Repowering 1994 220 Advice?

[Sea Rayless]

Hello,

I just bought a 1994 220 Sea Ray with a 5.0LX Mercruiser Bravo 3 for $7,200 (has a new mercury kicker motor, Furuno Radar and is in good shape but needs some TLC) - which I thought would be cheap family fun for the summer. Turns out the engine is frozen due to lack of weatherization by the owner. Owner told me it was the starter and a mechanic agreed but turns out ....not so much.

So, the mechanic (mercruiser certified) gave me the following options:

A) Buy a bobtail engine- $7,700 and about 16 hours of labor at $100/hr = $9,300
B) Buy a long block- $3500 and about 20 hours of labor and parts which could be $2k or more= $7500
C) Replace engine with a used engine- maybe $4-5K but you have a used engine that could turn out the same way....

I am not excited about spending around $8k to get a $7k knock around boat up and running.

Really, I need some advice.

Thanks!!
Sea Rayless

 

[Creekwood]

Hello,

I just bought a 1994 220 Sea Ray with a 5.0LX Mercruiser Bravo 3 for $7,200 (has a new mercury kicker motor, Furuno Radar and is in good shape but needs some TLC) - which I thought would be cheap family fun for the summer. Turns out the engine is frozen due to lack of weatherization by the owner. Owner told me it was the starter and a mechanic agreed but turns out ....not so much.

So, the mechanic (mercruiser certified) gave me the following options:

A) Buy a bobtail engine- $7,700 and about 16 hours of labor at $100/hr = $9,300
B) Buy a long block- $3500 and about 20 hours of labor and parts which could be $2k or more= $7500
C) Replace engine with a used engine- maybe $4-5K but you have a used engine that could turn out the same way....

I am not excited about spending around $8k to get a $7k knock around boat up and running.

Really, I need some advice.

Thanks!!
Sea Rayless

My advice is get a lawyer and sue to get your money back. It sounds like you were lied to deliberately. Is this the same mechanic that looked at it before you bought it?

 

[Pyrojodge]

Yeah if it is the same mechanic.... um..... red flags!!!

 

[Sea Rayless]

Same mechanic indeed. I forgot to add that I did go back to the seller and got $3200 back- So, I got a $4k life lesson (which I didnt really need)

 

[arw01]

Are marine blocks different than auto blocks? The price seems high, just cruising the forums for my son's el camino, I saw complete with accessories small block chevies ready to drop in for way less than that.

I would use a different mechanic to do the work, maybe talk to a few boat storage places, you might find a certified mechanic to do the work on the side for 1/2 or less.