fishinwrench

[rps]

2 hours ago, mixermarkb said:

Not related to the inboard question, but as far as outboards, I don’t let hours bother me on a used boat. I’ve seen just as many brand new motors getting powerheads as I have old ones.
 

I’m looking for a well kept package by an owner who used it a lot. In my humble opinion, running a boat enough that the gas stays fresh, as well as letting it warm up enough before you go WOT, are the two things that make a motor last the longest.

no matter how creampuff, a boat that is used one weekend a year is gonna have issues, in my opinion.  
 

How many "first time on the lake this year" boats have you towed. Numerous for me.

[fishinwrench]

Genuine engine failure with an inboard or I/O is pretty rare.   Issues with the outdrive and transom assembly are way more common. 

The biggest detriment to an inboard or I/O is the fire hazard.   Doesn't a day go by that several don't burst into flames.  With a large fuel tank, batteries, and V6-V8 engine all stuffed down into a confined area and buried in plush upholstery....What do you expect?   Get just a little too comfortable with it and skip your thorough trip checks once or twice.....and you've set a bomb.   

Back in the days of mechanical fuel pumps and carburetors it wasn't quite as bad, but having to pump the throttle on a cold start was just too darn inconvenient for the candy asses of today.....they had to have EFI emission controlled motors with turn key cold starts, which add high pressure fuel systems, electric pumps, O2 and MAP  sensors into the mix.   

Great for cars/trucks, if they leak you see a puddle under it and know something is amiss.  Not so in a boat, it all collects in the bilge awaiting a little spark to ignite it.   Bad news!

Unless you are already a pretty darn good mechanic, or you have deep enough pockets to have a good tech servicing your boat on a very regular basis (as in every week), then you have no business owning an inboard or an I/O.   You're playing Russian roulette with your families lives.   

[liphunter]

Thanks Wrench. I would say I'm a pretty fair mechanic. Both mechanically and electrical. That being said. I am not a boat mechanic. I have never been one to cut corners on safety. I spent 35 years on the railroad personally keeping people from getting squished. I have an understanding of how things go south when you cut corners. So if I am hearing you write. Being a carbed motor is not a bad thing? 

[fishinwrench]

35 minutes ago, liphunter said:

Thanks Wrench. I would say I'm a pretty fair mechanic. Both mechanically and electrical. That being said. I am not a boat mechanic. I have never been one to cut corners on safety. I spent 35 years on the railroad personally keeping people from getting squished. I have an understanding of how things go south when you cut corners. So if I am hearing you write. Being a carbed motor is not a bad thing? 

Good deal!  👍 

And yeah, if it's an older carbed motor it will be alot less hassle.   You'll just have an easy to figure out little ritual for the first start of the day.

[mixermarkb]

6 hours ago, rps said:

How many "first time on the lake this year" boats have you towed. Numerous for me.

A few, and I’ve also been that guy who got towed when life got too busy to use a boat enough...lol 

[HarryJ]

I think the concern with the prop turning while towing is the prop shaft is turning on a dry outer seal.

[fishinwrench]

5 hours ago, HarryJ said:

I think the concern with the prop turning while towing is the prop shaft is turning on a dry outer seal.

Well the seal isn't "dry", it has lube on the inside of it, right up to the sealing surface.   No different than the front and rear main seal in your truck engine/transmission, or wheel bearing seals.

But yeah.....just put the motor in gear and it won't spin anymore.