Worth it

[rtb67]

Is it worth re-powering a 91-210 Explorer? I do love this boat. It just has some dings to fix and new bumper molding. any thoughts?

[gran398]

Yes.

Pretend the boat is your significant other, and needs some procedures....

[wingtime]

Thats kind of a broad question.  Are you talking about a new repower?  Four Stroke?  Used/new to you repower?  The 210 Explorer is a nice boat so I'd say it's worth re-powering especially if you are going to keep it.

[rtb67]

Im thinking of a new Yamaha or Evenrude 200 HP 2 stroke. Its a great boat.

[Capt. Bob]

Is it worth re-powering a 91-210 Explorer? I do love this boat. It just has some dings to fix and new bumper molding. any thoughts?

I would like to see a photo or two of this boat. Didn't know they made an Explorer in 91.

That aside, Wing asks all the right questions.

I plan on keeping mine for quite some time, God willin' and the creek don't rise but then I tend to hang on to my Aquas for 10 plus years. Mine is in fair shape and I feel it would be worth it to me to re-power if I have to.

If you plan to use the boat for the short term, new re-power cost to be re-cooped on sale will be hurt due to the hull age so....

How much do you like, use and plan to keep this "gem"? What is its current condition given it's 21 years old?

[rtb67]

The hull is in good shape. Its like an army tank in the water! I just have some minor scratches here and there. My father had a grady white (20') overnighter which everyone swears by but i remember it having spider cracks all over it. This thing doesnt have one. Ill have to see what kind of deal i could get for a new engine. My 200 Yami runs ok for now but was worried about the thing crapping out since its 21 years old. I posted a pic of it. That was when i first got it in 2007 though.

[Capt. Bob]

My 1991 200 still runs great. Loud and not pretty but very reliable. Starts with little help and still impresses dockside with very little smoke. Just a little throttle and no choke. Stupid easy.
Saw your pic. Well worth a re-power just IMHO.

Question. Does it read 210 EXPLORER on the cabin sides?

Thanks and good luck.

[Mikerodrig27]

figure out what is going to cost you to repower. Figure out the value of your boat as is and add that to the cost of the repower. Take this value and go look at other boats on the market (don't bother anyone unless you are seriously interested in their boat ) and see if you like those boats better. J

[RickK]

My '91 Yammy 250 still runs great.  I plan on running it 'til it drops.

[rtb67]

Yup. It says 210 Explorer on the sides of the cabin. I would like to remove some ugly pin striping on the top. It goes all the way around the boat. I would also like to replace the Aquasport logo on the side. Its peeling in spots.
The boat is at the mechanic as we speak. The temp alarm went off at full throttle and it was bucking. I thought i ran aground but i didnt. It ran fine at low RPM on the way back to the dock. I checked for anything around the prop and in the intakes but all looked good. Im thinking new impeller. Ive also had trouble starting it sometimes. I prime it good and use little choke then start it in high neutral. If i dont, it putts out. It did get better this year after repacing the primer ball but i have to start in hi nuetral sometimes. I had to get towed one time last year because i flooded it and couldnt get it started.

[Capt. Bob]

Yup. It says 210 Explorer on the sides of the cabin. I woild like to remove some ugly pin striping on the top. It ges all the way around the boat. I would also like to replace the Aquasport logo on the side. Its peeling in spots.
The boat is at the mechanic as we speak. The temp alarm went off at full throttle and it was bucking. I thought i ran aground but i didnt. It ran fine at low RPM on the way back to the dock. I checked for anything around the prop and in the intakes but all looked good. Im thinking new impeller. Well see.

Well well, mine reads Walkaround. Very interesting.

I replaced the impeller, both T-stats and the "poppit" (pressure relief) valve and hose last year when mine did that. You should be fine.
I like this old Yammi motor. It is fairly easy to work on and I feel the carbs are a superior design to the OMC ones I knew. Do you have any idea to the hours on the engine?

There are several outlets for Aqua decals with e-bay a popular one. Any good graphic shop can produce something very similar. I went from the chrome/black to a blue and want to replace the striping with a different color. IMHO these early 90 Aquas were on the drab side compared to both the earlier and later models. Still a great design and a lot of space for a small boat. The ride is the thing that has surprised me the most. Still "bangs" and is wet but doesn't seem to pound as much as my other Aquas.

[slvrlng]

Here is what rtb67 boat looks like.

[Capt. Bob]

I saw that Lew, but I couldn't make out the decal on the cabin after the 210. Can't really see the pin striping along the top of the cap either. Gettin' old.

Rtb,
Check with your "wrench" about the pressure relief/bypass valve I mentioned. I may be wrong (so what's new?) but I believe its function is during high speed use.
Theoretically while at speed, with all systems working, your impeller could be less than perfect as the force of the water entering the pickups will supply enough quantity of water for cooling. The incoming force reshapes (bends) the rubber veins so the pump acts as a recirculation pump rather than a displacement pump as it does at low speed operation.
This is not to say that damage to the impeller would not affect the cooling (think partial/complete blockage) but my experience has been when you damaged an impeller say by blasting over a sand bar at high speed and come off a plane at a later time, that's when my overheating would tend to occur. Water pump housings are far superior nowadays and can withstand a good bit more abuse than their earlier counterparts.

Yamaha replaced the relief valve with an improved model that was less likely to block up and stop functioning. Relatively inexpensive, I would recommend that while it's in the shop to have both that and the T-stats removed and replaced along with the impeller.

Good luck.

[rtb67]

Capt. Bob
Yours looks like new. Mine looks well used. I have to fill in all the little scratches i have and give a new coat of wax. I keep it in the water from April to December so it takes alot of weather. I just wish i had more confidence in the engine not stalling out. Good thing i have Boat US towing.

[Capt. Bob]

Yours looks like new.

Not really. It's full of dings and patches from both the PO and me. That's the beauty of a 21 year old hull. If you make a mistake mounting something, it doesn't hurt anything like it would with a much newer/brand new hull. Remember, if someone comments on one of those dings or holes, you just lay it off on the former owner.   Works every time.

I just wish i had more confidence in the engine not stalling out. Good thing i have Boat US towing.

The overheating aside, have you been having problems?
The overheat issue is bound to happen with time and the best insurance against that is preventative maintenance. The pressure relief is a known issue, hence the slight re-design. Salt plays hell with T-stats old or new and water passages. Down time is a big enemy, second IMHO to ethanol fuel so...

Use it as much as you can afford and pay close attention to the fuel. I replaced the tank in mine in 2010. You may want to take a good look in that coffin. You may find something similar to this.
viewtopic.php?p=30182#p30182

Good luck.