Don't let boat maintenane slide

[Bonefish]

I just purchase a used boat, and I made a list of things that needed to done before using it. One of the things that had broken was the bilge pump connection to the out-port hose. Seemed to be a simple task in my mind to get done. However, that was not the case. The first thing I found out was that working in a closed-in area that boat builders create can also create some weird body positions. Today I am sore all over from trying to get into all those positions. Through the years I have been amaized at how well car and boat manufactures can build them, but how badly they are when you have to go back in and replace parts. My thought is that if the guy who puts the boat/car on paper could talk to the guy who will be replacing the part, life may be a little easier. I am sure if you work on boats and cars you know what I mean. The problem with this bilge pump replacement was no room to get your hands into to work, bilge pump plastic broke leaving the ring of plastic in the hose, the screw head on the clamp rusted off, could not cut hose off with knife because the bilge hose was made of hard plastic, the bilge hose was too short to start with, bilge hose ran under a piece of aluminum plate making the hose unaccessible. Solution...finally managed to get a Drimel tool in to cut off the clamp and put an extender adaptor to get hose on. Elapsed time of project a little over three hours. My point here is try to replace things before things begin to rust and fall off and hope people who build our boats and cars begin to use their brains, which I am not putting a lot of faith into that thought. I can't wait to replace my graph wires now.

[Shimano4Life]

I feel your pain my friend. I worked at a boat dealership for several years until it shut down back in December 2008. Some of the spots that manufacturers install components are definitely compromised, or inaccessible. My older brother was the master technician, and to see him squeeze, bend, and contort himself into some positions to work on boats shot pain throughout my body. Luckily for him, he is smaller in weight and stature. All of us "bigger" boys could always rely on him to crawl into tight spaces to fix things only he could reach.

I can totally relate with you. I have many scars on my hands, arms, shoulders, legs, stomach, even my neck, to prove the work I have had to do in the past.

I know this is going to ruffle some feathers, but ENGINEERING departments need to put these things into perspective, especially when dealing with warranty repairs so they can keep their labor payout down and take it easier on the technicians and do-it-yourself guys.

After all, not everyone can justify paying an ungodly amount of labor (especially with as high as it is) to replace a bilge pump or livewell aerator pump for example. A $50 part (or less) quickly becomes a $700 job.

In the end, poor design cause everyone to lose. Sorry for venting.....I guess those years of getting cut, scratched, gashed open by hose clamps, and back pain finally made it out after being bottled up for so long.

[elnutsmalljaws]

I just purchase a used boat, and I made a list of things that needed to done before using it. One of the things that had broken was the bilge pump connection to the out-port hose. Seemed to be a simple task in my mind to get done. However, that was not the case. The first thing I found out was that working in a closed-in area that boat builders create can also create some weird body positions. Today I am sore all over from trying to get into all those positions. Through the years I have been amaized at how well car and boat manufactures can build them, but how badly they are when you have to go back in and replace parts. My thought is that if the guy who puts the boat/car on paper could talk to the guy who will be replacing the part, life may be a little easier. I am sure if you work on boats and cars you know what I mean. The problem with this bilge pump replacement was no room to get your hands into to work, bilge pump plastic broke leaving the ring of plastic in the hose, the screw head on the clamp rusted off, could not cut hose off with knife because the bilge hose was made of hard plastic, the bilge hose was too short to start with, bilge hose ran under a piece of aluminum plate making the hose unaccessible. Solution...finally managed to get a Drimel tool in to cut off the clamp and put an extender adaptor to get hose on. Elapsed time of project a little over three hours. My point here is try to replace things before things begin to rust and fall off and hope people who build our boats and cars begin to use their brains, which I am not putting a lot of faith into that thought. I can't wait to replace my graph wires now.

Tell the truth Bone, the reason you are sore all over has NOTHING to do with the boat, YOU ARE OLD!!!!!! Face it, your spring chicken days past you MANY MANY MOONS AGO!! Just kidding buddy, good to see you getting your boat ready for Dale this winter.

[Bonefish]

Elwood, you are right about those young chicken legs. When you are laying upside down on your head everything hurts. I don't have too much else to do but I do have a couple of rivets leaking. A lot to say about those all-welled aluminum boats. Again, why would you put rivets in the boat of a boat anyway? I guess I will smear some hog fat on them and go fishing.

[Embrey]

well if anybody wants to pay 700 to replace a bilge pump,i am the man...lol

[onemorecast56]

LOL,,,hell I`ll do it for ,,,oh say 500...lol

[Embrey]

LOL,,,hell I`ll do it for ,,,oh say 500...lol

are you a mexican?

[HURRICANEBOB]

Being mechanically challenged, this is why I bought a pontoon boat. Crank up the tongue jack, and walk under it to get at stuff. I think of the pontoon boat as "Engineered for the mechanically handicapped".

And I totally agree boat makers ought do a little human engineering. No only in maintenance and systems acces, but also in the overall design thing. Seems like they are just about all cookie cutters of each other, save a couple bells and whistles here and there.

[GeoFisher]

LOL,,,hell I`ll do it for ,,,oh say 500...lol

SCREW THAT..........I will do it for oh say.........100 bucks and a 6 pack of GOOD brewskies..........

hahahahahha.

[Shimano4Life]

Sorry guys..........that was a poor example. I was just trying to make a point.