A little advice on a crack in the block

[msargent]

I bet you were thinking I was going to ask how to fix it, huh? Well truth be told I already looked through all those threads seeing what my options were if I DO have to fix it. But the real story here is about how it was cracked. To make a long story short, due to divorce I have to sell the boat. I no longer have a way to get it to the water any more and can't afford a slip around Lake Lanier here in Georgia. So I took it last April to a local shop who was supposed to install a new impeller, change the oil and drain the block after making sure everything was in good running condition and make sure it is ready for a lengthy storage...I thought that would include fogging it and all that sort of thing. I told them at the time it was not going to be run for a good long time or until I had a buyer.

At the time I owed around $5000 on the boat and no one came to look at it. Now I owe around $3900 on the boat and I had some people that were interested in it since it is now boat season and the price was $1000 lower than last year. So I get it started and we go out to the lake. It runs like crap and the perspective buyer notices that there is water leaking out of the exhaust. I figure it is just a small leak from one of the hoses or fittings. After looking at it, I determine that it is indeed a crack in the exhaust manifold...oh crap, is that not included in draining the engine and getting it ready for storage?

So I decide to take the exhaust manifold off to try to get the exhaust repaired as I just don't have the cash for a new one. I figured there must be something that could be done. In the process of taking the exhaust manifold off I discover that there is about a 4" crack in the block!!! CRAP!! So not only did they not drain the exhaust but they didn't drain the block either. I know I should have checked last fall when temperatures started to fall, but to be honest the shop is a large reputable one and I thought that they would have done what I paid them to do!!

I called the shop and spoke to the service manager and he advises that they only have a 90 day warranty on labor. He also said, "How do I know you didn't take it out between then and now?" Ok a valid point. But the fact of the matter is that they never even completed the labor that I asked them to do and PAID for in the first place. Not only that but I didn't take the boat out or even start it till a week ago. Not once. Because of their negligence, I am now out an engine.

Supposedly the shop manager is waiting to hear back from the owner, but in the event that they say sorry too bad, what exactly are my options. I know I could go to small claims court or hire a lawyer, but I don't even know how much it would cost to replace a marine engine or the extent of the damage. So far I only know for a fact that the exhaust manifold is broke and there is a crack in the water jacket of the block. What else is likely to be damaged? Am I looking at a new long block or just the short block and the exhaust?

I will be honest I have never had to deal with freeze damage on an engine before and I am not sure how bad it can be and to what components.

Any advice?

 

[Bondo]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Am I looking at a new long block or just the short block and the exhaust?

Ayuh,.....

Realistically,..... You're looking at a Complete Bobtail engine.....

That would be a Complete long block from Chevy,+ All of the accessorial Marine stuff added by either Mercruiser or Volvo......
When combind in a Package,... It's a Bobtail motor....

 

[Godsgift2drums]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

i would at LEAST talk to a lawyer. See if you can get the work order (if they still have it). Shouldn't they also have some records of what they did to your boat?

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Oh they claim that the mechanic did the work and stated to me that it should have been drained. My question to them was how all that water got in the engine then, enough to cause it to have freeze damage. They still have the work order, even the hard copy. I am going to have a hard time affording a lawyer. The good part is I have some friends who are lawyers and one is even a judge. So I am going to see if one of them will take the case and just sue for attorneys fees.

Any thoughts as to if the intake, carbs, distributor, etc can be reused? Are we just talking new block and heads? I guess if they deny any responsibility I will just tear it down, taking pictures as I go and find all the damage.

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

anyone?

 

[Bondo]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Any thoughts as to if the intake, carbs, distributor, etc can be reused?

Ayuh,......

It's a Maybe on the Intake,....... But everything else should be as Good as it was before.....

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Thanks! Just have to wait to see if they are going to try to fight me on this one or not. I spoke to one of the owners of Atlanta Inboard on the phone just now and he did not seem in any way shape or form to be inclined to do anything about it. His position is that they only have a 90 day warranty on their work. But at least I know the extent of the probable damage. Hopefully one of the attorneys I know will take the case and get paid later on it. If not, I will just have to represent myself in small claims court...although never done that before.

 

[Maclin]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

I just have to comment on that 90 day thing.... 90 days is longer than most winter layups, so according to them they would almost never be liable for anything they did wrong for any winterization. They could literally do no work at all and charge someone $250 in hopes that they will not come back until spring, quite a racket.

 

[DayCruiser]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

This happen to me too, except for the manifold damages. Luckily the owner was a standup guy and had it repaired. They sent it to a expert cast iron welder(after taking it apart at the top) 2 years later and stilling holding nicely. I learned my lesson about trusting anybody with the draining for winter. I just don't think I would take the boat to the shop for work when there is a chance for freezing weather. That is bad because its the best time to have it worked on

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

I just have to comment on that 90 day thing.... 90 days is longer than most winter layups, so according to them they would almost never be liable for anything they did wrong for any winterization. They could literally do no work at all and charge someone $250 in hopes that they will not come back until spring, quite a racket.

Haha, a point that I made to them. I also asked them why I would have had it winterized if I planned on going out and running it....he could not answer either of those questions. I really thought better of Atlanta Inboard before this whole deal. I am quite disappointed that such a large company would not stand by their work. I even offered to give them a block that I had to try to work with them. I had it set aside for a project, but never ended up needing it.

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Well final word from Atlanta Inboard is that it has been longer than their 90 day warranty so they refuse to accept any responsibility. So I guess it is either call it a loss and get someone to work on it or get an attorney and hope that they can do something.

 

[cheburashka]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

For future reference, you would have had a much better case if you hadn't started tearing it down. I think as soon as you found out that there was a problem, you should have left it alone and brought it in to them to inspect their own work. As it is, since you've taken parts off, you're probably out of luck as far as a lawsuit goes. It still stinks though. I can't think of any case where a person would put a boat back into use less than 90 days after it's been winterized.

I had a lawn care company do the same thing when blowing out my sprinklers for the winter. They did a crappy job and the pipes split in two places from the freeze and had to be dug out and replaced. They fixed the pipe and offered to blow out the pipes for free the next year, but I decided to just buy a compressor and do it myself. I'm the same way with winterization. I can forgive myself a lot easier than I can forgive someone else.

I like to think that eventually, this kind of thing will come back to bite them in the ***.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Well final word from Atlanta Inboard is that it has been longer than their 90 day warranty so they refuse to accept any responsibility. So I guess it is either call it a loss and get someone to work on it or get an attorney and hope that they can do something.

You don't need an attorney for small claims. Take 'em to court, and at least make an issue of it. Hopefully you'll get at least part of the claim back. I'd also contact the Better Business Bureau, if nothing else, it will get something on record, in case they do it again to somebody else.

Oh, and if I were you, I'd tell EVERYBODY I know not to take their boat to those guys...

I've seen some people go so far as to put a sign on their car that says something to the effect of, "Atlanta Inboard stole my money, and ruined my boat! Beware of Atlanta Inboard!"

At this point they don't see this as their problem. MAKE IT THEIR PROBLEM!

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

I did talk to an attorney friend of mine. He said in court the best I can hope for is a 50/50 shot as it is basically my word against the mechanics and the shop. We don't have small claims court here in Georgia, we only have magistrate court. The bad part is that for magistrate court if they decide against me they have the ability to counter sue for up to $15,000 in damages such as attorneys fees, etc. I do plan to go to the BBB and let everyone I know be informed about it. The boating community up here is not a small group and they spend a lot of money. I hope that if nothing else Atlanta Inboard loses 10x business from my complaints compared to what they would have had to spend fixing their screw up. The boating industry in this area is already hurting from the drought and gas prices.

 

[Uraijit]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

I did talk to an attorney friend of mine. He said in court the best I can hope for is a 50/50 shot as it is basically my word against the mechanics and the shop. We don't have small claims court here in Georgia, we only have magistrate court. The bad part is that for magistrate court if they decide against me they have the ability to counter sue for up to $15,000 in damages such as attorneys fees, etc. I do plan to go to the BBB and let everyone I know be informed about it. The boating community up here is not a small group and they spend a lot of money. I hope that if nothing else Atlanta Inboard loses 10x business from my complaints compared to what they would have had to spend fixing their screw up. The boating industry in this area is already hurting from the drought and gas prices.

Too bad about the court system out there. But I would make one last ditch effort. Contact the BBB, then wait a couple of days for them to hear from the BBB, and then call the shop one last time. Tell them you're giving them one last shot to make it right, and that if they do, you'll have the BBB remove your complaint.

Then tell them that if they DON'T make it right, you're having vinyl signs printed up to put on your vehicle, AND your boat.

Even if you don't follow through, it might be enough motivation to get something done.

If they don't fix it, I would at least put a sign for a few weeks. Signs on vehicles are VERY effective advertisement. That's why companies are willing to pay people to put them on their cars. Negative advertising is even more effective than positive advertising, because nobody wants to get screwed. If there's even a question, they'll go elsewhere!

No business wants negative advertising of that caliber.

Give it a shot, it might just work!

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

I might just give that a try. As it is, I am telling the world about it, lol.

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Another thing a friend suggested was to check around other marinas to see if anyone else has had any problems with them and then maybe do a joint suit...combined weight might be more inclined to sway the judge.

 

[msargent]

Re: A little advice on a crack in the block

Well again with BBB Atlanta Inboard is denying responsibility.