Quote:
Originally Posted by Bigshrimpin
Wow . . . just read that article.
Spark Plugs: $146.00
Water Pump: $375.00
????????????????
Same job done yourself on a 1980's blackmax = under $40 in parts and less than 1 hour of your time.
NGK BU8H plugs cost $2.25 each (5 minutes of labor)
Water Pump is $25.98 with the housing delivered ( 45 minutes going slow )
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Water-Pump-I...-/300996123884 |
Yep, those are some pretty outragous prices but the actual cost for maintaince parts is not really that different for any modern outboard. I do my own water pump once a year whether it needs it or not. That plugs, and zinc. My water pump only takes about 30 to 40 minutes as well and I have yet to ever require a housing. Full kit: $34.98...
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Water-Pump-I...-/300979087956
As far as oil changes go I spend whatever 8 quarts of Rotella costs from Sam's and a $5 fram filter from Wally world. Pump out, screw off, screw on, pour in, have another beer and light a cigar..... Even an old Merc guy could do it.
That article is pretty laughable... The same people writing that rag think cat hulls are the greatest thing since sliced bread as well and write dozens of pages proving that too.....
The original motor on my rig a a 275 V8 2 smoker. I don't think you could pour gas and oil overboard faster than it could burn it. At a 28 knot cruise it barely got 1 nautical per gallon on a flat day. It did have it's good points though... It was reliable as the sunrise and nobody could follow you to your spot due to the toxic fog bank trailing 2 nautical miles behind. The best feature was the cowl! If needed it would double as a 7 man life raft or could be traded in Cuba for a pallet of Cohiba churchhills and 2 dozen hot empanadas.
Now I only get 2 nautical and a 30 knot cruise and none of the above fringe benefits.... What was I thinking...