Im sorry I dont know were to put this, I just need some advise and help.

avalanche1962

Recruit
Joined
Aug 6, 2017
Messages
3
I just need some guidance here. Do I need a lawyer?

In March of 2017 I purchased a very very nice Stingray DR220 Boat. It was immaculate for a boast of its age. I paid $15000 for it and It is financed.



In July of 2017 I started having an issue with the boat.



So, I decided the week after the fourth of July to take the boat to a mechanic for what I assumed would be a tune up.

About a week later I get a call saying there are some major issues with the boat that the service center cannot diagnose without getting farther into the engine to see what the issue might be.

A Few days later I get a call tell me the block has a crack in it and its only running on 6 of the 8 cylinders. I was in shocked because the boat ran great except for the stalling out part. I was told it needed a brand-new engine and it would cost me $12000.00. There was no way I could ever pay anything even close to that. So, they referred me to a mechanic that had worked for them for many years but had decided to go out on his on and do boat repair work. He is or was supposed to be one of the best in the best. He told me he would do an engine swap with a rebuilt marine engine for 4500 to 5500 dollars depending upon needing other parts for the boat. But he needed at $3000.00 up front before he would get started because he didn't want to get stuck with an engine. I agreed and gave him the 3000. He said it would be ready in TWO Weeks. This was in the beginning August of 2017. It in May of 2018 now.



Over the course of the winter months (say November thru January) I went to see him a couple times to talk about the boat. And he on all occasions said he didn't know what was going on with it and too, his DAD had passed away and he just hadn't messed with it. I told him I understood but I wanted my boat back by the 1st of march and he said no problem. Didn't hear from him for a month or so. He started not answering my calls nor my text. and I could not catch him at his shop anymore.

I called a couple people here in the beach for help and one just happened to be his friend and told me he knew all about the boat. He said the guy was working on it and so had he. But they weren't getting anywhere. I started using him as my contact because the other was not replying to any communication what so ever. This was in the middle of March of this year.



Finally, about three weeks ago His friend contacts me and says the best thing for me to do is to take all the fuel injection off the boat and switch it to a carbureted engine. I initially said yes just because I was at my wits end and my family and everyone else wants the boast back. He said it would take two days to get the parts and get it switched.



I didn't hear anything from him again for a week. So, I started looking into calling other people about my boat. Now

After all he has done to my boat no one will go in behind him now and try to figure out what all is going on. I did find one guy that advised me to not switch that boat over to a carbureted engine. He said fuel injected engines are not mean to run on carburetors, and it would de value the boat tremendously. He did although agree look at it for me. So, I sent my mechanic a message and told him to not do anything else to the boat until he heard from me. I got no reply again.

So. My wife and I rode down to the guys shop just to see if we could see and maybe get the boat today. Which is a Sunday. So, I could take it up to this other guy. When we pulled up, we were in utter and total shock at the appearance and condition of our boat. It looked like it had just been pulled out from under a tree somewhere and had been sitting there forever. Half of the top is off the boat. The transom is off the boat and I didn't ever see it. The boat is covered in Black mildew. Pine straw and inch or better deep everywhere. Cushion are thrown inside the boat ever where. The outside of the boat is nasty beyond measure. The only thing keeping me from getting my boat today was the fact the he did have a lock on the coupler.



In the condition it’s in right now I wouldn't give any one $500 for it and I still owe 12500 on it. I can’t use it. I dont even want it the boat back at this point because I would never trust it in the water anyway with all its been through. There is so very much more that was said and had happened over the course of these past 10 months. All the promises from him and all the stuff we were told. But in a nut shell this is the brunt of it.



I need some Help!
 

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
As Scott said - Call a lawyer. Also don't openly post anymore about the situation because his lawyer can use your words against you. They have ways of twisting. Good luck on a good outcome.
 

alldodge

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
42,561
Agree need a lawyer, but this could even get into fraud with the state attorney general. My guess is the guy owes ore then you will ever get back, but suggest calling the attorney general
 

tpenfield

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Jul 18, 2011
Messages
18,140
I would speak to a lawyer that handles consumer fraud cases, but keep in mind that lawyers are expensive. The state attorney general's office would be a good place to start.

Also agree not to air too much out on the forums.
 

Bondo

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Apr 17, 2002
Messages
71,088
I just need some guidance here.

Ayuh,..... Welcome Aboard,..... Use the default font,.....

Yer here seekin' free advice, yet ya make it harder to help ya usin' a tiny hard to read font,..??..??..??
 

imjb

Cadet
Joined
Apr 25, 2018
Messages
15
Another possibility is this.... depending on your policy... call a lawyer or your insurance. The boat, it in's condition as you describe, may be considered a total loss. If this is the case, you can cut your losses, and have the insurance company go after the guy to recover their damages.
 

Benny67

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 21, 2015
Messages
571
Dude, you probably have little to no recourse here unless you have all this in written form with signatures...

That's also assuming that he's a legitimate business.

An Attorney is just going to cost you more money.

Go get the boat and cut your losses. He's never going to fix it...and even if he did, it won't be the correct way.

God luck.
 

imjb

Cadet
Joined
Apr 25, 2018
Messages
15
Yet one more suggestion.... You can take him to small claims court. I believe the upper limit is somewhere around 10,000 - but no lawyers needed. You can recover some of your costs that way. In general, small claims judges are very sympathetic when it comes to consumers getting ripped off.
 

thumpar

Admiral
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
6,138
I would at least check with your insurance to see if it would be covered. Small claims might be the best route since even with a judgement after paying a lawyer it doesn't mean you will get any money from him.
 

89retta

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 18, 2010
Messages
780
Have you checked the hull serial number to be sure that the boat you saw is in fact yours ? There would be no reason to remove the transom to do the engine.
 

H20Rat

Vice Admiral
Joined
Mar 8, 2009
Messages
5,204
Step #1, edit your post to say 'thanks for the help'. (or get a mod to delete it entirely) Please, absolutely get rid of it, it will come back to haunt you even if it is 100% correct and factual.

Step #2, call a lawyer.
 
Top