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sgtPluck · 19-02-2008, 20:25

Hello,
I am looking to buy a boat. One that I like is in otherwise good shape but has an engine that is 20 years old, dirty, raw water cooled, with around 7 thousand of hours on the meter. I'm considering that if I did buy the boat I might have to repower it at some point, and that I may as well do that first. Especially as it would be my intention to cruise the boat. Can anyone share experience of how much this might cost?
I'd be looking at around 20-25hp, and it appears they are in the 7k range. One person said a rule of thumb would be to double the price of the engine to account for the full cost of ordering an engine and having it installed. Unfortunately I don't have the skill or the time to do much of the labor involved myself.
Has anyone repowered their boat and had experience with the real costs involved? I know there's many factors at play, but is that 'double the price of the engine' rule of thumb far off the mark?

Thx a lot!

SgtPluck

never monday · 19-02-2008, 20:31

need some more info first.
What engine is in there now? What hull is it? do you have a brand preference?

**Alan Wheeler** · 19-02-2008, 20:44

The ruff rule of thumb equates to doubling the purchase price of the new engine. It maybe a ruff rule of thumb, but seems to work out pretty close most of the time.

Charlie · 19-02-2008, 21:40

Never Monday knows way more than I do but I would think that if you replace with a similar engine that the price sounds close. As way of disclosure I did buy an engine from NM then had it installed. Was much cheaper than any price I was quoted.

Chief Engineer · 20-02-2008, 17:51

Do your own homework...there are guys like myself who work on boats.....we are also sailors.....
When getting a quote from a yard......get a complete estimate......If it is a direct replacement it should be a simple one.....If you are repowering with another engine, there may be labor/material costs for building up/cutting down the engine bed....putting a new instrument panel in....if you are going from gas to diesel the fuel system will have to be re-worked/replaced......

When I do these jobs, my estimate is a "not to exceed" price......I do my research on the boat and so far, I have never had to go back to a customer, "hat in hand", and say I need more $$$$ to complete the job......

Shop around

And another thing....don't always go by the hour meter....I have seen them wired in the wrong way and they run when the engine isn't running.......

7000 hours in 20 years? Do the math.

sgtPluck · 20-02-2008, 19:30

Thanks everyone for the advice. It seems that for this hull and this engine there's no simple drop-in replacement. I found two owners who've attempted repowering.
I think the only way I'll get a fairly accurate cost is to pick a replacement, get the schematics for it, and have a local mechanic go down and assess what work would need to be done.

Quote:

7000 hours in 20 years? Do the math.

Good point. That is a lot of hours. The boat was cruised extensively though...

Charlie · 20-02-2008, 21:21

7000 by 20 years is 350 a year. I had a boat in charter that was doing 400 a year. Dowsn;t seem outrageous if the boat is used a lot. What kind of boat is it anyway?

**Boracay** · 20-02-2008, 23:30

I put in around 250 hours in repowering with a John Deere and there are still a few jobs to go. Repitch prop, upgrade fuel system, improve exhaust. etc.

But I'm probably a little slow.

I would have spent $3k on parts with another $1.5k in the wings.

Your current engine sounds like it still works so I'd suggest keeping it while you research a repower.

You could even clean it up, give it a good service and upgrade the fuel system.

Never know. There might be nothing wrong with it.

Islandmike · 21-02-2008, 02:52

I put in a new westerbeke 64A, the engine was $12K and the installation was $6K. I did as much work as possible to keep the price down. The engine area had been totally stripped prior to purchasing the boat. There was no exhast, wiring, fuel tank nothing. All the grunt work I did, the mechanic did the rest. It came out well, while I only have 55hrs on the engine, all seems well. The only real issue was that it took all summer, I count not keep the mechanic on the job. But in the long run he did a nice job.

never monday · 21-02-2008, 03:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by sgtPluck

Thanks everyone for the advice. It seems that for this hull and this engine there's no simple drop-in replacement. I found two owners who've attempted repowering.
I think the only way I'll get a fairly accurate cost is to pick a replacement, get the schematics for it, and have a local mechanic go down and assess what work would need to be done.

I've yet to meet a boat that couldn't be repowered. You just have to look at it carefully and measure 19x. Where is the boat your looking at?

Joli · 21-02-2008, 07:38

We repowered pulling a W108 and re-intalling a W108c6. the engine was ~$10k and probably had another $5k in it with parts and labor. We were able to re-use the panel, prop and shaft. I did much work myself, new beds, remove all cabinets, remove all electric panels, cut a big hole in the deck, install engine, re-glass the deck, re-install cabinets and electric. No fun since we did it outside during a Michigan winter.

I would think as the boat gets smaller the labor content per install would be higher. The labor is going to remain almost the same but the engine cost will be a lower percentage fo the overall job.

**Inlet Marine Services** · 21-02-2008, 12:11

Best time to repower is winter, summer is normally to busy.

**irwinsailor** · 21-02-2008, 14:22

I repowered our boat 5.5 years ago. Changed from a Perkins 4-236 to a Westerbeke 90Afour. The estimate was $25000. for this job. I was abole to get the engine wholesale for $11000. I would say that the total change over was about $15000. for engine and for machine parts etc and it took me about a week to do. It was a big job but well worth it.