11 replies to this topic

[Kevin Leclair]

Well I got the DOO all ready, battery is charged, drain plugs will be in and I am going to put in the water today to run all of the winterization out. I will let everyone know how the first day of this year back on the water goes.

[cAn'T sWim]

Well I got the DOO all ready, battery is charged, drain plugs will be in and I am going to put in the water today to run all of the winterization out. I will let everyone know how the first day of this year back on the water goes.

Do you start it up for the first time at the water? Or do you test it at home first?

[tiggerman]

We went out today too..... heckuva day! Everything was great!
I always crank the boat before I ever leave the driveway, just to be sure it will start....This year for the first run of the season, we cranked it up briefly at home, then went and launched it. After it was in the water, I fired it up and burned all the winterizing out of it. Luckily, I didn't need to replace the plugs- because I forgot to get spares and take them with me. It was a bit touchy at first, with a tank of old gas still in it, but once it warmed up it was OK.

[Kevin Leclair]

Well I got the DOO all ready, battery is charged, drain plugs will be in and I am going to put in the water today to run all of the winterization out.  I will let everyone know how the first day of this year back on the water goes. 

Do you start it up for the first time at the water? Or do you test it at home first?

I check the battery at home and look over everything, but yeah I start it up for the first time in the water still sitting on the trailer with the back safety straps off.

[Kevin Leclair]

Well all went well with the DOO first for the first time of this season! But now here comes what didn't go well, when I got home I decided to clean the boat and the trailer up real well do I ended up jacking the trailer up and taking the wheels of so I could clean the back side of them too. Well when I got the left side off I noticed a ton grease back behind the wheel bearing, well guess what looks like it is about to go out again!!! I just had both of them replaced less than a year ago. This is the Rivalair trailer that has a recall on the wheel bearings!!! My dealer checked it out when I got it winterized and said everything looked ok, this is when they re-imbursed me for the money that I had already spent to replace them last time since there was a recall on them. I don't see how the heck it could be going out already. What would cause a bearing to go bad in such a short period of time? They have "buddy bearings" on them and I have the seal to keep water out. I know one thing I am really angry because I am at my parents which is about 130 miles away from where I live and I don't think the trailer will make it back home so it looks as if I am going to have to leave it here so my father can take it some where to get repaired during the week. Nothing is open here to do the repair since it Sunday and Mother's Day, what luck! What can I make SeaDoo DOO to compensate me for my troubles, this is they second time that a bearing has gone out on that trailer in less than year, I mean what is going on?

[tiggerman]

Sounds to me like the seal went out and slung all the grease out. I doubt it was from siiting all winter. Is it possible the seal wasn't replaced the first time? I would call the trailer manufacturer or Seadoo and tell them that this is twice this has happened, and this time it happened immediately AFTER the repair. At the least they should send you the replacement parts for nada!!! I mean the EXACT replacements that your trailer calls for. The doo it yourself so you know it's right.
I have the Shorelander trailer, with the Bearing Buddy system too, and I just filled mine up for the first time since I've had it. They were virtually empty, but my bearings were OK... Sorry you had the trouble, but other than that, sounds like your boat did well!!!
I keep reading on the other board about get-togethers, what you guys think about a south-east get together? You are in Georgia, Scarface and I are in Alabama, he is right in the middle of us both (Anniston,AL.).... Just a thought. I would definitely have to run it past the ball and chain first....

[Kevin Leclair]

You are exactly right that is what happened, the seal went bad! It was replaced last time though, it is part of a bearing kit that I got at West Marine. Luckily I got a place called Tire Kingdom to DOO the repair for me, they inspected it and found that it was the seal that went bad so I was off to West Marine to buy another bearing kit! Replaced everything once again, even a new buddy bearing. I got it fixed about 4:00 pm EST and then finally got it back up to Atlanta. What a weekend, but you are right the DOO did excellent. Sounds good to me about a meet!

[tiggerman]

Good deal!! At least the weekend wasn't a total wash! Could have been worse, you could have not noticed it until it was too late and something broke- which equals fiberglass against asphalt and that would be a terrible thing.....

[Kevin Leclair]

Yeah that is what the guy at the tire place was saying, he was like good thing you caught this before you got on the road back to Atlanta because prob about half way there you would of seen the left side of your boat hit the road!

[cAn'T sWim]

How many different trailer manufacturer's DOO you think they use? My ownership slip says the make is Kara. Does that sound right to you guys?

How often DOO you check your bearings and other than Grease flying everywhere, what else should I look for?

I did a thorough cleaning on the weekend and started laying down the Hydro-turf. The Girl is almost ready for the water.....just need some nice weather now.

[Kevin Leclair]

How often DOO you check your bearings and other than Grease flying everywhere, what else should I look for?

Now I check mine after every trip over 100 miles because of the luck I have had.

[tiggerman]

*From BOATU.S. ...... Reasons for trailering breakdowns
"The February/March issue of BoatU.S. Trailering magazine reports the top three reasons for roadside breakdowns:
1. Flat Tires: Almost half (43%) of all calls for assistance can be chocked up to the simple but age-old problem of flat tires or blowouts.
2. Bearing failures:20% of all calls for roadside assistance are for trailer bearing failures.
3. Tow vehicle Problems: 15% of all cases were the result of the tow vehicle running out of fuel, overheating, being locked out, or the need for a jump start.
Other remaining reasons included axle problems (8%); wheel and rim problems (4%); and stuck on the boat ramp (2%)."
Sounds like you need to be a member of BoatU.S. Trailering Club.... $10 bucks a year will get you roadside assistance 24 hours a day no matter what's holding you up. All the above reasons are included, up to $150 bucks per incident.
No, this is not a commercial, just a public service announcement.....