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Random Quote: confusion not only reigns, it pours.
have a mercruiser 5.7L w/Bravo II. backing into slip, put it in reverse, then to forward and a big clunk sound and engine died. throttle/shifter lever stuck. anyone got any ideas what the problem is? anyone have an idea of how much to repair?
the local, who hasn't looked at it yet, says it may be a clutch cone, whatever that is. another guy said it could just be a "dog earred thingy" that needs adjusting! got love it!!
from the responses i got it appears we may be looking at a relatively expensive repair. ofcourse we are hoping for the best outcome, but we also have to consider worse case scenario.
so that being said, at what point does one consider to ditch the old boat and get new one?
Depends, my father will give any motorized vehicle three signifigant failures and then its gone. By signifigant I mean being stranded, losing a motor over an expensive problem, etc. Boat fever has caused a few trade ups though!
Seriously though tawcat, the boat that I have now was purchased to replace a skiff that I loved. What changed was my fishing habits, therefore I needed a different style boat.
I added up my anual repair costs to cover the spread between what I paying for the monthly nut on the old one and what the new one would cost. Factor in the stress, agravation and constant fear of getting stranded and it becomes a no brainer. Yeah..I had a piece of crap with loads of problems.
I agree with HOTSPOT, both posts! Typically the decision is based on something changing in my fishing style, location, or opportunity. Keep in mind I'm wacko enough to have multiple boats, but therapy must be working, I'm down to just two and 1/3...
Good point from last reply. While it's a tough question as to how much to repair rather than replace with new, when you add-in the stress factor, the decision becomes easier. Just like a car, there comes a time when too many things go wrong at the same time, and you get the same agrument, "Although its costs $4,000 to replace the motor, you couldn't buy a new car for $4,000". Yes but, you are putting something new or rebuilt in something old. With new, its all new, and all the new parts have a better life expectancy. Good luck and by no means don't forget about the stress factor. It cost me quintuple by-pass surgery.
Tawcat
Sorry to hear you are having drive problems. It could be as simple as a broken shift cable or the linkage on top of the bravo drive they are prone to water intrusion rust and failure. If it is internal given the age of your boat I would likely just put a new outdrive on it if you are going to keep it. If you are going to trade it or sell it a reman wouldn't be a bad way to go. Either way your going to need to get it out of the water and have it checked to determine the cause. I went through this with my previous boat after buying a rebuilt drive one year a reman drive a year and a half later then a brand new drive thirteen months later (don't get me started about mercruiser and there warranty on there reman drives 13 months old with 150 hrs and they offered me fifty bucks for a new drive with the shaft hangin out of the side of the thirteen month old one) I traded the d** thing in. My problem had more to do with poor power choice when the boat was new, the boat was way under powered, it had a single alpha drive on a 27 foot boat with a 9 foot 6 beam. Your boat is powered much better with the Bravo II on it. If you are serious about trading up, I try to figure out how much its going to cost and decide if I am going to have X amount of extra fun. MY last trade was well worth it but I am a boataholic.
Good luck
captainjay, i looked under the hatch and the linkage on top of the drive seems to be locked in place. hopefully its not a serious problem. the local mechanic at first guess thought it might be the clutch cone. given the age of the boat i am sure its time to have a few problems. however, the silk lining in the whole affair is that it happened at the slip. would have been really bad had i been on the lake. i will keep ya'll posted once the mechanic gives me final word and estimate.
have a mercruiser 5.7L w/Bravo II. backing into slip, put it in reverse, then to forward and a big clunk sound and engine died. throttle/shifter lever stuck. anyone got any ideas what the problem is? anyone have an idea of how much to repair?
the local, who hasn't looked at it yet, says it may be a clutch cone, whatever that is. another guy said it could just be a "dog earred thingy" that needs adjusting! got love it!!
from the responses i got it appears we may be looking at a relatively expensive repair. ofcourse we are hoping for the best outcome, but we also have to consider worse case scenario.
so that being said, at what point does one consider to ditch the old boat and get new one?
When the windshield falls off in your hand after starting, when relieving yourself off the back gives you and additional 2kts at WOT, and when your dog won't ride on it with you.
Sounds like you need to adjust your cables--- Had the same problem-- follow the system in the mercrusier book-- if you can get to the cable (if old model)-- new ones are a lot easier--- shift cable may need relaced-- cable kit around 125-- not that hard unless old model then have to tap out housing with a pipe tap--- so cable can be installed from stern end of boat-- all covered in manual---if you don't do own work problem 400-500----
A lot depends on what else is wrong with it, and how much that will cost in addition to whatever the drive needs. If the engine, hull, decks, transom etc are in good shape, fix the drive and go boating, but there are major rot problems, then to me it's time. Having said that, new boats are not trouble free either, but at least you have some recourse with the warrantee. But oh, the depreciation....
__________________ 1988 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee
4.0/NV 242 Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee Limited
5.7 HEMI/Quadradrive II
You gotta at least figure out what's with the current boat . . .might be worth it to fix it before you sell it. Eitherway, you have to "sell it" before or soon after you buy another . . .
I had the same problem!
Sounds like your Shift Cable is out of adjustment.
The mercruisers have a "ignition cut off" that momentarily cuts the ignition when you shift. If the cable is out of adjustment, there will be too much cut off time, and the engine will die.
To answer your question, I decided to buy a new boat when I was spending WAY TOO much time keeping the old thing running than actually fishing. With the old boat it seemed as if just as soon as I fixed something, then something else would break.
I bought a brand new boat, and last summer all of my fishing time fishing, and only spent a few hours doing the basic preventative maint.
GOOD LUCK -
Been there...I would suggest getting a firm price to fix it from a reliable mechanic...get it fixed if it's worth fixing...then decide if you want to trade it in or sell it...if it's not worth fixing...same solution...decide if you want to trade it in or sell it...they key is finding a reliable mechanic and get a number to fix it...either way...get rid of it (fixed or broken) and pick up something nice that you can afford and then have some fun with your new toy!
at what point does one consider a new boat 
