nadylime
New Member
- Aug 20, 2019
- 14
- Boat Info
- 2006 240 Sun Deck
- Engines
- 5.0L Mercruiser.....replaced in 2020 with a remanufactured Engine
Hi folks, I wanted to share my last couple years experience with my 2006 240 Sundeck and get your feedback/comments.
If you don't mind, go easy on me personally....looking back, I see that I made plenty of mistakes, and I would do a lot differently if given the chance. Also, keep in mind that I am not a gearhead or know much about boats in general....I just enjoy being on the water with my family & friends
I bought the boat early 2016 from a very honest gentleman. He had all the maintenance records, and the boat was in pristine condition. We had the boat on the water nearly every weekend and had zero maintenance issues the entire year. We had a blast with the boat that year.
I winterized the boat over the winter (not really needed in North FL, but anyways..). In early 2017 I took the boat to a local shop and told them to do a full maintenance on the boat and get it ready for the season. This is when my problems began.
They told me they were going to replace the water pump, change the oil, and complete a few other items. I agreed. The first time I dropped the boat in the water it seemingly ran very well, but after about three minutes of running under full power, the engine overheated. I looked in the engine compartment, and it was filling up with water, while engine appeared to be getting none. We limped back to the dock and towed the boat back to the shop. When they originally replaced the water pump they did not connect the outlet hose to the engine, so the engine compartment was just filling with water, and nothing was reaching the engine. They connected the hose properly and sent me on my way.
I dropped the boat in the water about a week later and it seemed to be running well. We ran down the river about 40 minutes, and alarm bells started going off. The oil gauge showed zero oil pressure. I turned off the engine and noticed that the engine compartment was filled with oil. I checked the engine, and there was zero oil showing on the dipstick. I towed the boat back and brought it to a different shop. They couldn't find any leaks, and said it appeared that the oil filter wasn't tightened properly. They cleaned up the mess and sent me on my way with instructions to keep an eye on the oil levels.
The next time I took the boat out, I noticed that it was running sluggishly and the engine seemed to be at less than full power. I brought the boat back to a reputable shop in the area and had them check it out. They completed a leak down test and said that one of the cylinders was bad. They suggested that I take the boat back to the original shop and make them fix the problem.
I did just that, and the original shop did a head job. I'm not sure exactly what they did, but they said they gave me a really good deal and basically only charged me cost. The total was around $1,200 I believe. I dropped the boat on the water and it did not run right so I took it back to them. They messed around for another month or so and said it was right. I dropped it in the water, and didn't even leave the dock - it was running rough and wouldn't even idle. I called the shop and they made all sorts of excuses why it wasn't anything they could fix, so I brought it to another shop.
By now we're mid-2018. Every time I brought it from shop to shop it would take them a month or so to look at it, another month to get parts....it wouldn't run right, and the cycle would start all over again. I lived in a small rural town in North FL, and there aren't many reputable mechanics in the area, and the few mechanics that are there are slammed busy.
We then moved to Atlanta, and I found a good reputable shop up there, so I brought the boat to them.....still running rough and not water-ready in the least. The new shop ran some tests and said they needed to tear the engine down and go through the heads. It took them several months to complete this, but when they were done ($2,500 later) the boat seemed to be running well. We put the boat on the water for one afternoon (it ran well).....the next week the weather got cold so I had to winterize the boat.
Early 2019 - I again brought the boat to the shop and asked them to get the boat ready for the water. They changed the oil, replaced some things and did general maintenance on the boat (another $2,000), lake tested it, and said it was ready to go. I dropped the boat on the water and ran it around for about 10 minutes.....and the engine started making a knocking sound. It was intermittent and was hard to tell exactly where it was coming from, but it sounded like it was coming deep from the engine. I towed the boat back to the shop and let them listen to it. They told me that they couldn't tell exactly what the issue was, but recommended I get a new engine.
So here I am today.....I've wasted 2 great boating seasons, and spent about $6k on the boat....and now I need to replace the engine.
If anyone cares to comment, here are the things that I'd love some insight on:
I am not made of money, and I'm looking for the best way to get back on the water without spending an arm and a leg.....without repeating the mistakes of the past (putting bandaids on a festering wound) which put me in this position in the first place.
All feedback is welcomed - thanks!!
If you don't mind, go easy on me personally....looking back, I see that I made plenty of mistakes, and I would do a lot differently if given the chance. Also, keep in mind that I am not a gearhead or know much about boats in general....I just enjoy being on the water with my family & friends
I bought the boat early 2016 from a very honest gentleman. He had all the maintenance records, and the boat was in pristine condition. We had the boat on the water nearly every weekend and had zero maintenance issues the entire year. We had a blast with the boat that year.
I winterized the boat over the winter (not really needed in North FL, but anyways..). In early 2017 I took the boat to a local shop and told them to do a full maintenance on the boat and get it ready for the season. This is when my problems began.
They told me they were going to replace the water pump, change the oil, and complete a few other items. I agreed. The first time I dropped the boat in the water it seemingly ran very well, but after about three minutes of running under full power, the engine overheated. I looked in the engine compartment, and it was filling up with water, while engine appeared to be getting none. We limped back to the dock and towed the boat back to the shop. When they originally replaced the water pump they did not connect the outlet hose to the engine, so the engine compartment was just filling with water, and nothing was reaching the engine. They connected the hose properly and sent me on my way.
I dropped the boat in the water about a week later and it seemed to be running well. We ran down the river about 40 minutes, and alarm bells started going off. The oil gauge showed zero oil pressure. I turned off the engine and noticed that the engine compartment was filled with oil. I checked the engine, and there was zero oil showing on the dipstick. I towed the boat back and brought it to a different shop. They couldn't find any leaks, and said it appeared that the oil filter wasn't tightened properly. They cleaned up the mess and sent me on my way with instructions to keep an eye on the oil levels.
The next time I took the boat out, I noticed that it was running sluggishly and the engine seemed to be at less than full power. I brought the boat back to a reputable shop in the area and had them check it out. They completed a leak down test and said that one of the cylinders was bad. They suggested that I take the boat back to the original shop and make them fix the problem.
I did just that, and the original shop did a head job. I'm not sure exactly what they did, but they said they gave me a really good deal and basically only charged me cost. The total was around $1,200 I believe. I dropped the boat on the water and it did not run right so I took it back to them. They messed around for another month or so and said it was right. I dropped it in the water, and didn't even leave the dock - it was running rough and wouldn't even idle. I called the shop and they made all sorts of excuses why it wasn't anything they could fix, so I brought it to another shop.
By now we're mid-2018. Every time I brought it from shop to shop it would take them a month or so to look at it, another month to get parts....it wouldn't run right, and the cycle would start all over again. I lived in a small rural town in North FL, and there aren't many reputable mechanics in the area, and the few mechanics that are there are slammed busy.
We then moved to Atlanta, and I found a good reputable shop up there, so I brought the boat to them.....still running rough and not water-ready in the least. The new shop ran some tests and said they needed to tear the engine down and go through the heads. It took them several months to complete this, but when they were done ($2,500 later) the boat seemed to be running well. We put the boat on the water for one afternoon (it ran well).....the next week the weather got cold so I had to winterize the boat.
Early 2019 - I again brought the boat to the shop and asked them to get the boat ready for the water. They changed the oil, replaced some things and did general maintenance on the boat (another $2,000), lake tested it, and said it was ready to go. I dropped the boat on the water and ran it around for about 10 minutes.....and the engine started making a knocking sound. It was intermittent and was hard to tell exactly where it was coming from, but it sounded like it was coming deep from the engine. I towed the boat back to the shop and let them listen to it. They told me that they couldn't tell exactly what the issue was, but recommended I get a new engine.
So here I am today.....I've wasted 2 great boating seasons, and spent about $6k on the boat....and now I need to replace the engine.
If anyone cares to comment, here are the things that I'd love some insight on:
- Based on these details, does it sound like the original shop caused these issues?
- If so, do you think I could take legal action against him (not sure about statute of limitations) for the engine replacement....and possibly the $$ I've spent in the process?
- Regarding a new engine...I am looking at a Michigan Motorz silver package Mercruiser 5.7 - does anyone have any experience with this engine?
- I also had a mechanic that said he could get a new Mercruiser small block for about $3,500 and put my components on there - any advice one way or another on this?
I am not made of money, and I'm looking for the best way to get back on the water without spending an arm and a leg.....without repeating the mistakes of the past (putting bandaids on a festering wound) which put me in this position in the first place.
All feedback is welcomed - thanks!!