Charley wrote:
Dave,

Something to keep in mind when you become a boat owner: A boat is a hole,
surrounded by water, into which you pour lot's of money.


No kidding. I just had to put a new engine in my 21.5 footer because it sprang
a water leak in an exhaust riser. When I would park the boat, a little bit of
water would run down into the exhaust manifold, and then into #5 and #7
cylinders. Funny part of it is that the Hobbs meter showed 222.2 hours.

So I get the engine in and running good. We go up to a lake and start running
around a little. Beautiful day. Just cruising around the edge of the lake
probably 300 feet from shore when all of a sudden it sounded like something hit
the bottom of the the boat (something small), but the boat kept on motoring
along ok. Got the boat back out of the water and about 10% of one of the prop
blades is gone and the other two are damaged. It ran very smoothly for so much
damage, but there went another $200.

SO we are pulling the boat onto the trailer and I see that one of the front
bumpers is missing. WTF??? I assumed that maybe it was stolen or something.
Only held on with a cotter pin. With that bumper missing I couldn't get the
boat all the way onto the trailer or else the steel pin that the bumper was
connected to would gouge the boat fiberglass. Had to keep it back about 4".
WHOLE lotta fun towing that thing 150 miles back home with the weight shifted so
far back. Anyway, start looking at the trailer and find that there is a big
problem with it. The 4" square tube that the hitch is welded on to is rusted
through. There was another $500 repair bill.

Then I noticed that the flexible hose that runs from the filler neck to the gas
tank has a leak. Man that sh** is expensive.

Then . . .

Well, you get the idea. And I haven't even made it to the canvas that needs
repair yet. Or having to replace all the wiring and lights on the trailer. Or
the upholstery that is starting to go, or . . .



Wayne