your 2-stroke for a brand new 4-stroke

**Brad Zastrow** · 02-27-2024, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by JPEROG

Put 200 hours a year on and you are going to spend way more then 10K to replace them. These warranties are unlimited hours, I can depreciate them out over 8 years with the warranty period and its much easier to stomach the new replacement. My 450s seem to keep up with traffic just fine so I don't need to upgrade to 500s on this boat.

Joe

Keep up with traffic.... How many people are running 140 in your traffic circles? LOL. You have that DW dialed in.

**David - WI** · 02-28-2024, 01:34 AM

Originally Posted by JPEROG

Put 200 hours a year on and you are going to spend way more then 10K to replace them. These warranties are unlimited hours, I can depreciate them out over 8 years with the warranty period and its much easier to stomach the new replacement. My 450s seem to keep up with traffic just fine so I don't need to upgrade to 500s on this boat.

Joe

The "problem" (as I see it) is that they are selling and you are buying their "extended warranty" based on the retail price it would cost to repair these motors. But the warranty only covers "defects" which should be their responsibility and should be priced at their cost... which is nowhere near 10% of the retail price.

If you pay $10k for an extended "warranty"... they could ship you a brand new complete engine and drop the old one in the dumpster; that's how far out of line $10k is.

**Speed Jr.** · 02-29-2024, 07:37 AM

Originally Posted by David - WI

If you pay $10k for an extended "warranty"... they could ship you a brand new complete engine and drop the old one in the dumpster; that's how far out of line $10k is.

So you think a 450r costs 10k to produce? Lol. You lost all credibility right there. One single prop shaft failure that damages the carrier and housing is a 13.5k replacement. One supercharger, injector, harness failure can be even more costly. Although rare, let's say one failure per year for the 3 year period let's say could cost the msrp of 50k+. It's entirely possible. It's a time duration, not occurrence. 10k looks pretty good now doesn't it? I'm sure you have experience in this.....

**XstreamVking** · 02-29-2024, 08:18 AM

You mention a repair using a new lower assembly for 13k. Merc marks up 200% so they have a little room in between mfg cost vs Hi- retail. merc's cost might be 2,500. And, if you have a 50k warranty loss in 3 yrs there are obvious problems with manufacture or design. These engines are cool, but the prices are literally insane.

**David** · 02-29-2024, 04:50 PM

Who would pay $10,000 for an extended warranty on a car or truck? But it makes sense if you don't trust the engines.

**Brad Zastrow** · 02-29-2024, 10:38 PM

High performance boats are not to be compared to a family car. An extended warranty on a Ferrari is a small fortune. When I played with I/O cats with twin 1300 hp engines I spent about $30,000 a year on repairs. Break a prop $6k. Hurt an engine 10k +++, Break a Number Six drive 25K, smoke a transmission 5K. Been there done that. It was a lot of fun but I grew tired of wrenching and praying it would come back in one piece. I have blown at least 10 2.5L two strokes. Those engines are pricey to fix. In my opinion the new four strokes o/b engines are the most reliable method of going really fast on small boats and even the large boats. So yes, an extended warranty can make a lot of sense on a large high-performance boat that can cost $500k or more/

**MrG** · 03-25-2024, 04:07 PM

Better read the fine print / just like BMW extended warranty doesn’t cover Fastner’s and there’s aluminum bolts holding the motor mounts and they break an the engine starts resting on the 500.0” + water pump and because the Fastner broke causing the issues of over heat an ..*^’ so that’s a warranty not covering key components

**Stoker boy** · 03-25-2024, 05:27 PM

Gentlemen, If you want to play, you’ve got to pay. Buy an extended warranty, don’t buy an extended warranty. High-performance boats are costly, just don’t cry when it breaks down. If breakdowns are a concern, find a cheaper hobby.

**Stoker boy** · 03-25-2024, 06:18 PM

Originally Posted by JPEROG

I have them, it doesn't take long to get your money back with the price of parts in todays world. Mine has covered a shift actuator, flywheel, and wire harness so far. Four more years to go on the extended platinum and if I was to sell the boat, its a nice benefit to comfort for the new owner. I have never had a propshaft or gear case failure but just one covers my warranty cost so I figured it was a fair gamble.

David,

Here is the way you have to look at this deal; if I come to you and say David, I am going to give you 10K cash to put in a drawer and go to whenever I need to repair my 450 of anything that happens to it for the next 5 years no matter how hard I run it and how many hours I use it-I also get to take to any Mercury racing dealer no matter what they charge. Anything beyond that you have to cover out of your personal drawer for the next 5 years. Are you going to say yes? If you said no then its obliviously a good deal...

Joe

The thing is Joe, you’re putting 10k in their drawer. Maybe better to invest the 10K somewhere else where you can get a little return on it.

**JPEROG** · 03-25-2024, 10:03 PM

Originally Posted by Stoker boy

The thing is Joe, you’re putting 10k in their drawer. Maybe better to invest the 10K somewhere else where you can get a little return on it.

My luck I would pop a powerhead a year in and would have be screwed. If I had bought more bitcoin a year ago my ten would be 40K. I worked in the finance and insurance with the car business in College and almost never go for the warranty. I have about a fourth of my money back already and we tend to run the boat pretty hard "I wouldn't want to bet against my odds".

Joe

**JPEROG** · 03-25-2024, 11:26 PM

Originally Posted by MrG

Better read the fine print / just like BMW extended warranty doesn’t cover Fastner’s and there’s aluminum bolts holding the motor mounts and they break an the engine starts resting on the 500.0” + water pump and because the Fastner broke causing the issues of over heat an ..*^’ so that’s a warranty not covering key components

Based on my experience, when you buy an aftermarket warranty they will send an adjuster out to inspect the claim. These guys are paid to find a reason for the policy/warranty to not pick up the tab. When you buy manufactures warranty the decision is worked out with the dealer in most cases and you don't have near the hassle. We used to sell policies that were owned by G.M. "GMPP" general motors protection plan, we also sold GE-owned by General Electric, and then we also offered a few aftermarket "small company" policies. I had very few complaints over the years with GMPP and GE but the others denied more claims then they paid and people were not happy. They were all pro-rated and more then once I gave people their full refund to keep the peace and have a return customer.

Joe

**Stoker boy** · 03-26-2024, 12:47 AM

Insurance companies are there to make money, not to benefit you.

**AlliStan** · 03-26-2024, 06:24 AM

Anytime you think the insurance claims adjuster is treating you unfairly all you need to do is call the Insurance Commissioner's Office in your state and explain the situation, then say you simply want to know what your rights are, under law. They're there to help you in situations like this. I have done this myself, then when you mention to the adjuster that you called the Insurance Commissioner's Office and here's what you (the adjuster) have to do, watch for the look of astonishment on his face.

That's the last place they want you to call. They seem to be scared to death of that office.

Worked for me!

**Chaz** · 03-26-2024, 01:13 PM

Thats why I learned to work on my own **** .. No POS paper pusher's to get in the way ..

**JPEROG** · 03-26-2024, 01:37 PM

Originally Posted by Chaz

Thats why I learned to work on my own **** .. No POS paper pusher's to get in the way ..

Labor is the lower cost on most modern day repairs. When a new case goes its 9K doing it on the cheap. A supercharger goes away and its 10K shift actuators are 1500.00, propellers are 5500.00 but they are covered if you lose a case or shaft. Its the new world we live in if you want to run fast (450s and 500s lead the pack)--I have been very fortunate and happy with all of hours/miles we clock on them.

I don't think that their are too many people that would cover my repairs for the next 5 years if I gave them 20K upfront. I can go to any authorized Mercury dealer worldwide. To me it was obviously a fair gamble. Approx. 30% of the owners purchase extended warranties before the expiration of the standard "makes the boat a much easier sale".

Joe