How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

[jmarty10]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Like the previous poster wrote, get some tow insurance. $30 per year for on water towing and trailer assistance on the road. Boatus membership gives you piece of mind. I have my motor and outdrive professionally maintained each year. Oils changed, plugs checked, filters replaced, outdrive pulled, inspected and components greased. Charged battery at beginning of year but I carry a jumper pack on board along with my prop wrench and spare prop. If I break down, I drop anchor and make a call. If cell phone is dead..............

 

[45Auto]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

You can easily eliminate the majority of reasons boats break down by doing regular periodic maintenance. Only advantage that a new boat will have over a properly maintained older boat is on items that have a limited life, like manifolds, starters, alternators, etc. Even that can almost be eliminated by regular inspection of the manifolds or paying attention when a starter, alternator, etc, starts giving warning signs. I would guess that 99.99% of the boat breakdowns are due to bad maintenance or operator error.

I've had 2 breakdowns on the water in 37 years of boating:

Spun a prop hub once on a 10 year old boat - but it was a 2 week old prop - put on the spare (old prop) and kept going. New boat wouldn't have made any difference there.

Ran through some soft mud without knowing it on a 6 year old boat, clogged the water intakes and fried the impellor before I realized it. Shut down the engine when the temp started rising, had to be towed in. Again, a new boat wouldn't have made any difference.

Corroded wiring is always a concern on older or newer boats where owners or builders who don?t know better (or don?t care) use non-marine components. Using non-marine wire and connectors (not tinned) can easily cut your wiring costs in half. But you can expect electrical problems within a couple of years. I bought a 30? Sea Ray that had been stored in a slip all it?s life last year partly because it had 4 bilge pumps and not a single one worked. It had corroded non-marine wiring and connectors (owner installed) on all 4. I figured that if it hadn?t sunk and didn?t have any water in it under those conditions then at least there weren?t any leaks! It also had problems with the stereo, VHF radio, drive trim, trim tabs, lighting, generator, and air conditioner due to corroded, owner installed non-marine electrical wiring mods. Took me about a week to track everything down and fix it with marine wiring components. Saved me about $10,000 on the price of the boat though.

Quick list below off the top of my head of stuff that will break down on a boat (I/O) and their "typical" lifetime and costs. My experience has been that typical lifetime on the ?Limited Lifetime? stuff is actually more like 20-30 years, but I used 10 as worst-case in the list. Rough costs on the "limited life" stuff is parts only since I do all my maintenance myself. If you don't do the maintenance, a new boat will be much better than an older boat for a couple of years, then the bad maintenance will catch up with it ? at which time it?ll become an ?old boat?!

Other than that, I would expect to be stranded due to an unexpected crapped out starter, alternator, etc, maybe once every 20 or 30 years, the same I expect from my cars. Usually you'll get some warning that a part is going bad, your choice to do something about it or risk the breakdown.

Very few boats die from worn out major mechanical components like engines or drives. Most die from operator error or neglected maintenance. If you (or a previous owner) neglect all the items in the ?Maintenance? and ?Replacement Maintenance? categories below, expect several breakdowns a year. Wasn't it an old GM commercial about oil changes where they had that saying about maintenance versus a new engine: "Pay me now (for maintenance) or pay me later (big bucks when your engine locks up)".

 

[rbh]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

+1 on the regular maintanance.

 

[Lucky 1]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Well I just checked and there are 1750 pages of Motor problems on this site. So lets get this straight. You WILL experience problems. It's a fact of boating. I was reading the guy who posted yesterday that someone stole his battery and he would like someone to show him how to put a new one in. Now there is a guy who should sell that boat right now and never take it out on the lake.
Here is your answer . B.O.A.T = Break Out Another Thousand. Take that to the bank.
Mine is an 86 and have had my share of problems. If you need a mechanic to do your work for you, you better have a chunk in the bank

 

[JimS123]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Well I just checked and there are 1750 pages of Motor problems on this site. So lets get this straight. You WILL experience problems. It's a fact of boating. I was reading the guy who posted yesterday that someone stole his battery and he would like someone to show him how to put a new one in. Now there is a guy who should sell that boat right now and never take it out on the lake.
Here is your answer . B.O.A.T = Break Out Another Thousand. Take that to the bank.
Mine is an 86 and have had my share of problems. If you need a mechanic to do your work for you, you better have a chunk in the bank

You should put that in quotes and make it a sticky so no one ever buys a boat again. Your comments sound so fatal!

My car has problems too....just put a grand in to get the brakes redone, all 4 struts replaced, and the water pump was leaking. Just turned over 100,000 miles and my tires need to be replaced before winter, so there goes another $500.

I put about $300 into the pool to get it running this year, and my house had a new roof last year that cost me six grand.

Now you want to hear about cost and money, my wife's high blood pressure meds each month cost more than I care to even think about. And the room and board for her three horses make the meds look like pocket change.

Come to think about it, my boats are the cheepest things I own. Do I have issues at times? Sure. But it still costs less than running my car...at least in my case. But I look more at the cost benefit. One full day out on the water and I'm good to go for another month....LOL. As they say, a bad day boating is still better than a good day at work. I'd happily pay triple for the boat if that's what it took.

And then again, I didn't buy a boat to save money.

 

[dlngr]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

1970 boat,1982 Johnson. 3 years without a problem.

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

'76 lund aluminum fishing boat; '67 johnson 33hp outboard. This year is the first time with this combo...haven't been stranded once. Motor runs like a champ and the boat doesn't leak a drop.

 

[Lucky 1]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

I certainly didn't mean to sound like it came across. I love boating and have for at least 30 years. I have only owned 6 boats in those years so I am no expert. And I have been in the mechanical industry for more than that, I am no motor head. I have had my share of problems over the years, but it has never deterred me from buying into boating.
But it certainly can be an expensive hobby.

 

[skargo]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Like everyone said, properly maintaining the boat will more then likely keep you from getting totally stranded.... provided the motor isnt a hundred years old.

However, there's the saying that Sh*t happens, and for that..... I have towing insurance. I believe every boater, regardless of boat year, should carry this. Well.... at least if your boating on a big lake. Even if your engine is pristine.... the battery could die, or you could run out of gas. I boat on lake erie and will never leave port without having gotten insurance for that year.

Best part, covers the entire western half of lake erie and is $50 a season.... why wouldnt you get it?

I agree with this. I have to pay more for unlimited towing on the Chesapeake, but the peace of mind is worth it.

At the risk of sounding "insufferably self-righteous, and wrong" (p.s. calling people wrong here is frowned upon, and considered an insult FYI) if you properly maintain your boat you won't break down 99.9% of the time.
Spend some time tuning it up on the hose and going over your systems.

To answer the original poster, my boat and engine(FWC 5.7) are both 32 years old with 500 hrs. This is my 2nd year with it an so far so good. Previous owner said it never let him down either, he was a meticulous mechanic...

 

[wellsc1]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Since I have moved beyond (replaced) my 1980 40 hp Mercury, I've run out of gas once and broke down none (knock on wood. Ouch! My head really hurts now!)

That's not to say I haven't experienced ailments on the water. However, I was able to still fish and enjoy the outing, then get to motor mechanic in a convenient time.

The boats and trailers are another story - one got a crack in aluminum hul, the other lost a bearing cap (or got stolen). Thank goodnes for duct tape to get me home! Oh yeah, trailer lights - gotten hate em... gotta have em. Then there's the sprung springs. Well, it seems more problems with trailers than boats and motors.

 

[kilowatts]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Hi Guys:

My boat is a 34 year old Slickcraft/Grew SS 215 which has been almost all restored over the last four years. In that time I've been towed very short distances twice, both entirely my fault. Both from my own ignorance, but since this boat has been a journey of mechanical discovery I don't feel too bad.

In fact, yesterday after replacing the sub-deck, installing my newly rebuilt engine and visiting the local Mercury mechanic for final adjustment checks I went boating. After half a mile the boat stalled out so I had to be towed back. Got home, checked the entire gasoline intake system from one end to the other. I'd installed the fuel filter in the carb backwards and starved the engine of gas! So there I was, congratulating myself on a refurb job well done, only to be humbled by an elementary mistake. So I think I have to agree with most of the other posters, maintenance is all!

kilowatts

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Fishing in Canada last year at a remote (timbuck three I think) lake. On the second day, the fuel pump went fritz. It's an old kiekaifer Merc 9.8. Took it apart and found the reed was shot. Proceeded to the cooler and removed one can of thought process. After consumption, the light went on.

P.S. The lakle was small enogh that a bit of rowing got us back to shore in just two beers and a bunch of fish LOL.

thats a good one. Why is it that the Light goes on after consuming some cold and refreshing "thought process" especially when you have a buddy with you?



MacPointMan

 

[MacPointMan]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Fingers crossed. When I buy my new to me nearly 20 year old or older boat it won't break down on me very often. Since this will be my first boat and [probably my only boat for quite some time I plan on Keeping her well maintained.

I agree we have a saying in the Army. It applies to everything that needs maintaining. Proper PMCS (Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services) ensures Mission Success. Though we all know that stuff does indeed break from time to time.

so with that being said Proper PMCS on your boat will Ensure long lasting family fun on the water.

MacPointMan

 

[bondomerchant]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

i had a 68 larson the family had an ran without 2 many problems for 20 yrs had ta retire it due ta rot in the transom an replacining 3 engine couplerslearned a ton of stuff with that boat then went an dumped money into an 77 century 19 footer with an omc witch got vandalized little crackheads stole all the gauges an switches drilled a hole in the fuel tank an even took my lic plate an trailer lightsactually they probably did me a favor now i own a 74 silverline that im on the second yr of boating without a hitch its powerd by a merc 888 with a new motor witch really moves the 18 footer right along i have learned alot reading all the posts on this site an i wish i woulda had all this info at my disposal when i was younger thanks all you guys

 

[GatorMike]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

Mine breaks down everytime I decide I don't need seatow insurance anymore.

 

[75TowerOfPower]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

I have a '74 Mark Twain with a 115 Merc. I have rebuilt a lot of things but what got me this weekend is wiring. I fixed the guages in this winter but I have soome bad wires on the inside of the motor right on the 7 pin plug. So time to just run two new wires (ignition and choke) , of course the two that are most needed. So I have been stranded with a starter solenoid going out along with a dead battery combo.

 

[Fisherball]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

1975 MFG 16' Bowrider trihull

1981 Johnson 70 hp

4 years & never broken down while on water. Has a few problems I found either b/4 or after being on the lake. Till 2 weeks ago when I discovered enough rot to replace stringers, deck & transom at the end of this season.

The real question is "How often do boats like this sink?"

Answer-"Usually only once!"

 

[Surfer Dave]

Re: How old is your boat and how often does it break down ?

1973 Baja 16' with a 2000 Mercury 75hp, I've never been stranded or broke down