New Bass Tracker or replace outboard

[Michael Dilday]

I have a 2006 Bass Tracker 175 TXW that is in pretty good condition.  I bought it second hand in 2010.  Now it is 14 years old.  I changed the oil on the 40 HP Mercury 4 stroke the beginning of the season and have put about 4-5 trips on it since then.  Yesterday just as we were returning to the ramp the engine started loosing power.  When I got the boat home I checked the oil and there was none showing on the dipstick.  I filled the oil and now the engine is smoking terribly and it is obvious the engine is toast.  Now the question is should I replace the engine with a 40 for $5,500, a 60 for $6,500 or buy a new boat with a 60 for $19,000.  Not sure if it is a good idea to put that much into a new engine on a boat that old.  Plus the new boats come with a lifetime hull warranty which I do not have on my current boat.  

 

[nmatthes]

I wouldn't count your old motor out yet. If it was me, I would do my due diligence to make sure that the motor was actually toast. Did the motor throw any low oil signals? Anything beeps to tell you something was going wrong?

[Jig Man]

I would take it to a shop and have it checked out.  Even if it has a cylinder down it can be rebuilt and probably go for many more years.

[TheRodFather]

I just had virtually the same thing happen a couple months ago.  For about 500 bucks in parts and 120 in machine work I had my block bored .030 over and I put in new pistons, bearings, and seals.

 

If you are mechanical, rebuild it yourself and save a fortune.  Maybe buy a rebuilt powerhead.  Next best in my opinion is find a used motor and repower that way.  For me anyway, I would have to be set on keeping that boat for a long time to convince myself to repower with brand new.  But I'm cheap, so that's me.

[813basstard]

You can get it fixed...but 

What you want to hear is “get a bigger motor”

What you really want to hear is “get a new boat”

 

 

[Goldstar225]

If it were me I would repower (if it's too costly to repair the motor).  Tin boats if maintained and not abused can serve a long and useful life.  My last tracker was 30 years old when I sold it and is serving the new owner well.  Of course I understand the appeal of a new boat.

[Shimano_1]

If you're looking at buying virtually the same boat new with a 60 I'd save the 13k and just repower with a new one. As others have said I'd look into what it would take to fix that motor.  If I knew I was gonna keep the boat for many years 6500 isnt a lotta money considering the warranty and piece of mind that would come with a brand new motor. Good luck

[J._Bricker]

On 9/26/2019 at 3:49 PM, Michael Dilday said:

I have a 2006 Bass Tracker 175 TXW that is in pretty good condition.  I bought it second hand in 2010.  Now it is 14 years old.  I changed the oil on the 40 HP Mercury 4 stroke the beginning of the season and have put about 4-5 trips on it since then.  Yesterday just as we were returning to the ramp the engine started loosing power.  When I got the boat home I checked the oil and there was none showing on the dipstick.  I filled the oil and now the engine is smoking terribly and it is obvious the engine is toast.  Now the question is should I replace the engine with a 40 for $5,500, a 60 for $6,500 or buy a new boat with a 60 for $19,000.  Not sure if it is a good idea to put that much into a new engine on a boat that old.  Plus the new boats come with a lifetime hull warranty which I do not have on my current boat.  

 

Hello @Michael Dilday, welcome to Bass Resource and the Forums! As @813basstard pointed out, we ALL would like a green light on a new boat, but for most of us finances and being prudent rules the day. I’m gonna assume other than this hiccup, your boat hasn’t given you any trouble, the transom is sound and you have a good mechanic/boat shop.

 

$600.00 < $19,000.00= A lot of new rods, new reels, a pile of tackle, and a lot of gas to go fishing. (The shop option and best case scenario)

$6000.00< $19,000.00= A few of new combos, a few bags of baits, and a gas to go fishing (new motor option if necessary)

$19,000= A you mentioned it’s a new boat, lifetime hull warranty, potential of fewer problems. However, it comes with the loss of savings or boat loan payments.

 

BTW, I wrestle with a similar situation with a 15 year old boat with over 800+ hours.

 

Good luck and good fishing with whatever decision you eventually make.

 

 

[fishindad]

I was faced with your decision last year. I’ve owned my boat and motor since 2003. It’s a 90 Merc and it was gradually losing top end and running sluggishly for a couple years before I took it to a certified Merc mechanic. Best 1200 I ever spent, the guy got my motor running like new and cleaned everything up, new cables, etc. Sure, I would have loved to buy a brand new rig but I’m 61, finally an empty nester, and have no debts and didn’t want to take on a monthly payment cuz when you add in all the bells and whistles (electronics, TM) I’d be in for at least $50k easy.  

Like the others said, just have the motor looked at before you pull the trigger on a new motor or boat package.

[Further North]

Hard to justify a hull warranty when you've had no problems with the old one...

 

I'd either:

 

1. fix the old motor (though a 40 seems light for that boat)
2. Repower to max specs on the boat.