www.iFourWinns.com

Hello all,
I'm revising my annual budget estimate....
Anyone care to share the figure they use for annual unscheduled maintenance?
I currently have a $1000 figure in my sheet. Bit low I suspect....

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

I usually figure a grand, for just something to come up..... always having older boats, I figure on a project every year besides that....

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Current:
2000 Sea Ray 380 Sundancer "still Livin the Dream"

Past
2002 268 Vista 5.7 GXI "Livin' the Dream"
1996 Rinker 192 Captiva. "The Simple Life"
1999 Yamaha XLL 1200 Waverunner.
1976 Mercury Marquis tri hull 120 hp

B.O.A.T. Bust Out Another Thousand.

I had a $2,000 maintenance budget and $1,000 set aside for the "unscheduled" maintenance stop! I/O's require tenacious owners willing to put in the effort to ensure they run correctly.

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-Tony
2016 Robalo R200 w/Yahama 200!

Previous boats:
2003 Four Winns 248 Vista - sold
1994 Sunbird Corsair 200 - sold
1980 Checkmate Predictor - sold

sounds about right!
I do all my own work so the labor is "free" if you don't count the sore back and other body parts lol.

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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

$1,000+ annually is on par with my experience so far.

I spent about $2,500+ the first year of ownership in 2015 as virtually every time I tried to do a routine maintenance item it turned into another project rabbit hole. This was my first boat and it looked in good shape and had a good story when I bought it but there was a multitude of deferred problems just beneath the surface that wouldn't be found without taking things apart for inspection.

This year I spent about $1,000 on keel repair and some other minor fiberglass repairs plus buffing out the gelcoat above the rub rail bow to stern - basically the things I had planned to do the first year when I brought it home.

Next year I already have my first $1,000 of cost penciled in as I found out last week my starboard motor mount is rotten due to very poor design and execution from the manufacturer (lag bolts into encapsulated wood on a boat - seriously?) plus the coupler has more run-out than it probably should and I will likely replace it while I have the engine out (again, lack of responsibility from the manufacturer and initial dealer and I find it years later after the coupler is hammered).

Fortunately I have been able to do almost everything myself along the way and I have saved much more money than I have spent. I am learning the hard way why they say the cheapest boats are the most expensive! But, I have made my mistakes with a smaller and cheaper boat, learned a LOT along the way, and will hopefully be far better prepared when hunting for the next one.

2003 170 Freedom 4.3GL/SX

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2003 FW 170 Freedom 4.3 GL/SX

thanks for the comments guys - always good to hear real-life experienced.
regards

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GI Auz
2004 288 Vista
Twin 4.3 Merc


Previously:
Beneteau 411 Non-Stink

I'm guessing a twin engine configuration would be almost double the scheduled & unscheduled cost?
Bloody sterndrives!

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

They are a pain aren't they?
I just don't think I could have another one. Yes OBs are frightfully expensive but for the less maintenance, better performance and safety I am thinking it is worth it. I think of OBs as like modern cars, reliable, perform well but not for old school mechanics.
Now if I could have a slightly bigger boat, with a straight inboard (that had good access) while it would take a while to get used to the handling of it, that would be the best salt water boat. Straight shaft, closed cooling, remote oil filter, top mounted starter....But no one seems to want that, they all want over priced OBs.

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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