09-06-2025, 06:34 PM
Hello All,
I have a '93 Tiara Open located in Newport Beach, CA. I bought it three years ago. Paid $50k for it. The boat was in great condition but with both 350 gas Crusader engines having 1600hrs. However, the previous owner kept all maintenance records and it was well maintained. I put about $20k into fixing areas that were old. Due to health issues, I decided to sell it but took "one more" trip to Catalina Island (26mi each way). You guessed it...half way back the port engine overheated. I quickly shut it off as I saw the temp gauge going up. I limped back to dock. There was coolant spray over the port engine that came from the overflow bottle.
After the engine cooled, I started the engine for a minute. Then when I went to start it again, there was a "clunk" and it wouldn't turn over. I had two mechanics look at it. One checked the oil and said the oil level was high. He pumped out oil that also had coolant to maybe seawater in it. One said "new engine", the other was more optimistic saying possible head or engine rebuild.
Does anyone have experience with a similar failure? If so, what was the finding? A cracked block was tossed out as was broken crank shaft? One said no way to know without pulling the engine from the boat.
Does anyone think the engine could be repaired without pulling the engine?
I appreciate any feedback you all have.
Many thanks!
I have a '93 Tiara Open located in Newport Beach, CA. I bought it three years ago. Paid $50k for it. The boat was in great condition but with both 350 gas Crusader engines having 1600hrs. However, the previous owner kept all maintenance records and it was well maintained. I put about $20k into fixing areas that were old. Due to health issues, I decided to sell it but took "one more" trip to Catalina Island (26mi each way). You guessed it...half way back the port engine overheated. I quickly shut it off as I saw the temp gauge going up. I limped back to dock. There was coolant spray over the port engine that came from the overflow bottle.
After the engine cooled, I started the engine for a minute. Then when I went to start it again, there was a "clunk" and it wouldn't turn over. I had two mechanics look at it. One checked the oil and said the oil level was high. He pumped out oil that also had coolant to maybe seawater in it. One said "new engine", the other was more optimistic saying possible head or engine rebuild.
Does anyone have experience with a similar failure? If so, what was the finding? A cracked block was tossed out as was broken crank shaft? One said no way to know without pulling the engine from the boat.
Does anyone think the engine could be repaired without pulling the engine?
I appreciate any feedback you all have.
Many thanks!
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