Nautique Lemon ?

[SkiTundra]

Bought our '08 SV211 Team new from a dealer in mid July 2008. This being MN, we've had 8 months of relatively usable weather (70's or better) and 6 of marginal since purchase. She's been in winter storage the rest. In that time we've gone out maybe 35 times and have about 60 hours on her. When working this boat has been wonderful.

Since purchase though we've encountered:

- 6 times that we've attempted to go out, loaded Ski's and stuff in, and then were not able to go out due to electrical problems (blower not working, keypad not working, starter not getting juice from MPE, etc.).

- 2 times we've had a day cut short due to similar electrical problems and were stranded needing a tow.

- At least 3 times we would have gone out but boat was non-functional and waiting on repair of electrical problems.

- A need to continuously check the blower breaker that trips an average of twice every time we go out and reset multiple times on many days (and a bit of concern about running a boat with a malfunctioning blower and potential problems with fumes if I don't catch it in time).

This is not to mention a bilge pump currently non-functioning, cracked plastic, cracked floor, and similar stuff that didn't impact use.

Towboats, even brand new ones, are not immune from malfunctions. Stuff happens. This is seeming like way too much stuff happening though. We've replaced the blower, we've replaced relays, we've replaced the MPE.

This past Saturday my wife rearranged her schedule so that she could go out one last time before winter. Blower wasn't working and nothing I could do would get it to work. No day on the boat, 3 hours wasted hauling stuff over, attempting to get the blower to work, and hauling stuff back home, and one extremely frustrated wife who wants to know why our brand new boat doesn't work a quarter of the time (very literally).

I grew up with Nautiques. This kind of record is not why we chose Nautique nor why we chose new.

Thoughts? Do I continue to replace part after failing part? At what point do you say enough is enough and demand a boat that is more reliable than this?

[gride]

if the blower is the only thing "preventing" you from going out at the time then just open the hatch before you start it up. for other issues i'd think your dealer would fix it, for free. if they can't, might have to man up and take it to a different pcm service shop that is probably further away im guessing.

[Paublo]

I am handy and like to think that I'm pretty smart, but I don't know what your boat's problem is. But it really sounds like you have one or two issues that have never been fixed. The simple, "replace parts until it starts working", hasn't cut it. This is something your dealer or a more qualified technician needs to dig into and solve. Otherwise your experience won't be improving soon. I have seen lose connections or a bad wire cause the piece of equipment or device to intermittently draw more current, thus tripping a breaker or blowing a fuse randomly. This voltage drop can then cause havoc in other areas of the electrical system. Now is the time for them to solve it. Your wife has been more patient than mine would be.

[cedarcreek216]

I agree with Gride and was curious as to why the blower not working would keep you on land.

The true Lemmon Law does not apply to boats you're only hope would be to get CC to buy into the fact that they gave you a bad product and see if they'll replace it out of good customer service. Not sure in these economic times you'll have much luck with that route either.

[SkiTundra]

The boat has been back to the dealer several times and they've had several conversations with CC about it thus the let's replace this, and now let's replace this, and now let's replace this, and ...

As to the blower keeping us from going out. In older Nautiques we'd only run the blower prior to starting and then for maybe just a few minutes. When we purchased this boat the dealer said that we should run the blower 100% of the time since the engine compartment and bilge area are more sealed than on older ones. I called the dealer on Saturday and they said that they would not go out without the blower running, so as a precaution we didn't. Perhaps the dealer is just in major CYA mode and the blower isn't really necessary?

[cedarcreek216]

We only use our blower, 2009 model, when the boat sits for an extended period of time. If we float for a few hours and fumes have time to build up we'll run it prior to starting it. Most of the time not an issue because we're in and out of the rear trunks so much the fumes escape that way. I'd feel horrible if something happened to you not running it, but we don't run the boat with it on.

[WakeSlayer]

Tundra

Wow. I would be in major prick mode if I were you. Is the dealer a former dealer? I would FREEEEAAAAKK on them. Call CC direct, yourself. I think Ron is on PN here and is usually a very helpful guy with issues.

Secondly, the blower? We have EFI boats. The blowers are left overs from carbed boat days and coast guard rules. I almost never use mine in my SAN. They are closed fuel system boats. Open your hatch, if you don't smell gas, go out. 100% of the time is ridiculous. Total CYA move.

As far as the bilge pump, wire one up yourself if you have to, just to use the boat. ****, I would do it for you.

I do agree that it should all be working, and should not be your problem, but in the interest of getting out, wing it.

[SkiTower]

the manual says to run it before starting and when idling. Cruising you can turn it off, according to CC's paperwork. This CYA tells me a lot about your dealer. At minimum he should quote the manual.

I agree, take it to the next dealer over. The boat is covered under warranty...only thing this should cost you is time and maybe some missed boating opportunities.

[gride]

i run my blower prior to starting first time that day, after fill ups, and after extended rest times, but my buddies NEVER do. no blower would not be a reason not to get your boat on the water. i'd ask for a loaner boat while you leave yours to be fixed properly, or just call them every spare second you get from multiple numbers and bother them and bother them until they realize they want to get it done and over with and back to their lives.

[Laptom]

Why don't you hotwire the blower if it is that important? It sounds like you have somewhere a bad piece of wiring, so hotwire it directly to your battery with a 10A fuse between it and see if this fuse will ever blow. If not, the original wiring should be checked on cracks.
I'm not really impressed about the wiring on these boats (CC, MC, BU) and I've seen a lot of issues solved with a wiring check.

[jimmyj]

never ever run the blower in mine. havent blown up yet.

[Quinner]

As described it really does not sound like a major issue, as mentioned probably something in the wiring for the blower, other problems probably just a consequence of the first.

Not sure I would call the boat a "Lemon", the servicing dealer on the other hand..........???

[WakeSlayer]

Not sure I would call the boat a "Lemon", the servicing dealer on the other hand..........???

That would be my opinion of said former local dealer.

[ffmedic74]

Write a letter to the CEO of Correct Craft explaining the situation, what has been done, and what your expectations are.

[SkiTundra]

Thanks all! Wished I'd had ya'll's knowledge about running without the blower 6 days ago.

Looks like the folks at CC are on it now so hopefully we can get this thing taken care of before next summer. Any ideas/experience/input on this will certainly be appreciated.