Here’s how to save money and time on boat outboard motor repair by following these simple guidelines. Prices for outboard repairs might vary widely, depending on what has to be done to your boat. It will cost about $1000 per engine for a complete servicing that includes impellers. In the $500 range without Impellers, the cost of service in your location is another factor to consider.

Shop reconditioned outboard motors to determine whether you can save money by purchasing one rather than rebuilding your current one. Learn how to save money on boat engine maintenance costs by reading this article.

Outboard Repair Cost

Things may get pricey when it comes to boat maintenance expenditures. Fortunately, there are several ways you may save money while maintaining your boat.

This is just a quick note before we get into the specifics of saving the most money. Let’s clarify what “maintenance” truly means before we get started. The replacement of worn-out engine components with new ones is known as maintenance or service. “Service items” are parts like these. check my source here.

This procedure ensures that the engine functions effectively when parts wear out or grow dirty over time. A two-stroke engine’s typical service items include, but are not limited to:

• Air filter
• Oil Filter
• Boat Fuel Filter
• Thermostat
• Belts
• Water pump impeller
• Engine fuel filter

The Vapor Separator Tank on fuel-injected two-stroke engines may also feature screens and filters, depending on the age of the engine.

These aren’t necessarily “typical service goods,” but that doesn’t mean they can’t be. They’re still categorized as “service products,” though. A four-stroke engine typically requires the same maintenance as a two-stroke engine, except for the addition of engine oil and an oil filter.

Some question why four-strokes cost more to maintain than two-strokes. We don’t do nearly as much work on two-strokes as we do on four-strokes. In addition, leaving maintenance work undone for longer periods has fewer adverse effects on the engine.

As a result, the engine is “oilier” on the inside since it burns oil. The oil protects the sections that aren’t “oiled” or sprayed with a protectant on a four-stroke.

What Is the Recommended Service Interval for a Boat?

The sort of engine you have determines how often you should get your boat serviced. Most of our work on two-strokes is replacing the fuel filters, gear lubricant, and spark plugs, among other things.

Impellers typically last around two to three years before they need replacing, while thermostats are only replaced if they start to overheat. For the most part, we don’t have to bother about changing oil filters because they are generally hidden. Can you understand why maintaining a two-stroke is “cheaper”?

What is the cost of an oil change for a boat?

Service costs for a four-stroke engine are also higher: Four-stroke engines have more costly components than their two-stroke equivalents.

Spark plugs are among the most expensive components. Changing spark plugs on a traditional two-stroke engine is significantly more often than on a four-stroke.

The problem is that two-stroke spark plugs cost around three cents each. However, four-stroke spark plugs can cost upwards of twenty dollars!

A two-stroke oil filter costs about $14, while a four-stroke oil filter costs roughly $20. As a result, even if the price difference may not seem much, keep in mind that these parts are frequently replaced. Compounding expenses accumulate over time!

Filters and oils need to be serviced by the manufacturer every 100 hours or once a year, whichever comes first. This is followed by a list of parts for each of the other components. Every 300 hours, or three years.

Because costly items like gear cases lack a seal failure indicator, maintenance is critical if you don’t change the lubricant regularly.

How Much Do Outboard Motor Repairs Cost?

To have your boat serviced, you’ll likely be charged a labor fee by a shop or technician. There will always be a fee for the mechanic’s time working on your vehicle, regardless of whether the labor costs $100 or $150 an hour.

The average time it takes to service a car’s engine is 2.5 hours (without servicing impellers or thermostats). The engine’s bottom sections must be removed to replace the impellers.

Midsize outboard motors with 90-115 horsepower were common between the 1980s and 2000, and a rebuilt one will cost at least $3,500 from a budget dealer and roughly $4,500 from a local full-service dealer. Engine rebuilding costs about $2,500. Carefully evaluate the $1,000 to $2,000 difference in petrol costs.

Some of those 90 to 115 horsepower machines might potentially cost as much as $6,500 if they had a modern 4-stroke or DFI two-stroke engine. A current (post-2000) DFI two- or four-stroke engine may be right for you if you’re worried about minimizing emissions and pollution and want greater fuel efficiency and operating quality.

Selecting an Outboard Engine: Rebuilding Your Own or Purchasing a Rebuilt Model

Several variables influence the correct answer. For starters, you may not have the money to acquire a reconditioned outboard motor. If that’s the only option, you may have to reconstruct what you already have.

Second, think about the available services. You may expect a quicker turnaround time if you buy a rebuilt or low-hour engine from your local dealer. Is bringing it to a bargain dealer for servicing a hassle if it’s a few hours distant from you?

Inquire about warranties and get firm quotes on costs. If your engine is more than a few decades old, don’t bother attempting a rebuild. Defective parts and outdated technologies are likely found in the outboard motor. If a new engine isn’t an option for your 1980s outboard because it has any or all of the traits listed above, you may want to consider rebuilding it to extend the life of your outboard.

Finally, if you plan on using your boat in saltwater, you should get rid of any engine older than ten years. After ten years of service in the brine, saltwater corrosion has certainly rendered the engine unsalvageable.

How Much Money Should I Set For Boat Outboard Maintenance and Repairs?

You may plan ahead of time with the help of the service schedule date sheet. You can now save a large amount of money on your components by ordering them online.

When it’s time to perform the next service, you can grab them and go. The term “in hand” does not imply that something has been left on a boat for six months in a pool of water where it would rust.

Because the manufacturer sets the MSRP or OEM pricing, we’ll save money here. Instead of purchasing components from your service provider.

This is because dealers, marinas, shops, and services all have varying prices for the same part. The location of the shop, the overhead costs, the processing of the components, and the taxes associated with distributing parts are all factors that might affect the price of a part.

Alternatively, you may save money by ordering components directly from manufacturers or distributors online instead of going via a merchant. Since manufacturers and distributors are primarily concerned with the number of parts sold rather than the profitability of each component supplied, they can offer the parts at meager prices.

Final Words

You should expect to spend a range of money for routine maintenance, depending on where you live and the sort of boat and outboard you have. You should change oil and gearcase lubrication every 100 hours, and you should replace the impeller or water pump after 200 hours of service.

If you perform these things yourself, you’ll save a lot of money in the long run. Keep track of the progress if you can do it yourself and don’t have to hire someone else to do it for you all the time, which might save you a lot of money.