www.iFourWinns.com

As you can probably guess, our boats engine compartment was filled up with rainwater due to the plug left being in. The boat came out of storage in late April and sat until early June, outside, with the cover on it. We got a lot of rain in that time span. The plug was installed before storing the boat and I didn't even think to remove it when it was brought back home.

Anyway, we drained the water, cleaned out the engine compartment well, and let it dry out. The water was roughly halfway up the block. I checked the oil which looked perfect and was right at the full mark. Went down to the basement, grabbed the battery, put on the muffs, lowered the drive, and fired it up. The boat started started right up as it always does and idled perfect. I let it run for 5 minutes or so and shut it down. Checked the oil again, and it was still at the same mark. To be on the safe side I called our local boat servicer who we generally use for winterization, and asked if there was anything else that should be checked out. They suggested pulling the lower unit to check out everything as well. I figured might as well have them do it since it had not been done in a few years anyway.

To make a long story short, they went ahead and replaced the starter, trim pump, and pulled the lower unit. They did all of this without consulting with us first which frustrated me since I told them that the starter and everything else worked. I realize that the starter or pump could go bad in the future, but are these necessary items that need replaced right now? I realize the starter being submerged in water is not good, but figured that is something I could replace myself when the time came.

Anyone have thoughts on this? The bill is over $1,000 so it's not been easy to swallow.

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1998 Four Winns Horizon RS - 5.0GL
2002 Avalanche - Tow vehicle

IMO no shop should ever do any work without prior authorization. Having said that, if the starter on my boat had been submerged I would definitely want it replaced. You know that if it fails, it isn't going to happen sitting on the trailer. The trim pump should have been fine other than maybe replace the relays on it which are cheap. If the drive hadn't been serviced in a few years then yeah, that should be done, but there's nothing about what happened here to make it any more urgent, unless they were concerned about the gimbal bearing.

I believe I'd have some words with them.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Thanks for the reply Mike. I certainly agree that the starter would have been on borrowed time if left alone. It could have made it several more years, or died out in the water this weekend. My Dad actually talked to the place yesterday and he mentioned that they replaced some relays, but he also said the trim pump. I have not been able to talk to the shop yet as every time I have called today it's rang non-stop, or it's busy. I have not been able to confirm what all was done, or has been done. Only the cost of ~$1,000 from what they told my Dad. Apparently the starter and trim pump parts were $250 each. I find that a little outlandish.

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1998 Four Winns Horizon RS - 5.0GL
2002 Avalanche - Tow vehicle

Actually for a marine starter that's about right. On the other hand, that's way too much for the relays on the trim pump - but way low for a whole new pump. So what they actually did to the pump is a bit of a mystery.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

I've bought 2 new inboard starters and paid about $150-170 for them each. The trim pump I'd question, because normally its mounted above the level of the water as you describe it.

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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

Well I got a hold of them. They did replace the trim pump due to it having water in it, and he said it was intermittently working when they tested it. Strange how it was working just fine in my driveway. They tried replacing the relays at first but that didn't work. He also said that they were shocked it didn't cause MORE damage. I know for a fact the starter is the original one, so I am sure it was only a matter of time before it went. I believe it could have lasted us this year, but who knows.

I still need to talk to my Dad to see what he wants to do about it since the boat is technically his. I really need to start doing my own maintenance on the boat like I do with all my vehicles. It wasn't my choice to take it into the shop, as everything seemed to be working properly in the driveway, but Dad wanted to make sure everything was good to go. Oh well, live and learn I guess.

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1998 Four Winns Horizon RS - 5.0GL
2002 Avalanche - Tow vehicle

Well, better safe than sorry - but there's still no excuse for them doing work (especially such expensive work) without going over it with you first. That would be infuriating.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic

Agree on the unauthorized work. However, I wouldn't have trusted that starter after it got hot a couple of times so replacing it was definitely the right thing to do.

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Paul
2007 Four Winns Horizon 220
Mercruiser 350 Mag MPI w/ Bravo III Drive
2004 Ford Explorer Limited (V8-AWD)
Pomme de Terre Lake (Southwest Missouri)