To Repower or Not To Repower? That is The Question.

[joey]

I must tell you that you have a better shot of getting your money back on SeaCraft than any other,except maybe a Merritt or Rybovich if you can afford one.I made a big mistake this past summer I had a 98 21,that was perfect,that I bought new in January 98 for 29,000 and sold it this summer for 24,500.I can't complain about that,however I can't replace it for that either.I have a beautiful Charlie Morgan with all the bells and whistles and full tower that is now for sale because it has been blowing here in key west all winter and I can't leave the dock with it.But I could with my old SeaCraft!

[Briguy]

ChrisG,

Let me give you a little advice that may be way off from the other guys. I believe in the "less is more" theory.

First of all, what do you need a 12k 350 mag horizon for? You will never get the resale out of it and I'm guessing you average less than 150 hours per season, probably more like 50 hours running if you look at the last 5 years. My guess is that since the 351 commander hooked up to the Merc Drive, so would a 350 chevy. One of my local mechanics does 350/270hp carb crate motors all the time. A complete long block installed comes in at around 4500.00=-. Since the old drive works well, keep it till it blows up. As for the windless, have a mechanic rewire it, you most likely have corrosion on your switches, too. If not, scrap it and go back to the old heeve ho with the anchor. A nice aluminum bimini top with sunbrella canvas costs about $300.00 here in Florida and you and a buddy can install it in under an hour. As for a fishfinder, a Garmin GPS/Fishfinder combo unit will cost about a grand, cheeper yet a standard horizon gps/fishfinder combo retails for 399.00 [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img] No trim and tilt is a problem and when your mechanic installs the motor, he can fix that for a few hundred more. So....lets add it up

Motor+labor+tnt= 4850.00
Rewire windlass 150.00
Sunbrella top 300.00
Standard GPS/FF 500.00 installed

Total $5800.00

You be the judge.

[cc]

I agree with the guys above regarding keep it if you like it, replace it if you don't. Some things you do because it brings you joy, not because it makes economic sense. I repowered my 1982 searay walkaround 24'7" last winter with a new merc 250 hp, bravo 1, with full fresh water cooling, including the manifolds for $14,000. Dealer here did the install including new steering, wiring harness and controls. I did new wiring, instrument panel, fuel tank, upholstry, myself. Put 70 hours on it this summer and am glad I repowered new vs. rebuilding the old but servicable 260 hp IO. It ran good, but problems were driving me crazy. I elected to go with the carbureted 5.7, 250 hp rather than the fuel injected versions that give more power for two reasons 1) carbs are simple and have been around about 100 years. I have always been able to get home 2) The injected engines have sensors that monitor all kinds of things to optimize and give you the power. These sensors measure in milliamps and millivolts. Corrosion at a connection or terminal can shut the engine down and you will tear your hair and wallet out troubleshooting. There is no such thing as jerry rigging to get home on these electronic marvels. I have seen this first hand on boats 3+ years old. I live close to you, and also boat on the bay, and know what the salt air can do. Just my two cents worth.