one thing after another....2012 Issues

[bcd]

I had the same issue with the heater cap. Mine blew on July 1st. I found it after I was cruising back in and the boat lost power and couldn't stay on plane. I got towed in and had water in my engine oil. I took it to the dealer on July 2nd. They had it for 11 days. They did a compression check, changed the oil twice, and replaced the rubber cap with a metal one.

I also learned that this failure wasn't new, and they had changed the heater kit to the metal plug, but didn't get my kit updated (kit was ordered early June and installed June 18th).

Dealer told me that they checked the boat out and everything was ok, except for my trailer brakes (different issue, but they were still waiting on a replacement hose). They also said they ran the boat in the shop for 2 hours. I agreed to pick up the boat and they would send me the brake hose when it came in. I picked the boat up July 18th, Friday night. Saturday morning, I went to put the boat in the water, and my battery was dead. The disconnect was off when I got to the water, so there couldn't have been something draining the battery (other than bilge). I switched the battery to combined and started the boat. I checked voltage and it was only 12.8V with the engine running. I loaded the boat on the trailer and hauled it 100 miles back to the dealer that morning, and told them I needed a new alternator.

On Tuesday I called the dealer and they told me that they charged the battery and everything was working fine. They also implied that there was a lot aftermarket wiring in the boat (my ballast timer fix) and that was probably what drained the battery. I called them back Thursday and they said they lake tested the boat and got 12.8V. They called Ilmor and were told to replace the alternator. I finally got my boat back on July 20th.

So now I have a new boat with water in the engine oil and have missed most of July. I've had multiple phone calls with Ilmor, and they keep saying that my engine is fine. They agreed to give me an extra year on my warranty, but when I ask about what happens if I have problems after that, all they say is they'll stand behind their product. I couldn't get anything in writing saying that.

So if my alternator had enough hot water sprayed on it to fail, how long until my started goes out? I asked to get a new starter installed, and was told that my current starter is fine.

[Skipper]

I have never purchased a new boat. This thread has several owners of new boats that have quality issues. That should be sending up red flags to the folks at MC who undoubtably monitor the content of this site. Quality can be measured at many stages in the processes from the time a customer orders a boat until it is delivered. When there are so many failures in quality that is an indication that something needs to be done to increase quality control standards. I would say the same thing regardless of which boat company was having similar issues. It is only a matter of time until these problems begin to affect the reputation of the brand.

[JohnE]

Why aren't dealers taking care of these problems right away? I'll grant that some need factory assistance, but not most of them.

[vision]

Originally Posted by Heelgrad

I grew up in Raleigh and spent my summers and weekends on Lake Gaston. Parents had a house on the water in Hubquarter Creek. Loved that lake. Brings back lots of great memories of my childhood and teen years. Always seemed to be a bunch of MCs on the lake back then but my old man would never spring for one. Said they were too 'expensive', hah!! The main reason I own an MC today is the memories I had skiing behind my buddy's Prostars back in the day. Where are you all on the lake?

Down across from poplar creek. Just a few miles from hubquarter.

[bcd]

I took the boat out tonight. Part of the heater improvement kit they installed was a higher cracking thermostat. The last time I had the boat out, the engine overheat alarm went off as I was idling waiting for the trailer. I called Ilmor, and they said that my new thermostat cracks at 190, and the alarm goes off at 207. The new thermostat runs close to the standard alarm setting, but the setting can be raised.

I started the boat tonight, and right away the service engine alarm went off. I called the dealer, and they said the code won't go away until I bring the boat in and have them clear the codes. They said it's not a big deal, and I can bring the boat in for them to clear the codes and update software to the new overheat temp setting.

How is it not a big deal that I have to haul my boat 100 miles for the 5th time this year, not to mention that the last two times they supposedly have checked the boat and made sure everything was working properly, only for me to find more issues? Also, my overheat alarm went off again tonight when I was idling out of a no wake zone.

[mzimme]

I'd probably explain to them that they can bring their little code eraser out to your neck of the woods rather than driving the 100 miles. Are these MC specific code readers, or is it a generic OBD style reader?

[AZX45OD]

Does anyone know if there someone at MC we can contact directly with issues that are not being dealt with? Or, how do we get in contact with a regional supervisor who oversees the dealers if necessary?

[Lucky26]

When I had issues I contacted Bill Gattis at Mastercraft, He is who you get when you ask for tech services or customer service. (423) 884-2221. He simply told me to take my boat to the dealer and we would go from there.