Getting boat ready part 2

[jimrs]

Today I finally got with my son and we pulled the old toon out of the shed and aired the tires and pumped some grease into the hubs and off we went. Took it to a dealer in town told them the boat has been sitting up for 4 years and it needed
1. Cleaning (Detail)
2. Battery (Starting)
3. Water pump (impeller change)
4. Carb's (gone through)
5. Gas (4 years old needs to be removed from tank
about 12 to 15 gals)
The lady wrote it up and said she would call when done. I hope that they do a good job. I don't know much about this dealer but do know some people that bought from them in the past.

They carry Bennington, Bentley, Sea Ray, Bayliner, and a bunch of other boats. So hopefully they are good at what they do. I will see soon I guess.

I still don't know if I will keep the boat but will for a while anyway. Brother wants to take his grandkids out and teach them to swim in a lake and tube a bit. So I guess I will have it for a few months if not longer. Just waiting for it to be finished.

[Mr Geets]

nice to hear that some people do it right! I always liked the old Fram oil filter ad to the effect that "you can pay a little now or pay a lot later". An old guy told me a long time ago that maintenance is cheap insurance

[Bamaman]

If they carry Bennington and Sea Ray, they're probably a good quality dealership--carrying such top of the line boats. Hopefully you'll be in good hands. I'd suggest calling the service manager back first of the week and get a commitment to the date your boat is expected to be ready.

[jimrs]

A few years ago I would have tackled the job myself but as age gets up there it also gets you down. I told her that I had shut the gas off at the tank and ran it dry so I did not think the carbs would need redone but she said they would look and see what needed done then call me. I guess they just wanted more money so this time I let it go. As long as it runs good and is done to my satisfaction when I pick it up I will be happy. They got the dealership from a marina that has carried Sea Ray for over 15 years and was one of the top dealers in the country. I guess that when they moved into there new building they over extended themselves. Now they only carry Yamaha stuff. They lost Sea Ray, Bennington, and Ranger to this dealer.

[ROLAND]

who'd you take it to Jim?

[jimrs]

Roland, I took it to Bayou Outdoor sports center in Bossier. I will let you know how it turns out. Thought I know they will get it done. I have a funny feeling about how much they will charge and how good the work will be. I liked dealing with Reeves better. I just hope my gut is wrong and they turn out great. Like I said before I used to do the work myself but age has slowed me down way too much. I have never trusted boat, car dealers to do the right thing most of the time.

[jimrs]

I called the dealer this morning and she (service writer) told me that they have an estimate on the cost of getting the boat ready.

$1486.00 out the door. I almost had a heart attack. She said that they would take out all the seats and upholstry and clean the boat, Drain the gas and replace with 8 gals, change the plugs, change the fuel lines, replace the water pump and service the lower unit. We talked for about 5 mins and I kinda cooled down some. She said the boat was in great shape but being almost 12 years old it needed a lot of little things done to it, she did not go into the little things needed. I thought that I have had the boat for 12 years and have not spent any money on it but the payments so I told her to go ahead but it better look and run like a new boat when I got it back.

I will get it either this Saturday or most likely by the middle of next week. I hope that they get it fixed up right and I am happy when I go and pick it up. It will be nice to have the boat ready to go when I want to go out on the lake.

[curtiscapk]

Jim,

sounds like alot but I think she is right. The toon sitting for four years, and them replacing everything that could have some rot on it, plus the impeller, plugs etc. You should be running like a big dog!

[ROLAND]

Jim.... when I read your post of 1486.00 bucks, I too almost had a heart attack.... wow, but like you said, other than payments you really havent shelled out any $ for 12 years... that's a little less than $124 a year... like the old commercial said... " you can pay me now or you can pay me later".... but I agree with you.... your boat best look like it just came off the show room floor..... Don't forget to post some pics when you get it back.... want to see what kind of work they do before I haul mine over there before the start of next season....

[jimrs]

I have seen some boats that they have done and they do a pretty good job. Mine had been sitting for 4 years and it was real nasty. I think they are charging me for the funk factor. 4 years of mold and pollen and dust. I will try and get a breakdown on the bill when I pickup the boat and see where the money went.

[curtiscapk]

How'd it turn out?

[Bamaman]

And to think I'm complaining about spending $90 on a fuel filter assembly and a fuel pump on a Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke. 90/10 gasoline is not kind to fuel systems. I already shelled out $60 for a full water impeller kit. When all parts arrive, I'll begin the maintenance myself.

I didn't remember how hard pontoons are to clean up when on a bunk style trailer. The floor is about level with my shoulders, and my aluminum hard top looks to be about 15' off the ground. But, the engine is just right for easy maintenance.

Good luck with your boat. I'm sure it'll give you many more years of good, reliable service. Pontoons will last for a long, long time if properly maintained.

I have a big front yard, but I also forgot how much room a 24' pontoon and a trailer can take up. When you have to work around the grandson's trampoline and a collector car, I'm the guy the neighbors talk about "one in every neighborhood."

[Mr Geets]

You are right about how big they are. I had the mooring tarp on and knocked off one snap when the pole top hit my shop door frame.