Wet for the first and last time!
 

Well, the Formula got wet yesterday after several years off the water. It never really ran right all day (way down on power, intermittant miss). About an hour in it, the motor was just sounding worse and worse. Then my worst fears were realized, it was knocking. The motor is toast. It barely made it back to the dock with a bad knock. Only 2 hours on it. You any of you ever feel like giving up? Maybe the next one should be a rag boat.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Been there. Had a crank brake in half second time out on a new motor. Buttoned it up for the year, built another motor, and started again next season. It's a reall bummer, but the years since the boat has been lots of fun and made up for it's rough start.

-Greg

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

:hothead: ...hmm...let's see, broken drive shaft w/stringer damage...blown motor..no wait... two blown motors....and oh yeah, the headers are shot too....

..time for a Harley!!

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

I quit counting how many times I thought I'd give up....now suck it up and get wrenching you wuss!!! I spent $3500 plus on a rebuild one time and the thing didn't make it 7 miles!!!Bastage wouldn't stand behind it either now I build my own. Just step back take a week or so off and get at it!!!"Rag boat" you sat that again and I'm getting travis and the bat!!!Hows that for a pep talk???

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

When I blew one of mine to pieces last year, I kept using the boat the rest of the year on one engine, just to stay in the water. I have lots of fingers crossed this year.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

I haven't had 1 full boating summer EVER in my life. an summer is only 4 months here.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

BTDT....next

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Last August in three weeks I lost:
1)propshafts and seals both outdrives
2)blew one of my outdrives
3)lost entire rear axle assembly off triple axle trailer, only two six inch pieces of
springs remaing each side, came off in one piece, never found it and no it wasn't
left at the ramp.

Just under 10K

In water one time with water in carbs so:

replaced stock Merc fuel/water seperator filters with Racorp units which involved
location change to fit.
replaced all trailer wiring and lights with 'LED' units
now replacing exhaust manifolds and risers.

Boat in water once since last August and that was with the water in carb problems.
Hope it's finally squared away in the next two weeks.

It does get discouraging, especially with wife threatening bodily harm.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Makes you wonder why you stay with this hobby.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

bummer
i broke two motors back to back as a result of incorrect oil filter/cooler plumbing. fired my motor builder, and built it myself, at which time i discovered the incorrect plumbing. lost two seasons

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

cause even half a summer is good enough for me. :drink:

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Thanks guys, I dont know what I'd do w/o OSO!! The only part I did'nt build myself came apart! I think it was never right from the machine shop, but how can I ever prove it now. I'm not too worried about the money, but the 6 months of weekends I spent in my garage will never be replaced, now I just have to do it again (during the boating season no less!!). I dont think I'm cut out for this.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Isn't that always the truth. Thats why I'm hoping for a good year this year. Cause I've finally built/replaced everything on my boat. :cool: :D

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

No kidding,. Seriously, the short block came apart. I did not have neither the tools nor the expertise to do it myself so I took it to a highly recommended machine shop and had them do it and they f^d it up. I bet if it were their motor it would have been built right. Makes me so angry.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

I felt like that Friday night.

Been working on this new boat for months to get everything right. Kept finding problem after problem and then when everything was worked out I launched it last Friday night (between storms) just to get it to my dock. Ran 30 miles across Lake Erie in 4 footers to find that I had big water in the basement when I got in calm water. Probably the bellows on the port side. Damn. Trailer was not nearby. Took it to one of the yacht clubs I belong to and yanked it out on the hoist. But the trailer had to be rescued and modified (at midnight) to let the slings for the hoist work. Now for the first time ever it's at a marine repair shop, and I went there this morning and they still haven't found the leak, but they did leave the cover off last night (outside) and they ran both of my outdrives up into my fiberglass swim platform, plus they put a scuff in the side moving the boat.

Now I have three or four new problems. Never again. I should have kept going with the D-I-Y method. I was much more careful than these monkeys.

But Friday night I felt like putting a for sale sign on it and walking away. Nobody came out to help me drop the boat on the trailer because nobody wanted to be within a mile of me. I admitted at that time that if I was that pissed, I shouldn't be a boater. Almost quit.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Just read my signature.... then start rebuilding.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

in between working on it, ill give you a ride in my boat to keep your spirits up, just dont jinx it :)

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

F78, the only thing I can tell you from personal experience, is, when I get back out on the water, I completely forget about the money and hassle factor, and everything is right with the world.

Of course, I am completely out of my mind.........................

And you always have your OSO family for support, because we've all been there.

"Hi, my name is Russ, and I own a boat"............................................. ....

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Man I feel for ya.....That was my worst fear......Thats why I had Jasper build my short block (custom order) I know first hand they stand behind their work/warrantys. I kept my old motor just as a backup if needed......Good luck man and keep the faith.

Randy

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Stuff happens but I had my boat for 10+ years and run it good too and never a problem. It's just an older Wellcraft Nova St with T-350's and I maintain it to the tee. Everyone thinks I am nuts for all the oil changes and gear lube changes using premium synthetics but they work big time and I also put fuel stabilizer in at every fill up and change filters in between oil changes. Use engine flush every other change. It takes twice the effort and twice the money but never ever a problem. I don't let anyone but me touch the engine or drives. New NGK's seasonally; new plug wires every 3 seasons. I learned from Ferrari maintenance that fluids and routine periodic maintenance is what keeps it glued together.

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Fund Razor: I cant believe they did that! That totally sucks! At least I dont have any FG work to do, that stuff sucks! (And you feel it for days!) I know what you mean about putting the for sale sign on it. I seriously considered for a minute just pulling the plug and sinking it. :)

BajaRunner: I will take you up on that, but it will be a few feeks before I even want to see the lake again! Keep me posted about what the goings on look like on the lake.

Outlaw: Your right. Once it's done I will forget, but it's getting to that point that really sucks. It will be a lot of hard work to get back on the lake!!

Hydro: I will take care of my motor like that when I get it going! I would have taken care of this motor like that if it would have ran for more than 2 hours!!

Re: Wet for the first and last time!
 

Nevermind