Is it possible to ever get your money back?

[JohnB]

Boats and money, always a downhill adventure. If you want to make a small fortune, in the boat market, start with a large fortune and quit when you have lost enough.

On the power/repower issue. We have alot of "sponsored" guides in programs down here in FL with engine manufactures.
They get a really good deals out of the gate, and usually trade/upgrade motors every 2 years, and frequently, there is at least one more year of warantee. These motors can be bought for 1/2 to 1/3 retail new. A 11k motor might be had for 4-5K. If you maintain it, and use it 20 times a year, it will probably last 10-15 years. These guys are not out on the water every day. There is a myth that we fish 365 days a year. Last year we had 191 fishable days offshore of where I fish, and that assumes you have a charter every fishable day, NOT. If you do the math, that is roughly 25 dollars a trip in motor expense (over 10 years, and including some maint cost) with a pretty reliable motor.
Also, it seems that outboard motors, also know around these parts a granades with the pin 1/2 out, like to blow up in the first 200 hours. You get one past 200 hours, and as long as it gets oil, clean gas, and dosen't overheat, they will go 1500-2000 hours in most cases.