Yesterday's crabbing trip turned out badly...
My neighbor and I set off at 5:45 Saturday morning to go crabbing. After a couple hours' drive we were on the water in Netarts Bay. The sun was shining and it looked to be an awesome day! We dropped 4 pots up in the bay and a couple near the mouth.
We motored out towards the bar and had then started back into the bay when I smelled something burning. The motor died and then white smoke started to come out of the cowling. I popped the top off to find smoke shooting out of a small hole in the side of the voltage regulator. We immediately put down an anchor as the tide was ripping out. After a couple minutes of waving a paddle a good samaritan came over and towed us in.
My motor is a 1999 Mercury "Bigfoot" 25 horsepower 4-stroke. The fried voltage regulator also destroyed the stator and possibly the engine wiring harness. The parts total at least $400-$550, the Mercury dealer estimated it would be $800-$1000 with labor (more if the starter was effected!). The motor has a NADA Guide estimated value of $100, though I found one for sale online and they want $1800. It ran perfectly before the meltdown, but it did have over 1000 hours on it.
My first question is: Would you fix it?
My second question is: If not, what make would you go with?
Honda, Mercury, and Yamaha are my top choices, but I'm not set on any. I would love a Yanmar diesel, but I think they are out of my price range. I may go with a 20 HP, the lighter weight would be a plus.
Pictured is the boat before the trip, the voltage regulator, and the stator.
My neighbor and I set off at 5:45 Saturday morning to go crabbing. After a couple hours' drive we were on the water in Netarts Bay. The sun was shining and it looked to be an awesome day! We dropped 4 pots up in the bay and a couple near the mouth.
We motored out towards the bar and had then started back into the bay when I smelled something burning. The motor died and then white smoke started to come out of the cowling. I popped the top off to find smoke shooting out of a small hole in the side of the voltage regulator. We immediately put down an anchor as the tide was ripping out. After a couple minutes of waving a paddle a good samaritan came over and towed us in.
My motor is a 1999 Mercury "Bigfoot" 25 horsepower 4-stroke. The fried voltage regulator also destroyed the stator and possibly the engine wiring harness. The parts total at least $400-$550, the Mercury dealer estimated it would be $800-$1000 with labor (more if the starter was effected!). The motor has a NADA Guide estimated value of $100, though I found one for sale online and they want $1800. It ran perfectly before the meltdown, but it did have over 1000 hours on it.
My first question is: Would you fix it?
My second question is: If not, what make would you go with?
Honda, Mercury, and Yamaha are my top choices, but I'm not set on any. I would love a Yanmar diesel, but I think they are out of my price range. I may go with a 20 HP, the lighter weight would be a plus.
Pictured is the boat before the trip, the voltage regulator, and the stator.
