There is a big debate among boaters concerning OEM vs Aftermarket parts. There are several important things to consider when you buy OEM or aftermarket boat parts yet most buyers are strictly looking at the MONEY. I could give countless examples where the quality of aftermarket parts is inferior but since most choose to buy parts based on savings, we will take a look at what after market boat parts can save you.
Let’s consider only the money aspect of choosing aftermarket boat parts for your engine. Assuming you choose an aftermarket electrical part, a fuel pump, for example, you could save anywhere from $100 to $150 by buying an aftermarket fuel pump. That’s quite a savings but is that a true savings or a gamble? How long will this aftermarket fuel pump last? An OEM fuel pump should last up to 3-5 times longer than a generic pump so spending extra upfront can save you money in the long run from having to replace the inferior aftermarket fuel pump every few years.
The other aspect to consider is down time. If your boat fuel pump goes out while you are out on the lake, your dream day with your family is now a disaster. You now have to flag someone down and hope they will be kind enough to tow you back to shore. Once back to the boat ramp, you will undo all the prep work you put into the day. You unload the family, towels, coolers, food, life jackets and the like. You run to the truck and get in line to load the boat back onto your trailer which is a challenge when you have no motor power. You then head home exhausted but you are not done yet. Once home and unloaded again, can you diagnose the problem on you own? Do you simply order a replacement fuel pump or has other damage been done? Maybe you wait for Monday morning to call your repair shop. If you take your boat in for service, what will that bill be? At a minimum most boat shops charge $120 just to diagnose the trouble. So you get a service appointment, take time off work to drive your boat down to the repair shop. Wait a week or two for the diagnosis and repair estimate. Then agree to repairs that can run anywhere from $200 – the cost of a new engine.
So, what are the best options? Can you save money on quality boat parts without paying more in the long run? We always recommend and only sell OEM boat parts but if your budget will not allow for OEM, there are certain parts that should always be OEM boat parts. Check that list out at the bottom of this article.
Recap: Problems can develop from using aftermarket boat parts. We recommend using OEM parts especially with your fuel pumps, fuel lines and connectors. We are happy to help you with your parts selection. Please call or bring your boat in for Kansas City boat service. We take pride in quality workmanship and will get your motor running in top shape.
Need new OEM fuel lines and fuel related accessories? We can help. Our online parts store sells Genuine Mercury Marine boat parts and Genuine BRP/Evinrude/Johnson boat parts & allows you to select your motor and review the engine diagrams on the screen. Simply place items from the microfiche drawings in your shopping cart & check out. We usually ship orders the same day so you receive your order quickly. Additionally, readers of our blog can enjoy $10 off orders of $50 or more by entering 10save10 coupon code at checkout.
Here is a list of boat parts that should always be OEM:
Seals
Fuel Pumps
Water pumps
Impellers
Ignition components
Bellows
Outdrive Components
Outdrive seals
Lower shift cables
Riser gaskets
Rubber Fittings
Rubber Washers
Starters
Wiring Harness
If the price seems too good to be true, it usually is. Get your boat parts from USBoatworks.
