I'm just sick

Fly'n Family

Fly'n Family

Active Member
Sep 19, 2013
812
TX / CO
Boat Info
2008 Meridian 341
2004 Boston Whaler Sport 130 w/40 hp Merc
Engines
6.2's
:smt089

Bought my 98' 310 this past August. Pre-buy, inspections up the wazoo, everything checked.

Had it transported to the local Marine place where they started it up, everything checked. Winterized and stored indoors.

Over the last two weeks, had new upholstery, all new custom camper canvas, and new deck carpeting. New dash faux wood, and all new instrumentation.

Spent the last 3 days Meguiaring it....#67 and Flagship. Hard work, but well worth it.

Today it was "summerized". Starboard engine starts right up, sounds great. Port engine starts right up, and has a loud knock - most likely a rod.

I don't get it at all. The marina place is super busy, and I know going into the winterization aspect, they would do a little on my boat - then jump to others. I am thinking/guessing that they had winterized the starboard engine, then went to do something else on a different boat - and forgot to winterize the port engine. I have no way to prove this of course.

I was standing behind the outdrives (also above them on a warehouse dock), and when the starboard engine was started, it initially put out a decent amount of smoke. I immediately brought this to their attention, and they said that was normal and was burning off the stuff used in winterizing. As the engine ran and warmed up - it went away.

When the port engine was started, the first thing I noticed was the complete absence of smoke. Of course, I asked immediately why no smoke - and they said something to the effect "well you can smell it". I immediately heard the knocking sound, and my heart sank. They did a bunch of stuff, I suppose to check if it was something else......but it continued.

The wife and kids have been so excited to get her in the water, we've dropped a ton of money on it and I thought have done everything right. It was going to be towed to the lake tomorrow, put in our slip - first time slippling for us.....and the wind has just been completely knocked out of everyone.

Don't know what to do, just absolutely sick to my stomach right now.
 
Wow that stinks,

Considering everything you did already$$, you don't have much choice except to fix it.
You should be able to get a brand new GM marine long block for around 3K. I'd guess another 1K to swap all the accessorys over and install. Reman are less..or rebuild yours?
Decisions.....decisions....

I really feel for your situation....if you were closer I give you a hand swapping the motor.
 
That's terrible. Are you sure they put oil in the engine? I've heard of boats getting winterized & the mechanic forgetting to refill the oil after he drains it. If you think they never completed the winterization, I wonder how much of it they actually completed.
Im sorry to hear this, its no way to start the season. Good luck with the repairs.


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Todd
 
Question, Do you have a regular mechanic for your personal vehicle(s)? If not, do you have any friends with some type of street rods or boating buddies as well.

Reason why I'm asking is because we have a mechanic friend that has a couple of street rods and a 29' Formula go fast boat and he is EXTREMELY knowledgeable about engines. He is our go to guy for ANY major mechanical issues.

Currently he is rebuilding a port engine in one of my boating buddies' 380DA and has in the past rebuilt a starboard engine in a 380AC.

Stay Positive and find yourself a GEAR HEAD. :thumbsup:
 
Man I feel for you. Take a deep breath and attack the problem. As stated, have a competent mechanic evaluate the situation and then review your options.

Boating is an expensive hobby but worth it in my opinion. Anybody that has been in boating for some years has their "empty the wallet" story.
 
Sorry, I jumped the gun to a new engine without even know what's going on......

Best of luck..maybe it's only something small.
 
It is entirely possible that the marina that received and winterized the boat is innocent. There have been incidents around here where a boat was sold after the seller added enough oil thickeners and additives like Slick 50, STP, Lucas, etc. to quieten a knock and improve compression enough to get the boat past a compression check. Then the knock or low compression returns as soon as the old oil is changed…..which is the first thing any of us would do upon buying a new boat. If that happened, you are just stuck because all the evidence has long since been poured into the waste oil tank at the marina.

This isn't a criticism of what you did because it sounds like you did what you should have, but it is intended for others reading along to note, the reason most of us gear heads recommend an oil analysis even when we know there is no previous history or trending possible because of no records is to spot out of place elements in the oil…….high sodium indicates salt water in the oil, high wear metals (iron, copper, brass) would indicate bearing, ring or cylinder wall wear and high molybdenum would indicate high levels of oil additives.

Good luck with it…………….
 
If you think it's a bent rod why would u replace the engine. Have the heads pulled and machined replace rods springs valves and arms and b in your merry way? If its a lower end knock that's a different sorry
 
So sorry to read your post it really does suck. Do hope everything turns out okay and not too expensive to fix. We had an oil analysis done on our 340 before we bought for the reasons Frank states but not sure that most folk do, although it's a good thing to have done. Good luck and hang in there.


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That's not a good way to start things off, but get it diagnosed by someone who really knows engines, then get it taken care of, then get on to enjoying your summer on the boat.
 
Has the marina offered any help or assistance? They winterized and dewinterized it. Seems like they would be of some assistance.
 
It is natural to want to find someone at fault, however, being in the heavy duty truck market for 26 years, I have seen trucks that completely satisfied a dyno, full warranty inspection, etc. Sit on the lot for a few months, and just be broke when started one day.

You could have gotten a stuck valve, and if lucky, it's just a head and not a piston, Over the sitting time nearly every bit of lube drains down. Don't know if any of you guys with the big expensive engines have a pump on the oil lines to pre-lube the engine before cranking it over?

Alan
 
Like Mark, sorry to hear this. More often than not boaters go through this. I bought the 270SD 13 years ago. Now I was dumb to boating and my apprasier wrote to have the engines rebuilt or something to that affect. I didn't really understand it and sure enough next summer on the water I replaced the Port and then the following year the starboard. Then the following year the Port again as it wasn't winterized correctly. Three engines all remaned.
Now I buy the 400EC and the survyor say everything is fine. Sea Trial went well all inspections good. Except the old girl can't get her butt out of the water b/c the Port engine as two cylinders that are bad. So $9K in new engine and months of no boating. Then the trans goes on the Port engine. Must be something with Port engines. Now more money and more no time on the boat.
You would think that the marina should cough up some labor/parts etc for a bad winterization. It's not right and not fair to you and your family. I will say this - try to get passed it and get your family out on the water so they and you can get that bad taste/experience behind them. Like Mark said if I were close I would come help you. Been there.
Good luck and sorry to hear it.
Joe
 
That's very unfortunate. I really like Frank's post as this story and his advice can hopefully provide a good warning to others down the line. I hope you get this fixed quickly.
 
I am sorry to hear about that. I can just imagine the wife and kids all set to jump on the boat and now this. I know exactly how you feel. It's a boat thing. Best wishes for a speedy remedy.
 
Did you notice antifreeze running out from each engine when it was started?
 
I would be suspicious of one smoking and the other not.
 
I have no added advice from what has been stated before but wanted to wish you the best of luck with what ever you find. We have all had these incidents that hit us right in the wallet. You have to puff out your chest, take a right hook across the chin, and move on.
 
fwebster said:
It is entirely possible that the marina that received and winterized the boat is innocent. There have been incidents around here where a boat was sold after the seller added enough oil thickeners and additives like Slick 50, STP, Lucas, etc. to quieten a knock and improve compression enough to get the boat past a compression check. Then the knock or low compression returns as soon as the old oil is changed…..which is the first thing any of us would do upon buying a new boat. If that happened, you are just stuck because all the evidence has long since been poured into the waste oil tank at the marina.

This isn't a criticism of what you did because it sounds like you did what you should have, but it is intended for others reading along to note, the reason most of us gear heads recommend an oil analysis even when we know there is no previous history or trending possible because of no records is to spot out of place elements in the oil…….high sodium indicates salt water in the oil, high wear metals (iron, copper, brass) would indicate bearing, ring or cylinder wall wear and high molybdenum would indicate high levels of oil additives.

Good luck with it…………….
Click to expand...

I met with the Marina owner today, and what you said in the first part of your response is virtually identical to what he said. He said he wants to put it on the water so that it's under a load, and see the results. Doesn't make much sense to me, but at this point I don't think I have much to lose so we'll be doing that tomorrow.

Your advice is extremely sound regarding the oil analysis. This one is going to bite me in the ass, but at this point, I really have no recourse - as any potential evidence is long gone. Great advise, and I know I'll never purchase anything like this again until an oil analysis has been accomplished.

I sincerely appreciate everyone's response. Like a swing and a miss on any of lifes curve balls, we'll step right back up to the plate. It will be fixed and we'll move on. While the money end of it is gonna bruise the wallet, the hardest part was telling the kids and seeing their faces. But, like we do with everything as parents - this too is being used as a myriad of lessons to help teach our kids......and ourselves. Never again will I be so foolish as to not have an oil analysis.

Thanks guys.....

Fly'n Family
 
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