we have a 1993 25ft four winns vista, up here in boston which we just
hauled out for the winter. 3 days before we were scheduled to end our
season, a spark plug blew apart. Due to rust and location, I was unable
to see if part of the plug was still in or not. My dealer/mechanic last
spring said that the engine was so rusted that they could not replace
some of the plugs and that we should consider a new engine sometime
soon. The boat ran perfectly all sprng/summer/fall. Now that it is
winter, out of the water, and not running, he suggests again that we
need a new engine and drive. This will cost $18,000-$20,000. We have no
intention of keeping this boat longer than another year as we have out
grown it. Another mechanic, who has not seen the engine, says I should
get a rebuilt short block and a few parts for about $4,500 or $5,000
including labor. What would you do? New engine and drive, short block,
or sell it as is, not running?