Under Warranty

Well as you know I bought a new boat in the fall of 2004 hoping to avoid the problems of buying used. So far in the summer of 2005 I had a bad alternator and now I have a steering issue. Volvo makes a great product, it lasts for years and there is little maintenance to do but...I am now waiting over a week for the Volvo Service Center to send someone to look at my steering issue. Apparently there is a compression collar in the transom shield that takes the slop out of Volvo steering. I was was told it is one of three things...One, a bad part. Two, it got lubricated possibly during winterization if the mechanic sprayed a corrosion inhibitor on it (not likely due to its location down deep and behind the engine.). Or three, it just came loose. Now what I do not understand if it is possibly just a matter of tightening it back up what is taking so long? Why has any warranty work in America taken a back seat to everything else? It sucks! They get your money and then when there is a problem with their product they make you wait till it is convenient for them to fix it. So in the mean time I still have to pay for the slip, the mortgage, the insurance, etc. and can not use it. Oh and if I want to go fishing I have to pay for that too since I can't use the boat I have to go on a charter or head boat.

Amazing!

Winter Flattie Opening Day!

Well opening day was a success, went out from 2 to 6 PM in the bay and had four keepers to 2lbs. 13oz, 19.5 inches. It seemed they would only bite on first drop at each spot. The fish that were caught were very aggressive, they were not sluggish at all. In hindsight probably should have tried drifting for them...might have been more productive.

All Wet!

Well we got wet today! She started right up as if never put to bed for the winter and ran like a champ on her fist run of 2006. There was a little chatter in teh hydraulic steering...not sure what was causing it. Seems to be a rubber or plastic bushing in the steering to the outdrive. Have a call out to the Volvo dealer and hopefully will have that taken care of before the Winter Flounder opener on Thursday.

Getting Ready to Launch

What a day today...would have been great to be on the water. We will be in soon. I removed the cover and cleaned the bilge. I also took measurements for seating and tackle storage. I wanted to replace the bilge pumps today but the forward bilge had water. At least I know my forward bilge water problems are not sea water. Hopefully there will be no new water and it will be dry on the weekend so I can install the new pumps.

Bamboozled!

When in a Boaters World store I let the sales person talk me into joining their Captains Club. It is similar to West Marine's West Advantage program where you get a percentage back as a gift certificate for spending a predetermined amount of money on your boat that you should be spending on a loved one or some other necessity. Anyway Boaters World charges an annual fee for this but I figured since it was minimal and they do not charge for ground shipping or sales tax on their web site it was a good deal. Buyer beware! This Captain's Club Card can not be used for Internet or phone orders and can only be used in the stores where they usually do not have what we need and that is why we order it online aside from the obvious savings of the sales tax.

The bilge Pump Debate

This is one arena where size does matter! And it very well may save your life one day. After too much thought and two measuring sessions I have come to a conclusion. I am going to put in a 4000GPH pump in the bilge replacing the 1500GPH, replace the 250GPH forward and replace with a 750GPH, and move the 250GPH low in the bilge to handle washing and rain run off. I wish I could fit a larger one foreword but just don't have the room, I may try and squeeze in a second 750 up there but will probably wait until haul out in May when I paint the bottom. I will add a length of wire and alligator clips to the 1500 when it comes out and keep it aboard as an emergency spare.

What a Let Down

It was like unwrapping coal! I got to my fishing club meeting to find out my new Tekota's did not come in and are on backorder to arrive in about three weeks. I sure hope they come in soon. I need to get them spooled up and wanted to take a coupld of runs with them deployed to check the action on the spoons and adjust the spoons to the new rods.