Short Wave Sportfishing wrote:
This has been a real interesting experience.

I've been in the market for a new boat - Mrs. Wave wants something a
little bigger so she can go on day trips when she has time. We
settled on a 23 foot CC with step down console or if necessary, a 23
WA with cuddy.

I have a brandy new 200 HO ETEC, so I figured the best way to do this
was to reinstall the FIC?HT on the Ranger, sell it and use the new
ETEC as power for the new boat.

Thus, I want to purchase a boat w/trailer without an engine or engine
controls. Pretty simple concept right?

I started with the boats that I have been impressed with in the past.
I'm not going to name the specific manufacturers - you all know which
ones I've mentioned as favorites. I called around to dealers in my
area and presented the proposition to them - boat and trailer only.

You would think I was pulling teeth with pliers.

The first question invariable was "are you installing an I/O?". No, I
have a new ETEC 200 that I will install or have installed.

"Oh, you don't want an ETEC - those are junk engines. They've had all
kinds of problems with those engines. What you want is (Insert Yamaha,
Mercury, Suzuki - engine of their choice here)."

I replied to this with "Well, that's not your problem - that's what
will be going on the boat - so can you deliver it that way?"

Invariably, the answer to that was "We don't service ETECS". Again, I
replied with "Not your problem - that's my problem".

Next up was "Well, we could, but installing that engine will void the
warranty on the boat". Which begged the question from me "So if I buy
a boat with a T-top and vacuum head, installing the ETEC will void the
warranty on those items?" The reply was invariably yes.

Uh huh...

At this point, I resorted to contacting the manufacturers directly by
telephone. In every case they referred me back to the dealer and
didn't want to deal direct.

To be fair, I still haven't heard from one manufacturer (starts with C
and ends with R), but I've had good relations in the past with them
and expect some measure of cooperation.

It would seem to me that this would be a fairly easy thing to do -
apparently not.

As I learn more, I will post the results.

Onward and upward!!

We are in a similar scenario in that we are looking at new boats.
Decided to step down a bit in size and focus more in the back water
stuff which is most of what we've been doing for the past couple years.

There is a particular brand, of which I've been eyeing the 22fter, took
it for a sea-trial and I was not disappointed. This particular boat can
come with either Mercury or Yamaha, 2 or 4 strokes. I had asked the
dealer about Suzuki, as I know a local boat rental guy who has been
running them for many years, and the dealer surprised me. He stated he's
aware they are good engines, it is just he is not set-up, which I
assumed certified, to work on them. That was the only negative he
mentioned was where to get them serviced in this area, apparently there
are not many dealers handling them.

I had not even considered getting the boat without an engine, I don't
happen to have any extra ones lying around.

The only hold up in the deal was the offer on the trade, was far below
what I was hoping. He stated he did not normally deal in boats that
size, and therefore was not excited about the deal. He stated this up
front and did find a local guy who basically would buy it from him, pass
along the $ to me as trade value. I am now going to look to sell it on
my own and see if I can get a bit more return.

I am planning to go back to the original dealer when it's time to make
the deal on the new one.