A Bit Frustrated

[Astro Angler]

Okay, so I may have been a bit quick to buy the boat I have, but the wife didn't fight me on it and my dad liked it too. BUT a couple of weeks later and it threw a rod through the block $$$ and I'm not mechanical (it's why I fish!). So short story long, I buy a used boat to switch it's motor onto my new boat, switch the motors, sell the boat, trailer, but keeps the hotfoot and ask the mechanic to set it up and when he's done I'll be by to pick it up and get the old motor. 2 weeks later he calls me, I take out the boat, fire under the cowling, somethings wrong and take it back for another week. He uses parts of my old motor, but a friend looks at it and says its rigged. I have no confidence in his work and wonder when I drive it.
So I go to another dealer to have him really check my motor over and install a water pressure gage. I get it back and he says it's good and explains a few things, but when I take it out I notice that the water pressure gage doesn't register. They tell me to come back and I do, say it's fixed now, but next time I'm out it pops the tube right off the back of the gage and pees on my leg the entire time. I figure it must be because there's not quick tie on it to keep it there. I put one one and now notice that the wpg is pegged when I run it (up to 30psi on a 150XR6). Either I have the wrong gage or they have again not completed the job.

It's just frustrating when your boat spends more time behind a shop's gate than on the water and leaves you wondering if they are just taking your money. This is when I wish I had more mechanic like skills to know what to do or look for.

[Paul L.]

Thats a bad deal, may I ask what shop are you using?

I use Boating Atlanta and they are always good to me they have the best shop in the local area hands down. I would say go see Lee Hartley there but I think he is out of work with his back on the mend but anybody there should be able to give you good advice and service.

[Astro Angler]

Well, there's one shop, won't mention the name on the forum, where I would never go back and wouldn't reccomend to anyone, but I have been to Boating ATL and had some good work done there.
Maybe this water pressure gage is more of an art? How do they even check it? A hose can only show you that it's picking up pressure, but unless you run it you won't know. I took my boat back to the one shop a 2nd time to get it (wpg) at and they did adjust it, but now reads to much. I hate going back, but they never told me to come back for adjustments.
I guess I don't want to come across as a difficult customer or a pain, but I do want it to run right at the same time. It's been a little while since I've been to that shop and I wonder if they what they would think if I called them back and talked with them about it more. I guess the only thing they can say is no.

[Paul L.]

Well either the gauge is bad and I would check it first or for some reason you have to much water pressure, not there is really such a thing. PS: I have never heard of adjusting a gauge.

What is the WOT pressure? And what is it at idle?

[Astro Angler]

It's been a while since I had it out, but I think the idle pressure was around 2-3 psi and WOT is buried.

[Paul L.]

Before going and spending to much more on repair I would just find a new gauge to try, they not to expensive and are simple to install.

Fred (ChampioNman) is our resident mechanic on this board I am sure he may have some suggestions as well, he is up on Hartwell and I am sure he would be happy to look at it if your up for the short drive.

[Astro Angler]

Ya know, that would be a great idea. I've been wanting to get over to Hartwell anyways. What's the best way to get ahold of him? Thanks.