Ryan Creek Marina I NEED TO VENT

[Lvnspeed]

Let me start off by saying I LOVE my boat!!!!! I have owned a lot of boats and this by far the best boat I have ever owned. Back in January of 2009 someone tried to steal my boat out of my boat lift. What they didn’t realize is that the drain plug was not in the boat. Needless to say my boat sank in about 30' of water (fresh water), it was under water for 3 days at least. I was able to get the boat off the bottom but the main breaker was turned on. This means that all the electronics were on when the boat sank. One thing that helped get the boat floating again was the bilge pump was on so as we got it to the surface it started pumping out the boat and believe it or not it actually completely drained the hull after we were able to get a drain plug in the hull. I took the boat out of the water and drained the oil in the motor 5 time and replaced it with fresh oil every time. I then took the boat to Ryan Creek Boating Center (Nautique Dealer) on January 25th 2 days after getting the boat off the bottom. They drug there feet getting the estiminate to me and the insurance company. I received it on 3/7/09 and I faxed a copy to the insurance on 3/9/09 this is almost a month later. A week later, a marine adjuster went out and look at the boat. He told Ryan Creek to get the ECU for the motor and get the motor running if possible. Well I called the marina and asked what was the status on 4/7/09 they told me they had to order the ECU. They said they were going to get one on order. I called them on 4/14/09 and asked the status they said they couldn’t make out the serial number on the motor. I asked them to contact Nautique and get it from them. They said Nautique could not give it to them. Well I called Nautique on 4/15 5 minutes later your customer service rep came back and gave me the serial number for the motor (YOU GUYS ARE AWESOME). So I called Ryan Creek back and gave them the serial number. They called me back on 4/16 and said that they would get it on order. I called them on 4/21/09 and asked what was the status and they said, it would be 4-6 weeks before the ECU would be delivered. I almost lost it, I asked them to overnight it they said they needed approval from the insurance company. I asked them to call they said that they would (yea right). SO I called the insurance company (4/22/09)explained what’s been going on they called and asked (4/23) Ryan Creek to overnight it. This is where we are at now.



My questions are:

1) Is there an other Nautique Dealer anywhere remotely close to 35071? I losing faith in Ryan Creek

2) Is there any way possible my boat will be they way it was before all this happened? Or is it totaled?

3) Should the wiring in the boat be replaced completely?

4) Should there be something done to the transmition? Engine? Gauges? Perfect Pass? Interior?

5) I cant be the only one who has been having problems with Ryan Creek lately; am I? The main reason I bought a Nautique was due to the reputation Ryan Creek had. I have herd they changed owners; any truth to that?



Thank you so much

[zapada]

RE: Ryan Creek Marina I NEED TO VENT

All I can say is...WOW!

[Lvnspeed]

Forgot to say I had..... 2003 196 ltd NAutique

[sstexan]

I think i would take the insurance money and run....It will never be the same. I would get the insurance to total the boat, then see what your options are in fixing the boat. Either way, you need to be compensated for this boat, it will never be the same without crazy money......

Yes, all wiring contacts will need to be redone.
All electronics are histroy--pp, stereo, gauges, iginition, etc

Do you have pictures bringing it up to the surface?
Before and After pics?


With the way the market is right now, you can probably upgrade a few years with your insurance money!

Good Luck!

[WakeSlayer]

Wow.

[jchamlin]

Dude that sucks! Most boat dealers are interested in selling a new boat and charging high dollar for maintenance. There are definitely exceptions but it sounds like Ryan Creek isn't interested in helping you. Three months is ridiculous.

Any way you can get CC to get on them about it?

[DavidF]

With a sunken boat, you have GOT to get things moving again immediately upon bringing it to the surface. Just changing the oil does very little. You must run then engine, spin the transmission, etc. to get old oil/water out and recoat everything with new (water free oil). If you don't, internal parts immediately rust and get pitted...like the cylinder walls, crankshaft, you name it. Certainly by now, you motor and tranny are toast.

The wiring is probably ok, but the gauges are most likely toast as well. They may work for awhile, but certainly compromised and probably very ugly behind the lenses.

So, new engine, transmission, gauge set, stereo equipment, electronics, etc. Probably not totaled, but close. Don't settle for anything less.

The shop probably knows there is no hurry now to get the engine running as it is already gone. They have easier jobs to move out the door at this time of year. You will have to keep screaming. Good luck.

[Chad52]

Unfortunately, I don't have anything good to say about the other dealership in North AL either. Alabama Watersports in Athens, AL seems to be just as good at bungling stuff up as Ryan Creek. I purchased on 08 210 from them last year, and had several minor things that needed warranty repair. I emailed them a list in early October, hoping to expedite things so they wouldn't have to keep my boat too long. I waited all the way through winter and took in to them in mid-February. I just got the boat back Wednesday, 11 weeks later. Apparently, they couldn't figure out how to order the graphics that went on the side of the boat, so they did nothing. I could go into detail about all the stuf they blotched, but I won't. The main thing was lack of communication. The owner, or anybody else for that matter, would never return my calls. Basically, I can't reccomend anybody between Nashville and Montgomery to buy or service a Nautique. As much as I hate to say it, next time I have to get service work done to my boat, I will probably have to take it to a Mastercraft dealer. I wish there was some minimum standard of customer service that these dealers had to operate by, or some consequences for when they bungle things up.

[SkiTower]

Ok, who's got the SuperRon signal? Not a CC problem but I bet he can get the answer to most of your questions.

Does Ryan Creek sound like they don't care or are they so swamped that they feel there are higher priorities? They are probably looking at the boat the same way you are as in "what a mess." Not justifying their response, but in some cases this economy has everyone so thin it's hard to get stuff done. Look at all the issues with CC that have popped up...

[LT206]

How did you know it was on the bottom in 30 feet of water? Did you catch the guys in the act of stealing it and know where it went down? Tell us more about how you got it up.

My dealings with Ryan Creek have always been for parts, never for service. They have changed owners in the last couple of years, and I've heard that they may be about to lose the CC dealership, but that is just a rumor that could've been started by someone who had something to gain from it. I'd take the insurance money and run away from that boat. There are lots of other boats available right now you can get great deals on.

[Aarons01]

thats odd it wasn't totalled right off the bat...former adjuster

[skiinxs]

Why did it sink? Should have just gone down a little bit with the gunnels and deck out of the water. Did someone take the flotation out???
Dave

[Zigzag55k]

Ryan Creek Marina I NEED TO VENT

Lvnspeed,

Wow is all I can say. First I would get in contact with your insurance company and see what it takes to get your boat totaled. If this is a no go I would demand in writing that they will continue to pay on this claim for a two year period. A boat in 30' of water for three days is going to have all kinds of issues from vinyl, foam, electrical, carpet the list goes on. It would take me two days to write an estimate on this boat and I guarantee you I will miss items and I have written many sunk boat estimates. The saying a car or boat is made with a million dollars worth of parts actually has some merit in this situations. The good thing is a 196 is about the easiest boat to work with. I imagine there will be at least two supplemental bids on your boat.

I know you are irritated by the dealer but stay in touch with the insurance adjuster and have him apply heat on dealer for a timely result. In fairness to the dealer he is not going to buy one item for your boat until he knows the insurance company is going to pay or you agree to pay for all service work regardless of what the insurance company does. Good luck with this and ask for a line item list of replaced parts and guarantees against vinyl & carpet stretching and all components of the boat. Another words CYA. I could go into this much deeper with all the various vendors that will be involved from Faria to PCM to CC to Clarion to Perfect Pass.

Mark Q

[GoBig]

Wow, sorry to hear about this crazy ordeal. I'm a bit confused though -- a fully intact '03 196 should not sink 30' to the bottom, ever. Nautiques are designed to stay partially afloat even when completely filled with water. Is there more to the story? Maybe the delays are due to your insurance company investigating the validity of the claim? Just saying that from a third party perspective, something doesn't add up.

With that said, I would do whatever you can to get out of that boat and move on. 3 days underwater (even partially) and another few months sitting idle is a death sentence.

[WakeSlayer]

How did you know it was on the bottom in 30 feet of water? Did you catch the guys in the act of stealing it and know where it went down?

Interesting point. Not too many bodies of water have the clarity you need to see this thing that far down. And wouldn't that be the last place you would look?