Hi guys,
I'm located on the Mid North Coast NSW
Im having a lot of problems looking after my boat! I own a 9m sport cruiser which was running poorly last year so I tried to find some prices on slip, servicing and and antifoul etc... and I feel like everyone is trying to rip me off! I've been quoted $2500 for slip and antifoul. The mechanic I was recommended took months to actually have a look at the motor to give me a quote and then never got back to me. Since then I've found another mechanic but the motor has had very little use in the last year and seems to have seized up. I was quoted $10,000! To rebuild it, the motor was a fresh crate motor which was put in a couple of years ago! can anyone give me some advice, I have a boat that I can't even use or even get running to sell and everyone seems to want to bleed me dry :(

Have you got a trailer for it and a back yard big enough to put it in...........??

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cisco said..
Have you got a trailer for it and a back yard big enough to put it in...........??

That's certainly worth considering if a fix is not going to be timely.

But Dale, $2,500 for slip and anti foul is about right for a 9 meter cruiser. Especially if you have stern drives.

Dale, I am also on the Mid Nth Coast, I also assist people on my local slip with antifouling etc, pm me if you like and if your close by, we may be able to arrange to get it done, cheers

I'm in Lake Macquarie but if you get stuck or need another opinion I could come for a drive up. Where on the mid north coast??

I'm not a mechanic but I'm pretty handy with motors etc - retired so pretty flexible. (timewise not bodywise!!)

10k for a paid rebuild isn't too bad really,
I know it sounds like a lot of money...
But l paid 12k all up 5 yrs ago,
slip, crane etc etc for a rebuild,

And a LOT more than that to repower twins,
Similiar boat ...flybridge cruiser though

And they're not really ripping you off...just feels that way

And BOAT really does mean ?

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Dale Christopher said..
Hi guys,
I'm located on the Mid North Coast NSW
Im having a lot of problems looking after my boat! I own a 9m sport cruiser which was running poorly last year so I tried to find some prices on slip, servicing and and antifoul etc... and I feel like everyone is trying to rip me off! I've been quoted $2500 for slip and antifoul. The mechanic I was recommended took months to actually have a look at the motor to give me a quote and then never got back to me. Since then I've found another mechanic but the motor has had very little use in the last year and seems to have seized up. I was quoted $10,000! To rebuild it, the motor was a fresh crate motor which was put in a couple of years ago! can anyone give me some advice, I have a boat that I can't even use or even get running to sell and everyone seems to want to bleed me dry :(

Petrol or diesel engine?

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cisco said..
Have you got a trailer for it and a back yard big enough to put it in...........??

Unfortunately no. No trailer or backyard. So I guess I'd be looking at finding some kind of dry rack storage since the marina here wants to charge close to $900 quarterly for their hardstand area :(

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BlueMoon said..
Dale, I am also on the Mid Nth Coast, I also assist people on my local slip with antifouling etc, pm me if you like and if your close by, we may be able to arrange to get it done, cheers

Thanks for the offer but getting it running would be the main priority now. However there's no way I can come up with $10,000 so it's looking like I will just have to find the cheapest storage I can find in the area and say goodbye to the boat for the foreseeable future :(

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Lazzz said..
I'm in Lake Macquarie but if you get stuck or need another opinion I could come for a drive up. Where on the mid north coast??

I'm not a mechanic but I'm pretty handy with motors etc - retired so pretty flexible. (timewise not bodywise!!)

I really appreciate it! but I'm hours away from there, I really couldn't expect you to drive all the way up here. Thanks anyway :(

do you have any advice about how to try and free up a recently seized motor??

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Ramona said..

Dale Christopher said..
Hi guys,
I'm located on the Mid North Coast NSW
Im having a lot of problems looking after my boat! I own a 9m sport cruiser which was running poorly last year so I tried to find some prices on slip, servicing and and antifoul etc... and I feel like everyone is trying to rip me off! I've been quoted $2500 for slip and antifoul. The mechanic I was recommended took months to actually have a look at the motor to give me a quote and then never got back to me. Since then I've found another mechanic but the motor has had very little use in the last year and seems to have seized up. I was quoted $10,000! To rebuild it, the motor was a fresh crate motor which was put in a couple of years ago! can anyone give me some advice, I have a boat that I can't even use or even get running to sell and everyone seems to want to bleed me dry :(

Petrol or diesel engine?

Petrol. But there must be a way to get it running again without completely rebuilding it :( ?? It is a repowered motor so I would have thought it would be in better condition than would justify a rebuild!

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Dale Christopher said..

Ramona said..

Dale Christopher said..
Hi guys,
I'm located on the Mid North Coast NSW
Im having a lot of problems looking after my boat! I own a 9m sport cruiser which was running poorly last year so I tried to find some prices on slip, servicing and and antifoul etc... and I feel like everyone is trying to rip me off! I've been quoted $2500 for slip and antifoul. The mechanic I was recommended took months to actually have a look at the motor to give me a quote and then never got back to me. Since then I've found another mechanic but the motor has had very little use in the last year and seems to have seized up. I was quoted $10,000! To rebuild it, the motor was a fresh crate motor which was put in a couple of years ago! can anyone give me some advice, I have a boat that I can't even use or even get running to sell and everyone seems to want to bleed me dry :(

Petrol or diesel engine?

Petrol. But there must be a way to get it running again without completely rebuilding it :( ?? It is a repowered motor so I would have thought it would be in better condition than would justify a rebuild!

Need more details. So far we know it's petrol and a recent crate engine and it's possibly seized. Is it really seized? I'm guessing this is a V8 petrol possibly a GM or Ford with a marine cooling conversion. It may have had some seawater enter one or more cylinders and rusted the rings. I would suggest pulling the plugs and checking inside with a bore-scope. Some diesel in the effected bores may be enough to free the engine.

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Ramona said..

Dale Christopher said..

Ramona said..

Dale Christopher said..
Hi guys,
I'm located on the Mid North Coast NSW
Im having a lot of problems looking after my boat! I own a 9m sport cruiser which was running poorly last year so I tried to find some prices on slip, servicing and and antifoul etc... and I feel like everyone is trying to rip me off! I've been quoted $2500 for slip and antifoul. The mechanic I was recommended took months to actually have a look at the motor to give me a quote and then never got back to me. Since then I've found another mechanic but the motor has had very little use in the last year and seems to have seized up. I was quoted $10,000! To rebuild it, the motor was a fresh crate motor which was put in a couple of years ago! can anyone give me some advice, I have a boat that I can't even use or even get running to sell and everyone seems to want to bleed me dry :(

Petrol or diesel engine?

Petrol. But there must be a way to get it running again without completely rebuilding it :( ?? It is a repowered motor so I would have thought it would be in better condition than would justify a rebuild!

Need more details. So far we know it's petrol and a recent crate engine and it's possibly seized. Is it really seized? I'm guessing this is a V8 petrol possibly a GM or Ford with a marine cooling conversion. It may have had some seawater enter one or more cylinders and rusted the rings. I would suggest pulling the plugs and checking inside with a bore-scope. Some diesel in the effected bores may be enough to free the engine.

It's a Petrol Mercruiser 350 Alpha repower (the one with the flames art on the top) and the motor has gone from turning over to only making a clicking sound.

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Dale Christopher said..

It's a Petrol Mercruiser 350 Alpha repower (the one with the flames art on the top) and the motor has gone from turning over to only making a clicking sound.

where is the clicking sound coming from?

one common cause of only hearing a clicking sound is a flat start battery or other electrical problem. the clicking sound may be the starter solenoid engaging (this pushes the starter motor pinion gear to mesh with the engine flywheel). if the engine then fails to turn over it might be that the start battery is nearly flat, or that there is some other problem with the starter motor...

Sounds like a flat battery or dirty terminals, Put a socket on the crankshaft and try and rotate the engine in its normal direction.

Check all the comments above especially putting a spanner on the pulley & try to turn it over. Also try to turn it backwards to see it the starter motor disengages - it might have jammed on the flywheel.

Maybe remove the plugs as well to help it turn over - you should be able to tell the condition of the motor by inspecting the plugs.

If it turns, as above, check for dirty connections & a flat battery.

I have successfully unseized a big block Chev although it meant removing the heads - a sledge hammer & a block of wood was also involved!! It led a happy life in a ski boat after that!!

I would take up BlueMoons offer - two heads are better than one!!

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Dale Christopher said..
It's a Petrol Mercruiser 350 Alpha repower (the one with the flames art on the top) and the motor has gone from turning over to only making a clicking sound.

I would suggest taking your battery home and give it a good charge and do a leak down test or have it checked. Clean the battery terminals and leads. It sounds like the inactivity in the last 12 months has allowed the battery to assume a poor state and needs a good kick in the guts.
I doubt the engine is seized.

But I would suggest a new mechanic.

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fishmonkey said..

Dale Christopher said..

It's a Petrol Mercruiser 350 Alpha repower (the one with the flames art on the top) and the motor has gone from turning over to only making a clicking sound.

where is the clicking sound coming from?



one common cause of only hearing a clicking sound is a flat start battery or other electrical problem. the clicking sound may be the starter solenoid engaging (this pushes the starter motor pinion gear to mesh with the engine flywheel). if the engine then fails to turn over it might be that the start battery is nearly flat, or that there is some other problem with the starter motor...

What he said. Had a Vauxhall that did this all the time. Used to put it into third and push it a couple of feet to disengage the starter motor (read lazzz ) or its just the battery.

To bad you can't call the NRMA .

Yep as said above, just try turning the engine over by hand to determine if it actually is seized. Just because it won't crank over by hitting the ignition doesn't mean it's seized. Put a socket and breaker bar on the crank pulley and just bar it over. If it is seized you can always try the old trick of a bit ATF fluid in the cylinders and lots of prayers it begins turning over. I've had some success doing this with smaller engines.

Oh dear....

In order, I'd do the following. Some of which has been mentioned above already.

Take a multimeter and check the current state of charge in the battery. If it's less than about 12.5 volts, it's not going to turn over anything.
If it's showing good charge. Remove the battery terminals, clean and re-tighten them. Then try again.
If it's showing low charge, I'd still clean the terminals, then get a jump start pack - or a spare battery with good charge and good leads. Pull out all the spark plugs and see if it will turn over.
If it does turn over, put the spark plugs back and with fresh fuel in the tank, try again.
If it still won't turn with the key, check the connections to the starter motor, and the starter fuse, they're usually on the starboard side of the engine down low in a big fuse holder. It may be that the starter has seized, or the solenoid has stuck and is not engaging or the jackshaft is not disengaging. You can try hitting the starter and solenoid with the end of the handle of a hammer, whilst someone is trying the ignition key. If the starter is the problem, this will usually free it up, but will still require a new starter motor in the near future.
If it still won't turn, and if you have good charge, leave the spark plugs out and try to turn the engine with the breaker bar and socket on the flywheel nut. All you need to do is move it in either direction, with the spark plugs out. If it moves, then it's definitely not seized.
If it still won't turn over after all the above, then you may well have a seized motor. Drop some diesel fuel, or even fill the spark plug holes with WD-40. Leave it overnight and try to use the breaker bar to try to turn it the next day. If it still won't turn, then you need to pull the heads and try what Lazzz said, with the block of wood and a hammer.

Hopefully it will really just be a battery problem, and possibly a slow starter motor.

I second the motion of calling Blue Moon, he's good. If I was up there closer I'd be happy to have a look for you.

Dale, $900 storrage and sort it out engine problem and anti fouling
perhaps the other problems, it's not out of question.
Typically there are free knowlede / free help around in marina available.
That is my expirience , but careful , it might require compulsory 3 party , or even full insurance and working on the boat is not always easy.

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MichaelR said..
Oh dear....

In order, I'd do the following. Some of which has been mentioned above already.

Take a multimeter and check the current state of charge in the battery. If it's less than about 12.5 volts, it's not going to turn over anything.
If it's showing good charge. Remove the battery terminals, clean and re-tighten them. Then try again.
If it's showing low charge, I'd still clean the terminals, then get a jump start pack - or a spare battery with good charge and good leads. Pull out all the spark plugs and see if it will turn over.
If it does turn over, put the spark plugs back and with fresh fuel in the tank, try again.
If it still won't turn with the key, check the connections to the starter motor, and the starter fuse, they're usually on the starboard side of the engine down low in a big fuse holder. It may be that the starter has seized, or the solenoid has stuck and is not engaging or the jackshaft is not disengaging. You can try hitting the starter and solenoid with the end of the handle of a hammer, whilst someone is trying the ignition key. If the starter is the problem, this will usually free it up, but will still require a new starter motor in the near future.
If it still won't turn, and if you have good charge, leave the spark plugs out and try to turn the engine with the breaker bar and socket on the flywheel nut. All you need to do is move it in either direction, with the spark plugs out. If it moves, then it's definitely not seized.
If it still won't turn over after all the above, then you may well have a seized motor. Drop some diesel fuel, or even fill the spark plug holes with WD-40. Leave it overnight and try to use the breaker bar to try to turn it the next day. If it still won't turn, then you need to pull the heads and try what Lazzz said, with the block of wood and a hammer.

Hopefully it will really just be a battery problem, and possibly a slow starter motor.

I second the motion of calling Blue Moon, he's good. If I was up there closer I'd be happy to have a look for you.

Hi, this is all really good advice, I would just change the ordering a little if it were mine.
The first thing to do is rule out a mechanical issue before tackling the electrical side. Buy or borrow a socket (for bolt on end of crankshaft) and breaker bar to turn the engine over with and a cheap oil can, any chinese cheapy will do. Remove all of the spark plugs and squirt a couple of squirts of engine oil in each spark plug hole( engine has been sitting and bores will be dry if not seized).
Then try and turn the motor over by hand, you should need a bit of force to get it to start to turn then it should turn easier. On a 18" bar you should not need to exert more than 20 or 30 pounds of effort. If it does not move then you will probably need to remove the cylinder heads and see what is going on inside.
If it does move freely follow the rest of the advice above, and remember if you do get it running change the oil and start it every few weeks after that.

Mike (mechanic 30+ years)

Just a bit of an update. I asked an electrician to look at it and he seems to think it's the batteries. I'll keep you guys posted!