I still have never got my boat back. The initial diagnosis was a faulty electrical harness; it was showing continuity across the harness and I guess that's fairly common with BRP electrical harnesses. That got it running, but it apparently still showed a surge. They replaced the electronic control module (ECM) next, yet still the same.
They did a full motor inspection and found some oil around a spark plug boot. They figured, though the chances remote, perhaps their was some oil vapor causing the plug to foul. Changed the spaghetti valve cover gasket to no avail, runs great wide open, but in between it has a slight surge. They do not know what to do and BRP suggests a leak-down test at this point. So the dealer had to order the tool to manually turn the motor to do the complete lead-down test. After getting the tool and doing the test, it showed that cylinder #2 failed with only 38% compression.
Since there wasn't a failure in #1 or #3 cylinders, that ruled out the head gasket. Since there was no oil or fuel in the coolant, that ruled out the piston rings, leaving the valves as the culprit. They weren't sure what exactly the valve problem was, but the problem was with the valves. The SM had them drain the oil, remove and cut open the filter.
Inside the filter, they found small pieces of metal. Not shavings. The Service Manager at that point put in a request to BRP for a new motor. I was finally told this last week. I haven't had my boat for 10 months and I have been livid. I filed a complaint with the Missouri Attorney General's office, but that has not had much effect.
Last week, I started doing hard core research and looking at attorneys. Many would not have waited so long to do so. I found most states have Lemon laws to cover issues like this with vehicles, but these laws do not extend to boats or RV's. However, there is a federal law called the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act of 1975 that does and it stipulates you can also recover attorney's fees and court costs.
Last Fall, I couldn't find an attorney that wanted to get involved with this. Now I have several that want the case and one that has ensured I will owe him nothing should I lost the case. At this point, I am confident I could prevail regardless of whether it is front of an arbitrator, judge or jury. My misfortune has sucked, but eventually you figure if it goes long enough I should be taken care of. Right? I mean I paid almost $40,000 for the boat including extended warranties and accessories.
I've been making monthly payments on a boat I haven't even seen for 10 months. BRP hasn't even approved a new motor and at this point I am not sure I want the boat back. It's like brand new as I babied her keeping the boat in climate-controlled storage except at the lake or on a trip. She still looked exactly like she did when she was delivered when we took her in for repair. Now she's been sitting outside the entire time. Under cover and covered, but outside nonetheless.
I apologize for the super long post. Let me wrap this. I sent an offer last week for the dealer to take my boat and pay off the loan. I owed more than I could have sold it for, but at this point I wasn't worried about that. I mean surely I should be due some sort of compensation. Included in the offer was for me to get a new Yamaha AR195 w/ extended warranty. I would seek no compensation for being w/o a boat for what was going to be a year and I would pay no out of pocket money towards the new Yamaha and my new payment had to be at or less than where I am now. This offer was sent through the Attorney General's office. He fast-tracked it to the dealer.
Yesterday, still not hearing anything, I called the dealer to get an open repair bill/log on my Glastron at the suggestion of an attorney in preparation for a case. When I called the SM, he said I had talked to Mason. I told him I didn't know a Mason, was he with them. He said yeah and that Mason had asked about my Glastron and the condition. He told them it was like new, but it need a new motor from BRP. He said shortly thereafter he received a call from the owner saying they were taking my Glastron back and getting me a new AR195. He said they put my name on one of the first one's they will be getting in from Yamaha. Now I am so very curious when the new one's will start hitting dealers.
The owner also offered a free weekend rental on a new Yamaha 24' jet boat on Lake of the Ozarks. So we will be going down in the next few weeks to take advantage of that offer. I hope to have more info and at least a "hand shake" deal as all I have now is a conversation over the phone.
I don't have anything in writing and will not be satisfied until I have a new boat. I will keep everyone posted! If anyone has any info on warranty claims or strategies in situations like this, please share.
Though we are slightly upside-down on our Glastron loan, I still feel like I should probably get some further compensation. Please share thoughts on this as well. I really want to get this situation behind me and back on a lake on a boat... it is getting HOT!!!! Thanks folks.!!
