I have '90 17 ' Arima Sea Ranger with a 90 Suzuki. The wrench told me today that the carbs are shot because of the ethonol and the starter is toast also. The idea of dropping 2 grand to fix an almost 20 year old motor, even though the compression is ok, does not seem like a good idea. Repowering at $10-$12 grand does not fit the checkbook, so the Marie may be on the block. Especially since I don't use her as much as I did. I bought the boat in '92 so I've had my use of her.
This is a great boat for my style of messing around but times change. My sons are out on their own and we want to downsize our rigs.
So, on this holiday, I will be toasting a lost friend that was a lot of fun to own. Sad news indeed.

Come on Chuck, don't give up on the ol girl yet!
Since it's a great boat--give her some tender loving care.

Your prolly best off buying a new outboard, instead of blowing 12k fixing a dead horse.

Outboard motors are really pretty simple machines. If you are the original or long time owner of the motor, an overhaul likely is a good investment. I'm still running my old 1972 50 hp Evenrude on the Lund I purchased new in 2003.

My late uncle was an outboard collector and had around 200 of them, and they all ran well, if not perfectly, after he tinkered with them.

Sg

sad story...ill drink to that one...c

20-year old saltwater boats are a bag of worms. Two grand will get ya four if you fix that something else will go next.

Maybe the one you had, but I doubt it with the Arima.

Chuck E,
It is not as bad as it seems. I have a Yamaha 200 that I had the starter rebuilt for $110.00, easy to pull off & reinstall, 5 min to pull & 5 to install, easy do it yourself. Installed a brand new starter on other boat ($400.00) before realizing that they could be rebuilt at way less than half the price.

Rebuild kit for carbs $50.00 but are better to have done at a reputable shop which should cost at the most $400.00, since the rebuild takes less than two hours. Seems to me your mechanic should be quoting you under a thousand & even less if you go with a rebuilt starter.

Arima is a good boat; I wouldn’t get rid of it but I would get rid of that mechanic who quoted 2k for a 2 stroke motor with good compression. Good luck to you.

Give me a call before you get rid of that Arima. What's the max horsepower?

I was really bummed when I originally posted. I'd been going thru some old pictures the night before and ran across a bunch of good times spent with good friends on my boat. Shrimping, fishing, tubing and hanging out catching some sun. Then I realized 4 of the people in the pics are now dead. My Dad, two friends from Agent Orange related cancer (VN Vets) and one from a helicopter crash on the Tulalip Rez. It really set me back on my heels.
As my wife and I are adjusting our lifestyle to cut back on everything, pre-retirement, this is the first time I ever considered selling my boat. We're using available cash to tune up our casa so we can sell it when the market turns and downsize our home along with our rigs.
A friend that now lives in Mexico and San Diego gave me his 14' Valco on a galvinized trailer - no motor but the price is right. I can pull it with a smaller rig.
So, I may not sell her but it may be the proverbial second happiest day of my boat ownership if I do. She's been used but not abused and deserves to be used- not sitting on my driveway. Boats like cars go to hell when not used and I only used her 4 times last year because of working on a flip.

Dogfish - I may be in touch. A 115 hp is the biggest engine I think can go on the 17' but the weight in a 4 stroke may be an issue. The 90hp was fine for two people but more power is better.

Thanks for the insight folks - If I was more mechanical I might try and fix it myself but, as Dirty Harry said, a man must know his limitations.