Mercury Platinum Extended Service Contract

[Tall Turtle]

Just received the info for Platinum protection and am looking for advice. I plan to keep my boat for a number of years and am wondering if it is worth it. The cost seems high ( 1 yr = 337, 2 yr = 633).

I am somewhat handy and plan to do my own maintenance. Typical use is 50-60 hours per year in fresh water.

What do you think?

 

[nymonymgr]

First check into the actual warantee on your engine. I believe your 4.3 MPI comes standard with a 1 year warantee and you get a second year added since it was installed by Sea Ray which is considered to have met the requirements for the Mercury Installation Quality Certification Program.

In terms of adding protection, I am not a fan of extended warantee/protection plans in general and find that, over time, you end up paying more in fees for these plans than the claims you end up with. That said, boating is different. We all know that BOAT really means "Bring On Another Thousand". The '04 300 we purchased used had Brunswick's Passport Premier extended warantee which we were happy to transfer to our name for a fee. Had a couple of claims on it that far exceeded the $50 transfer fee.

When we traded up to the '08 330 I did indeed pay $6,000 for the same coverage. Will it have been worth it come 2014? I'll let you know! However, with only two seasons and 70 hours on her there was a ticking sound coming from the port engine last fall. Turned out the #3 cylinder had a loose rocker arm. That cylinder was completely rebuilt under warantee. Can't imagine what it would have cost if I had to pay for it!

I sleep better at night knowing I have the coverage. Frankly, $337 isn't bad. Sears just asked me to extend the warantee on my $1,500 fridge for an additional year for $250!!

Good luck!!

 

[highslice]

Just received the info for Platinum protection and am looking for advice. I plan to keep my boat for a number of years and am wondering if it is worth it. The cost seems high ( 1 yr = 337, 2 yr = 633).

I am somewhat handy and plan to do my own maintenance. Typical use is 50-60 hours per year in fresh water.

What do you think?

On our 240 we paid $800 to extend our Merc warranty for 2 years (total of 4 years with the 2 year warranty that comes with the boat). In the first year of the extended warranty (year 3 of our ownership) the ECM failed. $1,800 repair. Cost us $25 plus the cost of the warranty. They also replaced two $1,000 smart craft gauges under the extended warranty as well. It was worth it for us, but your mileage may vary.

When we bought our 270, I asked them to "throw in" a full 4 year extended warranty after we had agreed to the price for the boat. So now we have the Brunswick Passport 4 year extended warranty that retailed for $3,600. The only claims we've had on the passport coverage have not been related to the power package.

 

[Tall Turtle]

Thanks for the responses.

I decided to go for the additional 2 years. Let's hope it is money down the drain. I would rather keep using the boat than collect on the extended warranty.

 

[jason78]

Thanks for the responses.

I decided to go for the additional 2 years. Let's hope it is money down the drain. I would rather keep using the boat than collect on the extended warranty.

Typically I don't EVER get extended warranties but for the price you quoted for 2 additional years, I don't think you can go wrong. :thumbsup:

 

[Angry Ranch Hand]

Used to be everything was $1000 to fix.
Now everything is $2000 to fix.
The extended warranties prices are negotiable.
You can usually get 1/3 to 1/2 off the price.
Our new boat has both the Boat and motor/driveline extended warranties they threw in with the deal.

I never use to buy them,, but sometime ya just can't loose if the price is right.