contemplated pulling the plug and swimming back to the truck 2025
Jig Thrower reply :
So far this summer my boat has been a money pit. From little things such as a bag connection in the trolling motor plug to having to buy a new trolling moter. Has anyone else had a streak of luck like this? Im beginning to wonder if fishing from the bank may be more fun and less costly.
skillet reply :
A boat is a hole in the water that you pour money into 
...
skillet
Nkybassfisherman reply :
i feel ya dude..
kms399 reply :
they say a boat owners two happiest days are the day he buys the boat and the day he sells it.
bmadd reply :
I bought my first boat the summer after I graduated. Graduation money and all my paychecks from that summer=$3 gs for an 1985 18' Bumble Bee. Three summers later=$4500 spent in repairs and it's needing glass work now :'(
Fishing Rhino reply :
A money pit?
Be thankful you are not a commercial fisherman.
When I was lobstering, the motor oil was changed every hundred hours, along with fuel strainer, fuel filter, and the filter in the Raycor water separator.
Nine gallons of motor oil. A fifteen dollar oil filter, a twenty dollar Raycor filter, and about 12 dollars for the fuel strainer and filter. Comes to over a hundred bucks every eight days, or less.
I got smart, and put a vacuum gauge at the fuel pump. Rather than changing them routinely, I could tell when they actually needed changing. When the vacuum gauge started to rise, they got changed.
Depending on conditions (the filters get dirty much quicker when fishing sloppy days because the sediment sloshes around in the tanks), the fuel filters were good for three or four oil changes.
Over the course of a year, that gauge saved me hundreds of dollars.
That's just for routine maintenance. Repairs could get very expensive. Rebuilding the 8/71 Detroit Diesel ran into thousands.
With boats, it's a case of when it rains, it pours.
Get a canoe, kayak or rowboat. Never have to worry about anything failing, and it will improve your cardiovascular health.
endless reply :
QuoteSo far this summer my boat has been a money pit. From little things such as a bag connection in the trolling motor plug to having to buy a new trolling motor. Has anyone else had a streak of luck like this? Im beginning to wonder if fishing from the bank may be more fun and less costly.
i still trying to get my tri haul going. several years ago i blow either a ring or rod in the motor. so i bought my friends old motor that i know for a fact runs just been two years since it has to know not getting nothing to turn over. first starter was bad when i did jumper test so i put my old starter on. to still no firing but does try to turn over when i do jumper test now. i think it has to be electrical problem doing with the ignition wiring either control box or the motor. right now i took a break from it and i got my truck back on the road. paid over 1,000 dollars just to get it fixed and pass inspection, to getting a jon boat buying a trolling motor and a depth finder to have the depth finder turn out being defective to having my truck go down i think my carburetor is going on truck and they run in the $600 for a rebuilt one. i dont want to try junk yard cause never know how good they are. i also got a serious oil leak ima try to fix today. but man its never ending story with the truck. and no truck no boat.
luckily i was able to drive it around yesterday with no problems so i might try to take it out and go fishing tomorrow. luckily truck is running cause coming home from work i had two blow out on my car and only one spare.. the car still sitting at gas station. so my mistake luck is a 24 hr thing. like at work i smashed my ring finger all to hell tearing away skin and taking nail clean off.
Grey Wolf reply :
Sometimes buying used is just buying somebodies else head ache, Sometimes.
stew6371 reply :
QuoteQuoteSo far this summer my boat has been a money pit. From little things such as a bag connection in the trolling motor plug to having to buy a new trolling motor. Has anyone else had a streak of luck like this? Im beginning to wonder if fishing from the bank may be more fun and less costly.i still trying to get my tri haul going. several years ago i blow either a ring or rod in the motor. so i bought my friends old motor that i know for a fact runs just been two years since it has to know not getting nothing to turn over. first starter was bad when i did jumper test so i put my old starter on. to still no firing but does try to turn over when i do jumper test now. i think it has to be electrical problem doing with the ignition wiring either control box or the motor. right now i took a break from it and i got my truck back on the road. paid over 1,000 dollars just to get it fixed and pass inspection, to getting a jon boat buying a trolling motor and a depth finder to have the depth finder turn out being defective to having my truck go down i think my carburetor is going on truck and they run in the $600 for a rebuilt one. i dont want to try junk yard cause never know how good they are. i also got a serious oil leak ima try to fix today. but man its never ending story with the truck. and no truck no boat.
luckily i was able to drive it around yesterday with no problems so i might try to take it out and go fishing tomorrow. luckily truck is running cause coming home from work i had two blow out on my car and only one spare.. the car still sitting at gas station. so my mistake luck is a 24 hr thing. like at work i smashed my ring finger all to hell tearing away skin and taking nail clean off.
what year and make of truck? possibly get an aftermarket carb for a couple hundred new
SirSnookalot reply :
B.reak O.ut A.nother T.housand
GLADES reply :
Read my thread " gas tank woes"
kind of takes the fun out of it. Thankfully I made a smart move and had the gas tank cleaned - now I can focus on FISHING.
Keep your chin up - you will get it sorted out.
Bassn Blvd reply :
Rhino is right-on about the saltwater boat. My saltwater boat was more maintenance then my ex-girlfriend. EVERY fricking time I went to use it there was something wrong.
My Tracker on the other hand has been a gem. Almost 3 yrs old and only repair was a 5 minute replacement of the bilge pump. I tell her everyday how much I love her and softly rub her bow. (she likes it when you rub her bow).
Sfritr reply :
My wife complains that I treat my boat better than her most of the time. My reply is that my boat doesn't complain, always wants to go fishing when I do, lets me shoot it out of the hole, and likes to be tied up on the dock.
My boat completes me......... :
Lund Explorer reply :
QuoteSo far this summer my boat has been a money pit. From little things such as a bag connection in the trolling motor plug to having to buy a new trolling moter. Has anyone else had a streak of luck like this? Im beginning to wonder if fishing from the bank may be more fun and less costly.
From the bank, as in fishing from the shore? Or did you mean fishing IN the bank?
Quitlimpin reply :
When my Dad handed down his old boat to me he said a very wise thing. "If you've got a boat, you've got a problem."
skeetermike reply :
Ur not the only one. I've had my share of problems with mine too this yr. Can't afford to replace it and don't want to fix it. I'm just happy I can still use it at this time. I wonder how some guys afford to have a new boat with a good warrenty.... must be nice!
DINK WHISPERER reply :
I have had good luck with mine so far! Only new trolling motor.
flechero reply :
There are exceptions to every rule, but in the last 15 years I've done mostly preventative (mechanical and electrical) maintenance... they guys I know that skip the preventative (and common sense stuff) spend a whole lot more than I do.
Lots of people joke about boats being money pits, but when you do what's recommended, you rarely hear that story. Put some of the time you spend prepping rods, reels, tackle and trips into the boat and you will likely have better "luck" in the future.
I hope it gets better for you.
Olebiker reply :
QuoteWhen my Dad handed down his old boat to me he said a very wise thing. "If you've got a boat, you've got a problem."
About two years ago I inherited my late father's 1984 Bass Tracker. Since then that "free" boat has cost me $3900 for a new motor, $600 for a new trolling motor, $800 in new depth finders, $100 for a new pedestal and seat, etc.
bilgerat reply :
QuoteRebuilding the 8/71 Detroit Diesel ran into thousands.
100 hours until an oil change ? I'm a Detroit mechanic. Those old 71 series can easily go 250 hours between changes. I'm sure as a Detroit owner you know how tough the 71's are, especially the naturals vs the turbocharged ones. I hope you ran straight 40 weight oil instead of 15w40 in it!!
Yeah, they can be $$$$ to overhaul. The factory has been trying to kill them off for years, but there's still thousands of them out there. Getting parts can be iffy and they're expensive. Won't be long until they're outlawed because of emissions. They already are in certain waterways in the US.
done reply :
Quotebout two years ago I inherited my late father's 1984 Bass Tracker. Since then that "free" boat has cost me $3900 for a new motor, $600 for a new trolling motor, $800 in new depth finders, $100 for a new pedestal and seat, etc.
yeah at '84 he got rid of it at the right time. I found with cars, houses, and boats there is a specific age when a major round of maintenance is due. I would think an '84 would be about due.
Yeah a boat is either heaven or hell. When you are out on the water, and it is behaving, fish are biting, sun is out, you never doubt why you got your boat. Then there are the other times...when you start to think "What was i thinking buying that friggin' thing.".
I am in a special place right now. Just bought a new one so everything is under warranty for at least the next year. I have enough experience with boats to fully appreciate the experience.
Jig Thrower reply :
QuoteA money pit?Be thankful you are not a commercial fisherman.
When I was lobstering, the motor oil was changed every hundred hours, along with fuel strainer, fuel filter, and the filter in the Raycor water separator.
Nine gallons of motor oil. A fifteen dollar oil filter, a twenty dollar Raycor filter, and about 12 dollars for the fuel strainer and filter. Comes to over a hundred bucks every eight days, or less.
I got smart, and put a vacuum gauge at the fuel pump. Rather than changing them routinely, I could tell when they actually needed changing. When the vacuum gauge started to rise, they got changed.
Depending on conditions (the filters get dirty much quicker when fishing sloppy days because the sediment sloshes around in the tanks), the fuel filters were good for three or four oil changes.
Over the course of a year, that gauge saved me hundreds of dollars.
That's just for routine maintenance. Repairs could get very expensive. Rebuilding the 8/71 Detroit Diesel ran into thousands.
With boats, it's a case of when it rains, it pours.
Get a canoe, kayak or rowboat. Never have to worry about anything failing, and it will improve your cardiovascular health.
First off commercial fishing at least has a chance at a profit and second i work at a canoe livery that has close to a thousand boats...i get enough of canoes and kayaks
IdahoLunkerHunter reply :
QuoteA money pit?Get a canoe, kayak or rowboat. Never have to worry about anything failing, and it will improve your cardiovascular health.
X2. My kayak is great. I can't really fish tournaments or anything but my health is better, lost 20 lbs this summer, and I don't have any problems. The only problem I have had is one bolt fell off... replacement bolt 15 cents. HAHA
Fishing Rhino reply :
QuoteQuoteRebuilding the 8/71 Detroit Diesel ran into thousands.
100 hours until an oil change ? I'm a Detroit mechanic. Those old 71 series can easily go 250 hours between changes. I'm sure as a Detroit owner you know how tough the 71's are, especially the naturals vs the turbocharged ones. I hope you ran straight 40 weight oil instead of 15w40 in it!!
Yeah, they can be $$$$ to overhaul. The factory has been trying to kill them off for years, but there's still thousands of them out there. Getting parts can be iffy and they're expensive. Won't be long until they're outlawed because of emissions. They already are in certain waterways in the US.
The actual running time was more than one hundred hours. The hour meter was part of the tach, which was cable driven. So the hours on the meter would not coincide with the actual passage of time.
Hauling lobster gear, which constituted the greatest percentage of time on the water was done at idle.
I did use the heavy weight oil.
A tale of woe, and thank goodness for insurance.
I'd had the engine rebuilt the prior year. We were headed for the fishing grounds, and I was in the rack, grabbing some zzzzzs with the mate at the helm.
He awoke me and told me there was a lot of white smoke coming from the exhaust. The engine was also revving then slowing, not unlike the GMs do when first started.
Went to the engine room and found a screw had fallen from the raw water pump, and a stream of salt water was spewing directly into the intake.
Shut it down. Replaced the screw, and tried to start it though I expected it to be an exercise in futility.
The engine spun as though it had no heads. The innards were totally ruined.
Couldn't even get a puff shooting ether into the intake.
The salt water turned to steam, leaving behind salt crystals which scoured the inner parts like sand blasting material.
The valves which, if I remember correctly should be ten to fifteen thousandths higher than the deck were recessed by forty-five thousandths.
Those numbers may not be according to Hoyle, but whatever they were, the valves were now sixty thousandths lower than spec.
The insurance paid for the rebuild.
We got some six inch (I think) aluminum tubing and the hard rubber elbows and unions, and replumbed the intake to an area away from any and all potential problems.
Also made it more convenient to change the foam sleeve air filter.
Bull Hurley reply :
Quotebout two years ago I inherited my late father's 1984 Bass Tracker. Since then that "free" boat has cost me $3900 for a new motor, $600 for a new trolling motor, $800 in new depth finders, $100 for a new pedestal and seat, etc.
You could have bought another newer boat with good motor cheaper than what you paid for the motor. I paid $3500 for my 1989 BassTracker 8 years ago.
SirSnookalot reply :
No more boats for me, my 34' Carver after warranty became a nightmare. Every time it went out it was back in the shop with a costly repair, then 1 engine went, replaced it and the second one needed replacement as well.
That coupled with dockage fee, storage for hurricane alert charge and insurance put the boat on the market.
I along with a couple of friends joined a boat club, very reasonable.
I opted out this year as my buds just like to drift and I prefer ICW casting, they joined a new club out of Riveria Beach this year. $4200 first year with $100 month dues, then ensuing years no extra membership and stays at $100 per month, $10 surcharge for cleaning, it's gas & go, 21'-34 boats depending on what you need for your outing.
I'd never own a boat again when I can rent one.
tkite16 reply :
lol I started off the year changing my stator ,rectifier and starter. I thought I was good to go until we went to lake fork and hit a stump going very slow but still ruined my clutch dog and reverse gear. So I coudnt go into reverse but we still went out the next morning. I worked my way back into mustang creek. I dropped the troling motor down in the water trolled maybe 50 feets and hit a stump and snapped the trolling motor shaft.
So I get $800 worth of lower unit work done and replace trolling motor shaft only to find the armature in trolling motor is also screwed up. So I the spent $200 replacing basically everything electrical in my trolling motor .
But man shes runn ing good now. :
Always and I mean always have at least 2 grand put back for boat problems.
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