our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

[redone4x4]

So, my buddy just bought a 19' VIP with a 4.3 cobra IO in it. boat was in okay shape, it ran good on the muffs. I went with him when he picked it up. The owner showed us how it shifted into gear and that everything worked, blower and bilge pump, etc. No sea trial. I repeat, NO SEA TRIAL before buying. So we get it in the water just fine, i jump in to help him, and he puts it in reverse. the engine starts sputtering. I take over, and its fine in forward, but stumbles and dies in reverse. okay, so we take it out for a little bit to see how it does. Reverse works fine for a little bit after its warm.

Now, we head off to find a nice beach to anchor on and let the kids play. He shuts his boat off, and it wont start. I jump on board after we side tie up his boat to mine. Pull the engine cover, water is up to the floorboards. Further inspection reveals the bilge pump quit working. So we remove his pump. I dont have a 2nd pump on my boat yet. hmm....what to do. well, he needs it more than i do so i take mine out and put it in his boat to get the water out. ended up towing it back to the marina. It was taking on water as it sat with or without engine running. Hes taking it to the shop tomorrow to get it checked out.

We pulled off a good day anyways, my boat ran great and we barbequed it up and swam around. They werent too down, just figure they will get it fixed right and know what they have to work with next time going out. moral of the story, get a sea trial before you hand over the check.

 

[rjlipscomb]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

When and where did you go? I saw a couple of boats being towed back to Callville on Saturday. Mine was almost one of them (low on fuel), I think we came in on fumes - long story.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

When and where did you go? I saw a couple of boats being towed back to Callville on Saturday. Mine was almost one of them (low on fuel), I think we came in on fumes - long story.

we were up at echo bay, launched around 830 am. we got all the way back to the no wake zone and the ranger approached us for "following too closely", then he saw the towline and said nevermind....it was funny.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

glad it didn't ruin their day-i bet the bbq added to that it's nice to know that there are people still out there that would share what they have to help others out way to go redone

 

[Thad]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

Grilling on the water makes everything better

Sounds like your buddies boat has rotted baffles and boots. You're the kind of friend that gives friends good names. I would never think to pull my pump out, come to think of it, I don't know that I could.
I've said it before. You can make an engine run good on muffs. Put it under load and it's a whole new set of rules.
That reverse thing sounds fishy though.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

What if the seller won't let you take it out on the water. I guess you walk away from the deal right!

 

[redone4x4]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

What if the seller won't let you take it out on the water. I guess you walk away from the deal right!

Absolutely! My buddy had his heart set on this one, I felt bad. Hes taking it in to a shop right now to see what it will take to get her good again. When it was running on the water, it ran great so at least he knows the potential it has.

 

[AZBoatDreamer]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

Absolutely! My buddy had his heart set on this one, I felt bad. Hes taking it in to a shop right now to see what it will take to get her good again. When it was running on the water, it ran great so at least he knows the potential it has.

I know that would be a big downer for me.

 

[redone4x4]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

Grilling on the water makes everything better

Sounds like your buddies boat has rotted baffles and boots. You're the kind of friend that gives friends good names. I would never think to pull my pump out, come to think of it, I don't know that I could.
I've said it before. You can make an engine run good on muffs. Put it under load and it's a whole new set of rules.
That reverse thing sounds fishy though.

Its funny, I rigged my bilge pump up a few months ago so that I could remove it on a moments notice...in case it needed replacing or anything. It was kinda sad, he had his wife and kids with him and everything and the first trip didnt go so well. my thoughts were to just keep his boat from possibly sinking so the pump had to be switched. It gave me an excuse to order a larger automatic pump anyways .

 

[Thad]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

What if the seller won't let you take it out on the water. I guess you walk away from the deal right!

You are 100% correct! I bought one boat without a trial. He told me it would sink. Ironicly, the boots and baffels were dry rotted. It had been in heated storage for three years. When I called about the boat, that was the first thing he told me. Then he went on to offer a contract that if any repairs over $1,000 he would cover.

I bought the boat and a week later at a cost of around $450 and my labor, I was on the water. It needed a few other things that sitting did not do any favors for. Over the next seven years, I only had to replace the steering and shift cable. I then sold the boat for a couple hundred more than i paid for it.

I feel for your buddy and his family. But he is lucky to have a good buddy there to keep his spirits up and not let him bring the kids down. I say, if you're already out there, and a temporary solution or plan can be made, enjoy it. You can mope later.
I wish him the best of luck and a speedy repair.
And that is definately some "out of the box" thinking on a quick release pump, way to go!

 

[H20Rat]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

So, my buddy just bought a 19' VIP with a 4.3 cobra IO in it. ... No sea trial. I repeat, NO SEA TRIAL before buying.
...
Now, we head off to find a nice beach to anchor on and let the kids play.

one word of advice, never take kids with on the maiden voyage of a 'new' boat! and if possible, go with another boat for when it breaks down. I always plan for the worst for the first trip with a new boat, and even the first trip after winter storage.

 

[billsnogo]

Re: our day on the lake today.....(little story here)

moral of the story, get a sea trial before you hand over the check.

I am learning that right now, even though I knew better