Life's hard knocks

[MSDuckmen]

Ever had one of those months when it seems everything is wearing you down.
My girls wanted me to get a boat and teach them how to ski. I decided that if I was going to buy a boat that I would get one that would serve as a fishing boat as well as a ski boat and we all would benefit from it. I found one for sell that looked to be in fair shape and was just the size I was looking for and the price was a fair price considering all the small things I needed to do to it.
I spent somewhere around 1000.00 dollars to have the transit reinforced, the finish polished, rewired and all the bulge pumps and live well equipment redone.
The guy I bought it from said it had sit up about a year in his back yard but was running well, and had even had some work done on it but just never used it since. The motor cranked up in his backyard with only a little help with starter fluid and seemed to pump water good and sounded like a good motor.
After I had all this work done I finally took it to the water too have my first run in it and it would not turn over I thought the battery was dead and got another and it still would not turn over. Took it back to the house and found out that the starter was bad so I had it rebuilt and waited till the next weekend to take it out.
I cranked it up and it was running like a sound machine. Slowly back it out to channel and opened it up slowly, Once I had the feel for it I gave it a little gas to plain off adjusting the trim to the desired pitch, got the speed up to 25 and she was gliding across the water like a champ. I was thinking this is just was the doctor ordered when the dang motor threw a rod right out the side of the case.

I paddled that boat back about a Quarter mile thinking all kinds of things about why did this happen, how is it that I deserve this so on and so on. Needless to say I was upset but I was upset for all the right reasons. I was upset that I didn’t insist on taking a ride in the boat before I bought it. I was pissed that I put so much money into getting the body the way I wanted it with little regard to the motor. However I did put all new gas and plugs in it before I ran it the first time. I had spent all the money I had saved on this boat and now I have to start all over saving for another motor. The kids will get over it in time but this purchase has taught me a valuable lesson.
It is Gods plan that we not have this boat this year. That will have to be good enough for me.
But it is sure a hard pill to swallow.

[Haymaker]

Sorry to hear about your luck with the new boat. Thanks for sharing your experience and maybe some of us will learn for the lesson that you just had in life, I know that I did.

Darrell

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: Haymaker ]

[CaptnT]

Been there, done that Duckmen. As a former used car manager and boat salesman, I could tell you some stories, but it wouldn't make you feel any better.

Outboards are funny animals. They need to be run to stay "in shape". Could be that one sat up too long. I am curious, OMC or Mercury? I would guess OMC, please tell me you didn't buy a Chrysler!!

I am one of those "fools" that likes to tinker with boats. I have made some good money on some, and I have lost my @ss on others. Don't beat yourself up too much.

An old timer told me that the two happiest days in a boat owners life is the day he buys a boat and the day he sells it. Another told me owning a boat is like digging a hole in the bottom of a lake and trying to keep the water out.

How far are you from LA? You can usually pick up a boat and motor there pretty cheap. Good luck.

[damnyankee]

A buddy of mine owns a sailboat, he took me sailing and I surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
I told him to I'd like his help in buying a sailboat, he told me "go stand in the shower turn on the water and start tearing hundred dollar bills in half and you have enjoyed the experiance of owning a sailboat".

[MSDuckmen]

Well Capt.
It was a 70hp Evenrude and it really looked to be in good shape. I hold no miss givings to the man I bought it from as I doubt he could have forseen this. It is a hard lesson to learn when you save so long and make a bad choice.
When you know so little about devices like this you need to take it slow. I had a boat guy inspect the boat and without it running he gave me the info I needed to make a fair bid on the boat. The motor is an 82 model and I just can't see putting 2000.00 dollars back into it when it is that old. I can buy a good used one for around 4000.00 and that is what I will save for. At least I will know then that I have a sound motor with a dealer warrenty.

[damnyankee]

duckmen,
2000 grand semms a little high to fix a thrown rod. I bet if you called around you could find a new(used) block for a reasonable price. As far as rebuilding from there it's not too difficult.
If you'd like me to call some places I know up north email me and I'll call around.

[00duck]

you can get a new power head and have it rebuilt for about 1000.here in mphs

[Wildfowler]

Here's a link to some prices on engines for comparison.
http://www.boatmotors.com/rebuilt_outboard_motors/

[damnyankee]

I have never seen outboards for lease? Maybe I'm out of the loop but who leases these motors?

[MSDuckmen]

Yeah Guys that is the link that I got most of my information from and If you look up blocks for that size and year motor you will see it in the 1800.00 dollar range with core exchange required. However if you look at used motors you will see the 2000 4 stroke 70 that I have my eyes on for around 4000.00 and that would take care of me for a while.

[MSDuckmen]

Well Hammer it is easy to blame the seller in cases like this but I have to look at it in a different light. I sell a lot of things.
Many to guys right here on this site
I have sold guns and blinds and equipment just to save enough money to buy this boat.
You know when you buy something, that it is used and you hope that it is all that the owner says it is. And most people are not purposely going to screw you. I would feel the same way about helping with repair but there were no guaranties when I bought it and the guy came down in price so I could buy it. Yeah it is unfortunate for all involved. Who said life is fair. I don’t think that a person should be sued for selling a 20-year-old boat to someone and it die shortly after buying it. $#!+ happens and I made a fair purchase but the cards didn’t fall in my favor. I’m not going to hurt another because I happen to buy when the thing decided to go.
Somehow it just doesn’t seem right to always blame the seller. He didn’t make any promises, and sure I’m not happy with the deal at this point but he didn’t make me buy it either.

It is one thing to sell knowing it had problems and another all together to sell something you feel was in good working order. You have to trust people at some point and I trusted him and still do. Only the seller knows all there is to know about the unit they are selling and some things they don’t even know about.

Would I buy it again knowing now what it would have cost me? No. But that is what hind site will do for you. I don’t feel screwed just let down there is a difference.

[CaptnT]

Hats off to you Duckmen, there are few like you left.

It seems like everybody is sue happy these days, and most people think everything is like WalMart, break it and take it back.

I'm not attacking you personally Hammer, but the threat of a lawsuit and actually winning one are two totally different things. As a plaintiff, you would have to prove the seller knew there was a defect in the goods sold, and that would be next to impossible to prove. Caveat Emptor (buyer beware), we are not little boys trading matchboxes anymore.

[damnyankee]

I've got to agree with Capt hats off to duckmen. Duckmen said he could have taken the boat for a test ride before hand but made a mistake. It would be hard to know a rod is going bad on a 2 stroke w/out pulling the head and checking the rod lash.
When I sell something I tell of all problems (if any) up front. I also make it clear there are guarantees or warranties it is sold as is. From being on the opposite end of duckmen a few years back I always require a signed receipt stating the above.

[Duckhunt_4]

I still think it is wrong, It would be different if you had it for a month and it happened. when it is your second attempt to run it and it happens any one with any backbone would help you to get it repaired or at the very least returned some of your money. Yes there was no warrenty but there is such a thing as a agreement that two men made with each other. Both should claim some responsiblilty for the motor failing. Like Hammer said it is only right thing to do.
I know how long he has been saving for this and even sold some of his guns to get it.

I know Duckmen and he's just not going to push it. Better man than me.
Some of you people met us last year at the gathering in Starkville. Why he would let something like this go by beats me.

[Doc & Nash]

For what it is worth, Duckmen I am sorry for your bad fortune, and I whole heartly agree with you about it not being in Gods plan for you to have a boat this summer. But keep this in mind, when it is in Gods plan all will work out even better than if you would have planned it yourself.

And for those of you who have never delt with Duckmen, He his truley a top class individual. There are not many people in this world who I would take their word and handshake as the 100% truth and he fits in that class.

Dan, That gun shoots great and I am proud to own it. Thank You,.

I will keep my eyes open and you might want to try www.boatmotors.com ,they seem to have the best deals that I have found.

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: cookmducks ]

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: cookmducks ]

[ March 26, 2002: Message edited by: cookmducks ]