Outboard exchange?

[illgotoo]

Connecticut outboard rebuild shop:
http://www.outboardexchange.com/

Like them? Hate them?

Considering having them rebuild my 2005 Mercury 200HP EFI.
Sounds like they tear down an engine and go through everything.
Not cheap, but seems worth it. Just wonder if anyone has any
experience with them.

-tom

[sjclarke]

I haven't personally used them, but they have a pretty good reputation in the area.

[illgotoo]

sjclarke - 5/9/2008 11:10 AM

I haven't personally used them, but they have a pretty good reputation in the area.

I heard that too. That helps to hear that from other folks.

-tom

[surly]

Talked to them a few times... nice people and appear knowledgeable. He rebuilt my friends motor and it has been good. They seem to cater to omc rebuilds / parts though.

[joemariani]

i have worked in outboards in Niantic and lived in the area. Tim at outboard exchange is very good, i highly recommend him.

[mac7769]

Just had them rebuild a 200 HP Yamaha for me over the winter. Got it back in April, been running great. Nothing but good things to say about Tim and his staff.

[illgotoo]

Thanks for what you have told me. It sounds like this is an honorable business.

-tom

[jenkinsph]

ilgotoo, great that you inquired BEFORE you had the work done, this is how THT is supposed to work.

Good luck with your repairs.




Steve

[wmalloy382]

Bought a 90 Johnson from them some years back that they remaned and had in their stock. Boat ran flawless. At one point I though there was an engine issue, They shot right over. It was diagnosed as something that was not their gear at all (gas tank issue)and they fixed it for me on the spot anyways.

I give out their name all the time to people looking to re power around here. You can find lower prices on ebay or elsewhere, but these guys stand by their gear and rebuilds.

Good people

[BigShrimpin]

Your better off finding another Mercury 200 EFI and keeping your blown one for spare parts (or selling it for parts). It's cheaper in the end and takes 1/4 the time. There should be places out there with leftovers or slightly used engines.

[mac7769]

BigShrimpin - 5/11/2008 12:59 PM

Your better off finding another Mercury 200 EFI and keeping your blown one for spare parts (or selling it for parts). It's cheaper in the end and takes 1/4 the time. There should be places out there with leftovers or slightly used engines.

Great advice. Guy is looking for opinions on a business, and you advocate going out and buying a used motor that could blow up tomorrow - without any warranty. Keep up the good work.

[BigShrimpin]

Actually I do . . . The quality of rebuilds I have seen is piss poor. I would trust a lightly used or new leftover merc EFI (pending leakdown test, pressure/vaccum tested lower unit) ANYDAY over a rebuilt motor . . . unless I really trusted the source. After parting out well over 100 mercs . . . I've seen some real JUNK "rebuilt" jobs. Not saying anything about outboard exchange . . . but that's my advice and I'm entitled to post it here in an open forum . . . thank you very much.

[BiloxiGuy]

Just curious what caused the motor to blow?

[prowlersfish]

BigShrimpin - 5/11/2008 4:50 PM

Actually I do . . . The quality of rebuilds I have seen is piss poor. I would trust a lightly used or new leftover merc EFI (pending leakdown test, pressure/vaccum tested lower unit) ANYDAY over a rebuilt motor . . . unless I really trusted the source. After parting out well over 100 mercs . . . I've seen some real JUNK "rebuilt" jobs. Not saying anything about outboard exchange . . . but that's my advice and I'm entitled to post it here in an open forum . . . thank you very much.

I thought he ask about this one shop not about engines you have run into from other places.

[BiloxiGuy]

prowlersfish - 5/11/2008 5:47 PM

I thought he ask about this one shop not about engines you have run into from other places.

What does it hurt to bring up ideas that maybe the original poster didn't think about?

[prowlersfish]

BiloxiGuy - 5/11/2008 7:31 PM

What does it hurt to bring up ideas that maybe the original poster didn't think about?

point taken

[tommyr904]

and i agree with bigshrimpin on outboard rebuild shop's more often than not they turn out to be a big fat waste of money here south.never heard of outboard exchange so i have no comment on them but most are engine repair companies that throw a bunch of used junk into a used motor that they hope they use twice a year and last for awhile.this has been my experience so far.

[prowlersfish]

looking at there web site the seem ok but

And this is a big but THEY REMOVE THE OIL INJECTION ON ALL MERCURY OB THEY REBUILD ! and also on the rudes
may not be a big deal to some but may be to others .

[illgotoo]

BiloxiGuy - 5/11/2008 2:58 PM

Just curious what caused the motor to blow?

BiloxiGuy:

Not sure. I bought the boat at a goverment auction. The nice thing
about Outboard Exchange is they will look for the source of the
problem during the rebuild.

[illgotoo]

prowlersfish - 5/11/2008 5:23 PM

point taken

There are used 200 Mercury EFIs around for about the same price as the cost to rebuild. I didn't have
the chance to have the blown motor evaluated when I bought it. I may consider a used one if I could
check it out thoroughly. Then either keep the blown motor for parts (the boat has twin outboards)
or sell it as is with a blown cylinder.

A leftover model advertised on boattraderonline is almost 2x the price of the rebuild or a used one.

I'm leaning towards having the engine rebuilt by a quality shop. Its a pretty large piece of equipment
to just cast aside because of a blown cylinder. If it can be rebuilt right then I'm not stuck with the
problem of disposing of the old engine.

It's a difficult decision. I picture buying a used outboard and then having major repairs necessary. Then
I picture opting for a rebuild and never having the engine run right. There's downsides to both choices.