W3bexec
Jet Boat Junkie
- Messages
- 215
- Reaction score
- 232
- Points
- 147
- Location
- Greeley, CO 80634
- Boat Make
- Yamaha
- Year
- 2018
- Boat Model
- AR
- Boat Length
- 24
First off... this does have a happy ending... but on to the story.
Finally after a 7 day wait from the day we bought the boat, I can take it out! With stormy weather and a demanding job we were forced to just look at it in the driveway (and do some driveway boating! I'll admit it, I sat in the boat and drank some beer, tinkering with stuff). I still had to work this day but I said "Screw it, I am leaving early, we are going to the lake, and I refuse to drive 30 minutes home and pick up the boat". So, I took it work with me and parked out in the far lot. Coworkers were peeking out the windows to check it out. Even took a few out there and uncovered it to have a look. Ahh, that new boat smell.
The family meets me at the prearranged time, right around 3 PM, I duck out of my desk and down the side stairs to avoid attention. The lake is close, only about 5 minutes way from where I work. Not my usual lake but I have been there a few times and its a decent size. We pack on a few things, water and snacks. The kids already know, "we're not boarding or tubing, just cruising to try out the new boat". Off we go. I have no idea if this happened but I imagine a few people I work with are looking out the 2nd floor windows watching me drive off. Jealous.
We get to the lake, which is in a state park. Of course, no ranger on duty at the station, and there is a line to use the self serve park pass machine. 20 minutes later, we've got our passes. On to the inspection station (damn you mussels! plague from hell!).
Inspection is backed up. For whatever reason, tons of people coming to the lake today, and only 1 inspector. I'm 4th in line. We patiently wait and finally when the inspector gets to us I explain this is a new boat and has never been in the water and show the bill of sale. This is a new inspector and decides to decontaminate me anyway. OK, no problem, I want healthy lakes too, I don't protest or get rude, I just proceed to the decontamination area. We're going to pump 140 degree water through the engines.
This inspector knows nothing about jet boats. A majority of what she sees is outboard bass boats all day long. I explain the boat a bit and let her know I have 2 engines, so we'll be doing this twice. No problem. "Oh buy the way, I need just a standard hose and not those muffs". After a few minutes of rummaging around trying to find the right hose attachment. Bingo! we got it! I explain, let me start he engine first before you turn on the water. No problem.
I go to start up, starboard first. Cranking, cranking, cranking, no fire. "Hmm, OK". I proceed to recheck everything and try again. Same result. Try port engine. Same result, cranking fine but no fire. Meanwhile inspector is looking at me awkwardly. I tell her, "Let me work on this and you go back to other 6 people in line".
OK, so at this point I am pissed. Well, beyond angry actually. I mean like 'grown man cry' type of upset. Here I am, after MSRP + tax + extra dealer profit + 5 year extended warranty, with a $64,000 boat that won't start... on day 1. You see, I have come from a previous boat that had problems. Major problems. From leaks to squishy floors to a cracked block on my first boat that I bought off craigslist. That boat left me dead in the water, with my entire family, in the middle of lake, at the end of the day, with practically no one on the water to wave to for help. Yep, I vowed after that to never put myself in that position again. Hence, a brand new boat, even if its a stretch for me to afford. Guaranteed at least, no one else screwed it up!
I check everything I can think of. From the batteries to the connections to the lanyard, everything looks fine. We even fired it up a couple says before. So, I call the dealer right there from the inspection station. After explaining what's up to the guy from service, I can tell he is NOT the guy, as he knows nothing about boats (they are mainly a motorcycle shop). He's looking at the manual and asking me things. Finally, the boat expert walks by and I hear him; "Hey Steve! I have a customer on the phone here who is having a problem". "He's the guy who bought an AR240 on Saturday, Mr. W3bexec". " Steve asks where the I am at and the service guys tells him. Service guys says "Steve is leaving right now to meet you".
Fast forward 20 minutes. Steve arrives. I like Steve, he was the one who gave us the full tour of the boat and how to work all features. He even offered to come out to the lake to show us a few things on his day off.
Steve gets to work. Shoes off, in my boat (thanks for being considerate). Tries to start it, same result as me. He checks a few things. Then he spots my lanyard. Yanks it out and takes a look at it.
OK, so rewind a bit. On the day I bought the boat, I get some accessories. One of which is a brand new, in box, genuine Yamaha black lanyard that has the longer cord, sleek velcro strap, and a whistle. I think to myself, "Nice, I can use this and keep the original as the backup lanyard. Yeah, its $40 for a dumb lanyard but it's nicer and will allow me to stand up and walk a step or two".
You already know the answer. It was the lanyard! Steve is looking at me like "I cannot believe it! This is a real deal Yamaha lanyard! How can this be?". The aftermarket lanyard seems to be about 3 MM thinner than the stock one and does not lift the kill switch high enough. Luckily I have the original in the glovebox. Steve puts the original in and the boat fires right up.
I thank Steve who is already on the phone with the Sales Manager asking them to pull all those lanyards off the shelf. I go back to inspection with my faith in my AR240 restored and a nice first run of the boat goes great!
Finally after a 7 day wait from the day we bought the boat, I can take it out! With stormy weather and a demanding job we were forced to just look at it in the driveway (and do some driveway boating! I'll admit it, I sat in the boat and drank some beer, tinkering with stuff). I still had to work this day but I said "Screw it, I am leaving early, we are going to the lake, and I refuse to drive 30 minutes home and pick up the boat". So, I took it work with me and parked out in the far lot. Coworkers were peeking out the windows to check it out. Even took a few out there and uncovered it to have a look. Ahh, that new boat smell.
The family meets me at the prearranged time, right around 3 PM, I duck out of my desk and down the side stairs to avoid attention. The lake is close, only about 5 minutes way from where I work. Not my usual lake but I have been there a few times and its a decent size. We pack on a few things, water and snacks. The kids already know, "we're not boarding or tubing, just cruising to try out the new boat". Off we go. I have no idea if this happened but I imagine a few people I work with are looking out the 2nd floor windows watching me drive off. Jealous.
We get to the lake, which is in a state park. Of course, no ranger on duty at the station, and there is a line to use the self serve park pass machine. 20 minutes later, we've got our passes. On to the inspection station (damn you mussels! plague from hell!).
Inspection is backed up. For whatever reason, tons of people coming to the lake today, and only 1 inspector. I'm 4th in line. We patiently wait and finally when the inspector gets to us I explain this is a new boat and has never been in the water and show the bill of sale. This is a new inspector and decides to decontaminate me anyway. OK, no problem, I want healthy lakes too, I don't protest or get rude, I just proceed to the decontamination area. We're going to pump 140 degree water through the engines.
This inspector knows nothing about jet boats. A majority of what she sees is outboard bass boats all day long. I explain the boat a bit and let her know I have 2 engines, so we'll be doing this twice. No problem. "Oh buy the way, I need just a standard hose and not those muffs". After a few minutes of rummaging around trying to find the right hose attachment. Bingo! we got it! I explain, let me start he engine first before you turn on the water. No problem.
I go to start up, starboard first. Cranking, cranking, cranking, no fire. "Hmm, OK". I proceed to recheck everything and try again. Same result. Try port engine. Same result, cranking fine but no fire. Meanwhile inspector is looking at me awkwardly. I tell her, "Let me work on this and you go back to other 6 people in line".
OK, so at this point I am pissed. Well, beyond angry actually. I mean like 'grown man cry' type of upset. Here I am, after MSRP + tax + extra dealer profit + 5 year extended warranty, with a $64,000 boat that won't start... on day 1. You see, I have come from a previous boat that had problems. Major problems. From leaks to squishy floors to a cracked block on my first boat that I bought off craigslist. That boat left me dead in the water, with my entire family, in the middle of lake, at the end of the day, with practically no one on the water to wave to for help. Yep, I vowed after that to never put myself in that position again. Hence, a brand new boat, even if its a stretch for me to afford. Guaranteed at least, no one else screwed it up!
I check everything I can think of. From the batteries to the connections to the lanyard, everything looks fine. We even fired it up a couple says before. So, I call the dealer right there from the inspection station. After explaining what's up to the guy from service, I can tell he is NOT the guy, as he knows nothing about boats (they are mainly a motorcycle shop). He's looking at the manual and asking me things. Finally, the boat expert walks by and I hear him; "Hey Steve! I have a customer on the phone here who is having a problem". "He's the guy who bought an AR240 on Saturday, Mr. W3bexec". " Steve asks where the I am at and the service guys tells him. Service guys says "Steve is leaving right now to meet you".
Fast forward 20 minutes. Steve arrives. I like Steve, he was the one who gave us the full tour of the boat and how to work all features. He even offered to come out to the lake to show us a few things on his day off.
Steve gets to work. Shoes off, in my boat (thanks for being considerate). Tries to start it, same result as me. He checks a few things. Then he spots my lanyard. Yanks it out and takes a look at it.
OK, so rewind a bit. On the day I bought the boat, I get some accessories. One of which is a brand new, in box, genuine Yamaha black lanyard that has the longer cord, sleek velcro strap, and a whistle. I think to myself, "Nice, I can use this and keep the original as the backup lanyard. Yeah, its $40 for a dumb lanyard but it's nicer and will allow me to stand up and walk a step or two".
You already know the answer. It was the lanyard! Steve is looking at me like "I cannot believe it! This is a real deal Yamaha lanyard! How can this be?". The aftermarket lanyard seems to be about 3 MM thinner than the stock one and does not lift the kill switch high enough. Luckily I have the original in the glovebox. Steve puts the original in and the boat fires right up.
I thank Steve who is already on the phone with the Sales Manager asking them to pull all those lanyards off the shelf. I go back to inspection with my faith in my AR240 restored and a nice first run of the boat goes great!
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