Extended Warranty by Mercury

[Mark Hofman]

I just got an offer from Mercury for an extended warranty on my 150 XR6. The price seems kinda outrageous for protecting a simple carb-ed outboard. It would make more sense if I had the EFI or the Optimax because of the electronics involved.



As long as I take care of my scheduled maintenance, keep things clean and do proper winterizing and storage, wouldn't I prevent most potential problems to begin with?



MOFish

 

[Barry Loos]

I purchased the Mercury extended warranty and feel okay with it. I took the warranty information to my Mercury dealer. I asked him about it and and he said it was a good deal. Matter of fact I got the coverage a bit cheaper by buying it through him. Of course I bought 4 years of coverage for a 40 hp not a 150. I am sure there is a big difference in price and a good reason for your concern. A tough decision.



Bear

 

[Mark Hofman]

Here's what else goes into the decision:



1. I'm thinking about disconnecting the oil injection system (tanks, hoses and all) after the 1-year warranty expires and direct mixing the oil/gas in the tank.



2. I want to add an SE Sport or other hydrofoil to the cavitation plate. Drilling those holes will void any warranty.



3. All the money I would have spent on the extended warranty could be spent on Coronas and Limes!



On the flip side, my wife says that the boat is hers, but the motor is mine. If anything goes wrong with the motor, I pay for that out of my bi-monthly allowance. If the thing fails entirely, I'll end up with an 18-foot bass boat with a 6-horse tiller Johnson hanging on the back.



Any help or advice y'all have is deeply appreciated.



MO

 

[Staci Matheis]

Mark -



Just my .02.....



1. Why go through all the hassle of mixin' yer own? With the improved all injection systems available today, you're more likely to mix wrong than the pump is to fail without warning.



2. The hydrofoil will not void the warranty unless the holes you drill are directly involved in the failure.



3. Make those C&L's (or some of them) Caffiene Free Diet Dr. Pepper!



me!

 

[Staci Matheis]

Make that "oil" injection!

 

[stan jones]

if it gives you security then do it. but most extended warrantees just make more money for whoever sells the warantee. the product is designed to last at least as long as the ext warantee. if some unusual problem should come up though. it might pay off. if you do it, read the contract very carefully.some are very good and some don't cover anything. i learned this the hard way. thanks stan

 

[Mark Hofman]

Scott:



To answer you question about removing the oil injection, I would never have to worry that the system would fail and ruin the motor. I've grown up mixing my own, so it's hard to put my trust in a machine that's a lot less complex than my brain.



I've got two good friends with big bass boats, and both of them had engines fail because the oil injection quit working. One of them is the guy at the meeting who brought up the fish cleaning station. He's the one who keeps telling me I should take the system out and put a backup trolling motor battery in its place.



Also, I really hope you're right about the hydrofoil holes. That is one mod that I will definitely be making.



Finally, you can have all of that Dr. Pepper stuff you want (**shudder**) We can't drink beer on Scout property, and I don't drink in my boat. We can put Diet Pepsi in one of the back coolers, and Diet Caffine Free Dr. Pepper in the other. The ice will even keep the livewell a bit cooler and the fish healthier!



Thanks for your input.

 

[Staci Matheis]

A footnote to "healthier fish".....



The first year I had my boat, on one of those 100 degree summer days, I lost an entire livewell of fish. Tore me up; I had just been keeping them for a group picture and intended to release them afterward.



From then on, I always carried an extra block of "blue ice" in the cooler and threw that in the livewell when it was hot and there were more than just a couple fish in there.



me!