Ancient Mariner - secondhand spares or replace?

[rex_seadog]

I normally 'service' my Ancient Mariner (late eighties 2HP) myself. Actually this usually consists of a fresh water flush in the dustbin, a plug check, gearbox oil change and a general lubrication. This year I decided to treat it to a profesional service but was dismayed to hear that the water pump housing is so badly corroded that the engine is beyond economical repair. I agree it has had a good innings but with the exception of a brief falter during its last trip but one (overheating?) it has always run as sweet as a nut and started first or second pull. Apparently the cost of a new leg is more than the engine is worth. However before I lash out on a new engine (which is more likely to attract the light-fingered) does anyone know of a source of second-hand spares? I assume I might find a leg at a boat jumble but this is not likely to be cost effective unless I was going there anyway or, at least, could check in advance that there would be one there.
Another alternative is purchasing a secondhand engine but if my own apparently good engine is a write-off how can I be sure that any other prospective purchase is not in a similar state?
If I do buy new I shall probably follow the recommendations of recent PBOs and buy a 2HP Yamaha- I am told that this is essentially the same as my old Mariner 2 - it certainly looks very similar. Any thoughts on where I can get the best deal (not planning on visiting Earls Court this year)? Should I then do a fresh water flush after every trip out?
A few things to ponder while nibbling the leftovers. Advice on any aspect appreciated.

 

[steve_cronin]

Boat Jumbles are probasbly the best but...

...bear in mind that your Mariner shares its castings & most other parts with Yamaha, Suzuki, Force & Mercury therefore your chances of getting a leg must be quite good.

Steve Cronin

 

[ccscott49]

If it wasn't overheating before, why worry about it now, even if the housing is corroded, it must have been pumping enough water! and its not as if it works that hard pushing a dinghy. But as the other guy said, chances of finding a leg seem pretty good.

 

[chippie]

I had a similar problem with an old evinrude. The impeller housing was badly corroded but not the 'tin can' running surfaces that the impeller operates in.
I effected a repair by wire brushing all the corrosion away and rebuilding the area with thickened epoxy. Careful use of tape and even plasticine created a fairly good mould to cast it into.
It is still working four years later.
This could be tried if a spare leg is not available.
Cheers.

 

[BarryH]

Give Seacat in cornwall a call, sorry i have'nt got their number but they do advertise in boat mart, thats also a good mag for secondhand spares, good hunting

 

[VMALLOWS]

Late eightees.... how can you call that 'ancient'! ... its nearly new!

Yes, a MARINA of that vintage (probably a 6A1.... serial) is just a badged YAMAHA
All parts are interchangeable and usually easier to procure as YAMAHA.

I can't believe the leg is beyond repair..... the hard part I found was separating the leg from the engine because the square drive shaft had siezed to the engine output shaft. (Use copper grease when reasembling). However your's is obviously already apart.

The pump repair kit is about £35 and includes everything EXCEPT the lower seal into the prop gearbox (weird!). In order to dismantle you have to remove a circlip at the end of the shaft which will probably break. Note the washers carefully, obtain a new circlip. (odd size). The job is fiddly and needs care but not difficult. take great care removing the aluminium / plastic insert from the casting.
A caefully applied small bowlamp to loosen it works well.

To be honest, I can see that it is not commercially viable...... but it all depends how you rate your time. (money saved better than no money at all!).

If you've neglected flushing your engine till now (I did) you may want to strip the head enough to get access to the water channels.... you'll probably need a scraper and some descaler.

Good luck, and set up something to flush the engine with fresh water as often as possible! .... preferably every after every use.

 

[longjohnsilver]

Engine flushing.

Would agree with all you say. I bought a 15hp Mariner some years ago which looked brand new although it was 10 + years old. The chap I bought it from also told me he had flushed it every trip, but as the engine started to overheat straight away and then blew its head gasket i took the head off.

I found all the waterways to be completely full of what ipresume was hard baked in salt. It took ha fair while to clean and spray with zinc chromate to protect against future corrosion.

I took the head off again recently and this time there was no salt deposits at all. Until this year it has been flushed with fresh water every trip. This year it has been kept on a tender on a mooring so was only flushed at the end of the season, but I believe that cleaning the waterways and then painting them has prevented the problems seen before. The zinc chromate paint is still visible after 4 or 5 years. It must be good.