Boats, ATVs, etc.

The idea of a boat is often better than the reality. Even new boats require constant maintenance and finding qualified and diligent mechanics isn't easy.

Volvo Penta

Advice for Novices

Thinking of getting a boat? Good, but first heed these words of caution from Mitch of Gaston, SC:

Having read the complaints about boat and marine drive manufacturers, dealers, and service personnel, it seems to me only the tip of a potentially huge ugly iceberg shows here.

I have been hearing recently that many manufacturers of recreational boats and marine drives seem to have chronic, serious quality and seaworthiness issues that often originate with fundamentally poor design and construction. In other words, in many cases it can't readily be fixed at all.

I suggest those interested in medium and large boats, new or used, educate themselves before shopping. For example, read the articles in sites like www.yachtsurvey.com to become acquainted with some of the serious problems and a few ways to detect and avoid them (many of which unfortunately seem to entail shunning many recent models of recreational boats, and some motor and drive makers too).

Above all, be very careful what you "learn" about boats and drives from trade boating magazines that make money off advertising by manufacturers! Bear in mind that the test reviews are carried out on new boats that have not had time to rot their cores or to soak up water. Rarely do these guys try to perform basic maintenance on a vessel with poor accessibility to systems.

It's sobering stuff, but better to learn now, before starting out, than later the hard, very expensive, and perhaps fatal, way.