It's official. I'm in the club now!

[Kevlar7r]

Used Towboat US, and made it to a marina. On the hard now, so not sinking, but I have a sinking feeling its break out another thousand time.... Or two.

[Kevlar7r]

Bottom wasn't as bad as I feared it might be.

[mmwjr]

It has a short beard.

Did you find a hole in the bellows as you suspected?

Now you can go away without the concern of her potentionally sinking.

[Kevlar7r]

I didn't really take the time to look... Got up this morning and called around till I could find a marina that could take me. Not the closest, and not the cheapest, but not bad. Took a while. Deciding if i should run on one engine or tow. Went with tow. Then, 30 min before they get there, a thunderstorm comes out of no where, and I get soaked getting the canvas zipped. Towboat has to duck in to a marina and wait out the storm. Im zipped in, with no air, and can't run the ac, because, its the lowest tide I've ever seen, and im aground. I think the storm winds were pushing water out to sea delaying the tide. Tide turned like 2 hours later than predicted, and it was low! 3 hours on the hook towing. Never dried out from the storm, and now was sweating to death in 95 degrees and 90% humidity.



Okay, rant over. It was a long hot day, and I got the boat out, did some paperwork, and jumped in the car (which I discovered the clutch is starting to slip). Looong day.

[mmwjr]

Maryland typically has those 90/90 days in the summer, however today was rain and 60's.

Been so time since I owned a car with a clutch.

[Kevlar7r]

2/3 of my vehicles have clutches. Not really sure how it ended up that way but I like it!

[mmwjr]

Originally Posted by Kevlar7r

2/3 of my vehicles have clutches. Not really sure how it ended up that way but I like it!

I hear you, some times I miss rowing through the gears.

[Kevlar7r]

Well, it wasn't the bellows. They think the leak is coming from around the transom assembly. Engine is coming out then they are relaunching to further diagnose. Were up to our 3rd break out another thousand now....



Anyone in the market for a kidney? Lol.

[mmwjr]

Just not your year.

[Kevlar7r]

Well, a lot of these things were avoidable, and I am learning lessons. Had I taken care of my bottom growth, and not pushed to stay on plane, I probably wouldn't have blown the head gasket.



Its looking now like the leak may be storm damage. There was a bad storm at the same time as low tide, and we've noticed that these storms will drive the tides lower than normal. The drives were up, but the boat was likely sitting on the mud during the storm, and may have been slamming the drive against the bottom.



I'm actually hoping it ends up being storm damage now so that its an insurance claim.



I need to move forward with my dock expansion to move the boat out to deeper water.

[Kevlar7r]

Oh crap... Rotten transom..... Just bought this boat in September. Survey didn't identify any rot issues... But, don't know how he could have identified it anyway.



Don't mind me, I'll be over there in the corner weeping.....

[mmwjr]

I kind of feared that based on what you were saying. Did you get a quote on the repair?

[Kevlar7r]

Not yet. I'm guessing $10k+

[mmwjr]

Ouch

Pulling the engines and transom assemblies then all the glass and wood work is time consuming plus materials. Additionally time for them to get to it is a season killer for the most part.

[Kevlar7r]

They think one of the transom assemblies needs to be replaced too.



I have no recourse with insurance or survey or anything. Can't not fix it. I think my only option is fixing it.

[mmwjr]

Options

Fix it
Sell it as is
Part it out

Guess it's a personal decision.

Things to think about, what you paid minus repair cost plus what you think you could get from option 2 or 3. If you break even then may be a way to go. However if you really like the boat you'll spend the money.

Remember B.O.A.T. Just hate it being so much so soon after buying it.

[Kevlar7r]

Yea, I've run through all the scenarios. None of them end without me being at least $10k upside down.



Well, this is boat ownership!

[mmwjr]

Sorry buddy, if you end up in Md I'll take you for a ride and buy you a beer.

I was here once but did not have as much invested and being old I junked it. Not recommending that for you as yours still have value to it.

[Kevlar7r]

Thanks man. The real bummer is, if I'd just let it sink, I'd be fine.



And I think the odds of a fire in the boat yard are low.

[Kevlar7r]

I went down there today. Starboard engine is out. Stuck my finger through the transom under the starboard transom assembly.



They are saying worst case scenario, $17k. Includes 2 new transom assemblies, and 40 hours labor on fiber glass. Hopefully that is a very high estimate.



So, uh... Yea, kidney's for sale!!!!!