87 correct craft purchase help

I'm really not a skier nor is my family. I question if these types of boats are really for me.

These boats are about having fun and they offer flexibility that you won't get with other types, Ski, Wakeboard, Wakeskate, Surf, or even tube. A `classic`(loose term) Correct Craft will do them all and you can do them safely especially important with a young family.
If you look at some of the other boats out there within a similar price range or age your options are really limited, none of the other boats out there offer the flexibility, I/O's may appear attractive options but just forget the wake on them for wakeboarding or surfing (don't believe the marketing hype), some other inboards manufactures offer some of the benefits but you won't find the quality as good (build or wake)

Any boat you choose within your budget is going to have some issues and some level of maintenance but the work is pretty simple, I'm on my first ski boat (my first boat ever) which I only purchased in October of last year and so far some basic maintenance has been all that's needed, I sit behind a computer all day so if I can perform the basic maintenance anyone can, help from the Poobah's is always good.

Driving an inboard has been a learning curve but a few lessons from our club driver has built our confidence and now both myself and partner now hold the SBDA(Ski Boat Drivers Award) which is required at our club, driving experience will come throughout the season but we are safe.

Thanks everyone for all of your help with the boat and troubleshooting. I'm still in shock he took it back. I think that really tells you how honest the guy is. I don't believe he thought he had trouble and he probably feels he can get more for the boat. We'll see about that. I say "good luck" to him.

Now off to boat shopping again. I'm really not a skier nor is my family. I question if these types of boats are really for me. Although, the boat had such a nice feel in the water and I truly loved the sound out of the exhaust. I'm very torn on what's right for me. I'll just have to take my time.

I do hope I end up with another Correct Craft some day so I can keep y'all for the support and friendship that you have offered.

Take care, Dave

Dave, Just been catching up on your issues. Don't let one bad experience of a boat put you off looking and getting another Correct Craft. There are some very nice examples out there around the price range you are looking at and they are just awesome boats.
As you have seen already there are a lot of guys on here that really know their stuff and are always willing to help, most/all small or medium issues can be easily solved with a few pictures and posts and a few searches. You won't find a better resource on the internet than this site, its been a massive help to me.

Good luck on your search for another boat.

Well, the saga is over. I brought the boat back to the PO and he refunded the money in full. I had a second opinion on the glass work and that was only the beginning. There were stress cracks from bow to stern on both sides and the sides were wavy. I called the PO and told him about the new findings and he offered a refund. I, of course, jumped on it like a pig on poo.

Bottom line... I love the type of boat and will now be shopping for another correct craft in better shape for 5-6k range. Anybody know of one in the NC area?

Thanks All!

Jllogan wrote: yup that worked. Looks like you are doing the right thing by having it repaired. Also pete is right on the fiberglass work. I never had touched the stuff but thanks to the guys on this site I was able to tackly my huge winter project myself.

If I could wait until the winter and do a quick fix I would do it now. Can I just do some temporary patches and then cut it out in the winter and take my time doing it? It's so hard as I just bought the boat and I'm already beached. Gotta get back in the water... the wife is chomping at the bit and I have a black eye so far.

I have no doubt the guys here could help as you all have already helped tremendously. I have the jitters to get this done now and get on the lake.

Thanks, Dave

Jllogan wrote: try photobucket or hosting here. Cant see pics.

Try this Link

Dave.
Hopefully that carb you bought is a marine version.

On the glass work, we have had several members take on the job in the same areas you would need to repair. They had no previous glass experience but with good picture posts and the guidence from the members here, got the job done with fantastic results.

Mebirkle wrote: I am going to solve the hesitation out of the hole with a newly rebuilt carb. $229 to my door. I think it's cheaper than gettin someone to look at it and I can swap myself.

I'm buying the carb from http://www.nationalcarburetors.com. I think I can just do the swap myself. Yeah, in case you haven't figured it out already, I'm a little bit of a mechanically challenge soul.

OverMyHead wrote: Dont be afraid of the glass work, It is a job you can do yourself and with patience and posting some photos you can likely do it better. the hardest part is the gell work, but it is on the bottom where no one will ever see it, a great place to practice and learn. It is possible most of the work could be done on by grinding out the bad from the inside and rebuilding, saving the gel. The carb price sounds fair, what is the source?

I wouldn't be afraid to work on a small section to cut my teeth on. This is such a structural point on the boat with the prop shaft going right through there that I'm bound to make it worse. I would take it on with a volunteer than know there way around. Can I fly you to my house to help? I'm not kidding. :)

Here's the pics of the situation. Please let me know your thoughts. I just want to get out on the water now. :)

Mebirkle wrote: 74Wind wrote: Mebirkle wrote: Thanks for the advice Snobsessed! I go see the boat in the AM. If I have any hesitation, I walk. I watched the video 3 times and am going to pull up the removable floor as the video suggests and do some knocking. Nobody bid on the boat so I'm good for a lower offer if need be, although, I think the price seems pretty darn good. My latest hesitation/concern is the lack of reverse capabilities a inboard provides. I suck at backing up to begin with. I hope I can get used to the bump in a hurry or my new boat experience is going to be super ugly. Anybody have some warm and fuzzies about switching from an outboard / deck boat to a ski boat and maneuverability? maybe already been mentioned but a little tip on reverse, always go for the right side of a dock (whenever possible), then a bit of reverse brings the stern in nicely. Left side..reverse will draw you away. It's a different style; I'm sure I'm not alone in that having docked inboards for so long I actually have more trouble with outboards and i/o's, on the rare occasion I actually dock one. Thanks 74wind! Haven't heard that yet. What direction should the wheel be cut? I assume to the right but you know what happens when you assume.

Turn the wheel in outboard or i/o & whole lower unit & prop turns, easily drawing the boat back in whatever direction you wish. Someone like Pete could better explain the dynamics, but an inboard prop is stationary and the rudder is behind the prop,so it is the rotational direction/torque of the prop that does much of the work in reverse. Work your way up to it. Practice on an imaginary dock in open water. Once you get a feel for it you might try (if it's not too rough and you've got a someone to pick it up) dropping a ski in and practice sidling right up to it (without running it over of course). Then if the docks not busy, do it a bunch of times till you've really got it right, then on a busy day you'll slip it right in like an old pro.

Looks like I am in for it with this boat. It needs some major glass work near the rudder/prop. Ther is an old repair that is cracking with some major chips coming out of it. I have 2 estimates for around 2k. The major crack goes to the rudder plate. There is brown drips coming out of the cracks so,I assume some wood involvement. Nothing is visible from the battery compartment. I will have pictures online tomorrow. Any advice would, of course, be appreciated. The good news is the previous owner felt pretty awful and chipped in some bucks towards the repair. I want it done right so I am trying to not cut any corners. One and done.

I am going to solve the hesitation out of the hole with a newly rebuilt carb. $229 to my door. I think it's cheaper than gettin someone to look at it and I can swap myself.

Poobas rock by the way! I'm going to give the carb floats look today by following the videos. Maybe I can move the boat along in the right direction.

Thanks all for everything. I don't know what I would do without this site. I'm donating now if I can't offer my expertise. At least I can do something.

Thanks, Dave

If you take it to the dealer, get ready to learn what "boat" really stands for, maybe once or twice over . No one but you knows your mechanical comfort level, but if you can isolate the problems you're having and post them here in a coherent manner, you'll usually get some good advice from the poobahs. either way, good luck.

Just being dumb... it didn't work as it wasn't getting enough suction to the 5 gallon bucket through the hose from the fake-a-lake.

I did the normal fake-a-lake setup with the device under the boat to the garden hose. Man, that boat runs like crap. I crank the throttle and it hisses and stalls. I may need professional help. I think I'm going to bring it in the shop tomorrow or Tuesday and have them go through the carb, timing, etc.

I'm a little over my head and don't want to complicate things.

I wish I could do skype with someone from this site. I could walk you to the problem for remote consultation.   

8122pbrainard wrote: Dave, Here's Tim's thread: running engine out of the water The key words can be a problem! I just put in "home depot" and it popped right up. Please explain in more detail on how you plan on using both the fake-a-lake and the bucket at the same time.

I'm going to run a hose from the fake a lake to a 5 gallon bucket that is being constantly filled by a hose. The fake a lake has a hose attached that is used to go directly to the house water supply. I'm sending it to a bucket. Haven't tried it yet. I hope it's not a dorky move. :)

Cardboard=carborater (I hate auto spell check)