www.iFourWinns.com

AAAHHH!!! Just been over to the boat....... Mechanic cannot fit fuel pump in the space so motor has to come out. Also found where the small oil leak was and can fix that while boat is out.

Found small pieces of metal in the regulator sieve so fuel pump was self destructing.

The good side is that he will check everything while it is out and grease /lube / replace as necessary. I also believe the leg has to come off to get the motor out?

Labour cost is sitting at $ 1200 so far, before spares. Gotta love poor design that makes maintenance almost as much as replacing the motor!!! And it's not done yet!!

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Drive has to come off but that's the easy part. Where is this pump located? Would it be possible to just lift the engine rather than pull it out?

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I have since asked him to grease gimbal bearings etc while the drive is off, but was not happy that the drive had to be removed.

Fuel pump is no longer just a small pump but an entire cooling module all supplied as one unit, which is why I did not do it myself. This is located on the Port side of the motor, level with the sump, between the motor and the stringer, and about in line with where they put the bilge pump, and behind the engine mount. IE a swine of a position to get to. There needs to be another 3 or 4 inches clearance ( both up and outwards) to get it in and sadly this means lifting the motor out.

We have tried to hold the motor up with the crane and remove the engine mount for more access, but because of the cooling module and the way the fuel outlet pipes are configured it will just not fit in.

Interestingly my Mastercraft fuel pump was an in tank unit that took about and hour to replace, real easy... but cost $900 for the fuel pump module...
Not sure which is worse, cheap parts on a badly designed system that costs the earth in Labour..... or well designed, simple to work on systems with expensive parts.....

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Sorry to hear that, I wonder if that's the only place they could put it. Removing the drive is very easy though, I do it every year actually.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Well I'll go back to what I said on the first page, you'd be better off with a 4 bbl Quadrajet and a mechanical fuel pump (can't even fit one to the modern blocks, have to use an electric, but can use an aftermarket unit)...There have been a few people on some of the boating boards who have done just that. On a pre-cat converter engine its not a hard conversion.

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Update:

Motor is now out and mostly it all looks good.... but one of the riser elbows is rusted through , and the other is ok but should probably be changed at the same time.
Drive shows reasonable maintenance and is all still good. Re grease gimbal, etc and new seals and good to go.
Fuel cooler, fuel pump, and regulator now going in, fuel system will get a flush as well.

So far total bill = AU$2500.00 including both elbows. I AM NOT HAPPY!!!

We have owned the boat since April and have one day on the water where nothing broke and the boat did not let us down, for a 2004 boat I am disappointed.

Oh and there is no reason to expect it will not be as gutless as it was before......

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Man, sorry for all your troubles. Actually $2500.00 isn't that bad for all you have had done as listed. Shoot, just pulling an engine here in the states can equal $2500 sometimes....

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1996 205 Sundowner DLX
5.0FL Volvo SX Cobra
Tow Veh: 2012 Nissan Frontier Pro-4X

Crappy news, Mark!
I'll contribute to your expenses by handing you a beer when I see you out on the water.

_________________
2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Really Mercury should be ashamed, or maybe FW too for sticking customers with a such a poor installation.
For those who think carbs are hoplessly outdated, here's my bill for 12 seasons worth of boating, keep in mind the boat was 14 years old when I got it:
2 carb rebuilds on the 4bbl Quadrajet= $300 or so
no fuel pump replacements, original pump.
So much for 'progress'....I hope my yard equipment doesn't have to have FI one day LOL....

and my message to the EPA...KEEP YOUR HANDS OFF MY BOAT and POWER EQUIPMENT!!!!!

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Quick Update.

Boat still not fixed, been waiting on Mercury Australia to get parts. Gave them a serve early this week but as expected nothing changed, parts arrived today. SUCKS as this weekend is looking great and we had planned to hit the water.

Previous owners salt water usage has caused a lot of corrosion with almost every bolt & nut seized and needing to be cut off/drilled out and replaced.

Engine is still out the boat....
Exhaust risers replaced, almost all mounting hardware replaced, fuel pump/cooler/regulator/ hoses replaced and system flushed.
Leg removed and serviced, new seals, impeller, bellows etc while it is off...

Cost so far touching AU$4000.00, nearly the price of a new mercruiser motor, but same price as a crate 350 V8......... Had I known I would have flicked it and bought another boat..... might still do that!

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Thanks Mate! Not driving this week end now so will have a few to calm the nerves and build up the courage to tell the Wife the end cost

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Tellin the wife the final cost is always worse than the rust and busted up fingers lol
Was there a water leak from the cooling system causing salt water to spray around the engine?

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Finally got the boat back on Friday packed up and headed to Lake Eildon for the long weekend. Final price AU$3000. expectations were high...... But sadly no, boat is noticeably worse than before. With 4 adults on board it is now unable to pull me out on slalom. With 2 family's on board it will no longer get onto the plain.

Also sound system no longer working, power socket has 12 v but could not power anything (air pump phones gps etc). Trim gauge not working either.

Back to the mechanic next week.......

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)

Sorry to hear its costing so much and you haven't resolved the issue yet. As far as the 12v outlet not working, I would check for a blown fuse.

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'99 258 Vista Cool Breeze II

Thanks Mate, as I said originally there is 12v power at the socket when tested on the meter. But there must be some sort of feedback /ground issue as no electronics will work when plugged in. ie both the inflatable air pump and the mobile phone charger will work in the car, other boats, but not in off the lighter socket / outlet. Sound system works when connected to a jump start battery but not when connected to the boat battery, but there is 12v power to the radio & amp.

I see the mechanic has moved the earth cable from the back of the motor to the battery. His reason is that the original position was difficult to get to and was corroded so it made sense to move it. Not sure if moving it from the engine block to the battery would cause these issues?

_________________
Cheers

Mark
Melbourne
Australia

Boats:
Current: 2004 FW 190
2001 Mastercraft X5
1998 Malibu Response
1999 Sea Ray 180
17 ft Scimitar Barefoot (200hp Yamaha)
16ft Scimitar Ski (Yamaha 115)
1988 Ski Nautique ( Called Ski Antique)