Random Story Time! 'I should buy a boat' Edition

"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch) 03/24/2015 at 12:49 • Filed to: Story Time

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I had a great laugh last night courtesy of my Father-In-Law. Backstory:

My in-laws are all flying out here to Utah to stay at our place in Bear Lake in July

Being a Lake that may have some water in it (thanks crappy winter) the plan is to go boating. Trouble is that the boat pictured above that used to be shared between 4 then, 3, then 2 families was transferred without cost of any kind to my aunt and uncle who have all the boating aptitude of a crab and !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! Anywho, after kindly asking to use a boat they got from us for free and don't know how to maintain and who's value if sunk would work out to be a net gain for the family in insurance payout alone (to say nothing of the fact that its still running thanks to me, my dad and my brothers) and being flatly turned down I was little discouraged. I mean, I will bring my boat but...

Its not really going to do the trick for 30 people. I was expressing my displeasure about this situation to my father in law and telling him that I would have to look into plan b (asking a a good friend who owns a boat shop if there were any options regarding renting a boat of their) on Sunday night. Neither of us liked that option too much because its a big favor to ask. In any case, I told him I would look into because it was in July and we had plenty of time to figure this out.

I got a call last night from him, the first words out of his mouth: "Well, I bought a boat." Um...what? Honestly at this boat I was trying my best not to laugh out loud.

A little about my father in law: Conservative, retired Army Dentists, avid Consumer Reports reader, daily drives a VW Routan that he thinks can tow 7500 lbs, has plenty of money but hates to spend it...you get the picture. I should also note that I love this guy, he's an amazing guy and we really get along. Our conversation:

Okay well what is it?

A 1989 Four Winns 19 footer. Its in great shape, I got if for $3800!

V8, or? (this is actually an important question because bear lake is above 6000 feet and all other lakes in Utah are between 4500-6000 feet...power is going to matter)

I don't know, we looked at the engine, started right up!

Okay, how many hours?

Oh a lot probably, it used to used by a scout troupe and so it was used all summer.

um... (trying not to laugh)

I think its a V8, it said 4.2 on it

Okay, yeah its a V6, a 4.3 actually.

Oh

Yeah...should still be fun, we just can't load it down with too many people

Oh yeah it will be great, I never like too many people on a boat anyway.

How does [your wife] feel about it?

Oh I haven't asked, I dropped it off at the [storage] garage and its just sitting there, I'll let her know when she gets home.

(having hard time not laughing) Well does it have brakes?

No the van pulls it great, you just have to be careful stopping (his van requires trailer brakes for more than 2000 lbs trailers...in fact its technically Utah State law)

Okay, well...thats great. I guess we have that all sorted then...

The boat (I think)

Oh man, this guy cracks me up sometimes.

Random story over.

Coty > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 12:53

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"Honestly at this boat I was trying be best not to laugh."


I died.

HammerheadFistpunch > Coty 03/24/2015 at 12:54

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fixed.

505Turbeaux > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 12:55

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those 80.s marinized 4.3s had some head issues IIRC. And are boats expensive in your neck of the woods? That would be a 1000 boat this time of year out East

Coty > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 12:56

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Should've left it, that was great.

HammerheadFistpunch > 505Turbeaux 03/24/2015 at 12:58

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apparently they are, I wouldn't pay 3800 for this. Oh well, Sometimes I feel genuinely bad because I feel like I get him excited about things and then he just goes out and buys them without putting too much thought into it. Never thought I would get him to buy a boat though. Hilarious. IF this is the boat he bought, the ad says its an OMC, but he insists its a mercruiser. we'll see. If the heads haven't blown after as many hours as this thing has on it...they probably aren't going anywhere.

FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 12:58

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those 4.3 mercruisers are dogs, I can't even imagine at altitude.

HammerheadFistpunch > FJ80WaitinForaLSV8 03/24/2015 at 13:01

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The boat we used to have had a mercruiser black scorpion 5.7 with 330 hp and close to 400 ft-lbs and it has trouble planing with a full load and a 4 blade prop, and its only a 21 footer that weighs 800 or so more lbs than this boat he bought...and its fuel injected vs carbs. oh boy.

Snuze: Needs another Swede > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 13:52

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This is where I would make some suggestion about super or turbo charging it using a blow through box on the carb. Then I realized that would cost more than the boat is worth.

Also, your father in law reminds of mine, awesome guy!

uofime > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 16:29

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As long as he just wanted a party barge, it'll be great. Just don't forget to bring a couple oars.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 16:29

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If that's actually the boat - and it had decent interior it would run about $3800 out here in Michigan. If that makes you feel any better lol

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 16:34

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Reminds me of my dad. Famous for buying vehicles without discussing it with my mom.

Ordered a new 2 door Yukon back in 95 for 96 model year. Didn't tell her until he drove it home months after ordering it.

Bought her a new minivan (which he knew she wanted, the 80's were a different time man lol) without talking to her

Bought my sisters first car a week after my mom said we should think about getting her a car, you guys can fix it up, no need to rush though (she was 14 no license until 17 in NJ)

Bought my first truck a week after my mom said the same as above, I was 14, same license issue.

Bought his 1964 Dodge Police Car, which was an entire ground up restoration project without telling her and got BUSTED, her and I happened to drive past his shop as it was getting delivered, she called him out SO HARD at dinner that night was hysterical.

HammerheadFistpunch > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 03/24/2015 at 16:39

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Thing is, he is usually very calculating and conservative with his choices. I think he's finally decided he has more money than time. Good news is that he's in great health.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 16:42

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Maybe if the boat is in great physical shape....

ENGINE SWAP!

HammerheadFistpunch > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 03/24/2015 at 16:44

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problem is that the outdrive for the v6 is different than the v8 and they are known to explode with too much power.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > HammerheadFistpunch 03/24/2015 at 16:46

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lol

FULL I/O SWAP!

hey it's not my money lol