MAINEVENT's Dilema

[MAINEVENT]

OK here is the dealio i bought my boat a 1979 Challenger Jet Boat 3 years ago now the first time i took her out she ran for an hour and blew to smitherings i mean the crank broke rods were screwed etc... So last year i had the Jet redone by MPD was very happy with his service and the motor redone by a Motor guy in VC talked really big but when it came down to it i was not very impressed by his workmanship and he said a month till completion (it turned out to be 3mos) so when it was time for me to pick it up, he was not their when i picked the boat up i had given him half of the total cost of the motor for a deposit as i was their b-4 i paid the rest in full i tried to fire it up and it would not fire in fact i had 4 foot flames out of my carbs So i said F it i pulled my boat out of their i refused to pay him the balance cause he never finished the work... So i took it over to another reputable place who is familiar with BBc's dialed it in got the motor to run right needless to say i got one good trip out of my boat :notam: Now my rig is once again in the shop and from what i hear and have experienced this guy knows his shiat and is runs a very clean shop but yes motor is pretty much getting another rebuild almost :( :frown: but i believe this time it should run good keep in mind i am not building a really high HP motor stock to mild 454.....OK here is the deal i have learned to grow a bad feeling toward my boat now because of my experience with it :lightsabe I love my boat but i dont want a project every January So my quwestion is should i keep it or take a HUGE loss and sell it :messedup:
Here is my favorite pic of her
"MAINEVENT"
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/515/5686DSCN1422.JPG

[Kachina26]

I'll give ya $500 CASH!

[Ziggy]

She's a keeper...especially now that you've redone the main components.
Seen it many times with my customers, they fix all kinds of things in their cars only to sell it because they think its just costing to much. Reality is they fixed the major things and the new owners now have a reliable unit for many, many miles.

[MAINEVENT]

I'll give ya $500 CASH!
Thats it :supp: that wont cover my gas bill to deliver :hammer2: ;)

[Jbb]

She's a keeper...especially now that you've redone the main components.
Seen it many times with my customers, they fix all kinds of things in their cars only to sell it because they think its just costing to much. Reality is they fixed the major things and the new owners now have a reliable unit for many, many miles.
Exactly..you've done the hard part....got screwed by a vendor...most of us have at one time or another......fix it ...run it ...and enjoy it!! :p

[Kachina26]

Thats it :supp: that wont cover my gas bill to deliver :hammer2: ;)
I'm the guy that voted for ya to take the big loss! I had to try, would it help if I picked it up?

[blown428fe]

Nice boat, Id keep it. You need to hook up with some people that know thier shit. Ive been burned in the past by my engine builder and ended up buying another complete boat , blown BBF and all while waiting for my motor.

[redneckgirl]

That is a beautiful boat!!!! But I say with tripletes sell it and get a bigger more family friendly boat!!! Good luck :) :)
RNG

[Kilrtoy]

Stop being so cheap and take it to a real boat builder not that guy on the corner in monterey park
Chew's brakes ttranny and tacos......
Serious Alex it is a sweet boat, if you get it back and it works as planned it will make you happy again.....

[Dan Lorenze]

That boat has a classic river look... I say keep it.. If you decide to sell it needing work you'll really take it in the shorts.. What's it need?
Dan

[riverbound]

I would say keep it... I have owned my boat for about 3 years now. the first time I ever put it in the water it ran OK. Turned it off and it never woudl start after that. Took it to the shop replaced all the batts, alternator, starter solenoid, starter. All of that stuff was bad. Next trip out the boat was running OK again turned her off could nt get it started again this time it was because the Carb was bad and was flooding the engine when it sat, (but at least it cranked this time). So I bought a new Carb. Next trip out it still only ran OK turned her off, and you guessed it. wouldnt start again :mad: By this time I am pissed. Take it to the shop and the battery cables were completely corodded. Replaced all the cables and back to the lake. Ran OK started when shut off so life is good right? nope. The pump started making a little noise. take it back to the shop to find out pump is shot and the bearings were so bad that they actually damaged the shaft :mad: :mad: so by this time I am pissed. I pay to have the pump redone add a diverter and loader. and I am on my way take it to the lake and she runs ok. not as many RPMs as before due t the tight pump but at least she runs and starts :) I then started to notice little flaws here and there in the gel so I had the gel redone. now she looks good and runs good. has new interior all new parts what else could go wrong???? First time out with the new gel and the motor spins all the bearings. drops a valve and sends shrapnel all through the motor. Now when I bouht this boat the motor was rebuilt the season prior to me buying it so I thought I was fine, the problem was the person who rebuilt it knew nothing about boats and all the tolerances were wrong. So now I am paying more money :mad: To make matters worse I now have so much money tied up in this thing that the wife realizes we could have bought a much newer boat without all these issues so now she pissed :hammerhea
But I love the style of the older boats, the new stuff just doesnt have the charm. And this is the boat that growing up I always wanted so it has alot of sentimental value to me.
Anyways... After about 3 years I finally have everything worked out up until about 2 months ago I had NEVER towed my boat home from the river with it going on the trailer on its own power. But everytime I look at it and think of all the work that I have done to it I realize that I still dont have to make payments and my boat doesnt look like most of the other boats out there. Its cool sitting somewhere and seeing people walk past boats MUCH more valuable than mine and complimenting my POS.
Sorry for the long post, But I was in the same boat as you many time over the last couple of years.
P.s. I forgot about the time that I had the motor rebuilt and the guy screwed it up, very similar situation to yours.
Good luck

[MagicMtnDan]

Exactly..you've done the hard part....got screwed by a vendor...most of us have at one time or another......fix it ...run it ...and enjoy it!! :p
Holy cow :2purples: JBB posted something other than a link to a wacky video! :eek:

[MAINEVENT]

RB I feel your pain i am sorry you or anyone has to go through some shiat like this It F'd up
Kilr :yuk: believe me the first time was not so cheap but this time it IS in a good builders hands I am actually stoked but like i said i have that bad feeling in the back of my mind :mad: and it seriously bugs the shiat out of me :220v:

[Nord]

You have a 70's boat with problems???? Thats a shocker :D
The boat looks sweet, I would keep it, but the tripletts should be the deciding factor :( :confused:
Beautiful Picture though

[MAINEVENT]

My kids are really not a big factor they totally know that ALL motors are hot at ALL times ;) that was my biggest worry

[riverbound]

You have a 70's boat with problems???? Thats a shocker :D
The boat looks sweet, I would keep it, but the tripletts should be the deciding factor :( :confused:
Beautiful Picture though
I do agree on the kids being the deciding factor. I actually figured out a way that I can keep my boat and get a bigger more family friendly boat. Still working out some details but I will hopefully be sporting a new (to me) ride soon. :D

[NorCal Gameshow]

Holy cow :2purples: JBB posted something other than a link to a wacky video! :eek:
first the b.b.q sauce thread now this.... :D
mainevent,
like the others said, keep it...
B.B.C's aren't that hard to build and keep running. when they're built right they'll last

[77charger]

looks like a nice ride imo.Now if the boat is structually sound i would let a repitable guy redo motor and keep it.If it needed interior,floor work,etc.Takea loss and sell it.I was in the a similar mode a couple of years ago got i built a nice mild motor that ran solid,had mpd do the pump couldnt have been happier with the drivetrain but the rest of the boat needed alot of work i sold it to my brother for 700 bucks and bought my current 21ft eliminator (a used one)and enjoy it.it aint as fast but nothing turn the key,take rougher water and the gas consumption of a sbc.(i used what it would have cost me to redo my old boat fora down payment)

[NELSON#109]

I Ran A 78 Challenger For Several Yrs... I Re-did Just About Every Thing On It.. Pump W/ Setback, Interior. Floor, Tanks....u Name It Complete Bare Hull Up Re-rig. I Spent A Ton Of Money On It But It Was The Funest All Around Hull Ive Ever Run. Your To Close To Quit... I Think You Will End Up Lovin The Boat, And If Your Kids Are Cool In It, Dont Worry... When They Get Older They Will Thank You For Dragin Em To The Lake In A Boat Like That... Thats What Most Of Us Grew Up In... I Leared Early How To Get Along W/ A Fast Boat N Hot Headers. I Re-learn The Hot Header Part Every Season. Jus Got My First Set Of 2005 Burns In The 109 Cp This Weekend. Good Luck.

[sorry dog]

Put an outboard on it...a Promax 225 should make it a bit faster and more reliable.

[bakerjet]

that thing looks sick i'd keep it for sure!

[Mrs CP 19]

I say keep it. If it is being completely gone thru, and you are not after high horsepower, closer to stock, you should be able to get some guarantee on it!!
We had Bill Scotten building our engines before we ever bought our 1st CP. Engines were always warrentied until we headed up in HP(over 650) Never had a problem with any of the motors, just wanted to go for more.
As to cost, this is the 3rd motor in our boat, one modified once. After stepping up each time, and the last being the twin turbo, we could have bought a much larger, more expensive ride. We even have our last motor for a 'spare'! Just enjoy what we have!! Moving up? That's a decision only you and your family can make.....But you have a beautiful boat!!!!

[MAINEVENT]

Thanks for all the replies and Compliments on my rig I see alot of you people say "Keep It" I honestly expected a different responce I do although understand that having a "Older" boat I will have small issues here and their Believe me i am not expecting a NO PROBLEM boat I would have boUGHT A BAYLINER for that :2purples: :wink: J/K

[Raskal]

i say keep it looks to good :)

[JetBoatRich]

Good looking boat there :D keep her :rolleyes:
I have had the same luck over the last few years :devil: hopefully the new motor will last :D

[alfonzo]

Sell it, lets go to Vegas and I'll help you blow it.

[MAINEVENT]

Sell it, lets go to Vegas and I'll help you blow it.
If I sell it can you teach me how to be #1 B.B. :rollside: LOL

[alfonzo]

If I sell it can you teach me how to be #1 B.B. :rollside: LOLno prob. #1. you have to buddy up with a guy that has a big boat...OHH..,3DO. ;) :D

[MAINEVENT]

no prob. #1. you have to buddy up with a guy that has a big boat...OHH..,3DO. ;) :D
:idea: