Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

[SigSaurP229]

I posted an ad on C/l for someone to buy my old fish and ski so I could upgrade. I intentionally did not try to sell it word of mouth because it was a 40 year boat and a 40 year old motor. Though lovingly cared for and maintained I don't want to be blamed for anything that could potentially go wrong.

One of the guys that came out to look at it HAPPENED to be a co-worker, he and I didn't see eye to eye on the price and I wasn't dropping my price just because he was a co-worker so he left.

I enjoyed my days off last night when low and behold the co-worker who passed on my boat left.

He went and bought another boat. I am happy for him. It was a 40 year old boat with a jonnyrude electric shift like I had.

My boat was in perfect running order with a fresh carb rebuild newer lower unit, a spare lower unit, spare shift solenoids spare power pack and spare water pump, also recently changed lower unit oil, and a 2nd quart of OMC type C gear oil as well, all for the price of $1250. I sold it to the third looker for full asking price.

He came in to work today and was basically begging for my help. He bought another 40 year old boat with an electric shift Jonnyrude. He said he got an awesome deal for $900.00, but he needed my help because the carb was spitting gas all over the place. Ohh and now he got it home and decided to rev it up to about 3000 RPMs on the muffs in the driveway before putting it into gear. The motor will no longer start. So should I help the poor guy or let him be.


I know the mechanics around here will charge him $300.00 for just the carb rebuild. (I can do it from straight memory).

I also have a spare lower unit in my shop.


So what say you I boats should I help the guy out, he was kind of arrogant and rude with me, or should I just sit back and laugh a bit.

 

[rallyart]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

You can help him out. It will just make him feel more like a jerk for saving $350. Of course, it might cost him $300 or more for your help, and parts.

 

[MarkSee]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I'd also help him out to see if you can get his running again but, unless you like spending time working on other guys boats, make it clear your just "helping out when available".

Mark

 

[25thmustang]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I would be leary on helping out someone who is not a close friend.

If you help him out and something else goes wrong/breaks, etc., he sounds like the type (rude as it seems) who may blame you. I tread lightly with helping out acquaintances and usually keep my helping out as hands off as possible.

 

[palace]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

Direct him here to Iboats and he can fix it and let him know that he can call you with questions. It is up to you if you have time to physically help this guy. You are the best judge on how much you want to invest. You did the right thing!

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

Its a tuff call, I have a friend who only calls after he has screwed up his computer and i would suspect that could be the same thing.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

This is always an interesting one. The company I work at has about 2,000 people on site. There is a list where people can email out and sell things. It works pretty well and you know that you are not going to deal with some strange person coming to your house. On the down side if there is an issue esp selling something mechanical you work with the person. I have a rule. I won't sell anything mechanical to a friend or co-worked unless it is explained very clearly that it is as-is and they need to check it out first. I usailly play dumb in that situation and don't try to sell it to them as much as let them check it out.

As for the co-worker give him a hand. Its good for work politics.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I would tell him you had a spare lower but you gave it to the guy that gave you asking price for your boat

 

[JB]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

Interesting that you describe the guy as a "co-worker", not as a "friend". Your subconscious may be telling you something that you didn't realize.

I would steer clear of any personal involvement in fixing his boat. The best advice you can give him is to join and use iboats boating forum.

 

[64osby]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I would tell him you had a spare lower but you gave it to the guy that gave you asking price for your boat

Then edit your post and tell him about iboats.

Sounds like you did the right thing. Just think if it was your motor he revved up and trashed. Would he be thinking it wasn't his fault.

 

[Krichbourg]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I would tell him you had a spare lower but you gave it to the guy that gave you asking price for your boat

Didn't know you had a mean streak EZ. Very poetic. I like it.

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I think you run the risk of becoming your coworkers mechanic if you help him and that may not be the desired result...


Maybe send him to the mechanic that should have fixed your boat for you if you hadn't been proactive and learned how to fix things on your own...

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I know this type of guy...

I bet despite his troubles, he still thinks he got a great deal on this rig.
I agree with the sentiment; If you touch his engine "you'll own it". You may either be the person to blame when something else breaks, or you will become his technical assistance line, when he calls you out of the blue asking questions about this or that.
It's one thing if it's family or a close friend. But an associate from work that you don't care to associate with out of work is another thing.
Tell him what we tell all Newbies to do; Buy a factory manual.

He could also join here, but I would withhold your handle from him.
If he happens to get nosy, and looks through your previous posts, he will find this thread.
May make for some uncomfortable office relations...

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

sounds like a situations where the old saying comes in: "no good deed goes unpunished."

There are lots of friends and even strangers I am happy to help out, but (as others said) there are some people you are better off not getting involved with. Some will blame you for anything that doesn't work out. Some have no gratitude. Some will hound you for life. Some will freeload your tools, time, parts and never give back (or give the tools back). Some will complain about your "incompetence" behind your back.

Boating is fun, and for many, working on boats and solving problems is fun. if helping this guy won't be fun, then there's no reason to start.

A large part of what I do for a living is give advice and solve people's problems. At work it is especially important to figure out in advance the types I don't want to get involved with. Your guy fits the profile of one who asks me for a quote, shops it and gets it cheaper, gets what he paid for and comes back to me for rescue. Life's too short.

here's what I'd do so you don't look like a jerk (remember your reputation among other co-workers comes into play): give him some general "look into this" advice over the phone or in the break room but don't go near the motor or his garage. Avoid being specific or he will take off with your advice, do it wrong (or finds there are other problems) and blame you. Don't send him here; send him to Hull Truth!

 

[1 Johnny Jay]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

He came in to work today and was basically begging for my help. He bought another 40 year old boat with an electric shift Jonnyrude. He said he got an awesome deal for $900.00, but he needed my help because the carb was spitting gas all over the place. Ohh and now he got it home and decided to rev it up to about 3000 RPMs on the muffs in the driveway before putting it into gear. The motor will no longer start. So should I help the poor guy or let him be.
.

Two thoughts here; 1- he obviously knows nothing bout outboards (3000 rpms on earmuffs before putting into gear). If you fix it he might screw it up and hold you responsible. 2- give him a fair price, repair the motor, start and run the motor for him (with advise on running with muff), and get in writing what you did- what it cost- and that it was mechanically sound when he picked it up.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

sounds like a situations where the old saying comes in: "no good deed goes unpunished."

There are lots of friends and even strangers I am happy to help out, but (as others said) there are some people you are better off not getting involved with. Some will blame you for anything that doesn't work out. Some have no gratitude. Some will hound you for life. Some will freeload your tools, time, parts and never give back (or give the tools back). Some will complain about your "incompetence" behind your back.

Boating is fun, and for many, working on boats and solving problems is fun. if helping this guy won't be fun, then there's no reason to start.

A large part of what I do for a living is give advice and solve people's problems. At work it is especially important to figure out in advance the types I don't want to get involved with. Your guy fits the profile of one who asks me for a quote, shops it and gets it cheaper, gets what he paid for and comes back to me for rescue. Life's too short.

here's what I'd do so you don't look like a jerk (remember your reputation among other co-workers comes into play): give him some general "look into this" advice over the phone or in the break room but don't go near the motor or his garage. Avoid being specific or he will take off with your advice, do it wrong (or finds there are other problems) and blame you. Don't send him here; send him to Hull Truth!

I like your thinking Home Cookin'

He still thinks he got an awesome deal, though of course now he has a greanded lower unit and a mechanic quoted him $350.00 to rebuild the three carbs, and do a lync and sync. I hate it for him.

Luckily I work in the sales department and he works in maintenance so I will only be seeing him when he decides to come in for advice.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

i would tell him you buy the beer i will help you fix it and maybe he will start smartening up and not be so standoffish with you next time around.
and if he behaves like a jerk after you help him fix his boat dont help him again afterthat

 

[carribbean soul]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

and he works in maintenance .

oh Sh1t

 

[tinkerguy70]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I have found over the years that I had to make a personal rule about working on other people's stuff.
I only help out close friends and family, and in a very limited way at that.
The only 'co-worker' type people I help out are the ones that I know are destitute (i.e. have children and need the car fixed to get to work) and are actually trying to be productive members of society.

I have found that if you're not careful, people will become dependent on you, just like a drug addict.
Once they're 'hooked', they lose any interest in learning to do the repairs themselves, or even find a good mechanic that they trust.
Sometimes they even try to get you to work on their family and friend's stuff! Some of them don't know any better, and some just take advantage of people.
This leads to another personal rule that I made over the years.
I never sell anything like cars or boats to anyone I know personally, but that is another story..

It's a tough situation no doubt, are you being a jerk, or is it tough love?

 

[BonairII]

Re: Here is my funny story for the day, and my I dodged a bullet.

I would "pass" on helping him. It may end up turning into a nightmare for you.