Pilgrim Needs Direction

[TexasJT]

I have a chance to buy a 1990 275 PRO with a Johnson GT 150. Had boat looked over by marine shop and they said:

1 - rebuild carbs (been sitting for a year without starting, oil gummed up in jets)
2 - upper motor mounts need replacing
3 - fuel tank and system need flushing to clear out year old gas
4 - delaminating on hull (2 areas roughly 5 square inches each)
5 - replace VRO (can't I just unhook and pre-mix gas & oil?)
6 - replace impeller (preventive maintenance)

I really like the boat and am wondering which of these items can be done myself. I've done a lot of auto repair through the years and have a pretty well equipped shop.

[AB]

I'd be scared about the delamination on the hull...that's not a good sign and could be an indication of issues that may continually crop up in the future. The rest you could do yourself as long as you take your time and have the right tools and knowledge to do it. A good factory manual for that motor will make a world of difference. To replace the upper motor mounts you must remove the powerhead. If the motor has ever seen saltwater it could make matters worse.

[lkhartwl]

go to the bomb site and you can connect thru to Ken cooks site and get the service manual for the motor and be able to rebuild the carbs yourself and also the lowerunit also.
2) vro is fairly easy to do also it is in in the manual
3) gas tank is harder but can be done , need to take out the seats and such and can be removed and drained and such. contact C+O if you want new tank(s) as they have ones at great prices

4) motor mounts might be better to have the dealer do since you need to pull the head off
5) delamination? soft spot in hull or floor? or transom? if floor you can do is pain but can be done, hull and transom let a professional do it.

auto repair you have most all the tools just that is is on a way smaller scale and also more expensive for parts. if the deal is decent you may want to get a second motor for parts.

good luck with it seems Ken cooks site is down or not in existance any more you can get the blow up of your gear case and parts from Bomb http://epc.brp.com/default.aspx?brands=ej&lang=E just click johnson and then your year and then the model number and it works great and you can print it out.

[TexasJT]

Thanks for the feedback; I didn't buy this boat. Instead I bought an 88 Stratos 181-PRO that I am enjoying tremendously. A little slow to get on plane but runs @ 60 mph. I had it checked out at marine shop and compression is 90 in all 6 cylinders of the Johnson GT 150. Thanks again...Jim