Just got the bill on the boat and holy S!!!!...

am aware of cost of car engine rebuilds but....
454 merc 93 model = Spent 3k at the machine shop doing all work and parts, dealer pulled the motor , diassembled and it took some extra time for breakdown due to rust and water in motor, i took motor to machine shop and paid for that outta my pocket up front. Dealer then got motor back in pieces and reassembled , had to do new merc exhaust , and starter was bad so replaced it as well , a coupler assembley , the rest was gaskets and fluids and such and got a bill for over 6k. does this sound reasonable ?? 9k for a rebuild including exhaust and a starter on a 454.....Are boats really that much more than car motors to repair ?

Sounds a little high, but what did the parts cost? A marine starter motor cost more than one from Pep Boys, and exhaust manifolds, depending on what kind you got could cost 3k by themselves.

Welcome to boating!

Very typical price for a rebuild with labor. I quickly learned to do maintenance, engine removal/reinstallation, and most repairs other than fiberglass myself. I couldn't afford to own a nice boat otherwise.

Remember the old axiom BOAT means ... "Break Out Another Thousand"

without a better breakdown that doesn't sound out of line. Exhaust could easily have been $1,000 in parts, couplers are about $700 (i think), starter $200. Gaskets, fluids, etc at $500. Considering $100/hr, 10 hours to assemble the motor, 12 hrs getting a rusty motor out, 8 hours putting it back in is a little high but "normal".

Labor Hours
1.) Water In Oil
- Chisel Off Bolts For Exhaust Manifold
- Possible Water Came In Form Exhaust
- Engine Seized And Ill Not Turn Over
- Pulled Engine And Disassembled
- R&r Starter
- R&r Impeller
- R&r Engine And Over Haul
- R&r U-joints And Drive Oil
38 @95.00= 3,610.00
0 2.) Lake Test - No Charge 0.00 0.00
Subtotal Labor 3,610.00
Parts Each
1 Hi Performance Gear Lube 29.00
1 Coupler Assembly 861523a9 515.17
2 Manifolds 807078t08 478.34
8 Bolts 10-12244 8.88
16 Exhaust Bolts 10-37612 17.76
1 Circulation Water Pump 197.08
2 Exhaust Elbow Gaskets 27-863724 21.80
1 Set Intake Gasket 41.93
1 Tube Of Rtv Sealer 13.50
2 Belts 36.00
1 Oil Pressure Sender Switch 87-805605a1 22.17
8 Quarts Of Castrol Oil 39.60
1 Atf 3.95
1 Merc Oil Filter 9.00
1 Impeller Kit 46-807151a14 105.50
1 Dip Stick Tube 818631a6 93.20
1 Starter 50-863007a1 214.17
2 U-joints 73832ta 113.24
1 Oil Pan Gasket "fel Pro" 37.65
1 Fuel Water Separator Filter 9.00
Subtotal Parts 2,006.94 total of 5617 plus tax on labor and parts=460
and 3100 at the machine shop for parts and labor....think ill stick with my blow boat , sails are cheap !!

i knew it would be expensive but jeez....feel like i took some weenie !!

That's very close to what I was guessing....The impeller, dip stick tube, and U-joints weren't part of my "guess" and add $300+ in parts plus labor, you even got an itemized invoice. The hours are few more than I guessed but they did a few extra than I had assumed as well. Quite honestly it looks like you were treated fairly for the work performed.



Like reddog stated, this is why so many of us learn to build our own stuff (or in my case earn the friendship of guys that can)

I'm pretty mechanicaaly inclined , built a few motors gas and diesels and do all my own work normally. This is the first power boat and a lesson learned i guess. It wont leave the house again for anything thats for sure. I appreciate the feedback guys , as i have never had a boat dealer repair bill. We bought it thinking it was carb problems and took it out once for 15 minutes after doing a major tune-up just to have it drink half the lake.

Clearly you have not purchased sails in a long time either. They can be WAY more.

The labor looks a little on the high side but not toally out of line. It can be a total PITA to pull a rusty motor apart. Make sure you keep up with things to keep it from rusting to keep future bills lower. You will hopeufully have a motor that will last a good long time now as long as it is maintained properly.

In retrospect, a remanufactured long block might have been a good choice, but would not have saved a lot. At any rate, hope everything proves to be reliable for you!

If you pull your motor yourself and don't need new exhaust I have heard rebuild locally on 454's for around $3-4k a motor. That is without machine shop work or any customizing just a normal rebuild.