Boat Service on the West Side???

Jordan, I will apologize in advance if this hits too close to home.

I bring this topic up as I have had a experience with Three Rivers Marine, lets just say that is questionable. I am looking for this groups thoughts and possible solutions either for ongoing places to take my boat when I have an issue or how to handle the situation with Three Rivers Marine so I feel better.

In sept 09 I bought a skeeter from a long time friend, since I have know this friend for 15+ years I wanted to make sure we had no problems. Like that might happened when you buy or sell with friends. So I asked him to get the boat, trailer and motor inspected prior to moving forward so anything that may need done we can work it out ahead of time. Pretty good idea I thought?

So he called both Auburn and Three Rivers and choose Three Rivers. They did the inspection and since my friend had accidentally drove off without detaching the brake cable it did some damage and Three Rivers said he should replace the whole front tongue portion. Three Rivers did the norm tune up annual maintenance and replaced plugs, water fuel sep.....and everything else cam out fine as far as the inspection goes. They also had to install a metal plate for a Merc 225 EFI to help increase water pressure, unfortunately the broke the screw head off and had to use an easy out to get it out, which was suppose to be done prior. It wasn't complete, but stated to him I could bring the boat back anytime to get the work completed.

Straight to banks my friend went to use the boat one last time before I take owner ship and transfer the title. I met him at banks to do a test drive and have some fun. We put the boat on the water, once we left the marina at the south end the boat would not get on plain nor exceed about 15-20mph after 20 minutes we could tell something is wrong we called three rivers from the water and could not figure it out with them on the phone. We were told we had about 15 more minutes to get help from them as who ever we were speaking with had to go home since they were closing. (it was a friday) Not the answer we expected after he just spent $1,100.00+  and the boat worked when he brought it in and now it doesn't. Anyways we put it on dry land and checked it out, we found that one of cable was not plugged into the spark plug. Put it on the water and everything worked great. Could not believe someone missed that. Oh well not that big of a deal.

On saturday we went to take the boat off my friends truck and transfer to mine as his wife needed his vehicle. We had a hell of a time getting the clamp to open all the way to release the ball on his truck, after much pushing and shoving it came off. We had the same problem again that night getting it off my truck.

I made one more trip for the year to tricities for the ABA Championship and had the same problem at the hotel every night getting the clamp to release to come off my ball. We both figured this was because it was new and needed a little break in.

I used it for the weekend and then stored it till 2 weeks ago. I went to have a stereo installed and when I back up to leave the boat in the garage of the shop and parked again can not get the dam trailer off the ball. Only this time it took 4 guys, a hammer and 45 minutes.....

After that I immediately scheduled an appointment to get that water pressure plate installed and hole fixed as well as check out the tounge/brake system they replaced as something is definately not correct. I met Curt when I arrived he came out and checked it out per my request as I asked him to try to get that thing off the ball. We had problems and it took about 15 minutes. He checked out the system they installed and immediately noticed there was no brake fluid in it. My first assumption is well that they never put it in, I commented I hope this didn't cause any damage. Curt said they would now need the boat for a couple days and they would go through and figure it out and let me know.

3 days later Curt called back and said the whole brake system needs replaced, backing plates, shoes, bearings the whole shooting match and the leak was behind the backing plate.

My thinking is one of 2 things- either they did not complete the inspection or they would have noticed it needed brakes then in which case I could have worked that out with the owner. That is why you have an inspection which is usually $300-$400. Or something they did not do correctly caused the damage.My bill for that brake job was $1,008.00 thats on top of the $1,100+ he already spent with the inspection that somehow the brakes got missed???? resolution if any???

PS I picked up the boat yesterday and drove it 10 miles to newport to put in Lk WA could not launch as the wheels were soo hot they practically smoked. We had to drive it back to Three Rivers, where I met the owner who had to adjust the back plates as they were so tight the tires barley moved. I will state the owner was very nice and great to work with, especially since at that moment my patience had thoroughly been tested.

Sorry for the long post, however I think when posted this detail might be important.

Thanks to all that read this completely, and please advise as to your thoughts.

-Rick at Quest