SportJet follies

[Pete]

Ever notice how every boat manufacturer installs SportJets? They enclose the motor in a big metal box with very little ventilation because ventilation would permit noise to get out. Well, there’s a problem with this. Like most outboard powerheads, the fly wheel is on the top of the motor. Built into the fly wheel is a high voltage capacitor/ rectifier assembly. Guess what? This stuff doesn’t like moisture. Guess what? Putting an poorly ventilated metal box over this motor collects moisture. Guess what? It costs a lot of money to fix it. Guess what? Mercury says it isn’t their problem. Guess what? At least one boat builder denies the design contributes to the failure of a motor with only 100 hours on it. Guess what? I’m p. o.’d!

[Ed]

So, does your motor box have very little ventilation or no ventilation? And what make of boat is it?

[NEUTRON]

Uh OH where's Boater when you need him.
Pete keep us updated and good luck.

[boater]

i think ive commented enough on sportjets, just unfortunate they are having problems.

[Pirate]

Boater....
You disappoint me [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Mr. Fisherman]

Who are you and what have you done with boater? [img]images/icons/shocked.gif[/img]
[img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img]

[Tanner]

You could not pay me to own a sportjet (of course that depends on how much your willing to pay me [img]images/icons/grin.gif[/img] ). I have owned outboards before and they are expensive to repair. Give me a good old v-8 any day of the week.
Very derpendable, tried and true, easy and inexpensive to repair and LOTS of power.

What is going to happen when 2 stroke motors are banned. Check into it, I hear it is coming fairly soon.

[Stz ll]

I agree with Tanner. V-8's any day with a good 4 stroke kicker. [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]

[ssteelheadsteve]

Pete you didn't really buy an outboard and then put it IN your boat did you ? I hope not.If you did I hope you get well soon.....

[boater]

i did look at a boat with a sportjet in it, for about 10 seconds lol, seriously i would be ****** about this non venalated motor box, i would park it across the street from the place you bought it and plaster it with lemon signs..

[FishinMission]

Pete..if you're mechanically inclined...you could replace that rectifier stuff yourself. What make of motor is it?..How big?? You can get a shop manual from the dealer that sold you the boat...(that reminds me...I should be getting the one I ordered from Steven's any day now)and look up the procedure for testing it. Then you replace it, then I think I'd ventilate the engine compartment somehow. Just a thought. At least you could fish instead of having your boat sit in front of a dealer with a lemon sign on it. Just a thought..

[Pete]

I just got off the phone with Stevens Marine where they diagnosed a ruined "Stator" on my SportJet. The root of the problem is not with the motor itself. Outboard power plants have the flywheel on the top. Unfortunately, in an enclosed, unventilated motor box, moisture accumulates on the electrical components, including the stator, which is on the underside of the flywheel. It is a design issue with the boat, not really with the motor. While SportJet bashing is popular sport, lets place blame where it lies. Alumaweld didn’t design the boat properly. I suspect that other manufacturers will also encounter the same problem since containing the noise and proper ventilation seem to be at odds with each other. One last point, I am truly disappointed with Stevens adding a 10% surcharge over and above the MSRP on new parts. South River will be missed.

[FishinMission]

Pete...I get my Merc parts at Oregon City Marina. They're on Hiway 99 just south of O.C. I'ved saved $$$ over Steven's. I agree it's Alumaweld's design error..not the motor mfg. Are you mechanically inclined Pete??

[Pete]

I used to do my own car motor work, but I decided to forgo smashing my fingers... figured that was why I was working. If I had a manual (not yet available for the SportJet) and a flywheel puller, I might give it a try. I tried to diagnose this problem myself, but could only narrow it down to 4 $200 parts ... I wasn't about to replace them one at a time to identify the culprit.

[FishinMission]

Pete..What size hp is the sportjet...is it a 175?? Steven's has some of the parts off my old 200...including a stator I bought about 2 years ago. I'm supposed to go get the parts they have...and if my stator would work on your motor, and if I can get it back...you can have it..I don't remember it being $400.00 tho...of course...that $400 might include labor for the R/R. Let me know via E Mail if it'd work. Mark

[Pete]

Mark, I think the Stator assembly is different on the 200 from the 175. I found if I order the part through "Mercury Parts Express Online" I get a better price, but the part is delivered through the local dealer ... guess who that is in Portland? [img]images/icons/smile.gif[/img]