When is it not good to help

[mthieme]

So my new neighbor shows up with a beater...12' FG boat that looks like it had been molded in the back yard after a few six packs and a little Evinrude 6 on the back. The motor has a big aluminum ring around the prop as it was previously used in rocky waters. Another neighbor volunteered me to look at it. He said the motor rpms go up and down and it doesn't get full rpm. The cowl was off when I went out. I noticed that every screw, nut, bolt has at some point been removed. I'm guessing every Tom, **** and Harry has had his hands on this puppy. Seeing a can of worms, I avoided tinkering and bowed out as gracefully as possible. Now I'll help anybody with almost anything if I can. My neighbors and I are good like that. Everybody helps everybody. But this new guy and his stuff? What would you do?

 

[SoFloStone]

Re: When is it not good to help

I would assist this person with all the advise I had to give, but would bow away when it required me to touch any tools.

My $.02

 

[jonesg]

Re: When is it not good to help

So my new neighbor shows up with a beater...12' FG boat that looks like it had been molded in the back yard after a few six packs and a little Evinrude 6 on the back. The motor has a big aluminum ring around the prop as it was previously used in rocky waters. Another neighbor volunteered me to look at it. He said the motor rpms go up and down and it doesn't get full rpm. The cowl was off when I went out. I noticed that every screw, nut, bolt has at some point been removed. I'm guessing every Tom, **** and Harry has had his hands on this puppy. Seeing a can of worms, I avoided tinkering and bowed out as gracefully as possible. Now I'll help anybody with almost anything if I can. My neighbors and I are good like that. Everybody helps everybody. But this new guy and his stuff? What would you do?

Its only not good to help when I have poor motivation, if I think its my job to change someone then I'd be doing it for the wrong reason.

I would fix it.
Compression, spark test then look at the fuel delivery.

It kinda reads like you're judging the person instead of diagnosing the engine.

 

[mthieme]

Re: When is it not good to help

It kinda reads like you're judging the person instead of diagnosing the engine.

I don't recall mentioning anything derogatory or negative.
On the contrary. He's a nice guy. We BS'ed foR an hour.
The only thing negative I can say about him is that his judgement in boat purchases is poor.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: When is it not good to help

I think you're wise to not choose to work on it. A boat motor isn't a life or death problem. You obviously have fixed your share and recognize a plague when you see it. I see no reason why you should be driven nuts by someone else's problem motor if you don't want to. I know I have had friends leave their motors at my place and they had some things boogered up on them by folks jury-rigging them in the past and it makes it a nightmare to fix it. And then you feel obligated to keep going because you don't want to let them down. So you sit there and worry about how you're going to find the right parts and such to fix it for a super cheap price when you know you're not going to charge them a dime to fix it.
I think you did the right thing. Noone's going to starve because you didn't fix their boat motor!
Just my opinion,
JBJ

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: When is it not good to help

What get's me! " I bought this 1955, 5.1/5 at a garage sale for $25.00" but I don't won't to put any money in it. My answer is, " I don't either".