Daddy....wh..wh..why you got a new motor???

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Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
So we are off cruising and the ONE job I trusted to an outside mechanic to get done before the cruise, goes bad. My trusty 2 stroke motor for the dink is kaput.

So today we leave Northeast Harbor at about 2:00 p.m and head over to West Marine in Southwest Harbor to buy a new motor. I leave my wife and daughter on board with the motor running chilling the fridge, and as "white noise", because our daughter has been napping since we left NE Harbor. I run to WM and pick up a new Merc 3.5, not happy about a 4 stroke, and come back to our daughter still sound asleep.

We then sail over to Ilesford which is off of MDI. About the time we get settled, and have cocktails in hand, our daughter climbs up the companionway, still half asleep, and glances off the stern and, with head tilted in questioning mode, says.. "Daddy...wh....wh...why you got a new motor?"

I suspect I could have bought a new motor and not had my wife even take notice for a t least a few hours but my 3 year old spots it in relative split seconds?? And we think kids don't know what's going on.....
 
Bob S

Bob S

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Sep 27, 2007
1,804
Beneteau 393 New Bedford, MA
Sometimes we don't give them enough credit. She's a visual learner!
 
Ed Schenck

Ed Schenck

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Jun 2, 2004
5,802
Hunter 37-cutter, '79 41 23' 30"N 82 33' 20"W--------Huron, OH
That surprises me Maine. I thought you would have had the old one fixed before she woke up. Why the aversion to the 4-stroke?
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
I don't need to tell you, That little girl is smart. you won't get away with any BS with her.
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,709
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Ed Schenck said:
That surprises me Maine. I thought you would have had the old one fixed before she woke up. Why the aversion to the 4-stroke?
Click to expand
Cause I don't want to waste my time off for cruising, fixing stuff. Besides, I'd probably get in there and then need a part which I can't get. Much easier to just buy a new motor and sell it on Craig's List when I get home then chalk up the loss to the cost of vacationing. There are plenty of folks out there who think four strokes are great so it should be an easy sell....

My trusty 4 HP twin cylinder Johnson ran fine for ten straight years with only a couple turns of the low speed idle jet maybe once every few years. Finally the carb began giving fits and with work, fixing the lightning strike, and other time constraints I did not have the time to be mucking with it. How difficult is a simple carb re-build be on a 4HP outboard, its not, I mean c'mon my daughter could probably do it..

The best part was that I was quoted $170.00 for a carb re-build, which in and of itself is offensive, + parts, a carb kit for teeny tiny carb and a kill switch, and when I got the bill the day before leaving it was $569.00!!!:eek: I knew the yard that fixed it has a bad reputation but they were the only ones who "claimed" they could fix it in time for our cruise. When I get home they will certainly get an ear full, and not a penny more than what I was quoted.

Hell, I should back charge them at what I earn per hour for ruining a couple days of my paid time off...:doh: I'll see how they handle this insulting debacle before I lambaste them publicly and out them. If they don't handle it in a proper fashion.....hmmm, I'll have fun with this one, cause I can....:D:D;)
 
Freedom77

Freedom77

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Jul 29, 2010
1,392
Macgregor 76 V-25 #928 Lake Mead, Nevada
Kids are like sponges. They absorb all the see and, unfortunately, hear. We wonder where they pick up the little bar room words. Little pitchers have big ears. Gotta luv em. Fair winds, Old Salt...
 
RAD

RAD

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Jun 3, 2004
2,330
Catalina 30 Bay Shore, N.Y.
Maine Sail,
I have the same 4 hp engine only its an Evinrude and I sent mine to a friend to fix this winter cause Id had it with taking that carb apart (ehtonal poisoning) and last summer when it crapped out I bought an old Mercury with little or no BS under the cover well the Merc got me through the summer last year and this year the Evinrude started to give me BS again so last week out came the Merc.....couple of pulls and varoom, little rough but it needs work too (ehtonal poisoning) I tried a product called Sea Foam that my brother who lives in farm country and swears by it so we'll see but I'm about ready to buy a brand new Yamaha 8 cause thats what a friends been using and it seems to be very reliable
 
Ross

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
My grand daughter was four when her Dad told her something and she asked "how do you know that?" he said that he had read it. She said Dad , "you don't read that much."
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,086
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
I have the Johnson 4HP twin cyl. two stroke also. Maybe twelve years old. I rebuilt the carb this spring. Runs good now, wouldn't start last fall. I bought the same 3.5 Mercure (Tohatsu) and it is awful. Worse is trying to take it apart to clean the carb. The best motor I ever used was a 2.2 mercury two stroke. I could rebuild it with my eyes closed.
I recently picked up a small skiff when my inflatable finally died after 20 years. The skiff came with a 20 HP yamaha. Awesome arrangement of parts. I could remove the carburetor in five minutes, three of those finding the wrenches. Also I am a fan of external fuel tanks even for the small motors. The internal tank on the 3.5 is set up so any water flows to the lowest point and right into the carb, an external tank with a pickup tube is less likely to suck up the water in the bottom.
 
kloudie1

kloudie1

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Nov 6, 2006
10,093
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
That girl has her eyes open ! Wait 'till she gets an eye for sail trim !
Sorry to hear about the motor, Maine.. but it sounds like you have a go forward plan..
 
B

Buck 100

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Aug 26, 2006
54
Oday 25 Eastport, Maine
M/S. Are you headed down east to Eastport on your trip? If you need anything when you arrive give me a call. 726-5558. Buck.
 
B

Buck 100

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Aug 26, 2006
54
Oday 25 Eastport, Maine
P/S Headed down east?

M/S. I forgot to mention that the docking fee at Eastport is expensive, i think $2.00 per foot per day. My mooring is just a few feet south of the fish pier. It's empty. You are welcome to use it as long as you want. The number is FP-4. Buck
 
Tim R.

Tim R.

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May 27, 2004
3,626
Caliber 40 Long Range Cruiser Portland, Maine
Maine Sail, there is a guy in Saco who knows OBs inside and out. He works out of his garage. He usually has an ad in uncle henry's looking to buy old OBs.
 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
Maine & Tim,

If you figure who this fellow is, drop me a line. My little old johnson . . . . . outboard needs some work and as you know, Saco isn't too far for me.

Thanks!

Don
 
oldiesrocker2001

oldiesrocker2001

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Jun 8, 2004
350
Macgregor 21 Clinton, NJ
I feel your pain(and annoyance), Maine. A few years ago I also had ethanol poisining on my merc 4 4-str. The shop claimed it couldnt rebuild the 5 yr old carb and it cost me over $400. for a replacement which continued to give me trouble until I worked it over a bit. From carpenters to plumbers to auto mechanics I have seen this pattern over and over as long as it involves something I need done.
On the other hand, my Johnson 2.2 2 strk which I plan to use on the little 15' for the remainder of the season started up with only 3-4 pulls yesterday, not having run since 2003. :dance:
 
dscribner

dscribner

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Nov 9, 2008
1,338
Pearson-O'Day 290 Portland Maine
Mainesail,

Cherish every minute with the little ones. The time passe s so, so fast. So &()*(&#* fast.
 
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