Argh - more issues w/ my 22v

[rob_and_trish]

(This is kind of long - sorry)
I have an 03 22v riders edition that Ive had nothing but problems w/.
Some major - but mostly just minor bs issues that I dont think we should have for a boat of this price.

We got it in Sept of 03.
Due to certain constaints we go out maybe once a week for a few hours. The boat as of today has 40 hrs on it.
The boat is babied. Lives in a heated garage over the winter and does not get abused when on the water. ( I have 3 kids - 1,3 & 5 all girls) The wife and I both ski and just learned to board 2 years ago.

Also to preface this- I just found out today that my nearest service center (which was 2 hrs away) is no longer handling boats.
(Big boyz toys in Oak Ridge, NC)
Im trying to locate another one in NC (I live just south or raleigh) so if anyone knows of one let me know. I plan on calling tige on Monday.

Anyways here is my experience so far and would really hope anyone can help me out a bit w/ some of them as well as my latest issue.

1. the speedometer has not worked at all since I got the boat. I told the dealer about it when I brought it in for the first service - he told me he fixed it. I get it on the lake - doesnt work. I told him again - (I can live w/ out it b/c I have the PP but still just the issue of it.)
brought it in 3 more times still doesnt work.
Each time he said it was fixed. To this day still does not work.

Can someone explain to me how it works and what I need to check to get it to work?


2. Drain in cooler. The drain in the cooler (the copper pipe that leads below) was never seated properly. The water would not drain down the tube but around it. Not sure if it all leads to the same place. But told them about it when I brought it in for the first service. Their fix was the goop the crap out of the pipe w/ silicon to the point where now the water does not drain out of it all the way.
Just a shitty *** workman ship fix. I still need to remove the entire cooler to fix it the right way. Again one of those things that I dont think I should have to worry about.


3. Almost sank. I guess on may have been partly my fault (you decided). I drove the boat to him for winterization (for the first season) and storage.
Next season is getting ready to start - I call tell him Im getting the boat.
We pick it up an head out the next day.
A little while into the trip I notice the boat is really low in back then the balist pump kicks on I pop the engine compartment and its 1/4 way full of water. We immediatly turn back. I call on the ride back home and he says they must have forgot to connect on the drain lines and gives me instructions on how to fix it. My bad for just assuming that having the boat ready would mean the put it back together correctly.


4. Fuel pump.
At just about 20 hours had the fuel pump stop working - left us (my wife and 3 kids) standed in the middle of the lake.
Real fun! Brought it in - replaced it - so far so good.

5. Battery issues?? Middle of last year - we go to put the boat in just after the fuel pump issue. Boat would not turn over at all. No juice to anything. I pull it back out. Unhook everything from the battery - put it back and it turns over fine. No idea what the scoop was there.

6. Starter issues??? End of last year. Put the boat in - played most of the day and decided to call it a day. Boat wont start. I hear clicking but nothing. Try a few times and it finally turns over.


7. Ballist pump burns up.
Middle of the season - ballist pump burns up. Had a choice - replace it myself (boat parts place 20 mins away + 1hr for me to change it) or drive 2 hrs leave the boat for a few days and drive back and get it.
I chose option 1.


8. Battery & Fuel Gauge stops working
The latest saga....Brought the boat in to get it ready for the season after being winterized. Had the boat winterized by a boat place closer to me in sanford. Pick it 2 weeks ago up last week. (BTW - I told them about the speedometer - The said the gauges should
still be under warrentee and contact a tige dealer - I just laughed)
Before we even leave the house - I do an entire once over of the boat. I pop the engine compartment and notice the main power switch is on (I always turn it off as per instructions from the place we bought it)
Anycase - battery is dead. (Im thinking maybe thats a bit odd for only sitting for 2 weeks - but like I said I always turn it off)
I charge the battery wont be done for like 7 hours. Walmart is right down the road - they happen to have the same battery for 40 bux - no problem lets start the season w/ a new battery.
Before we leave for the lake - I turn the key all seems to be working. Few says 3/4 full - good to go.
Get to the lake - go to start it up fine - start heading out - notice fuel gague is on E.
Im 99% positive it said 3/4 before I left the house - but it was sitting on a slight incline. I figure better to be safe than sorry - pull the boat back out (talk about looking like aputz!) head down 3 miles - fill up - odd it cuts off at 15 gallons.
Back to the lake - put her back in again - fuel gauge is still at E. I get pissed but screw it Im out w/ my family lets enjoy it - I know theres enough gas.
Play most of the day - decide to call it a day - My wife an I joke I hope the boat starts - remember last time. And pop - nothing but clicks. Try a few more times - finally it starts.

Im assuming its the starter - but w/ only 40 hours on it - come on. Any ideas???
Anyone know if this would be covered under warentee?

Anyways - other than those problems we love the boat. It floats well
Im going to call tige in the morning and see what they can do to help me out..

Anyone out there have ideas on how to help me fix any of the above problem.

I guess Im just ranting a bit. I buy a boat for a price where I would not expect I would have bullshit issues like this. Or at least I would have them taken care of in a professional manner. Its to the point now where we dont even feel comfortable going out on the boat b/c its like - ok whats going to happen today. If it was just the 2 of us - I dont think it would be as big of a deal but when It effect us and our kids I have a huge problem with it.


Thanks for listening.

Rob & Trish.

[Gardyloo03]

Seems like recently there are several threads going on similair issues. Sounds like someone at tige should consider taking a look at the quality control and R&D department.

[akdoc]

rob_and_trish,

Good luck resolving those issues. We have had many problems with our boat, and our tige dealer. We called tige directly and complained, still no resolve. My advice, get it fixed, sell it and get another inboard at a dealer that has a great service reputation. Now in my eyes most inboard and wakeboard specific boats all are great, but the good service is priceless. Good luck!

[poohpotta]

rob_and_trish Do you have the MarinePower motor or the Mercruiser?

Sounds like you got a lemon, I have a 2004 22V and had no electrical or mechanical problems, the boat now has nearly 40 hours on it. My problems were mostly cosmetic issues.

[rob_and_trish]

Mercruiser.

[poohpotta]

I got the MarinePower motor, I've been very happy with it so far after one season. We'll see how it goes this year...

[Laketrash]

I have not heard anything good about anyone's buying experience from Big Boys Toys. At least Tige did something about it and has hopefully pulled the line from them. Now we just need to get someone good in the area.

TIGE...HELP US. We need GOOD service!!!!!

[Jeff LaHaye]

Rob & Trish,

I have a 2001 2100V from the same dealer, had terrible experience with them. You can read my rants elsewhere on the board, but it sounds like we've got plenty of company when it comes to frustration with those folks in Oak Ridge.

I live in Cary, very close to you.

I've used Boats Unlimited in Durham (I-70 and Page Road) for my service the past few years. They're the MasterCraft dealer, but they're more than happy to work on my Tige' boat and I haven't had anything they couldn't address. A Merc is a Merc, Teleflex is Teleflex, etc.
All and all I've been happy with them, with one major exception - after dropping the water pump to replace the steering cable last year, they didn't tighten a water hose line and I had the same sinking feeling you describe on my first launch of the season.
Boy was I pissed! The good news is the way they responded when I let them have it about the problem. Very apologetic, then wouldn't take my money for some misc parts I was there to pick up (about $50).

My second season I had the same starting problem you describe - intermittent episodes of clicking from the starter solenoid but not enough juice to crank the engine. I had it checked out that winter at Boats Unlimited. They said it could be a pad spot on the starter rotor (or something like that...), but after checking it out they said the starter was fine. I appreciated the fact that they didn't try to sell me something I didn't need. The problem went away with a new battery for me.

Are you spending a lot of time sitting with the stereo, blowers, or other things draining the battery? Those big stereo power amps will pull the battery down faster than you may realize. If that's not it, and your battery is good, you may want to get your charging system checked.

Even with everything powered down, my battery will drain in a week if I don't turn off the main power switch. I don't know where the idle power drain is, but I don't think finding it dead after 2 weeks is unusual.

Fuel gauges in boats are notoriously bad, for many reasons. There's lots of other info on this board - you may want to look at a fuel flow meter if it's a big issue for you. Otherwise just monitor your running hours since last fillup.

Good luck. Give the Boats Unl. guys a chance with your service.
Ask for Ronnie the service manager, tell him I sent you, I think he'll take good care of you.

I'm in with LakeTrash - Charlie Pigeon, get us a good dealer in the RDU Triangle Region!!!! You don't really want us using the MC dealer for our service, do you? They make pretty nice boats that we have to look at when we go there for our service!

Jeff

[Tip]

Does anyone have any specifics on what Tige did to Spencer's dealership? I just talked to Spencer two weeks ago about getting the 150 hour service completed, I tried to call him today but got his voicemail.

I've got the Merc engine, and knock on wood, I have not had any trouble with the engine itself other than the notorious intermittent hesitation that is supposed to be correctable with a reprogrammed ECU (i'm still fighting with Mercrusier on that one). I did have a problem with the main wire harness being loose that caused the engine not to start, but Spencer fixed it for me. Other than that, I've got 155 hours on it and it runs great. I do run the stereo occasionally but I have two batteries so I normally turn the switch to battery two during extended stops. I have left my battery switch on (by accident) for more than a month at a time and the battery has never drained.

There is supposed to be a Tige dealer in Virginia, does anyone know the location, or reputation of the dealer? Since I keep my boat at Lake Gaston it might not be more than a couple of hours drive from there.

A reliable Tige dealership in the Triangle area would rock. With an outstanding dealer I'm confident that Tige could give Malibu and Correct Craft some competition in the local area. Until then, Tige may as well forget doing business in Central NC, which is a shame because central NC is great market for wakeboard boats.

Tip

[rob_and_trish]

Im not sure - this is what I heard from the boat shop in Sanford (Chopin marine)
I called him and left some messages but have not heard back from him.
But I did talk w/ someone from tige yesterday - they said that they have received a lot of complaints about him and will be talking w/ him in the next few weeks. So Im not really sure whats going on w/ him.

I do know im not taking my boat back to him.

Jeff, Thanks for the info - Ill give them a buzz today.

Just a follow up on the tige call.
I spoke w/ the CS rep - they said that they would take care of the gague issues under warrentee - even pay for another boat shop to take care of it (as long as it met there normal rate for a replacement) which I thought was fair. (It saves me a wasted day hauling it)

The starter issue is another story. They think the issus w/ the starter is b/c of the day the engine compartment got filled w/ water - which was spences fault - so he should replace it for us and I need to deal w/ him.
So we will see what happens w/ that.

-Rob

[rob_and_trish]

Jeff,

Just an fyi...gave them a call - Ronnie is no longer there.

-R

[Tige M.D.]

rob & trish, sounds to me like most of your problems are not just "your" problems. all boats, i don't care who builds it or how much it costs have little problems. but, your problem sounds like service.
1. your starting problem is probably a bad starter. stop thinking about the "only 40hrs." thing and think about how much water was in your bilge. if the bilge was 1/4 full then the starter was submerged. starters don't like water, no matter how new they are.
2. your speedo is most likely an easy fix. have someone sit in the driverseat with the boat on the trailer with the key "on" engine "off". now, you spin the paddle wheel with compressed air or just flick it with your finger. if it works check to see that the paddle wheel sits belowe the bottom of the boat. sometimes they are mounted too hight and come out of the water. if that is the case, loosen the mounting screws and lower it down. if the gauge doesn't work then find a shop to troubleshoot it.
3. the fuel gauge problem is nothing new. its been there from day one. we all know that. but, only taking 15 gallons, might want to check to make sure the fuel vent hose runs true. no dips or debris in the hose.
the rest of it sounds like crappy service. loose fittings, battery switches turned on, ect. ect. unfortunately i don't feel you can blame tige.

Tip, is this the same dealer that makes house calls to you?

[rob_and_trish]

I agree - anything mechincal will have problems - and I expect that.

What I dont expect is little BS problems that dont get fixed right. I also dont expect major issues w/ a boat before It has 50+ hours on it.

The fuel pump shouldnt go in a brand new boat.
The speedo should work in a brand new boat.
When I get the boat winterized and pick it up next season I would expect all the hoses to be connected.

The point is when things dont work I expect service to take care of them and take care fo them properly.

As far as Im concerned the dealer I got the boat from and services I get from that dealer is a reflection and extension of Tige.

Others may not feel that way and it seems to me that Tige doesnt feel that way either after talking w/ them.

Ill use the starter as a perfect example.
I agree - starters do not like water - it got wet b/c of crappy service - now according to Tige - Im responsible for replacing the starter. Or I have to work w/ the ppl that serviced it to have them replace it.
Given their track record w/ me - I really dont want them touching it.

As far as dealers that make house calls - Id love to have one take a road trip. Id even be willing to pay extra to have to come out and fix things.

Theres a new business in there for someone - Boat Doctors, we make house calls.
Hell - Id even be willing to back someone if they want to start it.

[Tige M.D.]

i'd love to come out and fix your problems rob, but i think that house call would be a little on the expensive side.

[Tip]

Spencer has driven to lake Gaston twice, on his dime, to service my boat.

I've heard a lot of horror stories relating to experiences with the service in Oak Ridge. Fortunately for me my troubles have been very minor compared to Rob's experience. I don't know that I would be as calm as Rob if all that had happened to me.

I understand that Tige cannot control every dirty deed by every dealer, but if I were an executive with Tige I would be very protective of the Tige reputation, because let's face it, a good reputation sells boats. A bad reputation also sells boats, just not yours. Whether Tige likes it or not, Tige's reputation is closely tied to customer satisfaction, and I think we can all agree that customer satisfaction is heavily dependent on the dealer experience.

I know of a least one marina (Popular Creek Marina) on Lake Gaston that makes house calls because they came to my property and winterized my boat two years ago. I'm pretty sure that Corky at Lake Gaston Watersports also makes house calls. I also know another guy that does minor maintenance type stuff (oil changes etc.) who makes house calls. In fact, Keith drove his pontoon boat out to my dock last year and changed out my prop for me.