I owned a small boat for a couple years many moons ago. It
had a small outboard, and basically I fed it gas and oil and
took care of it as I would a lawn mower, and everything was
fine.

I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.
Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.

I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after
snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?


--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

2 years of non-use and you will have a lot of work ahead of you if it
was not prepped for the downtime. You are basically doing 2 years worth
of maint + the usual stuff + the atrophy problems. This should pass
after a season of quality maint. Boats will require constant maint but
it sounds like you are just catching up from the previous owner's lack
of use. Hang in there....


Mark wrote:
I owned a small boat for a couple years many moons ago. It
had a small outboard, and basically I fed it gas and oil and
took care of it as I would a lawn mower, and everything was
fine.

I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.
Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.

I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after
snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?

"Mark" wrote in message
th.net...


I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.

15-year old OMC Cobra, thats your problem right there.
I was in your same exact situation - got a nice Zodiac,
and some outboards, but wanted a bigger boat, and
did tons of research on used boats. (almost boat a
90 Bayliner too) Anyways, research OMC, and the
Cobra, and it will make you run. Against my gut feel,
I went and bought a 2005 Bayliner 175 3.0L I/O
with Merc outdrive. Is it want I wanted? Well, no,
its not a Zodiac. But I do have a 2 year warranty.


Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.


Thats IT ? Dude!. Look it, if you had a 15-year
old 4 banger Ford car, (or any car for that matter),
you'd be replacing **** too!


I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Engine or outdrive? If not the engine, wait till
that OMC catches up with you.



Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after

On a 15-year old car, you'd probably be replacing
wheel bearings too. Bearings are $10 at Wal Mart.



snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

The Bendix just failed last winter on my 1996 F-150.


I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

I hears ya. (and if I had an OMC, I'd do the same)



When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?

You need to put this into perspective. You're talking
about a FIFTEEN year-old boat for God sakes. And
you didn't even say what type of boat it is. I do know
that its not a Bayliner, cause I was "this" close to buying
a 90 Bayliner, and I know that in 1990, Bayliner switched
from the OMC (and Cobra) to Merc cruiser, and they
used the GM 3.0L 4-cylinder, 4.3L V-6, etc...

Go price the new 15' SeaDoo Sportster. Then a SeaRay,
and while yer at it, a Boston Whaler. *Then* come back
and tell me what you paid for this 15-year old unnamed
boat that you "bought some parts for". Either dump it,
or put a few grand into it and get her going and have fun.






--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?

IMHO if these are the sort of women you pick & how you view them, then
you are likely to pick a boat that's also cheap & only for screwing
with too, and did.

"Mark" wrote in message
th.net...
I owned a small boat for a couple years many moons ago. It
had a small outboard, and basically I fed it gas and oil and
took care of it as I would a lawn mower, and everything was
fine.

I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.
Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.

I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after
snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?


--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

Problem is that you dont have the same competition in the boating as you do
in the auto industry. I also had an issue with a Wellcraft I/O boat, where
things broke on it left and right. It was under warranty, but it was still a
pain to be driving that boat to the dealer. I finally gave up on the I/O
boats, and got a Bennington pontoon with a Honda motor. Except for one
recent problem, I have been enjoying all my weekends without surprises.

Mark,

You've bought a 15 year old package. You can't expect it to have the
reliability of a new package or even a 15 year old one that you have
maintained faithfully. The fact tht it was idle for at least two years is
not helpful. It could easily take you several hours of usage to work out
all the kinks.

Given the circumstances of your situation the problems you're working
through are not unusual. I recommend some more time before deciding it's
not for you. BTW, if one wheel bearing has failed how can the other be far
behind? If the trailer has brakes now would be a good time to check them
out and make any needed repairs. How old are those tires? If they are more
than six years old you should probably replace them as they can be counted
upon to fail sooner than expected. Was the lower unit and engine oil/filter
changed? How was the old lower unit oil? No water in it? Did you replace
the lower unit water pump? If not you may want to do that soon.

Enjoy that new to you boat but expect some unanticipated expenses and
inconvenience due to the age of the package.

Good luck.

Butch
"Dan J.S." wrote in message
...

"Mark" wrote in message
th.net...
I owned a small boat for a couple years many moons ago. It
had a small outboard, and basically I fed it gas and oil and
took care of it as I would a lawn mower, and everything was
fine.

I've recently gotten back into boat ownership after a couple
decades away. I purchased a '90 I/O with the Ford 2.3 and
Cobra stern drive that hadn't been used in two years.
Replaced the complete ignition system as well as assorted
other parts to get everything running well again.

I have yet to be able to bring it back home after a day
(usually less) of boating without it being in need of some
sort of repair.

Today, a trailer hub disintegrated just as we got to the
ramp, and as we were preparing to make a final run after
snack time, the starter Bendix failed (starter was replaced
when I purchased the boat 2 months ago).

I'm about to give this up out of pure frustration and the
appearance of it being a money pit.

When I was young and growing up in the Northern hinterlands,
snowmobiles were just becoming popular and were going thru
rather rapid growth (think the boom era of Scorpion, Arctic
Cat, Ski-Doo, et. al.). A joke at the time (that was very
near the truth) was that snowmobiles are a lot like women...
You spend an hour workin' on 'em and ten minutes ridin' 'em.

Am I just having a streak of bad luck, or are boats like
snowmobiles (and women)?


--
Mark

The truth as I perceive it to be.
Your perception may be different.

Triple Z is spam control.

Problem is that you dont have the same competition in the boating as you
do in the auto industry. I also had an issue with a Wellcraft I/O boat,
where things broke on it left and right. It was under warranty, but it was
still a pain to be driving that boat to the dealer. I finally gave up on
the I/O boats, and got a Bennington pontoon with a Honda motor. Except for
one recent problem, I have been enjoying all my weekends without
surprises.