Motor mounts replacement for 2011 R27

[GaylesFaerie]

Hi, I am in the process of purchasing a 2011 R27. The surveyor recommends replacing the two aft motor mounts due to corrosion. Does anyone know how difficult a job this is (something any yard can do? or needs special qualifications), what it would cost (ballpark), or this just shouldn't happen to a Ranger so it must have been abused and walk away from the deal? I've been told the boat has been in brackish lake water in Nova Scotia and only has 300 hours on the engine. I've owned small sailboats in the past with outboards and this would be my first power boat, so any guidance, cautions and general wisdom would be greatly appreciated. GC

 

[scross]

Not an uncommon issue. Amount of corrosion to years the boat spent in brackish/salt water - not they engine hours. Probably bilge wasn’t flushed with fresh water after every use. Mine have some corrosion after 11 years of service. I cleaned them up and use a corrosion inhibitor that won’t harm the rubber every year.
PS: For the past 5 years our boat has been on a trailer with the keel drain plug out and bow high so the motor mounts stay reasonably dry when the boat is not in use. In the winter the engine compartment is heated.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

I replaced all four engine mounts on my 2012 R27. They are $307 per mount. Labor will be 8-10 hours total to replace both. The engine must be lifted to remove and replace the mounts so the shop will have to have that capability. The engine does not need to be removed entirely. Since the engine will be at least lifted (some shops may insist on removing the engine entirely), it is a good time to replace hard to access hoses, repack the stuffing box on the propeller shaft, etc. That will increase the labor cost.

The feet on your mounts corroded because of poorly designed drains in the engine compartment discharged in such a way that kept them wet.

 

[GaylesFaerie]

Thanks scross and casperscruisers. So it sounds like if I'm replacing 2, maybe just to all four. Good advice on the washdown routine as well. Seems like the cost is roughly (4 x $300) for the mounts and (9 x $90/hr) for labor for an estimated total of about $2000. That's very helpful. Thanks a bunch. GC

 

[scross]

One of the benefits of rinsing the bilge at the end of a cruise (besides getting salt off of the area) is to do enough fresh water in the bottom to trigger the rear bilge pump. Just so you know it’s working. Once the pump kicks in I usually stop rinsing. Sometimes there’s junk around the float that needs to be removed.
We are on our boat about 32-45 nights a year but only do 3-4 cruises a season so I don’t rinse the bilge that often.

 

[CaspersCruiser]

Regarding the drains in the engine compartment, the technician that changed my mounts fashioned some diverters out of 1/2” plastic angle and a bead of silicone to channel water from the drains to the bilge. The diverters look pretty crude, but so far, they’ve been keeping the engine mount feet dry. Here’s what they look like. This is the port side. Starboard is similar:

 

[ALICE J]

You may want to paint the steel with a rust-inhibiting paint on the engine mounts, avoid the rubber with paint. They come unpainted. 😱. By all means, pull the entire engine. Hoses deteriorate over time, maybe flush and clean the cooler. Lack of use ie engine hours is not always the best indicator of engine conditions. Lack of use causes more problems than the reverse. A little preventive/proactive maintenance will give you long trouble-free enjoyment. 😀

 

[GaylesFaerie]

All very helpful replies. Thank you. Kudos to the picture of a new motor mount - that really shows me how badly the ones in the boat I'm looking at are.