| Don't let all of these guys get you all bummed out. Sure, "a boat is a
hole in the water into which you throw money" and you will have to a)
spend some money on maintenance every year and b) learn to do some of
that maintenance yourself, but check out the price on a similar new
boat ;-( Accept that a few things will come up each year. Try to be proactive
in identifying where the weaknesses are and then fix those that
require fixing. Then enjoy the boat. If you are thinking that you will
get to just put in gas though, you are in for a rude awakening... |
Dave
May 15
|
| got my not so shiny new to me 1987 Bayliner in the water for the first time
last night... I have a leak between the transom & hull. boat mechanic says
the motor has to be pulled to put a new gasket on it. he gives me a price of
300-400. is this a reasonable price? $3100 for the boast , $80 to dewinterize... $358 in title/tax fees, now
another $400 for the leak... arrrrgggghhh!
I have an 85 Bayliner 19' CC, and the best investment I could have made was
the Volvo Penta repair manual. I replaced my own outdrive bellows last year
for the cost of the bellows on ebay... have converted to electronic
ignition, changed belts and plug wires, rebuilt carburetor,
winterized/dewinterized 3 seasons, installed new impeller every 2 years,
changed my own oil yearly, etc, etc, etc. If not for these things, this
puppy would easily cost big bucks every year in bullshit maintenance. The marine repair places have a racket going, and they know it. $800 to
replace the outdrive boot? It took me 90 minutes, and that included a
thorough inspection of the u-joints and measuring/adjusting/greasing minor
stuff like the locking pawl. I think the boot was about 50 bucks. Buy the manual, get out your tools, and get to know your boat. Tell your
mechanic to go jump in the lake. |
Steven
May 15
|
