Thread: Boat is shot

Well, upon uncovering the boat after the frigid winter this Memorial Day, I discovered that the family boat will not be running this season. It is a 1986 18' Four Winns Horizon 170 bow rider, and is really worn out, so I wasn't too surprised to find the boat not operational. The problem:

Water in the oil. I don't know how yet, perhaps a blown gasket, but whatever it is, I'm DONE with it. Not having to deal with it for another season would be one less headache. However, I'm gonna miss not having a boat.

So, if the boat is beyond repair (Which I think it is, I really don't believe any time/money put into it is worth it on such an old worn out boat) then I guess it's time to accept not having a boat or start searching for a new one. But what to buy? I'd like a couple of used jet skis, or perhaps maybe a smaller outboard. I probably wouldn't spring for anything larger, money's kinda tight in the boat department. Any suggestions?

Once your boat is gone, your search for another will start the fun all over again. I had the family out this past weekend looking at new pontoons as that is what will be my replacement for a while.

Everybody knows you have to uncover a boat at least a month ahead of the time before you're going to use it in order to deal with all the fun of owning one.

Sounds like it's time to Break Out Another Thousand!

Originally Posted by ChumpChange

Sounds like it's time to Break Out Another Thousand!

Whats the saying- the two happiest days of owning a boat: the day you buy one and the day you sell it!

BEYOND repair?! unless someone cut it in half and burnt down one side, theres never a "beyond repair" bro.. If theres water in the oil after sitting over the winter, it could be something AS SIMPLE as moisture from sitting under a tarp.. do an oil change, check all your plugs, hook up the garden hose and let it idle for a while..
Check your oil level. See if it goes up, if it goes up, then you missed something during winterizing and you need a new block (tons of cheapies available, under $2k for total rebuild).. If the level DOESNT go up and youve got some milky oil, change again until you get the moisture out.

Double check your water pump impellers too, actually just go ahead and replace them.

My advice is my contribution to this forum, I can give you my phone number and email and can walk you through diagnosing what is wrong. Wouldnt take you 20 minutes to figure out the boats pulse and get her goin again..

Any pics of the boat? I might be interested in taking it off your hands if thats the way you think you will go.....

I have done nothing but work on my boat this year. My only complaint is that I didn't have it ready to roll by Memorial Day, but I was able to get out and enjoy the weekend just the same thanks to good friends.

I agree that it is probably shot, but there's no way I'd write it off that easily. Water in the bottom end is never a good thing, but there's no way I'd sell it as scrap without doing a drain & fill using cheap oil first. You never said how much water was in the oil or how you saw the water. You'll get more money selling it in a running state than you will selling it as it sits even if you have to tell the prospective buyer that it has a blown head gasket or that it won't hold oil pressure.

You might be surprised though. If it holds oil pressure and doesn't seem to be taking on any more water you might be able to squeeze another year or two out of it.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do.