Not really a SHT, but I felt so sorry for this guy I had to tell someone.<br /><br />Arrive at campground for our annual vacation. Was late in the day, so the family decided to just "hit the beach" rather than go out in the boat. <br /><br />As I was watching the kids swim, I noticed this really nice looking shiny boat beached presumably waiting for a tow vehicle/trailer to show up (its a beach launch ramp). It probably sat there for 15-20 minutes before the owner showed up. The whole time I noted that the bilge was pumping water out like crazy.<br /><br />I commented to the guy that he seemed to have taken on a lot of water. He grumbled that it was the boats maiden voyage and it leaked like a seive. Since we were about 4-5 hours from where he bought the boat, he thought he would haul it out and check things out himself, rather than tow it back to the dealership.<br /><br />He determined that the fitting that the plug goes into hadn't been caulked very well. He removed the fitting, sealed it up good, and launched it again a day later once the sealer had cured. Of course, after launching it, he ended up stuck on the beach trying to pull his trailer out of the water!!<br /><br />Thought the poor guy had seen the end of his troubles, but the next day, he ended up dead in the water about 1/2 mile from the campground. After getting the boat back on the the trailer, he spent nearly two days trying to find the problem. Finally he gave in and towed the thing to the nearest marine 2 hours away (not the one he bought it from). Turns out the anti-syphon valve on the gas tank fitting was bad and was preventing gas from getting to the engine.<br /><br />Finally, the guy got back on the water and I don't think he had any more issues.<br /><br />Sure makes you think twice about buying a brand new boat!!
