Made the biggest mistake by not winterizing boat.?

Question

Made the biggest mistake by not winterizing boat.?

Answer 1

sorry to hear about this happening and chances are you are not going to like many of the posts that get made for it isn't going to be pretty financially.



if replacing with a new engine then it is maybe a little high if it includes labor. did a quick search of the net and found an 07 engine and drive listed for $11,000. remember though that most marine mechanics are getting a minimum of $125/hr for their services.



can winterizing cause/cost this much in damages? not trying to sound like a smart a$$ but think you have the answer already for the answer is a definitive yes. boats are great in the water but have water in the boat freeze and the result isn't going to be cheap.



as for alternatives you didn't tell us why they are replacing the engine so it's hard to offer any ideas. chances are though that the block is cracked and has to be replaced. are they salvaging the existing parts and putting them on a new block? they should be. update the post and let us know exactly what you've been told needs to be done and you may get some good advice from others who visit here.

Answer 2

the cost is about right to replace an engine. be sure to ask exactly what was damaged and get the replaced parts back. are they going to replace the whole engine, or just the parts that were broken when it froze. merc parts are very pricey.

Answer 3

1. Is this reasonable?



Yes. It is very expensive to replace an engine.



2. Can not winterizing cost this much in damages?



Yes it does. Water freezes and you crack the block. Remember when you bought the boat and the dealer told you to bring it back to them and for a few hundred he would winterize it for you? Yes, that was very important.



3> Is there any alternative to the repair?



Not really. You could shop the price at a different repair facility. Or you could sell the boat as is to someone that could do the repair themselves. You are definately going to lose money, and if you took out a loan for the boat, you're stuck on that one.



4. What should you do?



Pay for the repair and winterize your boat.

Answer 4

That's way too much! Especially for a V-6.



Those damn marine dealers are rip off artists.



Unfortunately, if the block was cracked there is no other alternative, but there are cheaper options.



I had my V-8 MerCruiser rebuilt for $1200 and did the other labor myself, with help.



Make sure you get one hell of a warranty, and check with your insurance agent to see if they can provide some relief.

Answer 5

Not reasonable at all. Hope you learned a lesson.

Answer 6

This is the price new boat owners pay for not getting informed on the required maintenance needed for your boat.



I believe 1 or 2 weeks ago, another new boater did the same and didn't get his boat winterized, he's having to cough up $4,000 to $6,000 for his.



Yes, this is roughly the cost to purchase the new engine, parts, and labor required to get it installed correctly. Maybe $1,000 less if you shop around and know what to look for and get, but that's it.



Keep in mind if you took a loan on this, you are going to have to get this fixed to even sell it off. Also, it might NOT be covered through your comprehensive boat insurance under your policy's fine print.



My winterization/dewinterization only costs me $120 per year, that's cheap insurance against $5,000 of parts and labor.



So in short, you are going to have to come up with $7,000 to $9,000 in parts & labor. This will be a painful but essential reminder for you to never neglect regular maintenance for your boat.



Followup:



Did you get a list of everything stated that needed to be replaced, price quotes from multiple Merc dealerships, and a second opinion from another Merc dealer or service shop? Did you also make sure the parts came with a sufficient warranty (1 year) and the installation was warrantied for a reasonable time (90 days).



Well, from your update it sounds like the replacement has already been done and paid for through financing. If this is true, stop focusing on what you might have been able to save money on and focus on properly maintaining your boat.



Call your insurance agent/company if your boat insurance policy provides coverage for this, but I would not count on it. Learn from this expensive lesson and go boating safely.