Boats: The Love-Hate Relationship
Boats: The Love-Hate Relationship
There’s the ol’ girl, reminiscing about when all systems were a go.
My 1999 Triton TR-20
The Optimax on the back of my Triton decided she wanted to go see the doctorâthat was 3½ weeks ago.
The Story
Earlier this year, we decided to take a run down to Table Rock Lake to sneak in some early season fishing, searching for fat spotted bass that might break that lake record. The water was beautiful as always. Winter or early, early spring is a great time to head to the Rock: calm, clear water with little traffic or competition for those trophy spotted bass.
Last year around the same time, we had freezing conditions. It was so cold that I was dunking my G. Loomis NRX rod in the lake to thaw the frozen line guides!
Flash forward to this year and the warm air temps we’ve been experiencing. The water was about 10 degrees warmer than the same time last year. For a minute, we thought it was gonna be a bonanza. Soon we learned things would change.
When Warning Lights Strike
I hate idiot lights.
Table Rock Lake is a very large body of water. A breakdown at the wrong place and time on that lake can become a nightmareâand very expensive. Luckily for us, we hadn’t strayed too far from home when the warning buzzer went off.
On plane when the buzzer and Mercury Smartcraft gauge went crazy, my heart sank.
“Oh F@ck,” I said. “Dude, that’s probably not good⌔
Famous last words, right? We managed to limp it back to the trailer with the lights and buzzers blinking and sounding intermittently. I didn’t think this was gonna be such a big deal. I knew it had been a while since she’d been tuned up and hoped it was just a sensor.
Check engine lights suck! I know they’re a necessary evil, but I still hate them. Searches on the internet about the warning light only confused me: “Well, it could be this or it could be that, but without hooking it up to a computer⌔ Yeah, yeah, yeah, I know.
Long gone are the days I could work on my motors with all the computers and special tools needed.
Guess I’ll get another chopper one day to fill that need. When I work on my own stuff, I can control some of the variables. I took my beloved Triton to the premier Mercury Marine dealer because I wanted excellent service.
The Phone Call
Ring, ring, ring. “Hello, yes I am sitting down⌔
WTF!!! How in the HELL did a warning light and a $400 low fuel pressure pump problem turn into a blown lower unit????
Apparently, during one of the many lake tests to figure out the intermittent warning buzzer, the lower unit went bang. After the boat made it back to the marina and checks by the technicians were run, the phone calls began.
Now the Big Wait Begins
Phone calls to the insurance guys to set the wheels in motion to get it fixedâand fixed right, I hope.
Foremost has been stand-up in the past; I hope they are again.
The first tournament this year is less than a month outâŚ
Silver Linings
Can’t think of a better place for that to happen. As bad as it sucks, I wasn’t in the middle of a tournament 40 miles down lake, and it’s already being fixed. We all know the frustrations of just getting in line at a good shop in the spring.
Glad I love to fish.
@ksbigbass