whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
09-23-2004, 02:44 PM
#41
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
OK, let's dispell all of the nonsense.
There is no problem with the hull; great ride, extremely comfortable, and very fast.
There has been minor problems which have caused the boat to be layed up.
Let's start with last summer. The boat sat at Lake X for months waiting to be rigged. Race boats have priority! Until the season slowed no work was done on rigging the boat. Craig , Scott, and I were very frustrated, but we knew the deal going in and we all felt that it was worth the wait.
The boat ran over 90 mph out of the box. Brad tried to spin it out at all speeds, but it stayed hooked-up. That will attest to a great design and safety factor that most stepped hulls can't lay claim.
There was great response from the Cleveland Boat Show as well as the Miami Show and Lake Havasu.
There were additions that I wanted to the boat, ie. rub rail, swim platform, and to see if we could get over 95 mph, which Tres did (98.5mph) That took more time.
Biggest pain in the a@s has been the Starboard Motor Merc 525 Sportmaster ITS:
Has leaked coolant since day 1. In 38 hrs. it has consumed over 1 1/2 gallons of coolant. Nothing in the oil, nothing in the bilge (you figure out where it is going). Merc won't do anything to help. The local Merc. shop just doesn't have the equipment. He ordered a shop manual and patch cords BACK ORDERED! almost 2 weeks. I had to go to Brad in Florida to send me his personal copy. Test #2 on cylinder #1 killed the motor every time. No answer from Merc.
In the mean time we tried to do a pressure test to find the leak. Local guy had no test equipment to do the test. I ordered a Stant tester, promised 2 day delivery - BACK ORDERED 3 weeks. Still couldn't find the leak, even after pulling the valve covers. When he replaced the valve cover, he tore the gasket $70. No answer from Merc.
No fuel pressure to Motor above 4000 rpm. Gasket deterioration on the fuel pick-ups plugged fuel lines. Once again, Merc. reccomends that no screens or filters be placed in the fuel lines before the motor. The gasket has nothing to do with Merc, but we do not live in a perfect world, why no filter?
The Desinger of the Custom shifters (who has commented on this thread)did not take into account the fact that Bravo's counter-rotate by having one in reverse and one foreward. To accomplish counter-rotation, the Stbd shifter hade to be remotely located, causing many problems.
The reason that the boat is in Vermillion, Platinum PowerBoats, is that Jim Dyke and his staff is highly qualified to work out the rigging bugs and they are an hour away. Craig and Scott offered to come get the boat to fix all problems, but logistically it wasn't practical. Most of the problems are Merc. warranty items. For more see Merc. Racing Service Bulletin Sterndrive # 2004-04, Titled PCM Calibration Change for the HP525 EFI.
John
There is no problem with the hull; great ride, extremely comfortable, and very fast.
There has been minor problems which have caused the boat to be layed up.
Let's start with last summer. The boat sat at Lake X for months waiting to be rigged. Race boats have priority! Until the season slowed no work was done on rigging the boat. Craig , Scott, and I were very frustrated, but we knew the deal going in and we all felt that it was worth the wait.
The boat ran over 90 mph out of the box. Brad tried to spin it out at all speeds, but it stayed hooked-up. That will attest to a great design and safety factor that most stepped hulls can't lay claim.
There was great response from the Cleveland Boat Show as well as the Miami Show and Lake Havasu.
There were additions that I wanted to the boat, ie. rub rail, swim platform, and to see if we could get over 95 mph, which Tres did (98.5mph) That took more time.
Biggest pain in the a@s has been the Starboard Motor Merc 525 Sportmaster ITS:
Has leaked coolant since day 1. In 38 hrs. it has consumed over 1 1/2 gallons of coolant. Nothing in the oil, nothing in the bilge (you figure out where it is going). Merc won't do anything to help. The local Merc. shop just doesn't have the equipment. He ordered a shop manual and patch cords BACK ORDERED! almost 2 weeks. I had to go to Brad in Florida to send me his personal copy. Test #2 on cylinder #1 killed the motor every time. No answer from Merc.
In the mean time we tried to do a pressure test to find the leak. Local guy had no test equipment to do the test. I ordered a Stant tester, promised 2 day delivery - BACK ORDERED 3 weeks. Still couldn't find the leak, even after pulling the valve covers. When he replaced the valve cover, he tore the gasket $70. No answer from Merc.
No fuel pressure to Motor above 4000 rpm. Gasket deterioration on the fuel pick-ups plugged fuel lines. Once again, Merc. reccomends that no screens or filters be placed in the fuel lines before the motor. The gasket has nothing to do with Merc, but we do not live in a perfect world, why no filter?
The Desinger of the Custom shifters (who has commented on this thread)did not take into account the fact that Bravo's counter-rotate by having one in reverse and one foreward. To accomplish counter-rotation, the Stbd shifter hade to be remotely located, causing many problems.
The reason that the boat is in Vermillion, Platinum PowerBoats, is that Jim Dyke and his staff is highly qualified to work out the rigging bugs and they are an hour away. Craig and Scott offered to come get the boat to fix all problems, but logistically it wasn't practical. Most of the problems are Merc. warranty items. For more see Merc. Racing Service Bulletin Sterndrive # 2004-04, Titled PCM Calibration Change for the HP525 EFI.
John
09-23-2004, 03:37 PM
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
Hey Nort!
I wouldn't miss it! I think that I owe you a Merlot or 2.
I just heard who's boat will be in the Dragon booth.
John
I wouldn't miss it! I think that I owe you a Merlot or 2.
I just heard who's boat will be in the Dragon booth.
John
09-23-2004, 05:37 PM
#44
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
Damn John you missed your calling, get out of the nursery business and get into politics ! It's difficult for those of us who have been close to this project to continually hear the hype about this boat when we know you haven't been boating IN TWO FREAK'N YEARS ! Hell you were suppose to kick my azz with this thing at Smoke in June 2003 ! Your "patience" is now legendary but pleassssse no more epoxy, post cured greatest ever, ever, ever talk from all the others,( btw you have never bored us with that jibberish nor have you gotten caught up in the hype yourself). Let's let the boats performance in the real world do the talking and tell the Dragon boys you deserve more than two hours of use a season.( I know it's not all their fault, it's Merc's hmm... I wonder if Reggie gets the same sympathy when...ah never mind). Maybe then we'll find out if this sucker really works and is fun or is it a fry your azz to the seat, pain in the butt to operate styling exercise. I for one can't wait to find out AND YOU OWE ME SOME SERIOUS RIDE TIME !!
Now are ya gonna run over to Kelly's Island with Jerry tomorrow ? Because of this damn boat we haven't seen you all summer, ( Mary thinks you're pissed at us) come on over bros cause there ain't gonna be many more 80 deg days this season, besides, we miss ya and I'm buying
Now are ya gonna run over to Kelly's Island with Jerry tomorrow ? Because of this damn boat we haven't seen you all summer, ( Mary thinks you're pissed at us) come on over bros cause there ain't gonna be many more 80 deg days this season, besides, we miss ya and I'm buying
09-23-2004, 06:01 PM
#45
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
Jim,
You of all people should understand the problems of the new boat and new boat manufacturers. Wasn't yours close to 3 years or more in the making?
Yes, Jerry and I hope to be at Kelly's Casino Bar for 'lunch' tomorrow. It will be good to see you and Mary. It has been a while. Just think about how much gas I've saved this Summer. BTW, which boats are we running, Concept or Sabre? I'll bet Concept!
John
You of all people should understand the problems of the new boat and new boat manufacturers. Wasn't yours close to 3 years or more in the making?
Yes, Jerry and I hope to be at Kelly's Casino Bar for 'lunch' tomorrow. It will be good to see you and Mary. It has been a while. Just think about how much gas I've saved this Summer. BTW, which boats are we running, Concept or Sabre? I'll bet Concept!
John
09-23-2004, 06:47 PM
#46
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
You know for sure, Won will bring out the Sabre now
09-23-2004, 08:41 PM
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
Originally Posted by Springbrook
Jim,
You of all people should understand the problems of the new boat and new boat manufacturers. Wasn't yours close to 3 years or more in the making?
Yes, Jerry and I hope to be at Kelly's Casino Bar for 'lunch' tomorrow. It will be good to see you and Mary. It has been a while. Just think about how much gas I've saved this Summer. BTW, which boats are we running, Concept or Sabre? I'll bet Concept!
John
You of all people should understand the problems of the new boat and new boat manufacturers. Wasn't yours close to 3 years or more in the making?
Yes, Jerry and I hope to be at Kelly's Casino Bar for 'lunch' tomorrow. It will be good to see you and Mary. It has been a while. Just think about how much gas I've saved this Summer. BTW, which boats are we running, Concept or Sabre? I'll bet Concept!
John
RHC
09-24-2004, 06:16 AM
#48
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
John, thats great ! see ya around 3:30 .........Remember I'm commenting on the "hype", believe me there was no hype about my turd, it had to EARN it's reputation.
Jassman, nope it'll be the Concept. The Saber's no fun unless you got somebody to play with ( that's why I'm pissed at Dragon, we were all looking forward to duking it out with John this summer
) Hell I can rarely find some one to give the Concept a good run, you'd be surprised how few boats can actually cruise at 65mph + !
Roger, I'm not leaving Columbus till after 12pm so we'll be heading out of Sandusky at about 3, call me and we'll run over together or I'll just save a spot on the "rail" for ya
Jassman, nope it'll be the Concept. The Saber's no fun unless you got somebody to play with ( that's why I'm pissed at Dragon, we were all looking forward to duking it out with John this summer
) Hell I can rarely find some one to give the Concept a good run, you'd be surprised how few boats can actually cruise at 65mph + !Roger, I'm not leaving Columbus till after 12pm so we'll be heading out of Sandusky at about 3, call me and we'll run over together or I'll just save a spot on the "rail" for ya
09-24-2004, 07:11 AM
#49
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Re: whos going to have the nicest 39 ft.?
Originally Posted by RHC
Oh Sure::: I gotta go to Cleveland tomorrow for lunch,, and you guys are going to the Casino,,, better plan on staying for the day and I will try to catch up ;;;;
RHC
RHC
hope to see ya over there !
JM
