I have estimated and overseen dozens of repower jobs—mostly on inboard powerboats over 30 feet, but also on I/O’s, sailboats, and outboard boats. Replacing any boat’s engine(s) is a project that should make financial sense. So whether you have an older boat you wish to keep, you have a just purchased a “fixer” in hopes of bringing it back to life, or you want to repower your old boat because it is tough to sell without a new engine, I have a few words of advice.
- The current used boat market is awash with more boats than buyers. An old boat with mechanical problems may be next to impossible to sell unless you are willing to practically give it away—or repower. The engines in most powerboats typically represent more than fifty percent of the value of the boat. So know the price range for the boat, in excellent condition, before proceeding with a repower.
- When estimating any repower, bulk up the budget beyond the cost of the engine and installation. On inboard engines you must consider replacing old engine mounts, wiring, controls, exhaust systems, fuel tanks, transmissions, stuffing boxes, cutlass bearings, struts, shafts, and props while you have the engine out. If the engine is old and tired, chances are these items are, too. Shafts and props are something you’ll want to match to the new engine’s horsepower. You’ll also want to think about dolling up the engine space up with new paint, lights, and sound-proofing to make the transformation complete. For I/O boats, add budget for making sure the bellows are watertight and the lower-end serviced. On outboard boats, add budget for outboard brackets, transom repairs/adjustments, and controls. You may not have to replace any of these things, but you should know what it costs in advance of a repower and have a contingency budget just in case.
- A boat’s engine access can also add
significant costs. Many boats are built with the engines installed
before the deck is fastened in place. While there is a hatch to inspect
and access the engine room on virtually every boat, you can’t always
remove the engine without cutting out a bulkhead or deck. On a wooden
boat this will add a whole new carpentry cost. On fiberglass, there are
many additional costs in order to make the repair look like it never
happened. When the house or superstructure of the boat don’t allow crane
access to the engine(s), staging a rail system to hoist the engine out
might be required. And of course there’s a charge for that too!
This boat is listed for sale on boattrader.com and probably needs a repower–calculate if she’s worth it. - Budget concerns might lead you to consider buying a used or rebuilt engine rather than a new one. New or factory rebuilt engines with warranties provide peace-of-mind for you, and will be more attractive to any buyer.
- You can install your own engines; however, you will need to pay to get them inspected by an authorized dealer who can activate the warranty. Alternatively your authorized installer will submit the warranty paperwork on your behalf. Used engines without warranties cost as much or more in labor to install, and they have little proof of engine hours, condition, or warranty for a would-be-buyer.
When I used the advanced keyword search on boattrader.com I came up with 760 boats that had the word “repower” in the description. A new engine should make your boat more fuel efficient and possibly faster, and it will certainly make it more attractive to future buyers. So while a repower job is challenging to do and a financial risk, it might just be worth it.
If you’re ready to pull the trigger and repower your boat, you can browse through our huge range of boat engines today.
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