Does this sound reasonable

I live in the Phoenix area and have a 2021 Tracker with a 115 pro XS motor. The motor has only 55 hours on it as I dry dock it at a local lake and use it about 15-20 times a year for bass fishing.

I have been doing an oil, fuel filter and gear lube change annually the last two years myself. For this coming year, I am contemplating having the impeller changed in addition to the previous mentioned service. I was told that even though the engine only has 50+ hours, it is a good idea to change the impeller every 3 years because of the hot Arizona summers. Can a few of you comment on this?

Also, as I do not have enough confidence to change the impeller myself, I went to a local 5 star service shop for Mercury engines to get a quote. They quoted me $740 taxes and supplies included to do the impeller, oil change, fuel filter change, gear lube and other lube. Does this sound reasonable?

Looking forward to all yyour replies.

If you would, please take a moment to provide the engine Serial Number. Depending on whether it's an Optimax or a 4-stroke, the service intervals may vary slightly.

EITHER engine should have had a water pump impeller and gaskets by the 3 years from in-service date (max). There are a number of other service considerations that are to be done by 3 Years, or 300 hours, whichever occurs FIRST.

In the event that your engine is a fourstroke, let me know and I will move the thread to the 4-stroke forum for you. :thumb up2:

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Originally Posted by EuropeanAM

If you would, please take a moment to provide the engine Serial Number. Depending on whether it's an Optimax or a 4-stroke, the service intervals may vary slightly.

EITHER engine should have had a water pump impeller and gaskets by the 3 years from in-service date (max). There are a number of other service considerations that are to be done by 3 Years, or 300 hours, whichever occurs FIRST.

In the event that your engine is a fourstroke, let me know and I will move the thread to the 4-stroke forum for you. :thumb up2:

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The serial number is 3B028730. As i said, the engine is a 115 pro XS

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Originally Posted by jamokebob

The serial number is 3B028730. As i said, the engine is a 115 pro XS

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Thank you. Mercury has manufactured an Optimax 115 ProXS, and a 4-stroke 115 ProXS. Two very different engines.

Yours is a Fourstroke- so I'll move the post to the 4-stroke forum for you.

Your engine will be due for a 3-year or 300 hr. service on April 20, 2024. More info on what all is involved can be found here:


FOURSTROKE MAINTENANCE (100hr/Annually, 300hr/3 Year)

Yes, the impeller is rubber and gets dry and brittle over time, lack of use is even worse as the impeller takes a set from where the vanes are sitting in the water pump. Follow the Mercury guidelines for the 3 year/300 hour service as there are many other things that get changed due to age as well.

Prices are going to vary greatly by region. The parts for a proper 3 year/300 hour service on my 50 horse will scare $300. This is for parts only. There's more to the service than just the water pump. I suspect an itemized estimate will show where the money is going, and will make sense. I'm an auto tech. The going automotive repair hourly rate around here is close to $200 per hour. I would suspect marine labor rates to be similar. Businesses have to turn a profit to stay in business. The $740 price probably includes some mark up on the parts too.

Unfortunately, yes, that is about the going rate for an engine service and water pump / impeller installed at a dealer.

BOAT.........Break-Out-Another-Thousand.

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Originally Posted by rockmike

BOAT.........Break-Out-Another-Thousand.

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That was before inflation hit.

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Originally Posted by EuropeanAM

That was before inflation hit.

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:smile:

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Originally Posted by EuropeanAM

That was before inflation hit.

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now it is boat squared!

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Originally Posted by jamokebob

They quoted me $740 taxes and supplies included to do the impeller, oil change, fuel filter change, gear lube and other lube. Does this sound reasonable?

Looking forward to all your replies.

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No. But if they are doing the full 300 hour service then it does sound reasonable.

$740 sounds normal, not sure about reasonable, but all mechanical services always sound unreasonable to me which is why I do my own work when I can. But in all fairness, $740 is probably what it takes for a shop to make a profit.

Boat is a luxury item and I feel dealers see most of us as an open checkbook. I understand P&L and balance sheets but the service is where the money is made at dealerships.

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Originally Posted by Steven H

Boat is a luxury item and I feel dealers see most of us as an open checkbook. I understand P&L and balance sheets but the service is where the money is made at dealerships.

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Having been on the other side of the counter.
New boat dealers would be ecstatic if the svc dept just broke even.

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Originally Posted by massbays

Having been on the other side of the counter.
New boat dealers would be ecstatic if the svc dept just broke even.

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Then that is a billing issue with the Cos for not being able to charge back warranty work IMO. Given the OPs example you are telling me they cant beat the book hours on this one and with their cost on parts this not be profitable? Or is it poor quality work that causes the aforementioned book hours to go in reverse when stuff has to be done over?

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Originally Posted by Steven H

Then that is a billing issue with the Cos for not being able to charge back warranty work IMO. Given the OPs example you are telling me they cant beat the book hours on this one and with their cost on parts this not be profitable? Or is it poor quality work that causes the aforementioned book hours to go in reverse when stuff has to be done over?

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Steven... with all due respect, that is not a fair analogy. I can tell you that it is becoming harder and harder to maintain a profitable Service Department in today's climate. Overhead and operational costs are rising, materials/parts are rising, labor costs are rising, and consumers are (understandably) looking for a bargain. MOST consumers really have no idea of all the different jobs/overhead involved in operating a Service Department... I'll see if I can find the cartoon I've seen that covered "most" of it.

To the OP: If you had all of the Annual/100hr items shown in the FAQ Section Post, with a water pump impeller/gasket replacement, you're actually not getting a bad deal.

Fair enough sir and understood.
My son works on diesels and we speak about book hours a lot and what he gets paid vs what the customer gets billed. The owner has a house here in TX and in Telluride CO, put it that way.

But being you are in this business I respect your answer.

I agree - No. There was no mention of replacing plugs, or thermostat. If it does include those (as part of 300 hr maint) then the price sounds reasonable. Make sure the oil is synhetic blend as well.