Boat engine questions.| Off-Topic Discussion forum |

914Driver SuperDork
6/30/11 2:01 p.m.

Got a call from my brother who bought a 15 ft. Boston Whaler 115hp center console Rage boat. It's got issues but he paid the price of a boat with issues i.e. a good deal)

He dropped it off with a guy that fixes these, oy. It's a two stroke jet drive boat. The mechanic said one cylinder is scored up, needs honing, rings etc., and as long as you're in there might as well do the bearings and stuff, but ya gotta split the case.

Bob called me because it's just nuts and bolts, right? You know about these things?

Actually I don't, but I know this huge community of knowlege, lemme ask.

So, huge community of knowlege; if I pulled the engine and put it on the bench, could I fix it? Perhaps the seller knew what he had and sold it for a real reason and Bob's a pigeon.

I beliebe it looks like this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1994-Boston-Whaler-Rage-Jet-Boat-/300572368694?pt=Power_Motorboats&hash=item45fb825f36

Dan

mad_machine SuperDork
6/30/11 2:05 p.m.

I found this: There are a few on here who have had decent luck with them.However most of the people on here haven't been so lucky,myself included.The Yamaha Rages seem to be pretty reliable,but were pretty sluggish.They truly were over glorified jet ski's.Back to the OMC rages,they tended to be prone to over heating and then powerhead failure.The merc sportjet rages seem to be the best of the crop,but thier prices reflect that as they go for much higher than a OMC or Yamaha Rage.Just curious,whats the reason why he is set on a jet boat?The only thing i see the jets have going for them is the ability to do 360's

Here: Continous Wave

Javelin SuperDork
6/30/11 2:08 p.m.

2-Strokes are outlawed in some rivers/lakes/States anyways. Just re-power the thing. Find a little Yanmar Diesel to drop in there.

pigeon Dork
6/30/11 2:08 p.m.

And people gave me crap when I bought my beater 944 turbo - you know, the nothing's more expensive than a cheap Porsche (I'm finding out that's true ) but truly nothing can be more expensive than a cheap boat. Boat = hole in the water you throw money into.

cwh SuperDork
6/30/11 2:13 p.m.

You can't get much better than a Whaler. I'd yank that engine and pump and hang an outboard off the transom. Lot's more efficient and lighter. Easier to service as well. Probably sell the pump for good e-bay money. The jet pump has one big advantage in minimal draw. Other than that, no.

Toyman01 SuperDork
6/30/11 2:13 p.m.

Two strokes are easy. Bearings are usually roller. I wouldn't replace them unless discolored. Piston, rings and a hone will probably fix it.

FlightService HalfDork
6/30/11 2:23 p.m.

yeah, hone it, pistons rings and let it fly.

Then go Yanmar diesel when it pops again

Give me a call at that time.

Sincerely: Yanmar Gear Division (Kanzaki) North American Product Engineer

Javelin SuperDork
6/30/11 2:40 p.m.

pigeon wrote: And people gave me crap when I bought my beater 944 turbo - you know, the nothing's more expensive than a cheap Porsche (I'm finding out that's true ) but truly nothing can be more expensive than a cheap boat. Boat = hole in the water you throw money into.

Nothing is more expensive than a cheap Porsche. Except for a cheap boat, there's nothing more expensive than that. Except for an airplane. There is definitely no such thing as a cheap airplane.

Our local PCA magazine had an interview with a guy that runs a fleet of 911 GT3's. Asked why, he stated that he needed something less expensive than the air-racer plane that he owned.