SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

[slag]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Lets think a little more here

This is all about dollars and cents
What applies here is "You Get What You Pay For"

These Units are manufactured in the far east, then assembled here
( I love how they say Built in the U.S.)

Mercruiser is manufactured in the U.S.A.

If these S.E.I. units are of equal quality
to Mercruiser, then hell Mercruiser should
quit wasting so much money and put
S.E.I.'s on their rigs

Just think of what they would save on just warranty alone

The point here is:
Is S.E.I. an option-- Of course
But don't kid yourself

about the level of quality
you are buying

That's my point

I understand your thinking, but you are off. The units are as good as they are touted. A lot of people on here use them and love them. Sure, everything mechanical breaks, some sooner than others, but as long as you are within your 3 year window, its NO FAULT to replace. Who else can say that? Every other manufacturer tries to find a way to not support their warranty, either you ran it too hot, not enough fluid, ran over monofilament line that caused the seal to leak, hit something, etc and won't warranty your claim.

Not with SEI. They don't care what you did to it, they honor their warranty and will replace it and it doesn't cost anything to transfer the warranty. You really have nothing to lose by going with them.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

This is all about dollars and cents
What applies here is "You Get What You Pay For"

Yah, I am with you. I really am a firm believer in the "you get what you pay for" stance.

Check this out though...

A new Merc outdrive costs what, two times as much as a new SEI?

So, is the quality double that of an SEI? Is the warranty twice as good, twice as long? Has my extra cash really bought me that much more of a drive? I don't think so, but then again, I am a big rookie too. If I am off base than I am sure some of the vets around here would post up, correct me, and give us all a heads up.

I'm pretty sure I know where my dollars and cents will go if I end up heading down that road.

 

[Brentathon]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

People really have to stop with the "made in USA" garbage.........we are now in a Global Economy........things are made throughout the world......and will continue to be, whether we like it or not. It is simply the responsibility of the company to ensure the quality of their products, wherever they are manufactured.
The labor of my marina is "made in USA" and their prices are ridiculous....that's why I'm doing more and more, myself. I wish I could import a few Chinese people and teach them to be marine mechanics....

 

[llerrad]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

SEI not in service long enough to really know, one may question the quality of mat'l i.e. gears, hardened ground teeth or just shaved and prone to wear and noise. Original Merc. forged steel hardened and ground good quality long last and noise reduced. My unit I alway rebuild with Merc. parts.

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Sorry, but the price difference in the Merc units isn't due to quality, it's due to name. They are the designer and basically the only option for parts, so they can charge WHATEVER THEY WANT. That is until SEI came along and basically started selling the lower units at what they would cost in a truly competitive market. It's not like the use of different gears (unless they're platinum, lol) is going to cause the price to double.

At the moment, Mercruiser sees SEI as small potatos and isn't worried about getting into a price war with them. If SEI continues to grow, Merc will likely be forced to lower their cost of a replacement outdrive for fear of losing profit/market share on replacement drives. Economics 101.

While rebuilding a real Merc outdrive is fine, you are more than likely going to end up with a lot of re-used parts. On a 30-yr old outdrive, do you want to use used parts or have 3-years of completely worry-free boating, with the likelihood that you won't have any problems for years after that? Sorry, but I'll take the new unit every time.

 

[LAC_STS]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Anymore you cant really be SURE that anything is made in the USA.


Everything I have taken apart on my Cadillac has Made in Mexico or Made in somewhere besides the USA stamped on it.


Whos to say Mercruiser doesnt get some of the drive parts from ever seas? I doubt they would pass up a chance to save some big bucks by getting a part fro mover seas as long as it was of equal quality.

So how would you know? I dont think they are gonna advertise it.


Apple products are made in China in some cheapo factory where some workers commit suicide every week. But theyre products are quality.

Take a Macbook Pro apart and compare it. The only notebook I have saw made that good is a VAIO and theyre made in Japan.

 

[mesajeeper]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. I truly do value it, but we chose to have our local repair shop perform the rebuild. Let me give you a few reasons why. First, the shop has been in business for over 30 years and come highly recommended from many sources. 2. The shop has been very helpful to us. We recently replaced our shift cable and bellows. This shop loaned us all the specialized tools we needed free of charge. The extended socket, tap, engine alignment tool, exhaust bellows expander tool, etc. In addition, they checked our work for free. We had routed the shift cable incorrectly so it was rubbing on the bellows and they helped us reroute it. All of this was for free. They always take the time to help us as we attempt our DIY projects.
3. I like to support local businesses when I can. I am always up for a better deal, but the price was competitive. 4. The shop had me in and out in three days. We committed him to tomorrow as a deadline and he called last night telling us its ready to go, ahead of schedule. Owner of the shop instructed us to run the boat for a day or so and then bring it back to him. They will change the fluid and inspect the drive for free.

So in summary, a rebuilt Mercruiser drive for $1,400 seems fair. Supporting the local shop that has been very helpful to us in the past and will be in the future is a big plus to me.

 

[slag]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Can't argue with that. The shop you use sounds really good and it sounds like you will be happy using them. It's rare that in season you can have such a quick turnaround on anything related to your boat, especially something as complicated as fixing an outdrive, but your shop sounds like a real gem and knowing what you said, I'd probably use them also if I lived in the area. It's hard to find places that take care of you as well as they have and don't nickel and dime you to death with everything.

 

[jasoutside]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Agreed! You may have the exception there with your local shop. Sounds like you have a great thing going!

 

[Lou C]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Hey guys, thanks for all the input. I truly do value it, but we chose to have our local repair shop perform the rebuild. Let me give you a few reasons why. First, the shop has been in business for over 30 years and come highly recommended from many sources. 2. The shop has been very helpful to us. We recently replaced our shift cable and bellows. This shop loaned us all the specialized tools we needed free of charge. The extended socket, tap, engine alignment tool, exhaust bellows expander tool, etc. In addition, they checked our work for free. We had routed the shift cable incorrectly so it was rubbing on the bellows and they helped us reroute it. All of this was for free. They always take the time to help us as we attempt our DIY projects.
3. I like to support local businesses when I can. I am always up for a better deal, but the price was competitive. 4. The shop had me in and out in three days. We committed him to tomorrow as a deadline and he called last night telling us its ready to go, ahead of schedule. Owner of the shop instructed us to run the boat for a day or so and then bring it back to him. They will change the fluid and inspect the drive for free.

So in summary, a rebuilt Mercruiser drive for $1,400 seems fair. Supporting the local shop that has been very helpful to us in the past and will be in the future is a big plus to me.

Have to agree with this point...I have the same relationship with my local shop here in Long Island. They are one of the few shops that really knows OMC Cobras and have been very helpful, even though I maintain the boat mostly myself, if I need something done they will help me out and have given good advice to me over the years. When you are in a jam there is nothing like a good local mechanic to help you out...I try to buy my supplies there and give them some business each year...but I have not had to take my boat into them for 5 years, only had they rebuild my Quadrajet for 160 just recently. And that's another example, since I know them trust them, I could get my Q-Jet working fine again for half the price of a rebuilt over the net with no local help....

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: SEI vs. Mercruiser Alpha 1 rebuild

Absolutely can't argue given the additional info. If you were just taking it to an unknown boat shop I would question your judgement, but since they have been kind in the past there's no reason not to give them some business in return. Hope it gets ya on the water quick!