A "new" 10-year-old Yamaha OB Lives Again!

[svtrio]

We bought a new Yamaha 15 HP two-stroke in the summer of 2005 as they became scarce. Had the Maryland Yamaha dealer run it and then winterize it. It had never been restarted until yesterday, nearly ten years later.

We took it to a local Yamaha dealer: St. Lucie Outboard Marine, Fort Pierce, FL. Despite getting simple instructions from Yamaha on bringing the engine back to life, we decided to let the Florida dealer do it. He said if it was properly winterized and stored (upright), it should start right up. After a physical check of the OB, it was started after three easy pulls.

The impeller had taken a small set, so the "water pump" (impeller, gasket and a couple of odds & ends) was replaced. The tech walked my wife and I through a refresher on all the other usual aspects of caring for the engine and showed us how to remove and replace the prop, fuel filter, lower unit oil, grease, fuse, etc. Couldn't ask for better service at a more-than-fair price.

We brought the Achilles 315 HDX down to Florida, new home base, on a trailer a couple of months ago. Bought new in 2005/2006 it never saw the water or the sun from the rafters until I took it south. Looks new and has held air for the past two months, so we will hit the water shortly.

The big boat is still in the boatyard, and hopefully I'll get it in the water next year ... of course, I've been saying that every year since the refit from hell began. Anyway, a happy moment in the process.

PM us for help if you're cruising through the Fort Pierce area this winter (in the spring i head back to Boat Boot Camp near Washington, DC).

Roger & Mary