Shakedown- boating trip ends bad

[OSCAR1987]

    Beware...RANT to follow!

Took the boat out at Blaine harbor today for a shakedown cruise with the family before the big halibut trip Thursday. The motor locked up 3 miles from the dock. It sounded like when my kids put a butter knife in the garbage disposal.

So here I am stranded 3 miles from shore with my wife, son and my 5 yr old twin girls and I can't get the kicker to start either. Thank goodness I installed a VHF radio. I called the Coast Guard for assistance and a  vessel overheard and came to the rescue. They towed us back to the dock- Thank You To the owners of the WATERFALL!

We put the boat on the trailer and drove all the way back to Master Marine in Mt. Vernon.  I just bought the boat from them last summer and the first time out the motor quit on me. When I took it back to them they said the oiling system had plugged and then supposedly fixed it. That time I had the whole family- wife, son, and 3 daughters on board. I limped in 15 miles on the kicker. I took a couple trips after that last year and it never seemed to run quite right so I took it in for service before going out this year. They just did a tune up and carburetor rebuilds  2 weeks ago and said it was running good so I wasn't expecting any trouble today.
I just hope they do the right thing by me.

[PolarBear]

Just a little tip.  ALWAYS run all motors (main and kicker) at home a few days, the night before and (if possible without waking the neighbors) the morning of your trip.  I have towed a ton of guys back to the beach who said that their boat had either been running good last season, last month or last week. 

[OSCAR1987]

PB
That's exactly what I did...Took it to the shop 2 weeks ago, ran it last night for about 45 minutes in the driveway, and warmed up at the dock. I did what I figured was the right thing. I am just glad it wasn't at Washington Park at 5AM Thursday morning!

[PolarBear]

What wound up being the problem? 

[OSCAR1987]

I just got home from dropping it off at the shop. This all went down today- beautiful Sunday on the water if the motor would run! The initial indication is piston, but the service guys will check it out tomorrow.

[nw_huntress]

As much as I love being out on the water, I'm about to give up on being a boat owner. I love ya babe but not that Suzuki.

[OSCAR1987]

Great
Now Mrs. Oscar ( NW_Huntress) won't go boating with me anymore.
 

[BOWHUNTER45]

WOW THAT SUCKS.....Hope they fix it for you ..... know a couple people who work there !

[OSCAR1987]

So far I have put about 50 run hours on it- Stranded twice and had to be rescued today. Not bad for $12,000 investment. I don't blame the Mrs- she was there for both.

[PolarBear]

Suzuki?

[OSCAR1987]

Used Suzuki 140 bought with boat at their shop last year. They said it had 250 hours on it and many years left on it. I have had nothing but problems and I wish I never bought it. I could have had many fun charters for what I have spent without the drama. My frustration is past all reason and I am done. If they won't make it right I don't know what I will do.

[lokidog]

As much as I bag on my cold starting Honda, I have put 7,600+ miles on the boat in the last two years and eight months  and...  let's not jynx it and leave it at that.   

It's all about the experience and the fun of doing it yourself.   

Hopefully they will make it right, sounds like you did what you could on your end.

[carpsniperg2]

Glad to hear you got back safe.

[PolarBear]

Glad to hear you got back safe.

[Fish4Fun]

This is the main reason why I sold my 1993 Duckworth that had a 140 Suzuki. That was the most undependable motor I have ever seen. Leave the dock and more than once limp home because the big motor went south. I think it was in the shop at least 2 or 3 times a year.