Dockside Chat - new evinrude motor fell off boat

I purchased and had installed a new evinrude 250 etec on my boat last year by an evinrude dealer in costa rica and the bolts broke off on the first use. the motor is gone! the dealer admits they reused the old bolts but take no responsibilty and say there is no warranty on their installation. I've heard of similar stories where a federal lawsuit was filed and evinrude replaced the motor to avoid bad PR. Does anyone out there know any boat owners or lawyers who have handled similar cases for a boat owner??? thanks

(I am not a lawyer) BUT I would think you have a certain expectation that your repower was done correctly and safely. Being a prudent person myself, it certainly does not sound rerasonable that your motor fell off in the first outing...That dealership better buy a lottery ticket because their faulty install could have hurt someone. By reuse old bolts the endangered you, your crew and lost your motor... THEY ARE SOLELY AT FAULT..Taking this post at face value

I need pictures

In Costa Rica? Wonder how this will play out...

they do say those E-tecs have some tourqe

Seems like I remember something similar to this several years ago the boat was a Grady white with a rotten transom I just can't recall the particulars.

fwiw my 150 will stretch new bolts to the point that they needed to be torqued several times the first few trips.

Did the engine just fall into the water? Gone? Pictures are going to be needed

You want Evinrude to replace your motor? You are kidding right?
That is so many degrees of wrong I dont even know where to start. The fact that you would even consider asking them is mind BOGGLING

Seriously wtf, this isn't evinrude's problem it is the dealer...

That's nothing... One time I was sitting on the hood of my outboard holding the 5gal gas tank in my lap for gravity feed purposes screaming down hill like a bat out of hell. When all of a sudden there was a loud POP! The boat broke off of the engine!! It went one way and I went the other. The water was pretty smooth and I used to ride a skateboard as a kid so I was able to adjust the angle of the motor (running WOT!) by leaning forward or backwards. By leaning right or left I could steer. It was about a mile or so back to the harbor and in the time it took me to get there I figured out I could adjust the speed of the engine by opening and closing the vent cap on the gas tank which was pretty hairy because I only had my left hand free to do the deed. My right hand was still holding a fresh cold one and I was not going to spill that! Heck no, not me. I made it back into the harbor alright but mistimed the closing of the vent and ended up swimming the last 50 yards ( I am a great swimmer, simply fabulous). But wouldn't you know it with my luck up comes the Harbor Patrol and writes me a citation for swimming in the harbor. I told them what happened but they did not believe me. Sure glad I finished my beer before I had to swim for it. Honest injun.....

That's nothing... One time I was sitting on the hood of my outboard holding the 5gal gas tank in my lap for gravity feed purposes screaming down hill like a bat out of hell. When all of a sudden there was a loud POP! The boat broke off of the engine!! It went one way and I went the other. The water was pretty smooth and I used to ride a skateboard as a kid so I was able to adjust the angle of the motor (running WOT!) by leaning forward or backwards. By leaning right or left I could steer. It was about a mile or so back to the harbor and in the time it took me to get there I figured out I could adjust the speed of the engine by opening and closing the vent cap on the gas tank which was pretty hairy because I only had my left hand free to do the deed. My right hand was still holding a fresh cold one and I was not going to spill that! Heck no, not me. I made it back into the harbor alright but mistimed the closing of the vent and ended up swimming the last 50 yards ( I am a great swimmer, simply fabulous). But wouldn't you know it with my luck up comes the Harbor Patrol and writes me a citation for swimming in the harbor. I told them what happened but they did not believe me. Sure glad I finished my beer before I had to swim for it. Honest injun.....
:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Yeah unless the bolts are still in the transom in one piece then Evinrude has no fault. Last I remember Evinrude doesn't make the bolts that mount engines nor do they require any certain type of bolt.

And I have never heard of bolts breaking clean enough to lose the engine in one swoop. As long as they are the proper size bolts you should be able to use them over.

But I guess anything is possible.

That's nothing... One time I was sitting on the hood of my outboard holding the 5gal gas tank in my lap for gravity feed purposes screaming down hill like a bat out of hell. When all of a sudden there was a loud POP! The boat broke off of the engine!! It went one way and I went the other. The water was pretty smooth and I used to ride a skateboard as a kid so I was able to adjust the angle of the motor (running WOT!) by leaning forward or backwards. By leaning right or left I could steer. It was about a mile or so back to the harbor and in the time it took me to get there I figured out I could adjust the speed of the engine by opening and closing the vent cap on the gas tank which was pretty hairy because I only had my left hand free to do the deed. My right hand was still holding a fresh cold one and I was not going to spill that! Heck no, not me. I made it back into the harbor alright but mistimed the closing of the vent and ended up swimming the last 50 yards ( I am a great swimmer, simply fabulous). But wouldn't you know it with my luck up comes the Harbor Patrol and writes me a citation for swimming in the harbor. I told them what happened but they did not believe me. Sure glad I finished my beer before I had to swim for it. Honest injun.....
This one time at Band Camp...........

Yeah unless the bolts are still in the transom in one piece then Evinrude has no fault. Last I remember Evinrude doesn't make the bolts that mount engines nor do they require any certain type of bolt.

And I have never heard of bolts breaking clean enough to lose the engine in one swoop. As long as they are the proper size bolts you should be able to use them over.

But I guess anything is possible.

The bolts breaking would require all 4 to fail at once ;?

But I do wonder about the bolts. You would think that a manufacturer would spec the bolts as far as grade and type as well as diameter based on engine; weight, hp and torque.

As far as the old bolts, they may have been damaged from over tightening or possibly galvanic reaction from dissimilar metals.

Seriously wtf, this isn't evinrude's problem it is the dealer...

If the dealer is a certified dealer then they are acting as an agent for Eninrude. Legal meaning... the dealer and Evinrude are one legal entity. Evinrude is ultimately responsible.

The bolts breaking would require all 4 to fail at once ;?

But I do wonder about the bolts. You would think that a manufacturer would spec the bolts as far as grade and type as well as diameter based on engine; weight, hp and torque.

As far as the old bolts, they may have been damaged from over tightening or possibly galvanic reaction from dissimilar metals.

Correct for the most part. But if say 2 bolts broke on one side or both top bolts broke then I can see the torque snapping the other two.

Sure they require or at the very least recommend a certain size and quality of bolt. But not one particular brand of bolt.

But it would be up to the installer to use the right bolts. If the engine falls off due to broken bolts the installer is at fault.

If the engine breaks loose from the transom clamp leaving some part of the engine still on the boat, or if the transom clamp split leaving just the bolts in the transom in tact then I can see Evinrude being liable.

How deep was the water when the engine fell in? Do you have coordinates? ;) .....how long did it take you to paddle back in? ;?:)

If the dealer is a certified dealer then they are acting as an agent for Eninrude. Legal meaning... the dealer and Evinrude are one legal entity. Evinrude is ultimately responsible.

Not true. There is a clause in the contract between BREP and the dealer. When my buddy sued BRP for selling him a piece of shit, he also included the dealer in the suit. The case against the dealer was dropped, per the manufacturer/dealer agreement.

Anywho............it sounds like this dealer did you a favor. You wouldn't have liked that motor, anyway.

Something doesn't sound right. Does anyone know how strong the steering cable and wiring harness is? Me neither. Seems to me as soon as the engine broke free of it's grip on the water it would be dragged by the cables. And this after all 4 bolts broke at relatively the same time. Unless it was mounted with just 2 bolts.;?;?

Not true. There is a clause in the contract between BREP and the dealer. When my buddy sued BRP for selling him a piece of shit, he also included the dealer in the suit. The case against the dealer was dropped, per the manufacturer/dealer agreement.

Anywho............it sounds like this dealer did you a favor. You wouldn't have liked that motor, anyway.

:rofl::rofl::rofl:

Who is at fault is one question,

Another question is whether the person/company at fault is willing to pay for the damages, or if there is a legal system in place that can enforce payment or not.

Good luck, I suspect you will need it to get any compensation from anyone in this situation.

2 posts,hmhmhmhmhmm. :roll

I was peeing out the back of the boat and my XXXX fell off! Who can I sue?

I need pictures

You want pictures of a motor that isn't there?


Here you go:






















































:grin::grin:


Big Al

Privity possibly? Was it on a Contender?

Without knowing consumer protection and contract law in Costa Rica this is difficult to discuss intelligently. Then again, this is THT, so everything can be difficult to discuss intelligently.

Best advice IMO - Call a Lawyer.

That's nothing... One time I was sitting on the hood of my outboard holding the 5gal gas tank in my lap for gravity feed purposes screaming down hill like a bat out of hell. When all of a sudden there was a loud POP! The boat broke off of the engine!! It went one way and I went the other. The water was pretty smooth and I used to ride a skateboard as a kid so I was able to adjust the angle of the motor (running WOT!) by leaning forward or backwards. By leaning right or left I could steer. It was about a mile or so back to the harbor and in the time it took me to get there I figured out I could adjust the speed of the engine by opening and closing the vent cap on the gas tank which was pretty hairy because I only had my left hand free to do the deed. My right hand was still holding a fresh cold one and I was not going to spill that! Heck no, not me. I made it back into the harbor alright but mistimed the closing of the vent and ended up swimming the last 50 yards ( I am a great swimmer, simply fabulous). But wouldn't you know it with my luck up comes the Harbor Patrol and writes me a citation for swimming in the harbor. I told them what happened but they did not believe me. Sure glad I finished my beer before I had to swim for it. Honest injun.....

This is a perfect example why its bad to stick Q-tips too far into your ears. :grin:

Does this remind anyone else of the thread the other week asking about buying an outboard from Indonesia to save a few bucks? I bet you can get a great deal in Costa Rica too.

I am also curious about all the steering, throttle/shift cables, and electrical cables going to the engine. It seems like something would be hanging off the transom. I still have my old Merc Mark 6A with the small chain to attach to the boat in case this happens.
Mike

Assuming everything happend as told by the OP, why not try to get BRP to put some pressure on their dealer? There's no doubt that BRP wouldn't be liable for this happening, but it IS in their best intrest to keep after their authorized dealers, no? I think having them on your side would be a benefit in a situation like this, it's half the reason they have reps. Again, I'm making some assumptions here in order to say that.

I purchased and had installed a new evinrude 250 etec on my boat last year by an evinrude dealer in costa rica and the bolts broke off on the first use. the motor is gone! the dealer admits they reused the old bolts but take no responsibilty and say there is no warranty on their installation. I've heard of similar stories where a federal lawsuit was filed and evinrude replaced the motor to avoid bad PR. Does anyone out there know any boat owners or lawyers who have handled similar cases for a boat owner??? thanks

Motor was installed last year. Bolts broke on first use? Did you not use the boat for a year?

Motor was installed last year. Bolts broke on first use? Did you not use the boat for a year?

I don't know why but from the get-go this all sounds like a motor theft to me and the theft was between the owner and the person he sold it to on the slide.

I owe the OP an apology for my comment because I have no idea if any of what I've just said is true or not

Funny story. It takes all kinds. I was down to Ponce 3 weeks ago and before I alwasy leave I go down to he local marina that sells gas to fill up the tanks. Their entrance can be real tricky and goes to jsut 3' in places. So I start turning in from the intracoastal and I notice this couple "swimming" at the entrance. I'm thinkin' WTF. They have a little 6-7' dingy on the disappearing "beach" at the point. Hey idiot, my motors are up and I don't have that much control. He literally swims close to my vessel as I'm passing. Jim the dock master tells me then that they put a new 10hp motor on the dingy, and the idiot forgto to tighten down the bolts enough. They got to the Halifax entrance and ploop! They were out there looking for the motor. I was thinking of maybe using my anchor to drag the bottom and find a motor. :)

Some of you guys went right for the chum slick. Either that or you are bored.

Not true. There is a clause in the contract between BREP and the dealer. When my buddy sued BRP for selling him a piece of shit, he also included the dealer in the suit. The case against the dealer was dropped, per the manufacturer/dealer agreement.

Anywho............it sounds like this dealer did you a favor. You wouldn't have liked that motor, anyway.

The first part of your post sounds accurate.

The 2nd part is useless bashing and serves no purpose other than to the pot. The reality is there are many people that are happy with E-Tecs. Myself included. I am on my 2nd pair of 250 E-Tecs. Even I am not stupid enough to buy an engine again if the first ones gave me problems.

I'll admit I'm bored at work.

I call BS on the OP's story...

This is why I only buy Yamaha's.

I call BS on the OP's story...

X2 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
But then maybe the 5200 sealant failed;?

I was peeing out the back of the boat and my XXXX fell off! Who can I sue?







You can 'sue' The Department of Health and Human Services for not providing you a prosthetic wiener under the Affordable Care Act in a timely fashion and your being a handicapped person as such gives you special inalienable rights. Your prosthesis is being shipped to you in a plain brown envelope postmarked from Washington, D.C. and will no doubt make your girlfriend happier. ;cool; Mr. 'O' approves this message.

I thought the artificial weenie was in Washington to stay for a while.(short I hope)

I purchased and had installed a new evinrude 250 etec on my boat last year by an evinrude dealer in costa rica and the bolts broke off on the first use. the motor is gone! the dealer admits they reused the old bolts but take no responsibilty and say there is no warranty on their installation. I've heard of similar stories where a federal lawsuit was filed and evinrude replaced the motor to avoid bad PR. Does anyone out there know any boat owners or lawyers who have handled similar cases for a boat owner??? thanks

So you're the guy. I was just in costa rica free diving when out of the corner of my goggles comes a brand new etec 250. Funny thing was, it was still running, must have been making air on the way down. Corkscrewed all the way down. Prop just missed me. Luckily I was able to maintain my composure and not gasp. Back at he tiki bar, nobody believed me. I know, this is all BS without pix.

I SMELL FISH....all 4 bolts broke at once, new motor?....me thinks otherwise....

still 2 posts.....hummmm

still 2 posts.....hummmm

He'll be back next year.

http://www.thehulltruth.com/boating-forum/351770-racor-dual-filter-setup.html
05-16-2011, 06:57 PM

hope you have it in writing that they used old bolts.. If not good luck proving anything other than your motor is gone.