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Old 09-13-2018, 09:55 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GEM555 View Post
I know several people with cruising sailboats. They all spend minimal time maintaining their engines. All diesel, of course.
Diesel engines require maintenance too - done enough of it myself, having owned a diesel powered boat and worked on a ton of others.

If you want a new diesel installed, go for it. If the installation is done right and the routine maintenance is done correctly, the engine should be trouble free for a long time.

If you want a new Atomic 4 installed, go for it. If the installation is done right and the routine maintenance is done correctly, the engine should be trouble free for a long time.

Right now you have an antique boat with an antique engine that has had what seems like poor or no maintenance for a long time. No marina will want to touch it because they assume two things:
1. You won't be willing to pay to fix it right.
2. If they do a band-aid fix to get you going, you'll be back when the engine malfunctions again blaming them.
And this assumes they even have a mechanic that knows anything about these engines, which they may not.

You have some choices here:
1. Come up with somewhere between about $8,000 and $15,000 for a new engine, installed.
2. Continue to pay slips and storage for an unusable boat.
3. Donate boat to charity.
4. Cut the boat up and sell the rig and lead. The keel is worth about $1/pound.
5. Just quit paying the slip fee and ignore all calls from the marina and they'll do #4 for you.

If you don't pick 1 or 2, now your choices are:
A - Pay a lot more money for a much newer boat with a *supported engine*. Old diesels can be all the trouble you have, times 2, plus no parts available and no forums and STILL no mechanic will touch it.
B- Join a sailing club with boats for you to use if such a thing exists there.
C - Buy a much simpler boat like an Ensign or J-80 or similar and sail instead of fix.
D - Find a new hobby that makes you happy instead of frustrated*

* don't choose "buy an old airplane" though. You thing you have expensive issues now
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