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Old 07-09-2018, 07:09 PM   #28
Poor Richard
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Hivolt View Post
I did not. I had spent about a month reading up on what to look for in a used boat and made a long checklist. Still not a replacement for having a real survey done but I felt confident that I had ruled out any major problems with the boat. My set of mechanical skills are actually very strong but my time can become very limited at a moments notice involving work so strong dealer support was something I was looking for if I had issues but couldn't make it to the lake to resolve them in person.
Ahhhh...my mistake. I misinterpreted your concern about available repair techs as more of a shortage in your skillset. That being said, my survey comment was more due to my misinterpretation.


FWIW, I went down a similar path as you for my first (and only) boat with regards to a survey.


I did the research, understood specific things related to certain mfg's and went from there. I ended up with something I was very pleased with at a price point that I was comfortable with in the event it sank at the ramp.

I decided to forgo a sea trial since the seller was reluctant to dewinterize the boat and register both boat and trailer without a guarantee of a sale. We reached an understanding that I equally didn't have a guarantee the boat will float or move...hence the price point.

Anyway, on the day of the sale I went thru every square inch of that vessel, fired it up, checked out every possible thing I could and made the purchase. This boat was tight and right and had a spanking new short block and outdrive so I was pumped. And since I bought late in the season, we (my family and I) had a great Labor Day weekend on the water and started to become acquainted with our "friend ship" (as our daughter so aptly calls it) in addition to the countless experiences and memories the lie ahead.

Fast forward to that following Spring and what would be our 2nd time on my new to me boat. We were enjoying slight overcast, pounding thru whitecaps on the Broads and like 12 other boats on the entire lake. It was awesome! From Alton Bay up to Meredith and a quick loop through Moultonborough before heading home and our season had begun....or had it?

Of course, some folks say all good things come to an end and that day it certainly did. Our boating bliss ceased to be on hour 6 because, wouldn't you know it, the engine blows up....not without warning but still, the 2nd weekend on a basically brand new shortblock?

Details aside from the mechanic not properly torquing damn near anything (likely including the heads) this engine issue would not have been noticed or discovered by any survey specialist. Additionally, I would have been quite displeased if I paid someone $900 and the engine blows up on weekend 2. Either way, I can blame only myself.


To be perfectly honest, I did not anticipate writing all that, it just kinda happened however that is the story on my intro to boat ownership.

A rough start? Sure.

Frustrated is a word that comes to mind. There were other F words as well.....lots of them.

None of it mattered since those 6hrs were too good to give up on right away.


Last edited by Poor Richard; 07-09-2018 at 07:23 PM. Reason: Grammah
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