Old boats=Rot
03-29-2007, 05:46 PM
#31
Registered
This is all true. Happened to me in my '86 Baja 250 Force in '97ish.
Took the (then) wife, and a buddy from Toledo to Cedar Point across Lake Erie for a 3 day, 2 night weekend. Me and the wife stayed on the boat, buddy caught a room. Beautiful day and ride across Erie to get there. Had a really good time, watched the closing fireworks/laser show from the boat both nights. Woke up Monday morning to a strong northeast wind. OK, I'm gonna have to run through 3-5's the whole way back, no problem, I grew up on Erie, this sort of thing happens. Got out of Sandusky Bay and was taking them head-on, reading the waves, and trying to stay on top of them - not easy in a 25' on Erie. I start hearing a slight whine. Almost sounded like it was coming from a bad ground on the stereo system, if you know what I mean. Stereo is off, but I'm still hearing this whine, (crappy stereo, first season with the boat). After 10-15 mins. I decide to back out of the throttle, and pop the hatch. Me and buddy are looking in the engine compartment (454/330, TRS, external water pickup). I notice I've got water trickling in at a pretty good (bad) rate around the transom assembly mounts. Bilge pump is running, but this isn't good - not gonna make the distance to Toledo. I can see Put-In-Bay, so I know the best thing to do is keep her on plane, I figure if Transom is dry, no water will come in. Got her to PIB, and tied up where they could sling it IMMEDIATELY! Turns out the motor was mounted with L-brackets to the top of the stringers, and the stringers were soggy under the glass. Going over the waves crushed the STBD stringer under the mount, and the motor was listing to that side by probably 5 degrees, causing the seperation at the transom.
Wound up catching the Jet Express to get back. Had a friend pick us up, and take us to my truck at the Marina. Me and my Buddy picked up my trailer, and ran back out to Port Clinton to catch the Ferry. So, Truck and trailer ride the Ferry to PIB. We drop the boat on the trailer, and FORTUNATELY make the last ferry of the day with Truck, Trailer, and Boat, on the Ferry. Any idea how bad it sucks to have your tow rig and boat crossing the lake on a ferry?? well, it sucked!
Hauled the boat back to Toledo, and out of the water for 6 weeks to replace stringers.
I've told this story on here before, and there are two things that I did that were very stupid so I'll re-iterate them here:
1. When we were stopped and realized the damage, I didn't notify the Coast Gaurd. If the situation had gotten worse, not sure what would have happened to us.
2. My ex-wife was the only one that put on a PFD. Once again, If the situation had gotten worse, not sure what would have happened to us.
Mind you, I was 26 yrs. and bullet-proof at this time, and I knew everything about everything.
Since then I've learned I don't know anything about anything.
Nobody got hurt, and we all returned safe with nothing more than a story to tell.
VIP Member
03-29-2007, 07:31 PM
#34
Registered
You, my friend, just opened yourself a can of worms.
I have taken all kinds of hell on this board for voicing that I don't ever want to own a Baja again. Sorry, just bad JuJu for me. Not that Baja is a bad boat, but I now have a stigma.
I imagine mine wasn't cared for properly prior to my ownership, and I was young and uneducated in performance boats.
Lesson Learned = seek further education.
03-29-2007, 08:33 PM
#37
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
I wasn't trying to compare it to a Cig. Just trying to point out that a boat doesn't have to be old to rot.
03-30-2007, 06:00 AM
#39
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03-30-2007, 06:56 AM
#40
Charter Member #232
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