PDA

View Full Version : New to me with many issues


Barefoot57
08-28-2009, 10:36 PM
I'll try to make this short...

In March, I purchased a 2002 PS190 TT on eBay from an unnamed MC dealer in the Midwest. The boat was listed with all the TT amenaties and said nothing about any issues the boat had. I expected that purchasing on eBay from an MC dealer was a safe bet and that the boat had been gone through and any issues would be disclosed, if there were any. I live in the West, and therefore had a friend in the area pick it up for me. My friend stored it in secure storage until I picked it up recently. Now for what chaps my a$$... In the first hour I put on the boat: new batteries, raw water pump cover, exhaust hose, plugs, and wires. That was what was needed to get it to run outside of the dealership. The first time on the lake, I noticed a lot of vibration and found that the prop, strut and shaft were all slightly bent; enough to need to be replaced. The same day on the way back to the dock, one of the mufflers blew apart and caused a visit to the dealership. That was in addition to discovering that PerfectPass was broken as was the fact that the depth finder transducer was cut out of the boat. All of this is in addition to MANY other flaws in the boat that were not disclosed on the eBay auction. In correspondance with the dealership, they are unwilling to take responsibility for any of the problems as they say "it was a used boat" and claim to have disclosed the problems (but DEFINATLEY did not! :mad:). Now, I might have been suckered because I bought the boat on eBay without seeing it myself (I wasn't expecting perfection), however is it wrong to expect a high level comfort in that the boat was purchased from a dealer? I paid well for the boat and have come to find at least $2500 in repairs to pony up for before I can even ski behind the boat. Needless to say, I am pretty upset about the deal and STRONGLY feel that the dealership took advantage of me and now is leaving me high and dry.

Since the dealership is not taking responsibility for any cost to get the boat in a condition as advertised, I have a few questions:
1) Can the strut be heated and bent back without damaging the metal strength? I know I am in it for a new shaft...
2) Should I have the 4-blade SS prop repaired or just go NIBRAL with a new one?
3) PP engages and then the throttle just drops out. The cable completley unwinds. Any ideas what might be wrong?
4) Is there anywhere I can purchase just a transducer for a depth finder, and not the whole package with display?
5) What product best cleans heavily used carpet?

I have already spent quite a bit and am frustrated that I am being treated like a Bayliner by the dealership. I am tempted to call Vonore and place a complaint about the dealerships lack of transparency on the sale, but doubt that will do anything other than frustrate me more than I am. If you are looking at purchasing an MC in the Indiana area, be forewarned.

Even so, I am still a very happy Mastercraft owner and will always support the brand wherever and whenever. I will NEVER own anything else. That said, I will never buy another MC without water testing everything with the dealer before I hand the check over.

erkoehler
08-28-2009, 10:42 PM
Let me first go on record saying this was NOT Chicago MasterCraft.

Next, you will need to replace the strut. Don't waste your time trying to bend it back.

The transducer can be purchased without the gauge. Any MC dealer can get you what you need.

Get a Acme or OJ prop and drop that SS one. The SS prop transfers alot of the force of a hit to the strut/shaft.

bigmac
08-28-2009, 10:44 PM
Getting hosed on ebay is nothing new, but getting hosed on ebay by a MasterCraft dealer, that is a little unusual.

Barefoot57
08-28-2009, 10:46 PM
was NOT Chicago Mastercraft! I have never seen any comments on TMC about the dealership in question.

erkoehler
08-28-2009, 10:50 PM
Also, check the perfect pass website....they have great tech support. Just give them a call and they will be able to diagnose for you.

Monte
08-28-2009, 10:57 PM
Man, I am not trying to be a *****, but how do you buy a boat sight unseen, trust it to a friend in a secure location? and not even check on the boat until six months after the purchase? Six months is a long time for a boat to sit. Depending on the "secure location" no telling what the that did to it. I am not affiliated with any dealers. No wonder the battery was dead. How long ago did the dealer run the boat? Just too many variables.

Barefoot57
08-28-2009, 11:11 PM
Man, I am not trying to be a *****, but how do you buy a boat sight unseen, trust it to a friend in a secure location? and not even check on the boat until six months after the purchase? Six months is a long time for a boat to sit. Depending on the "secure location" no telling what the that did to it. I am not affiliated with any dealers. No wonder the battery was dead. How long ago did the dealer run the boat? Just too many variables.
I absolutley agree with your comments. The friend that helped me out with this has been around MC's since birth, has owned more inboards before the age of 30 than most people own in a lifetime, is a very accomplished water skier and I would trust my life to him any day of the week. I know the boat was safe and not tampered with. I can agree the batteries sat for some time, but they would not even hold a charge. They were junk when the boat was picked up. The dealer ran the boat in the shop when my friend picked it up. They said they would do a water test with him, but last minute, "they didn't have the time." My friend took a good look at everything he could and called me to give the final okay to drive away with it. 6 months before it hit water or not is a moot point. I look at engine hours and know that the running gear was bent when it was picked up. The damage is slight and hard to notice, I will give anyone that, but when I took it to the dealership after the muffler mishap, they did a quick all-around inspection and saw it without any que from me about the vibration. I am not trying to be unreasonable, I just want what was described in the auction. Agree with the risk of eBay, but that is why I purchased from a dealer and not a private party.

Monte
08-28-2009, 11:28 PM
I agree the "not having time" thing is suspicious. The easiest way to help your cause would be to prove the lack of hours you have put on the boat since the purchase. Are you sure your buddy didn't hit something in it on his own test run? Maybe just too embarrassed to tell you? Just grasping for straws, I would hate the thought of a dealer selling a grossly misrepresented boat.

Jerseydave
08-29-2009, 08:32 AM
Sorry to hear of your bad experience, but hopefully the price of the boat was low enough to allow you some extra $$ to repair these issues. This is a good example of where a marine survey would have been money well spent.

Try "resolve" carpet cleaner with a shop vac, or rent a carpet shampoo machine. We have one and it works pretty well. Brake cleaner works sometimes on greasy spots, but try it first in a hidden area just in case it changes the carpet's color.

Sounds like a nice boat........post up some pics!

TMCNo1
08-29-2009, 09:27 AM
Sounds like a self inflicted cluster****!


If I were you, I'd think twice about hiring a hooker over the phone!

thatsmrmastercraft
08-29-2009, 09:58 AM
If I were you, I'd think twice about hiring a hooker over the phone!

What is your method of choice, a bullhorn?

Sorry to hear about the problems. Ebay sure can be a pain in the a$$. Got my boat from craigslist.

TMCNo1
08-29-2009, 10:04 AM
What is your method of choice, a bullhorn?

No, just wait for spammers to post links on here!

mbeach
08-29-2009, 10:21 AM
having done a little trading on ebay, their new policies favor the buyer. don't know how long ago you closed the deal, but i would definitely file an appeal. most sellers do not want to see a black mark, especially the kind you experienced where the dealer assumes no responsibility. i would ask was boat sold "as is" with no returns? if so, not sure what you can do about it. anyway, i definitely would take it up with ebay. good luck.

Kren
08-29-2009, 10:28 AM
Barefoot - We have a Bissell Little Green Machine carpet cleaner that I use on my MC. Works good. How effective it will be on your stains...not sure. For the $100, not a bad investment for this and/or future carpet cleanups.

bigmac
08-29-2009, 10:44 AM
Scrub a little carpet detergent into the carpet, let is sit about 10 minutes, then take a power washer to it. Keep an eye on the water level in the bilge while your power washing -- with a couple of gallons in there, if you take the boat for a little drive down the highway, you'll get some nice bilge cleaning action with the soapy water. Don't forget to remove your bilge drain plug on the way back.

corey
08-29-2009, 12:56 PM
Sorry to hear about this transaction, seems like more and more ebay deals are boats that don't sell when someone looks at them in person. We've had customers come in with some real piles of garbage, stuff that would make yours look cherry. (cracked engine block, incorrect dash gauges with EVERY wire cut, hull damage, etc.)

Bigmacs got the right idea with the carpet, just watch the water pressure and/or spray pattern, if you go to aggressive with a pressure washer you can "cut" lines into the carpet that never seem to come back out.

Jim@BAWS
08-29-2009, 01:01 PM
Let me first go on record saying this was NOT Chicago MasterCraft.

Next, you will need to replace the strut. Don't waste your time trying to bend it back.

The transducer can be purchased without the gauge. Any MC dealer can get you what you need.

Get a Acme or OJ prop and drop that SS one. The SS prop transfers alot of the force of a hit to the strut/shaft.

Did not think it was you

QUOTE..."If you are looking at purchasing an MC in the Indiana area, be forewarned"

Hoosier Bob
08-29-2009, 02:16 PM
Ha PC? I'll stay out of that one!;)Did not think it was you

QUOTE..."If you are looking at purchasing an MC in the Indiana area, be forewarned"

bigmac
08-29-2009, 02:29 PM
Ha PC? I'll stay out of that one!;)

Hah! Does PC stand for Pine Crest, or "politically correct"?

Hoosier Bob
08-29-2009, 02:43 PM
Both! I like the guys but.... That is all I have to say about that. Buying a boat is like a box of chocolates.....:oHah! Does PC stand for Pine Crest, or "politically correct"?

bbymgr
08-29-2009, 03:06 PM
Both! I like the guys but.... That is all I have to say about that. Buying a boat is like a box of chocolates.....:o

As soon as I read the opening post, P.C. came to my mind too.

Hoosier Bob
08-29-2009, 03:14 PM
I missed the Indiana line. Scotty would most likely give me the lowdown. Boats are boats. Previous owner could have done whatever and traded. They go for a spin and PC says a bit of a vibration but checks out and........ Hard to tell. If a big gross deal maybe there is some room but I would not have touched the thing until I was satisfied. If I was not satisfied I would have voiced my concern to the dealer. If no resolution I would have taken pics and still not touched anything. I looked at a boat for Jeff there that he ended up buying. Sent him pics and what have you. IT WAS PURPLE! If the boat was looked at buy an "agent" I do not know what you can do. You have to be thurough and not just take pics with regards to a transaction like this!;)As soon as I read the opening post, P.C. came to my mind too.

bigmac
08-29-2009, 03:18 PM
HB...I'd trust you to pick out a boat for me, even though I know it would be delivered to me with synthetic oil in it.

Hoosier Bob
08-29-2009, 03:59 PM
I take care of my brothers!;)HB...I'd trust you to pick out a boat for me, even though I know it would be delivered to me with synthetic oil in it.