I think I had posted about one of these things on the basscat owners forum, but I feel like posting all the issues I'm currently having and figuring out what to do to fix them and if these are common problems or if it's something I'm doing. Hopefully this doesn't come off as a rant, because it's not a rant. Just looking for some insight and guidance.
What you need to know about my boat:
1. 2012 Puma FTD
2. Purchased late 2011 (which makes my boat a little over 5 years old)
3. When I purchased the boat, I used my existing puma trailer that I had at the time
4. It has stayed outside most of it's life, but under an aurora cover (which is showing signs of wear as a result). It spent 1 full year stored in a garage.
5. I'll be the first to admit that I don't baby my boat and I use it as a tool for catching fish
List of things I have replaced:
1. Trailer (I should have purchased new trailer when I got the new boat)
- Previous trailer was for a 2007 puma and didn't exactly fit the new 2012 hull
- Fenders were wearing on the side of the hull where it was making contact
- Electrical was going bad and carpet on bunks was coming off
2. All compartment lights
- String lights started falling out of their tracks and yellowing
- Some just quit working
- Replaced with blue water LED compartment lights
3. Deck lights
- Quit working and were yellowing
- Replaced with new LED versions purchased from Basscat and have been very pleased with them
4. Windshields (full size)
- Began cracking and were rubbing against gelcoat on consoles
- Replaced with smaller versions last year
- Smaller versions are now showing signs of cracking and don't fit correctly (yes I tried every way possible of mounting them so that they wouldn't make contact with gelcoat but couldn't find a spot where they didnt. Yes I installed the rubber spacers)
5. Rubber padding on passenger side for rods
- Essentially melted and was getting black sticky residue over everything
- Replaced with new padding ordered from basscat. Will see how long it holds up.
6. Driver and passenger seats
- Started showing signs within the first 2 years around the stitching
- Finally began splitting at the seams and cracking on top of headrest and on bolsters after 3 years
- Called about getting them replaced in 2015, but was told they were out of warranty so I purchased new ones in October of 2015
- Was told the new seats were made out of a different material and should hold up better. So far so good. Will wait and see.
List of things that still need to be replaced or fixed;
1. Lighted hand rails
- Cracking and the white light is yellowing
2. Carpet
- I would like to replace all the carpet, but the main problem is the front deck
- Carpet is showing signs of accelerated wear at the front pedestal seat mount. Two holes have worn through the carpet on each side of the mount and you can see metal showing from what I guess is the pedestal bracket under the carpet.
- This is where I stand while I'm fishing, but I'd expect it to hold up longer than it has
3. Pedestal mount bushings
- All the bushing have cracked and busted with the exception of the one up front
- I'd contribute that to the co-anglers I've had throughout the years who request to use the rear seat and then lean back when setting the hook. They weren't small guys either
- Not sure how the middle one got busted as it has never been used
4. Boat cover
- I purchased my current cover through basscat a month after buying the boat
- Within the last year it has started leaking a little around some of the areas where it pools up a little
- Seams on the rear right has torn where the strap is
- Was planning on ordering new strapless cover anyway because I hate straps
5. Water getting into my compartments
- Water/moisture is getting into all my boxes on the front deck and then also into the under seat storage
- Water in rod boxes appear to be running from the nose of the boat. Can see discoloration in carpet where its running down the edge next to center storage compartments
- Typically only happens when I'm fishing in the rain
- Water pooled up in driver side rod box because no drain hole. I just drilled a hole in it yesteday. Hopefully this will prevent water from pooling.
- There was already a hole in passenger side box. Can't remember if it was already there or if my boat mechanic drilled it for me. Water isn't pooling in it, but there is condensation on rods/reels and underside of lid.
- All my main storage boxes up front get some degree of moisture or condensation in them. The big storage box is the worth. Water was actually pooled up in it saturday (will explain next).
- Friday night I decided to clean my bilge by putting mean green into the bilge area and fill with water so I could go drive it around and let it slosh about. Got back home and open the drain plug to let water drain out. Next day I get to the lake and open my boxes and every box had moisture in it. My passenger rod box had green water in it. It suddenly dawned on me that water rushed all the way to the front of the boat when I will come to a complete stop. You may say to yourself that isn't possible because basscat puts a block of foam in the bottom of the boat to prevent this. About 2 years ago this very foam block became dislodge from its location and was no longer doing its job. After talking to a few basscat owner, he told me just to remove it and so I did. Box of foam was wrapped in a plastic bag but was water logged. This answers some of my questions as to how water might be getting into my compartments, but the only hitch is that I don't drive around with my bilge full of water.
6. Oxidation on top of gunnel and front and boat rear corners
- After speaking to a guy on this forum, he said he thinks that may be caused from the cover and spending its life outside
- He said that aurora covers are bad for keeping heat in and this causes the cloudy look in the clear coat
- Taking it to him to look at to see if it's something he can fix
7. "Fading" on rear corners where the pin striping is
- This may simply be related to #5
- I had a gel coat guy do some work on the side where the boat had gotten scratched and he looked at it and said he thought it could have been moisture related
- The pin striping is silver and he said it looked like the silver flake was trying to come up through the black that was next to it
- Essentially making the black on either side of the silver pin stripe turn grey almost likes it's fading
- Most people probably would even notice it, but it bothers me and when I take my boat over the the gentleman mentioned in #5 I will have him look at that too
8. (This may be my biggest issue and it may be my fault but need to get advice on it anyway) Gel coat chipping on the boot where the edges are
- Yes, I take my boat into shallow areas when fishing, but using my trolling motor
- Typically in sandy areas where there are bushes that I can flip or when I'm beaching my boat
- I did scratch the hell out of my boat at Cherokee lake back in 2013 at the BFL regional thanks to practicing by myself and the lake not having docks at the ramps
- Scratches go from the keel to the rear, but after coming home and inspecting the bottom I only saw one spot where I actually chipped the gelcoat
- This weekend I got up under the boat to look and noticed many more places where the gel coat has come off and I can see fiberglass. Non of the spots are np more than 2" long and maybe only 1/8th to a 1/4 inch wide. All of the spots are on the edges. None on any of the flat spots.
- I've never run my boat onto a shallow spot with the big motor but have idled over a few submerged standing timber (3-4 times) or gotten stock on some some stumps while on the trolling motor. Have hit a few small floaters at places like High Rock, Jordan and Falls after a heavy rain.
- Mainly just want to know if this is typical from me being too rough on it or if I need to have it looked at. Will be getting these spots filled in at the end of the season this year.
9. (Forgot to add this) Brakes on 1 year old trailer are already squeaking even after I let off the brakes on the truck. Wondering if the tongue is sticking and not fully releasing.
I know this is a lot to read and take in, but if anyone has had similar issues and how you fixed or resolved the ones that might clearly be my fault, please let me know.
Thanks!