The Case for Rebuilt Outboard Assemblies

THE CASE FOR REBUILT OUTBOARD ASSEMBLIES

Knowledge is power. When your outboard fails, you need to know about this option.

Boaters get sticker shock two times. One tThe first timeime is when they see the bottom line on that fancy new boat-motor-trailer package (and all of its accessories) rigged and ready, plus taxes of course. The second attack of sticker shock is after the warranty expires and the technician tells them what it is going to cost to fix their outboard engine: a lot.

Go ahead. Gasp and cough just like your outboard motor did. The technician expects that.

Then ask him something that more and more outboard anglers are inquiring about:

What would it cost to replace the entire powerhead (or gearcase, or crankshaft) with a rebuilt assembly rather than a brand new unit?

Depending on exactly what is wrong with your broken outboard, a rebuilt- also known as a remanufactured unit- is often the most cost-effective option.

A remanufactured assembly gives you some important advantages that you may not get when you repair your very ailing engine. Anglers can get things like a fairly quick turnaround and like a factory warranty- those are things you may not get from a local retailer. Also, anglers can get the wonderful feeling that they have just given themselves and their favorite mode of transportation a new lease on life. 

Repair or replace?

Maybe the water pump failed. Maybe the thermostat froze up. Maybe a passageway clogged up. The technician knows those failures are potentially very serious because it tells him that you may have also scored a cylinder. That’s serious, not just because you have one scored cylinder, but because if one cylinder is damaged there is a strong possibility the others were damaged- perhaps not visibly damaged- but damaged enough to weaken the part and cause a later problem.

Until fairly recently, boat and motor dealers were more likely to get certain outboard motor components rebuilt by a local machine shop. The outboard repair shop would send scored cylinders and damaged metal parts to a local machine shop to have them re-bored and honed. Cylinders with obvious damage got repaired. Cylinders without obvious damage usually did not.

Finally, the technician would reassemble the powerhead and/or lower unit. The problem, alas, was that the engine was reassembled with a lot of original parts, but bearings and rings, gaskets and seals which passed inspection, potentially still suffered from wear and tear.

In other words, in spite of good intentions all around, these broken outboards did not get a fresh new start. Many were prone to fail again.

In recent years, an industry development has tilted things back in favor of the outboard angler’s wallet and peace of mind. Now, outboard repair shops can order rebuilt powerheads, gearcases and crankshafts from a rebuilder. The industry leader is PMC North America of Largo, Florida, which sells and ships completely remanufactured powerheads, gearcases and crankshafts to boat and motor dealers across the United States.

“Engines, crankshafts and lower units have a life span. But eventually they wear out, and if they are abused, they wear out even faster,” said John Salvatore, PMC sales manager. “What is important for outboard anglers to know is there is a time to repair, and there is a time to replace, because, at some point, you’re tripping over dollars to save dimes. You don’t apply a band-aid when you need stitches.”

How much does it cost?

All things considered, price may be the most significant advantage with a rebuilt assembly costing approximately half that of a new factory unit. For example, an all-new V6 two-stroke powerhead from a rebuilder costs about $3,250, plus installation. A new gearcase for a V6 is typically $1,850 plus installation. Compare those numbers to the cost of brand new equipment, and it is easy to see why the remanufactured option should, at the very least, be considered.   

Also new to this equation is that the factory-rebuilt assembly is usually covered by a warranty. PMC’s warranty is a no fault 12-month warranty. A warranty is something you may not get when the repair is done locally. This gives you peace of mind. Frankly, it gives a lot of peace of mind to the dealer who now knows that the factory is standing behind the product.

Another advantage to installing a rebuilt assembly is the division of specialized labor. Outboard technicians do what they do best, which is diagnose and install replacement components. The factory does what it does best, which is manufacture parts.

Today, outboard remanufacturing is closely akin to engine manufacturing at the major original equipment companies with high-tech machinery carefully calibrated to hone and bore metal to factory specifications. The coating on the final assembly is cured under a heat lamp and is equal if not superior to the finish from the original manufacturer.

Time is the other benefit to ordering a rebuilt assembly. The transaction process with boat and motor dealers has been streamlined so much that the shop merely needs to contact the remanufacturer. PMC usually ships the replacement unit to your outboard technician the same day, and he returns the damaged assembly – called a “core” – back to PMC so they can rebuild it for the next order. 

Anglers like to get back on the water while the weather is good and the fish are biting. Retailers like fast turnarounds because they keep their customers happy but also because they maximize shop output.

Rebuilt, or remanufactured may be or may not be the way to go in your particular case, but outboard boaters need to know that the option does exist and may offer benefits and substantially savings. Remember, knowledge is power.

About PMC North America
PMC North America is a leading source for remanufactured engines, assemblies, crankshafts and engine parts for outboard motors, inboards, and inboard-outboards for all major brands including Mercury, Mariner, Mercruiser, Johnson, Evinrude, OMC, Yamaha, Force, Bombardier, Honda, Suzuki and others. PMC North America posts its full range of rebuilt assemblies, and the retail prices, at www.PMCNA.com. For more information, contact PMC North America at 800-654-4888 or info@pmcna.com.