Boatlopnik

"functionoverfashion" (functionoverfashion)
06/25/2019 at 08:53 • Filed to: boatlopnik

About four years ago there was a Jalopnik article about diagnosing a car that won’t start, which prompted me to write one up about boats. What’s funny is I am STILL getting comments on it, even sometimes from people who are googling “boat won’t start” from their cell phones while stranded with a dead boat out on the water. Lots of the comments start with “I just bought ... and now....” which is a scenario I always feel sorry for.

This weekend was no exception, nearly four years later. Sorry I don’t really internet on the weekends, and I’m just now getting around to seeing your question.

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In any case, I had a weekend filled with boat shenanigans, including letting my kids drive a 13' Whaler with a 25hp outboard for the first time. I was in the boat with them and within reach of the controls. T hey LOVED it. My daughter (4) has a lifejacket that happens to say “Full Throttle” on it, and sure enough, after she got it into gear and I said “you can give it some more” she went straight for WOT and giggled all the way. Oh, man I am in trouble with that one.

We also just putted around fishing and meeting up with friends all over the lake, for two days of beautiful sunshine - I took Monday off so we had the lake to ourselves yesterday. We were all totally exhausted but clearly it was worth it. Sitting at my desk right now I can still feel the motion of the boat, it’s a little weird but kind of like sore muscles, I love the feeling.

I’m also having a new cover made for our boat, which will eat up a larger-than-I’d-like chunk of the proceeds from my BMW wagon. But a good cover will preserve both the interior and exterior of our boat, which I intend to keep for a very long time. A good cover will save thousands over its lifetime. I take some pics when I get it on the boat, it’s pretty intense.

Cheers

DISCUSSION (16)

pip bip - choose Corrour > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 09:20

120k views is impressive

Sovande > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 09:21

That's fantastic. I still remember being on a boat at that age, and it was 40 years ago. Have a great summer!

functionoverfashion > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/25/2019 at 09:23

It shows up (for me) in the first few google results when you search ‘boat won’t start’ so that has to help. That’s gotta be by far and away the highest-traffic post I’ve ever written.

functionoverfashion > Sovande
06/25/2019 at 09:24

Thanks! Yeah I think the kids don’t know how lucky they are just yet. I bought my “dream” boat in 2017 and that’s what they’re growing up with. The whaler is my father-in-law’s and he’s very liberal with loaning it out. This is just the beginning...

pip bip - choose Corrour > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 09:31

4th one down when i put “boat won’t start” into google.com.au too

Sovande > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 09:49

Those Whalers are great for a first boat/fun boat. I’m jealous of your kids!

I have a boat I keep down here on the Potomac by DC and my son is 8. This summer is the first time he has asked if we can go for a ride. Up until now he has not liked it much. Can’t wait to get out there more!

functionoverfashion > Sovande
06/25/2019 at 11:18

13' whalers are great. Can’t flip or sink them. Aluminum boats are more durable for being bounced off rocks, docks, etc. but they most certainly CAN sink. They’re light and fast, though, so you can send a kid out with 5hp and they’ll have fun.

Glad your son is showing interest, it’s a nice way to get away from the heat and the bugs in certain times of the year, too - aside from just being inherently fun!

functionoverfashion > pip bip - choose Corrour
06/25/2019 at 11:19

oh boy...

vicali > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 11:54

Haha - still remember driving our 16ft starcraft when I was little.. good times.. bow lift.. and lift.. and can’t see.. and then you’ re on plane..

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 13:21

Not sure if you saw it, but I finally got mine running and we had a blast out on the lake!

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/montegoman-fixed-his-water-toys-1835814696

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/25/2019 at 13:25

Awesome. I mean RAD!!!! You need to get matching 90's gear to wear while riding those things.

But seriously, nice work getting them going. I bet you can pick those things up for pretty cheap these days, and they’re not that complicated.

Cheers, have fun!

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 13:31

With all the parts I’ve ordered for them (including the remanufactured engine! ) and new tires on the trailer I haven’t gone over $2,00o in cash on them. I’ve put in PLENTY of wrenching time that would’ve been expensive if it was done at a shop/marina. One major benefit to doing it myself is I now know the Yamaha inside and out. So if something isn’t quite right I know about it. Giving the blinking warning light on the Polaris I may end up getting equally familiar with that one soon...

Here’s the gear we have, went with the most 90s life jackets I could find for a decent price:

Kinja'd!!!

and a nice party pack of sunglasses:

Kinja'd!!!

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/25/2019 at 13:42

Solid. It certainly is nice to know them in and out, even if it’s because they were broken in the first place haha. Love the gear.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 13:55

That’s how I was able to afford them honestly. Was $1,100 for the 2 skis and the trailer. 800 motor and 200 in misc parts puts me right on budget.

And yeah man, had to keep the theme going with the gear! Did what I could in budget.

functionoverfashion > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner
06/25/2019 at 14:07

Perfect! It’s just good to be a bit self-reliant when it comes to boats, anyway. I can’t imagine relying on a marina to do all the work my boat requires. Not just the money, but things like the time last year when it started running poorly under load. This was right before we were taking a week’s vacation to be on the lake. I fixed it in 20 minutes with a new cap & rotor; I for sure would have been waiting a week for the marina to even look at it.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > functionoverfashion
06/25/2019 at 15:22

Truth! I almost had to breakdown over the fuel not coming into the yamaha and take it somewhere when I was finally like NO pour fuel in, it’ll fire. E ven if it just burns that little bit and dies it’ll let me know the engine is good, but running it sucked the fuel from the tank into the system to keep it going.