How much money do you put into an old boat, before you say "Enough!"

[Government cheese]

The boat is a 1988 GW Invader. It sank a few years ago, (the summer I bought it actually) and has been on the trailer since. It already needs some work, bellows, trim hydraulic hose, bilge blower and a distributor. After it sank changed the oil and plugs, then changed the distributor for a non-marine unit just so I could run it and make sure the motor was ok. Now, three years later, I ran it again and found a core plug out. I put a rubber plug in, ran it, and didn't see any leaks. Now when I went to put the marine distributor back in, the new one had milky oil on the gear. The dipstick has clear clean oil on it. So, it looks like my block (gm350) may be cracked inside.

So, how much do you put in a boat before you decide to let it go and buy a newer one?

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Right after it sank.

 

[roffey]

I think only you know the answer and you already know it as your asking the question. For me it was when the rot started to show its ugly head. How much time do you want to spend fixing vrs boating is really the question.

 

[gm280]

Milky oil on the distributor and not on the dip stick doesn't make any sense. The oil by the distributor gets flowed through the rest of the engine when it is running. It isn't like that area doesn't get a fresh supply of oil as it runs. So that just doesn't add up. JMHO

 

[wrvond]

What's he return on investment? If the boat were exceedingly rare, or of historical significance, I'd spend quite a lot to repair or maintain it. However, a 1988 vintage fiberglass boat isn't really high on the list of highly sought after boats. I'd use this as an opportunity to move up to something newer and nicer.

Milky oil on the distributor could be the result of condensation. Check the inside of the valve cover or oil fill cap.

 

[jkust]

Unless it was a family heirloom type situation, I wouldn't put a penny into an old boat. I would instead buy a newer boat with fewer to zero issues. There's just so many nice boats out there.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Dipstick often won't show water. If you have an oil suction tool. use it to pull some oil off the bottom of the pan. That will show you if there is water in it.

I would measure needs on floor, transom and interior, especially the upholstery, when deciding to cut loses or continue. Too many things need work, make it run and sell er off.

 

[Government cheese]

What's he return on investment? If the boat were exceedingly rare, or of historical significance, I'd spend quite a lot to repair or maintain it. However, a 1988 vintage fiberglass boat isn't really high on the list of highly sought after boats. I'd use this as an opportunity to move up to something newer and nicer.

Milky oil on the distributor could be the result of condensation. Check the inside of the valve cover or oil fill cap.

I looked under the fill cap, there is a baffle there and i can't see anything. I'd have to remove the exhaust to get to the valve cover bolts.

Someone suggested I pressure test the block, but seeing as it's an I/O I don't know how easy that will be.

 

[honda400ex2003]

id probably have to go with "it sank". im all for fixing stuff up but water in it then not using it consistently afterwards for a while to get all of the water dried out of it would be a no no for me.

i dont have too much room to talk, just bought a 1987 bayliner i/o for $1100 with the intentions to fix it up a little bit. i wont put much over another 1k into it for seats and a tower. $500 for a tower, and a couple of seats that are front/back style for it. otherwise i will redo the upholstery on the rest myself and see how it goes.

:/
steve

 

[Scott Danforth]

stickies at the top of the forum cover pressure testing

if it was me, I would properly diagnose the problem(s), then make an assessment. probably even pull the motor to go thru it.

bellows, blowers, trim hoses, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, impeller, etc. are all maintenance items and the cost of owning a boat and dont count into the putting money into a boat equation. that is normal maintenance like putting gas in the mower.

now core plugs dont fall out, they are pushed out from water freezing on a marine motor. being a GM 350, your talking a $350 motor from a pull-a-part salvage yard, or a $1500 rebuild.

only you can answer the question if it is worth it to you.

 

[WIMUSKY]

I know a guy with a tinny O/B and sank it 3 times. I believe, at his lift.

It may take multiple oil changes to get all the moisture out of the oil. If you run it for a while the milk may start showing up on the stick....

 

[Government cheese]

stickies at the top of the forum cover pressure testing

if it was me, I would properly diagnose the problem(s), then make an assessment. probably even pull the motor to go thru it.

bellows, blowers, trim hoses, cap, rotor, plugs, wires, impeller, etc. are all maintenance items and the cost of owning a boat and dont count into the putting money into a boat equation. that is normal maintenance like putting gas in the mower.

now core plugs dont fall out, they are pushed out from water freezing on a marine motor. being a GM 350, your talking a $350 motor from a pull-a-part salvage yard, or a $1500 rebuild.

only you can answer the question if it is worth it to you.

I figure I'm looking at $1000 for that stuff, and if the motor is bad, well I know there are options from a junkyard v8 to a fresh 350 from Jegs or Summit. As far as the freeze plug, I thought I had the water out but apparently not.

That milky oil though, couldn't have been residual water from being sunk, could it? Once the boat was back home oil was changed and plugs were replaced. It wouldn't start so I bought an automotive distributor, but I don't remember if I ran it or not. I suppose there could have been some water in the lifer valley, or maybe somehow in the oil pump, but I doubt there could have been that much. I guess an oil change and some more run time are in order.

 

[Rick Stephens]

Oil change and run it. You'll soon know. Watch oil level, if it goes up, you know you're adding water.

 

[diungerich]

Right after it sank.

+1 on that!

 

[Ike-110722]

All good advice. Most of us have boats so we can be out on the water doing whatever it is we like to do. When you are spending more time fixing it than using it, then it is time to assess whether or not to get something newer. The exception is, as was said, if its rare or historically significant, a family heirloom, or some other important reason to hang on to that boat. Like my 72 Sea Ray 190 SRV, It's a bit rare and I spent a lot of time restoring it (it was a wreck). So I'll hang on to it until I'm to old or infirm to use it. Then I will pass it on to someone who will appreciate it.

 

[MH Hawker]

m take a look in the boat restoration section and ask those guys the same question op2:

 

[Scott Danforth]

m take a look in the boat restoration section and ask those guys the same question op2:

exactly..... take a boat of minimal value, add $5k worth of materials, add a bunch of labor..... at the end of the day, its still a boat of minimal value.... however its now solid, gets its owner out on the water with a grin from ear to ear..... the value of that grin.... priceless. all other purchases use Master Card.

 

[Rick Stephens]

exactly..... take a boat of minimal value, add $5k worth of materials, add a bunch of labor..... at the end of the day, its still a boat of minimal value.... however its now solid, gets its owner out on the water with a grin from ear to ear..... the value of that grin.... priceless. all other purchases use Master Card.

With some patience you can buy quality cheaper than you can rebuild quality.

 

[jkust]

My biggest thing is the value of your time and what else you could be doing with it instead of repairing or rehabbing. What do you value your time at?

 

[Government cheese]

m take a look in the boat restoration section and ask those guys the same question op2:

I've read quite a few threads there.
I've also checked the oil level, it didn't look like it was going up, but maybe I didn't run it long enough to show.