A Thanksgiving disaster

V

Vol Navy

New Member
Oct 31, 2008
14
Knoxille TN
We have had our boat for about a month now and used it for about 10 hours. Since it is so new to us most of our family has not been out on it yet. We thought today would be a perfect day. Clear skies and not too cold. We decided to take my two nieces, my brother and sister in law out for a quick trip before dinner (we were celebrating Thanksgiving a day early with my family). We idled out of the shallow part of our cove got out in the channel. I added power and our boat stared to go up on plain. Next thing I know it starts running rough for a couple of seconds and dies. I try to start it again and it won't catch. We are now stranded on the lake with two kids under 7 and it is starting to get cold. We finally got a hold of someone at the marina and they came and towed us in. Not the best way to show off our new boat. The mechanic seems to think we got some water in our gas. I hope that is all that it is. He is going to check it out on Friday.
 
I feel your pain with that first trip with the family...we had a similiar experience... odds are that will be your last frustrating one....and you will have a lot of great memories and experiences going forward.......and the funny thing is they will all talk about this one for a long time...as their best experience
 
Sorry to hear, but glad it worked it. One of the pluses of winter boating, not many other boats. One of the negative of winter boating, not many other boats :)
 
Too bad about the outing... at least you tried. Your separator filter should remove the water... could be a simple ignition module. Hang in there... a bad day on the water is better than... a.. anything else! :smt001
 
Be thankful the marina was able to tow you in. Especially on a day when most American's stop working at noon.

I'll be on my boat later today, but don't plan to take it out for the reason chuck1 stated. Stuff happens, so you just need to prepare as much as you can.

Happy Thanksgiving, and I'm happy you were able to get back to the marina.

Dale
 
Now we are just waiting to hear what the damage is. We were going to talk my wife's whole family out tomorrow. Maybe it will be something quick and easy.
 
Hope everything works out well Vol. Quick question...I was thinking of bringing my 320 up the TN to the AU/TN game next year. I would be coming up fomr Guntersville. Ever made the trip? Was wondering about time and number of locks involved?
 
let us know what happened ... I am right now dealing with a gas tank that has bad fuel in it. I am going to run it empty and then run another 30 gal. of fresh fuel with treatments thru her before filling up with a winter fill loaded with a heavy dose of STABIL Marine gas stabilizer
 
luvmysearay said:
Hope everything works out well Vol. Quick question...I was thinking of bringing my 320 up the TN to the AU/TN game next year. I would be coming up fomr Guntersville. Ever made the trip? Was wondering about time and number of locks involved?
Click to expand...

Would be a great trip. I've done it, but never as one trip. you are looking at 4 locks Nickajack, Chickamauga, Watts Bar, Fort Loudon and I would est about 300+- river miles. What ever you do don't fly AU colors you may just get shot out of the water:lol:
 
In a month your experience will become a Thanksgiving Day tradition! It is a good lesson for all of us; you need a game plan when out on the water. Sooner or later everyone has had mechanical trouble on the water.

With the use of ethanol in ordinary pump fuel, water is a bigger issue so we all need to check our fuel separator filter.

I use stabil in the gas too. Recently I have started using seafoam in my air cooled recreational engines with good results and may switch to other vehicles. :thumbsup:
 
Well we just got back from meeting with the mechanic and there is no good news. It looks like our boat is going to be getting a new engine.
 
the jist of what happened is that we had a push rod come loose. Does anyone know a fair price on a 4.3 merc v-6 installed. We were quoted around 4,500 for a new engine installed.
 
Hey Vol- I'm local in Knoxville and can steer you toward some people that may be able to help you with a new engine for considerably less. That is an uncommon failure, so you might even find that is not the issue....

PM for contact name / number of a few options.

Sorry to hear of your grief.

Matt
 
Do not get talked into a Grooms or Jasper replacement! I did this on our ski boat (Grooms) and have had the new engine replaced 3 times!

suggest a Merc Re-man engine for less and same 1 year warranty. I can suggest an awesome SeaRay certified mechanic in Cookeville. About halfway between Nashville and Knoxville. He travels to Nashville a lot to service mine and other boats so I am sure he would go to Knoxville as well.

PM me if you want his number,

Mike
 
I second that I have used him in Nashville for 10 years .He is great to work with and is very fair. Fifteen years ago when he took off if shoes and put rubber gloves on to work on my boat I knew he was the one for me. I would not let anyone else touch either of my boats .
 
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I would suggest a second opinion on the "engine is shot". A pushrod "coming loose" or rocker backing off should not ruin the whole engine. A top end job should be all that is needed. The only caveat would be if metal shavings went thorough the engine. Then a rebuild would be in order, but again not a "throw away" by any means.

-Ryan
 
rwvw415 said:
I second that I have used him in Nashville for 10 years .He is great to work with and is very fair. Fifteen years ago when he took off if shoes and put rubber gloves on to work on my boat I knew he was the one for me. I would not let anyone else touch either of my boats .
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Ray, sounds like you know Dannie Thompson! I gave Vol Navy his # via PM.

P.S., you on Old Hickory?

Mike
 
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