Sorry to bust you balls, but if your oil filter rotted out causing you to loose your oil, then you are not maintaining your boat properly. But after this experience you now know that. Unfortunately you had to learn this leason this way, but I would bet my last paycheck (which wasn't that much...) you will change oil religiously now...... Always change the oil right before storing it for winter, is not only good practice to guarantee you are running fresh oil in the spring, also best practice because it evacuates most of the oil oil that was holding moisture due to many heat cycles. Which will keep your engine internals nice and rust free... Hopefully you can get it repaired and out on the water soon.....

What is this storing for winter you speak of?

Something I wouldn't have to deal with if I could seperate my wife from her family....... I grew up on a canal in Hernando Beach FL. Parents moved me up to MI when I was 16, and have hated it ever since.... But it is nice not having to deal with saltwater....... Besides Winter gives us time to appreciate summer all that much more. (thats total BS)

Water cops only out for money to feed the bureaurats. Towing is not profitable.

Nobody likes you!

I would go get a 350 vortec off craigslist for $350, Clean it, new rings, new bearings, brass freeze plugs, marine cam and put all your 305 accessories on it. So for about a grand you could have a potent runner.

Even a new/reman 350 is super cheap compared to a big block

Can I rebuild my engine using this kit?

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/fe...make/chevrolet

With boating it seems like not only maintenance is essential, but overkill maintenance is a requirement otherwise it gets expensive real fast.

lesson learned... the expesive way...!!! just the way I like it!