Big Outboard Problems

[mstern]

This was the year that I thought I would be splashed and sailing early. I got a friend to help me prep the boat, and we were able to wash, compound and wax the topsides, scrub the cockpit and do bottom paint touch up all in one day. In other words, ready to splash pending only attaching the outboard engine. My engine had other ideas. This was also the year I chose to replace the impeller; my mechanic had to order the part and it took over two weeks for the thing to come in. I was literally on my way to pick up the engine when I got a call; upon testing, the mechanic found that the engine was leaking water near the power head and I needed a new gasket. He ordered the part (it was in stock) and promised it would be ready in a few days. He also felt bad about the delays and said he would take the engine over to the marina himself and put it on the boat. In the meantime, I had the boat launched. Once he got the engine apart, he found out it wasn't a leaking gasket: salt water had chewed a hole in the block itself. He is going to take it to someone else to see if they can weld a patch over the hole. If they can't, my 8 year old Nissan two stroke long shaft is dead. I don't think I will be able to afford a new engine this season, so my boat may become just a cocktail platform until next year.

[calden]

Oh no! That's disappointing.

But I wouldn't let that stop me. Surely you can get a loan for a new engine. Priorities.

[erps]

Dirty aluminum is really hard to weld. If it were me, I would patch it up with JB Weld epoxy, put it back together and go sailing. You'll probably get another season or two out of it.

[mstern]

Originally Posted by erps

Dirty aluminum is really hard to weld. If it were me, I would patch it up with JB Weld epoxy, put it back together and go sailing. You'll probably get another season or two out of it.

Thanks, I'll mention that to the mechanic. Unfortunately, while the theory of two-stroke engines is very familiar to me, I have no experience in the actual fixing of any. I will have to rely upon my experts here.

[hellosailor]

I'm thinking like erps. If your engine guy knows his stuff...he's probably familiar with jbweld. If there's no real force (pressure) against the area that needs repairs, giving it some tooth so the epoxy can stick, and then using jbweld or marinetex, should do very nicely.

Heck, if they can't weld it, maybe they can pop-rivet or screw a plate over it?