We have all heard the saying that "a boat is a big hole in the water that you keep pouring money into". When it comes to major parts, such as engines and transmissions, your choices are new, used or rebuilt. Rebuilt marine transmissions can save a lot of money and there are other advantages. But there are also disadvantages to rebuilt marine transmissions.

Advantages

Price is the obvious advantage to buying rebuilt marine transmissions over purchasing new ones. You can save a significant amount of money buying rebuilt. If you know how to replace your transmission, you can also save the labor costs.

Another advantage of rebuilt marine transmissions over used is that they will come with a warranty if from a reputable company.  If the rebuilt transmission you are looking at does not come with a warranty, you should walk away.

The parts used in rebuilt marine transmissions will be the newest ones available. A new transmission that was manufactured a year or two ago is going to have old parts. You may be getting newer and improved technology with the rebuilt model.

Disadvantages

Although you can get a good warranty on rebuilt marine transmissions, they may not be as good as a new one. You should consider the ratio between the warranties and the cost to decide which way to go. In other words, if the transmission is half the price but comes with two-thirds the warranty, it is a good deal. This is especially true if you buy it from a trusted dealer. If the price is only a slight discount over the price of new and the warranty is much less, then buyer beware.

A marine transmission, especially a rebuilt one, shouldn’t be tested for the first time miles from shore. Rebuilt marine transmissions may not have gone through as thorough a testing procedure as a new unit. Of course, as said above, if you are buying from a well known, trusted, and reputable dealer, this shouldn’t be an issue.

When all is said and done, the decision between rebuilt marine transmissions and new marine transmissions should be made like any other large purchase or investment. Research the market, know who you are dealing with, and weigh the pros and cons. If you put proper time and study into the problem, the right decision will be easy.