was that it wasn't charging the battery. That is usually a cheap fix. On the other hand, if a boat won't start or stay running because of the way it's tuned, you have to wonder how long it's been like that and who's been working on it. It goes without saying that an engine that runs poorly could easily need a few expensive repairs.

I just bought a boat. It's an '87 and aside from a few minor things, it does everything like it should. I had to spend a little more than $5000, though. The overall condition of the boat should give you a good idea how well the rest has been maintained. Sometimes it's worth paying a little more or waiting a little longer if you can.

 

[highN'dry]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

You are comparing worn out old boats to new cars. I certainly expect a new boat to start and run and our purchased new Mercury outboard powered BW runs as reliably as does every car I have owned except for the obvious--Toyota. You might want to look at Honda and Yamaha outboard powered boats as well. I/O are not as reliable as people think, they are not intended by design for use in marine environments and are therefore immediately compromised. Besides, outboard or I/O, new engines like new cars have computer controlled engines that did not exist 15 and 20 years ago. You need to look at relatively new or new boats, not clunkers. Maybe the marine industry could use a cash for clunkers program.

 

[pmat1]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

You are comparing worn out old boats to new cars.

my boat is only 10 years older than my car and there is still a world of difference. Boats are also generally used alot less than cars. Even if a boat runs at near redline for extended periods of time, it is still smoother then starting / stopping many times almost every day of the year.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I/O are not as reliable as people think, they are not intended by design for use in marine environments and are therefore immediately compromised.

???????????????????????? You're Wrong on That....

I've got a 13 year old pickup,+ a 35 year old boat(I/O btw),....
They Both start at the twist of the key,+ run til turned Off....

It's ALL about Proper,+ timely Maintanance......

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

It's ALL about Proper,+ timely Maintanance.... AGREE 100% also outboards.

you all missed something, marine engines run average at 4 - 5000 rpms, the average auto runs at 2,000 - 2500 rpms.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

you can only expect to get out what you put in--meaning if it's not maintained it won't work for you--i bought an 87 this year and after maintaining it properly it runs great

 

[5150abf]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

The marine environment is one of the harshest there is, imagine driving your car over an endless row of speed bumps at 5600rpm, I think it would really cut down on it's life span.

Also, most of the boats on here are older hence more problems, you see few problems from people with new boats other than warranty issues.

Just like with a car, the older you get the more likely it is to break and boats require basic maintenance, water pump, lower oil ect, if you don't keep up with that you will really limit the life of the engine.

Also you can leave your car in the rain all day long but not so with a boat eventually you will have problems with rotted decks and water logged foam.

Now look at how many Evinrude Johnsons there are from the 50s-60s still going, when was the last time you saw a 50s car that wasn't in a show?

As TD pointed out, as with anything, the better you take care of it the longer it will last.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I vote that boats are less reliable than cars. Or at least that much more maintenance is required on an hour per hour of use basis. Bondo, you of all people know that. Carbs need more attention than fuel injection, motor compression degrades faster when greater loads are placed on the motor, and outdrives are not the same as transmissions.

Getting back to the original poster, If the boat has a carb and has been sitting for a week, it's likely to take some cranking to get it to start. If the boat dies at idle, it either is out of tune or needs repair (carb cleaning, compression??) I wouldn't run away from a boat that is hard to start on the first start, as long as it starts back up hot or cold. I would be very wary of a boat that won't maintain idle, hesitates, has the idle set at 1000 rpm's or more, or won't reach factory WOT rpm's

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I would be very wary of a boat that won't maintain idle, hesitates, has the idle set at 1000 rpm's or more, or won't reach factory WOT rpm's

i have to step in here, there are a lot of reason, a motor will not do the above, and 99% of them come down to standard preventive maintenance. won't reach factory WOT rpms, classic case--- propped wrong for the hull.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I would be very wary of a boat that won't maintain idle, hesitates, has the idle set at 1000 rpm's or more, or won't reach factory WOT rpm's

i have to step in here, there are a lot of reason, a motor will not do the above, and 99% of them come down to standard preventive maintenance. won't reach factory WOT rpms, classic case--- propped wrong for the hull.

I agree with you but I wouldn't buy a boat that has these problems only to gamble that the reason why is a prop!! If someone is selling a boat with problems that are truly "an easy fix" then why haven't they fixed them?? Like I said, I'd be very wary! Unless you Know why there is a problem you are at risk to make a bad purchase and it's not your job to fix someone elses boat before you buy it.

 

[madurodave]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

- The boat WILL start and WILL continue to run until I shut it off.

 

[jkust]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I choose A. Fast forward 25 years and see how those boats run.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I answer for my twin '95 150's:

A: The boat WILL start and WILL continue to run until I shut it off.

This is my expectation. IF it does shut off I expect it to start immediately and run flawlessly for the rest of the day.

It takes a lot of work to keep a boat at this stage.

Thats why I hang out here

 

[Numlaar]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

As many have said its all about how its maintained....

If properly maintained, you can expect answer A, if not, then C.

I have had 8 boats... and of those, only 1 was every a problem, but it was because it was badly maintained, and when I got it, I couldn't afford to maintain it properly either (was too much boat for my budget), and was definitely in the "C" category...

I ran a 1966 merc 9.8 for 40 years (started first pull every pull), before it finally rotted out the head near the spark plug hole from constant SW use... I say thats pretty good... how many 40 year old cars are still on the road that haven't been completely rebuilt?

Also, like mentioned, mid 80's boats were kind of like mid 80's cars, and kinda lousy for that timeframe...

A newer engine will be a lot better in the long haul... I have a 2000 honda 4-stroke that purrs like a kitten, and all I have had to do is change the oil in it once in a while.

It really depends on what you put into it, and how good a condition it is in to start with!

Unless it has actual mechanical deficiencies (low compression), anything can be made to run right with the proper parts and money.

 

[QC]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I definitely expect to buy my first boat this season and I?m not mechanically inclined.
. . .
I?m getting the impression?and perhaps it?s an erroneous one?that boat reliability is vastly inferior to that of autos

Comparing Boats and cars will only get you into trouble . . . not apples to apples for sure.

The only way that you will be satisfied if you buy a new or used boat is to store it at a good shop or marina that you trust. Hand them the keys every time that you come back from a trip. Hand them a list of the little things that were messing up that trip and then also hand them your check book. Unless you have a mechanically, electrically, and marine certified best friend who will take care of everything, then that is what you have to do. They need constant attention for a variety of reasons that you could probably understand better by continuing to read here.

I am mot intending at all to be sarcastic or rude, but you have admitted your mechanical abilities and boats, whether you use them a lot or a little, require a lot of care and attention. There are easier combinations and applications, but a family I/O bowrider for example whether it is 16 ft. or 26 ft. will need attention.

 

[109jb]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

Maintenance is everything. Take a poorly maintained car and park it behind your garage and only run it once or twice a year like some of the old boats out there and see how reliable it is. My boats get used regularly and they get the maintenance they need. They start when I want them to and they run great. Mine are outboard powered boats, but this will hold true for I/O boats, cars, lawn mowers, anything. Now boat engine can get worn out just like a car engine can. Boat engines are also used at closer to their max output for a much higher percentange of their running life than a car engine. That's my opinion anyway.

 

[rp23g7]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

I have worked on my own cars for 20+ yrs, and a novice marine mechanic, ever since having a boat, 6 yrs or so. I would tend to trust my boats more than my cars. I have a 99 Explorer and i and a classic car guy, having had a 58 Chevy, 67 Plymouth, 71 Plymouth, as well as a 2002 PT Cruiser, 98 Escort.

All my boats have been carbed. I just cant see trusting a EFI system in a vehicle that spends most of its time around water.

A boats elecrical system is way more simplistic that any cars. I cant stand tracing electical stuff on cars.

My boats are easy to diagnose and fix, and all have my boats have always started.

No silly emission garbage on boats either, giving some stupid code you have to trace down and fix.

I would definatly trust a well maintained boat, than a newer car anyday.

 

[rbh]

Re: Boat Reliability Vs Auto Reliability

here is my take on this
1) the engine in your boat is more like a generator than a engine in a car as it can not shift up and down, varying the rpms at speed, you just have a throttle.
2) if your car sat for long perieds between use you would have simaller problems.
3) cars have totally closed cooling systems, boats suck it up (yes there are partially closed systems).
my two cents worth
rob