What would ya'll do?
 

I blew the rings out of a cylinder on my '90 225 Evinrude a couple days ago. I just put on a new voltage regulator, stator, and had the carbs rebuilt. Here are what I see as my potential options:

-Put on a rebuilt power head./$$$

-Buy another 200-225 johnnyrude in the same year range and have my old motor laying around for parts./$$

-Switch to darkmeat and put on a 150 fuel injected Merc with a new lower unit a mechanic friend has sitting around./$$

-Shoot my load on an ETEC/$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Buy a used motor with low hours and good compression. Sell your old motor on craigslist. Thats' what I did, has worked out well.

comes down to the depth of your pocket book, three years ago when I retired from the PD I bought by 17 foot G3 for freshwater use. First time in my life I had a new motor (yammie 60 hp 4stroke) and I love having something new, warrantied, start first and everytime and I know everything that has been done to it.
It is nice

If you have the money and will use it, ETEC! :beer:

I don't have alot of spare time, so the V is my release when I get a chance to use her. I really want to get this fixed so I don't sit out another season. I don't splurge on myself for anything else really. I'm always shopping for a deal, cutting corners here and there trying to save an extra buck. But what I hate the most is throwing good money after bad. An etec would be great, but to me isn't worth the money considering the age and condition of my V. The problem I'm starting to see coming is that these old 88-91 johnny rudes are 20+ years old and its hard to trust what kind of condition they are in after having usually at least a couple of owners. I wouldn't mind having something smaller in the 150hp range, but hate thinking I just spent all that money on my 225 that I won't even be able to use for parts. I'm just thinking out loud and appreciate everyone's opinions.

What exactly did yours do? Have you pulled the heads to check it yet? I know you can still find 200-225 JOHNNY-RUDES in the 86-94 range for around $1-2K with good compression.

Rings are gone on the second cylinder on the starboard side. Had some water in the cylinder. My mechanic thinks it probably blew the head gasket.

Hate to leave but gotta be some where at 7. To be continued....

need more info on the damage, if it blew a head gasket, put anotehr one on and keep riding, if it scored a cylinder, then we'll haev to rethink. Get some pics of the offending cylinder

If it's just one cylinder then chances are you can get her back up and going for under $500 in parts. Most shops charge about $250 IIRC for a sleeve installed, and a piston is usually less than a $100. Another $150 for agasket set and you're back in business.