Boats are really beginning to suck
 

The new boat won't start on one motor, the old one won't sell (and I'm getting tired of people trying to offer half the asking price), I still have the trailer to get inspected and sell ... sometimes this looks like a really stupid hobby. :(

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

you forgot to mention insurance.
i know how you feel. almost called it quits when i couldnt sell one of my first boats.
finally did sell at a substantial loss and tryed not to look back. went boatless for a very short time and couldnt stand sitting on the dock.
hang in there! the right buyer will come along.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Greg,
How old is your boat??

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

That Formula is awesome, and @ $29k (E-Bay price), I'd buy it in a second (if I only had 10' more dockage).

Bring that sucker down to FLA next spring and park it at a marina next to I-95 with a 3'x5' FOR SALE sign. It'll sell.

D. Ocean
Pompano Beach, FLA

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

all your asking is 30g's ,that's a great deal. you need to get it parked along a major route for exposure.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Ah, the joys of boating. I know them only too well. :(

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Always the wrong damn time for me - baby #2 due in September, I don't think the CFO would green light a boat purchase, even a 30G one... :(

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Greg we need to talk, is that a "Sail Boat" I see on your dock :eek:

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Looks like Greg just got... ''Outed".

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

i looked at a 402 at LOTO back in 95, had 400's and trs drives is was painted a light grey almost white with 2 or three shades of light purple small stripes on the side it was a wave crusher but only ran low to mid 50's. it had all new upholstry and was in great shape at the time the asking price was $50,000. the guy had it for sale for several years 3-4 before finally selling it. It is still at LOTO and has been for sale at least twice in the last few years. hang in there and hopefully it will move for you.

ps i didnt buy because the wife couldnt do the wood in the cabin and this boat did not have sit down seats in the frt bolsters all it had was a fixed bottom at a 45degree angle.


later

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

1984 250 hours, 70 on motors. The boat is now over on Kent Island in storage (had to get it off my lift so the new and not running :mad: boat could get on it).

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

I've been TRYING to get it on a dealers lot for exposure, but no one was interested. Talked with Offshore Perf last weekend, so maybe something will come of that.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Yes, belongs to my father in law. I trade free dockage for free landscape maintenance (he's a landscape architect).

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

my boat has been in the shop for 6 months, and i just got it back.....hoses not connected, kinked oil lines, two different coil mounts, trashed interior, bent trailer......the list goes on. what a way to start my summer......... :blaster:

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

If your happy with that explanation, who are we to question......

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

I feel your pain Greg. Have had trouble with both of my boats. Especially my "new" one.
Sucks to pay for two docks and have both boats on land.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Quit spitting out those carpet-crawlers and go buy a boat. :)

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Believe me, ThirdBird, we're done after this one!

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Dockrocker, that's what my CFO said after our second...now third... But I stressed the importance of needing a boat--a bigger boat with a nice cabin, higher freeboard and two engines in case one breaks down... Great family fun! It worked!! :rolleyes: :p :D

She still questions whether it's worth it.... :(

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Boats are always broken. That's just the way it is. Especially performance boats.
That is a great deal on that Formula Greg.... I'll put the word out to anyone looking for something like that. Sure seems like alot for the $$.
Good luck...

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Nice Formula Greg. Big boats are just a ***** to sell. At least you're not on the left coast where they're impossible to sell.

I just went through the second set of motors in 2 years... I tried going cheap the first time around.


A friend just coughed up a 575 in his brand new boat. Warranty wont cover it. Just the way performance boats go. The stuff breaks just as easy new as it does used.

Hang in there.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

You will either love it and endure it or you will let it go

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Greg,
Just hang in there!! It goes in cycles!! Believe me I know. Had a bad spell that lasted three yrs. Owned two boats, new one wouldnt run, then the drive broke and then the motor again and again. But now things look better, all I have done this year is general maintenance!! So it will come to you, just be patient and dont stress, I did and I am due to leave this earth a few years earlier than I was originally suppose. Just think of all the boating I will miss.. hmmm
So dont stress my friend, it will come to you and it will be GREAT!! :) :)

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Dick,

I know you went through a lot of troubles, glad yours is finally running well. I'm sure I'll get it worked out, it's just that it is taking up SO much of my time (I can't even find time to work on my Corvette).

I'm not having any luck finding someone to come out and look at the starting problem, so guess I'll pound on it somemore this weekend and see if I may any progress. I got the Yamaha factory service manual, but of course to check any of the electrics you need special service harness adapters which I don't have. The one mechanic I talked to who seems honest (and said he really doesn't do Yamaha's and doesn't have any of the manuals or service harness stuff either) said he'd start with cleaning the carbs (all six of them), so I guess I'll have a go at that.

At least I can sit comfortably on the transom with my feet on the bracket and work on it instead of being upside down in the bilge, so I guess I have made some progress ;)

-Greg

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

we all feel your pain!!!

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Greg, a couple of possibilites

1. After a no start, pull the plugs and look for darker or wet plugs, that will narrow down the cylinder(s) which is dumping fuel, if they're all look the same... next

2. I can't remember if that year uses cold start solenoids for the enrichening valves or not, if it does disconnect the solenoid after it started and see if it's sticking.

My guess is you're going to find the bowls gummed and the needles not seating allowing fuel to trickle into the warm cylinders causing a flood condition. They're really easy to work on just be very careful with the carb gaskets cause they are hard to get. I haven't fooled with carbed Yam's in years but I doubt your problem is electrical if they run well after a cold start, it's going to be fuel related and the best part about carbs is that they're just parts and pieces, no " magic". Commit 2 hours and you'll find it, the Jap Crap is really easy to work on.

JD

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

JD,

Yes, it has solenoids on each carb and a separate fuel pump. The manual gives an "emergency" procedure for won't start hot to pull the plug on the pump. I'm going to try to pull and clean the solenoids and passages (there is a filter screen for each one that it says to back-flush) if I can get a wrench on them, can't use a deepwell socket due to the leads and plug (or I might have to sacrifice a socket and cut a slot in it to allow the wires to pass, like an O2 socket).

I was going to send a note to ask you a question anyway. The way the new throttles were set up there is a deadband at the start. I'm sure it's a leftover from the old single stick where the first movement was shift, then the throttle starts. I can see on the engines where there is a roller and slot linkage to allow an intial cable movement without actually moving the throttle blades. I'm thinking of either seeing if there is enough travel in the intermediate link to remove that initial slot travel, or adding a pin to "shorten" the slot. Was wondering what they did on your motors when they rigged the throttles.

Thanks - Greg

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Mr. Gadgets (Dick?)

Thanks for that post. I have been stressing too much.
It has affected my health to the point that I am a fiber eating 38 year old with diverticulitis.

Your post was exactly what I needed to hear.

And hang in there Greg. Add me to the list of people who would love that Formula if my situation were different.
It ain't the boat or the price. You will find a buyer.

And you will get past the problems, and move on to easier days.

My "new" boat is almost done after 6 weeks and $3,500.

My old boat looks like its going to become a canadian next week. So I guess that my situation is getting better. Hope yours does too.

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

I'll check how Concept handled the throttle " dead zone" when I get up to the boat tomorrow.

BTW are the mussels still as good as they used to be at McGarvey's ? Man I miss sitting at that back bar, had some great times and food there.

JD

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Thanks. Never been to McGarveys, usually hit Griffins or Middleton's. Guess I'll add it to my "to try" list.

-Greg

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

Greg,

where's the boat on KI? Do you know where Sealing is? If it's on a trailer, take exit 43B, turn left and go back over highway and Sealing is right there. This is two Exits before Offshore Performance. Also try A&M, they are in the middle. they broker boats, and I have heard good things.

Sealing (www,sealingmarine.com), they service Yamaha's and they do repo auctions. If you want to get rid of it, throw it in the auction.

I take it Jim called you. He told me he didn't want to get in it, but would help you out if your real stuck! Good luck

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

The Formula (old boat) is being stored by Offshore Performance, but it is physically at A&M (they are moving all their outside boats there shortly to build a new building).

I talked with Seeling on the Yamaha, first open date they have is 14 July which is too long a wait for now.

Talked with Jim, sounds like an honest guy, said he'd look at it (but also about 2 weeks out) but that he had no Yamaha manuals, or tools. Suggested he'd start by cleaning the carbs, sort of hinting that I should start there too.

-Greg

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

I did a little carb cleaning and made some progress (http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/s...67#post1002167). I got it to start reasonably now, but the port motor won't rev beyound 3500-3700 under load while the stbd is pulling ove 4000 (didn't try to ive it more throttle than that). Looks like I'm going to have to either tackle a full dissassembly/cleaning on all 6 carbs myself or wait a week to get a mechanic to come over to help. Not sure if I'm up to syncing 6 carbs for my first try or not.

Anyway, things are lookin up a bit. The trailer is over at the shop for it's Monday inspection, so maybe I can get that sold. Had a couple new contacts on the Formula, so there still may be hope. And if things keep going I should have the new boat running in time to put it up for winter (just kidding).

Thanks for the encouraging words, these things just manage to get to you sometimes.

-Greg

Re: Boats are really beginning to suck
 

THERE and DOING it.........so I feel the pain....more that you can imagine. Hang in there...............it can get worse before it get's better

Except the new boat runs great and so does the other boat................it just isn't selling