Greetings,

I am looking to purchase a my parents boat as they don't have much of a
use for it anymore. It is a 1995 Bayliner with a 120HP Force. One
thing I know that needs to be done is the power head needs to be
replaced. I can get the power head for $1600. I don't think that is a
bad deal. The part I am most concerned about is the replacement of the
power head. I have one quote from someone who tells me it could be 40+
hours of work. Granted, this quote comes from a hobbyist and the price
per hour is ~$40/hour. I am not sure what the labor for replacement
might normally cost from a marina. Naturally if the price was the same
I'd probably be more inclined to take it to a marina. I am just
curious if anyone has had any particular experience with this. In
particular if you live in or near Minneapolis, MN.

I am looking for some suggestions or advice based on past experiences
or personal knowledge.

Thanks much!

-C

That has never been considered the world's best outboard.

$1600 for parts, and another $1600 for labor from a "hobbiest"? Any
recourse if the hobbiest screws up (aside from small claims court or
what not)?

Have you looked into what a used, already reconditioned outboard of
similar HP would cost? Just curious.

Quick reply, thanks!

I don't know if $1600 (perhaps more) is overpriced. It's my
inexperience here that is a big question as well.

No recourse as of this point. And that is another part of my concern.
If I can get the labor done via a marina for roughly the same price,
I'd feel more comfortable with a course of action if it's not right.

Granted, up to this point I do trust the "hobbyist" as I have several
recommendations for him, but not sure if this really is the best route.

I have not looked into an already reconditioned outboard. I assumed
they would probably start at least 2x the price I am facing now.

If this is "as represented" and it sells for about the current bid, I
think it would beat heck out of
paying over $3000 to have a Force rebuilt.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tego ry=50439

wrote in message
ups.com...
Quick reply, thanks!

I don't know if $1600 (perhaps more) is overpriced. It's my
inexperience here that is a big question as well.

No recourse as of this point. And that is another part of my concern.
If I can get the labor done via a marina for roughly the same price,
I'd feel more comfortable with a course of action if it's not right.

Granted, up to this point I do trust the "hobbyist" as I have several
recommendations for him, but not sure if this really is the best route.

I have not looked into an already reconditioned outboard. I assumed
they would probably start at least 2x the price I am facing now.


You could probably buy a 1995 good boat and good motor for not much more
than the $3200 you are looking to put into a low end force motor.

$1600 for a "good" re-built power head sounds like a good price. (just good,
not great). Replacing it would be pretty much just nuts and bolts but it's
important to know what you'd be getting for the price. Electrics?, carbs?
manifolds? flywheel? All necessary gaskets? Probably only two things you
need help with. Assuming you need to remove your flywheel from the old
powerhead you might ck with a shop as to the charge to do that for you. (I
did that and rather than spend $50.00 for a flywheel puller, I paid a guy
$10.00 to do it when I rebuilt a 200 Merc.) The other thing is to have a
shop set the timing. Other than a torque wrench and a shop manual and
10-20hrs spare time you can do it!
LD

wrote in message
oups.com...
Greetings,

I am looking to purchase a my parents boat as they don't have much of a
use for it anymore. It is a 1995 Bayliner with a 120HP Force. One
thing I know that needs to be done is the power head needs to be
replaced. I can get the power head for $1600. I don't think that is a
bad deal. The part I am most concerned about is the replacement of the
power head. I have one quote from someone who tells me it could be 40+
hours of work. Granted, this quote comes from a hobbyist and the price
per hour is ~$40/hour. I am not sure what the labor for replacement
might normally cost from a marina. Naturally if the price was the same
I'd probably be more inclined to take it to a marina. I am just
curious if anyone has had any particular experience with this. In
particular if you live in or near Minneapolis, MN.

I am looking for some suggestions or advice based on past experiences
or personal knowledge.

Thanks much!

-C

Should take about 8 hours to replace the powerhead by time you actually get
completely thru and have it running.
I would think $300 to $350 would be about right for the labor. That is not
a rebuild of the engine but just to swap powerheads and get it running
assuming your new powerhead is complete (maybe minus starter and electronics
but definetly don't expect me to rebuild your carbs and install on the new
one). Also you will need a new waterpump which will cost another hour plus
parts.
And you will need a new fuel filter and complete drain and refill of the
fuel tank(s).
Probably $500 to really do everything needed.

--
Tony
my boats and cars at http://t.thomas.home.mchsi.com

-
wrote in message
oups.com...
Greetings,

I am looking to purchase a my parents boat as they don't have much of a
use for it anymore. It is a 1995 Bayliner with a 120HP Force. One
thing I know that needs to be done is the power head needs to be
replaced. I can get the power head for $1600. I don't think that is a
bad deal. The part I am most concerned about is the replacement of the
power head. I have one quote from someone who tells me it could be 40+
hours of work. Granted, this quote comes from a hobbyist and the price
per hour is ~$40/hour. I am not sure what the labor for replacement
might normally cost from a marina. Naturally if the price was the same
I'd probably be more inclined to take it to a marina. I am just
curious if anyone has had any particular experience with this. In
particular if you live in or near Minneapolis, MN.

I am looking for some suggestions or advice based on past experiences
or personal knowledge.

Thanks much!

-C

Thanks for the info Tony. Again my ignorance comes into play.

Info I need to find out .. is the powerhead a complete powerhead or
does it require an engine rebuild? (maybe I am off on this completely)

Are the waterpump and fuel filter a definite or something that might be
required from a powerhead replacement?

I do appreiciate your reply. What is your experience in this area?

Any suggestions of a place or things to watch for when buying a new
powerhead?

LD wrote:
$1600 for a "good" re-built power head sounds like a good price. (just good,
not great).

Any idea where I might be able to get a great price? Since I have
heard $3800 new from Mercury and service shop mentioned rebuilds run
about $1000 less. Good news on the labor front though.. about 6 - 8
hours. Which even at service shop prices is less than half of the
$1500 I was originally quoted.

wrote:
Greetings,

I am looking to purchase a my parents boat as they don't have much of a
use for it anymore. It is a 1995 Bayliner with a 120HP Force. One
thing I know that needs to be done is the power head needs to be
replaced. I can get the power head for $1600. I don't think that is a
bad deal. The part I am most concerned about is the replacement of the
power head. I have one quote from someone who tells me it could be 40+
hours of work. Granted, this quote comes from a hobbyist and the price
per hour is ~$40/hour. I am not sure what the labor for replacement
might normally cost from a marina. Naturally if the price was the same
I'd probably be more inclined to take it to a marina. I am just
curious if anyone has had any particular experience with this. In
particular if you live in or near Minneapolis, MN.

I am looking for some suggestions or advice based on past experiences
or personal knowledge.

Thanks much!

-C

Chad, I really recommend that you look into getting a good used, or
professionally (i.e. a company that does them as a business) rebuilt
(AKA remanufactured) engine of a respected brand (Merc, Yam, Suz,
John/Rude, etc) and sell the Force for what you can (prob. not much).

As an inexperienced boater, to have fun boating, you need an engine you
have confidence in from the lower unit to the powerheads, carbs,
ignition, and everything in between. It's more than just slapping a
new powerhead on the old Force. An experienced mechanic might be
comfortable doing that, but you really don't know what all the other
stuff is like, do you? With a professional reman. product you ofen get
a warranty that you can actually use for at least 60 days (which will
be a good portion of a season). If you're looking at $1600 - $3200
rough ball park, I'd bet you could get into a professionally
remanufactured engine for close to that.

Speaking as someone who is barely experienced, but has bought two
professionally rebuilt engines for pretty darn cheap in the past, I
strongly recommend that course of action. Good luck and have fun.

Camilo