What’s that button do? Nothing, it’s broken

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Well-Known Member
TECHNICAL Contributor
Oct 3, 2006
4,404
Wisconsin - Winnebago Pool chain of lakes
Boat Info
280 Sundancer, Westerbeke MPV generator
Engines
twin 5.0's w/BIII drives
Ya godda love springtime.

The boat gets launched. You also get to meet new people at the marina.

It’s far from a scientific survey but it seems many….no…most boats have a handful or more non-functioning items.

Many of these things the owneres have no intention to fix or repair.

Why is that?

Maybe the repair is too expensive. Maybe they never used it anyways. Maybe they don’t have time to make the repairs. Maybe they feel the soul of the boat will only be happy if a certain number of items onboard are non-working and if they make a repair something else will break.


So…what’s broken on your boat that you do not intend to fix it? Why are you not going to fix it?
 
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Interesting topic...

After pulling the Tundra fridge out to put a hardwood floor down, when I put it back in it required a little "persuasion" from a block and sledghammer at the bottom to get it back in place- it was that tight (I didn't realize that the fridge extended all the way back to fit under the helm step- and the 1/2" I added to the floor wasn't taken into consideration :().

The fridge now only works on 12v, but not on shorepower. Even though that's really OK (better than the other way around) it's still bugging the hell out of me, and I may go through the hassle of pulling it again to fix it. Everything else works- wouldn't have it any other way.
 
The only thing that I have found so far that is not working is my fuel gauge. Since I refuse to leave the slip without a working fuel gauge I am going to fix it In fact I already have the new fuel sending unit I just need to put it in this weekend. Other than that (knock on wood) everything is working as it should
 
The webbing strap that holds the walk through portion of the windshield open tore in half, and I havent gotten around to driving to MM and buying a new one (or actually having them make me a new one)
 
In my case what isn't broken or torn apart.

I need to get my genny running again so I can finish trouble shooting it. A couple of weeks ago the flywheel came flying off when I started it. PO replace the crank seal, but didn't tighten the bolt down. Ordered a new key for the crank yesterday.

I am making progress and things are starting to look at least in working order.

The FedEx man comes every Monday evening, so he now know knows where to come and I have Christmas every week!:smt038
 
I was going to buff & wax the boat and paint the outdrives...Untill the marina owner put me in without telling me. :smt021. She a dirty girl and that makes me mad. :smt013
 
My "factory installed" spot light works intermittently and I don't know why. I'm assuming its a loose wire somewhere:smt013

Other than that its all good (for now).
 
This is my to do list.
  • I was going to install digital TV decoders, but I don't see that happening. Cable at the dock works and I don't plan on watching TV out on the water.
  • The marina that I bought the boat from hot wired one of my ignition switches down in the cabin. It works, so I'm not going to mess with it.
  • I have a several snaps on my canvas and rug that need to be replaced. I bought the kit, but not sure when I will take that on.
  • Port fuel tank gives off a bad reading from time to time, not sure how to fix that.
  • My Smartcraft alarm goes off from time to time and the log says something about the "alarm speaker failed" (I forget the exact error message). Not sure what the problem is.
  • My anchor is bent, not sure that I care.
  • The rear bulb on my mast head light is out. I plan on fixing it but since I don't plan on anchoring overnight, it's not critical.
  • Missing a stainless steel cup holder insert from the back of the boat. I have been to Marine Max 2x and they tell me come back in a few weeks when it is in stock.
  • Still need to wax the top of the boat and the railings.
  • Still looking for my water leak that leaves water in my aft cabin vacuum compartment
  • I want to add an air filter to the AC unit.
  • Shower head on swim platform shower seems to be clogged.
  • I need to change the transmission fluid.
  • I want to install addtional rod holders.
  • Bought new fenders, need lines for them.
Oh yeah. Most important:
  • Keep the wife and kids entertained and fed while I fix everything around them while constantly reminding them that buying a boat was a good idea!
 
My radar. Well it's not so much broken as not attached to anything because I swapped out the display. As far as I know, everything else works.
 
+1 on the Remote Spotlight

It died a slow death, one bulb, then the other socket (discovered after paying $40 for the bulb)

Then it wouldn't tilt, but would pan, then it wouldn't tilt or pan.

Then the other socket, or bulb went. I'm not sure which.

Once I got the price of a rebuild, I decided to carry a 3 Mil candle-power handheld instead. First time I used that, it reflected off the deck and successfully eliminated my night vision for several minutes.

Now the portable is hanging somewhere in my garage, the remote still doesn't work and I couldn't care less!
 
I also have a button that DOES work, but I didn't know it for the first year:

I don't have synchronizers, but there's a button for it on the dash. I just ignored it, and was glad that SeaRay gave me a spare switch instead of a cover plate.

Then one day the alarm kept going off. Oil pressure was ok, temps ok, genny ok. I couldn't figure it out. I finally realized that the "sync" button on the dash didn't adjust the throttles, but it DID warn me when the engines were out of sync. Learn something everyday...
 
So far that I've discovered:
Upper helm port-side tach not working (lower station one does)
Upper helm starboard engine starting switch does not work (doesn't really matter as the keys are in the lower station, so I start it there...)
I'm sure much more will arise on a boat that sat for 3 years....

j
 
The Mighty Ohio is scheduled to crest in Cincinnati at 44 feet on Friday at 20:00 (almost 20 feet over pool) so my boat is still on the trailer and having said that I refuse to answer that question so as not to jinx things or test the Boatin' Gods.... I'll get back to you!
 
This is a great thread.
Not completely broken but:
Dockside Freshwater connection drips, drive me nuts and forces me to spend more time on the water.
Corner of coxpit seat is torn, very small tear under the seat but I know its there.
 

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