Sorry for the long post, but I figured it was important to lay everything out to get comments and feedback that were targeted to my ask, which is how to try and get some factory support for my engine failure after my warranty claim has been denied.
I have a 2020 Merc 115 HP on my pontoon I purchased as a package with the 5-year MPP Gold warranty. Last Fall, I pulled it out and had it winterized – it was running great. This spring, I got it from indoor storage, cleaned it, and launched it. I backed the boat so the trailer was in the water but the front was still over dry land, disconnected the lights and winch strap/chain, and had my wife back it in very slowly while I jumped into the boat. She is not comfortable backing up a trailer, so she goes VERY SLOWLY. This is a newer concrete ramp redone a few years ago on a small lake in a sheltered bay/no wake zone. Once the pontoons were in the water in back and the water intakes were submerged, I started it up. I had my wife continue to back in until I could float the boat off the trailer, and I had her pull the trailer out.
Immediately after starting it, I noticed a strange ticking sound. I thought it might be the clutch not fully engaging or maybe something knocking inside the cover, but after a few minutes I realized that there was something going on that I couldn’t diagnose, and we pulled the boat back out. I took it to my Merc dealer the next morning (not the place that winterized it since they were not an authorized Merc dealer). Over the next couple of weeks, we determined that the knocking was a bent rod from water ingestion, and the engine was shot. Needs a new powerhead and a little over $9K. Merc denied the warranty claim because water ingestion is not covered.
So, this is where I am. I am looking for ideas and advice on the best way to proceed. I am still in a bit of shock as to what happened. From doing a lot of research, I know that hydro-locking could be caused by many different things. Too much oil in the cylinder when winterizing, rainwater getting into the engine while stored horizontally, water coming in the air intake from getting too deep, a lose hose in the engine cowling, slamming the engine in reverse while underway, etc. But, the most likely from what I have learned, is that the engine probably got too deep when launching, and water got into the lowest cylinder through the exhaust port and the damage would have been done instantly when I turned the key.
I get that water ingestion is not covered, but I have a real hard time calling what occurred in this case “operator error”. I’ve lived on the lake for 25 years, and owned fishing, wakeboard, pontoon, ski and many boats in this time. I have never even heard of someone blowing up an engine this way. I’ve looked through the user manual, and there is nothing in it related to starting the engine that mentions anything about the water level except one part that says to make sure the water intakes are submerged before it is started. I know there is a page somewhere that mentions that there is an operating range for the engine in the water, but nothing specifically related to startup procedures, prestart checklist, etc.
I know that this has been a design consideration for 4-strokes forever. I know some engines have flapper valves so water does not travel backwards up the exhaust and destroy the engine. So, I am having a hard time accepting that this was “my fault” and not simply a combination of a design shortcoming, a lack of knowledge (which I will admit), and a very poor job of informing the consumer of these design limitations. Before you Merc mechanics and “experts” jump on the bus saying I am just trying to avoid responsibility, let’s hear from the casual boaters who consider themselves knowledgeable on whether you would have guessed that launching my boat, as I have been doing for 30 years, could have resulted in a catastrophic failure such as this. Is this really something that everyone knows, or maybe something that only a small subset know could happen in the way it seems to have happened to me.
I have filed a claim with my insurance (Farmers), who I have been with for over 30 years for home, car, motorcycle, boats, PWC, snowmobiles, etc. I’ve spent well over 100K with them and have extremely low claim history. But, this type of engine failure is not covered by my policy. I can sink the boat, drive it into a dock, leave it on the street unlocked and it gets stolen, and that’s no problem – full coverage. But an engine failure due to accidently dunking the engine too deep when launching it is not covered. We are still working this angle and hope for a positive outcome, but it doesn’t look good right now.
I have also learned that Merc is notoriously difficult to work with in cases like this. While all of the manufacturers omit water ingestion from their warranty coverage, Honda and Yamaha appear to be much more likely to provide goodwill coverage in cases such as this. I’ve heard that covering this might be more the rule than the exception for them, while coverage by Merc is rare. I’d love some feedback if this is true or just a statistical anomaly from my limited research on boating forums.
I am currently looking at a $9k repair bill. The powerhead alone is over $6K. How can I get Merc to help? I have kept my correspondence with them cordial and have not threatened to sue or badmouth them on social media. I’d love to get full coverage, especially since I have 3 years of extended warranty left. But what about getting a powerhead, a new engine at their cost? The reallity is that the impact of helping me out at cost for Brunswick Corp is a tiny expense compared to a $9K expensive to me personally. Plus, I’m still paying off the loan for the boat/engine I took out 2 years ago as it is.
Who has gotten coverage above the minimum required, and what should I ask for, what would increase my chances of being successful? I know my best bet is to find a great dealer that will go to bat for me, but my dealer is my dealer, and they have been disappointing to say the least. So, what else can I do? Has anyone had success and if so, would you mind sharing the secret recipe? Anyone want to share a letter that they have sent to Merc that seemed to do the trick? Phone numbers of people who have made legal challenges and succeeded? I don’t want to invest a lot of money in legal fees, but I wouldn’t mind getting a lawyer to send a letter, especially if I were able to start with a successful letter than one of you had written that worked.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
I have a 2020 Merc 115 HP on my pontoon I purchased as a package with the 5-year MPP Gold warranty. Last Fall, I pulled it out and had it winterized – it was running great. This spring, I got it from indoor storage, cleaned it, and launched it. I backed the boat so the trailer was in the water but the front was still over dry land, disconnected the lights and winch strap/chain, and had my wife back it in very slowly while I jumped into the boat. She is not comfortable backing up a trailer, so she goes VERY SLOWLY. This is a newer concrete ramp redone a few years ago on a small lake in a sheltered bay/no wake zone. Once the pontoons were in the water in back and the water intakes were submerged, I started it up. I had my wife continue to back in until I could float the boat off the trailer, and I had her pull the trailer out.
Immediately after starting it, I noticed a strange ticking sound. I thought it might be the clutch not fully engaging or maybe something knocking inside the cover, but after a few minutes I realized that there was something going on that I couldn’t diagnose, and we pulled the boat back out. I took it to my Merc dealer the next morning (not the place that winterized it since they were not an authorized Merc dealer). Over the next couple of weeks, we determined that the knocking was a bent rod from water ingestion, and the engine was shot. Needs a new powerhead and a little over $9K. Merc denied the warranty claim because water ingestion is not covered.
So, this is where I am. I am looking for ideas and advice on the best way to proceed. I am still in a bit of shock as to what happened. From doing a lot of research, I know that hydro-locking could be caused by many different things. Too much oil in the cylinder when winterizing, rainwater getting into the engine while stored horizontally, water coming in the air intake from getting too deep, a lose hose in the engine cowling, slamming the engine in reverse while underway, etc. But, the most likely from what I have learned, is that the engine probably got too deep when launching, and water got into the lowest cylinder through the exhaust port and the damage would have been done instantly when I turned the key.
I get that water ingestion is not covered, but I have a real hard time calling what occurred in this case “operator error”. I’ve lived on the lake for 25 years, and owned fishing, wakeboard, pontoon, ski and many boats in this time. I have never even heard of someone blowing up an engine this way. I’ve looked through the user manual, and there is nothing in it related to starting the engine that mentions anything about the water level except one part that says to make sure the water intakes are submerged before it is started. I know there is a page somewhere that mentions that there is an operating range for the engine in the water, but nothing specifically related to startup procedures, prestart checklist, etc.
I know that this has been a design consideration for 4-strokes forever. I know some engines have flapper valves so water does not travel backwards up the exhaust and destroy the engine. So, I am having a hard time accepting that this was “my fault” and not simply a combination of a design shortcoming, a lack of knowledge (which I will admit), and a very poor job of informing the consumer of these design limitations. Before you Merc mechanics and “experts” jump on the bus saying I am just trying to avoid responsibility, let’s hear from the casual boaters who consider themselves knowledgeable on whether you would have guessed that launching my boat, as I have been doing for 30 years, could have resulted in a catastrophic failure such as this. Is this really something that everyone knows, or maybe something that only a small subset know could happen in the way it seems to have happened to me.
I have filed a claim with my insurance (Farmers), who I have been with for over 30 years for home, car, motorcycle, boats, PWC, snowmobiles, etc. I’ve spent well over 100K with them and have extremely low claim history. But, this type of engine failure is not covered by my policy. I can sink the boat, drive it into a dock, leave it on the street unlocked and it gets stolen, and that’s no problem – full coverage. But an engine failure due to accidently dunking the engine too deep when launching it is not covered. We are still working this angle and hope for a positive outcome, but it doesn’t look good right now.
I have also learned that Merc is notoriously difficult to work with in cases like this. While all of the manufacturers omit water ingestion from their warranty coverage, Honda and Yamaha appear to be much more likely to provide goodwill coverage in cases such as this. I’ve heard that covering this might be more the rule than the exception for them, while coverage by Merc is rare. I’d love some feedback if this is true or just a statistical anomaly from my limited research on boating forums.
I am currently looking at a $9k repair bill. The powerhead alone is over $6K. How can I get Merc to help? I have kept my correspondence with them cordial and have not threatened to sue or badmouth them on social media. I’d love to get full coverage, especially since I have 3 years of extended warranty left. But what about getting a powerhead, a new engine at their cost? The reallity is that the impact of helping me out at cost for Brunswick Corp is a tiny expense compared to a $9K expensive to me personally. Plus, I’m still paying off the loan for the boat/engine I took out 2 years ago as it is.
Who has gotten coverage above the minimum required, and what should I ask for, what would increase my chances of being successful? I know my best bet is to find a great dealer that will go to bat for me, but my dealer is my dealer, and they have been disappointing to say the least. So, what else can I do? Has anyone had success and if so, would you mind sharing the secret recipe? Anyone want to share a letter that they have sent to Merc that seemed to do the trick? Phone numbers of people who have made legal challenges and succeeded? I don’t want to invest a lot of money in legal fees, but I wouldn’t mind getting a lawyer to send a letter, especially if I were able to start with a successful letter than one of you had written that worked.
Thank you in advance for your assistance.
. All I know is it was fine when I took it in to winterize it, and the next time I started it, I had a bent rod and a destroyed engine. I know my storage guy well - hobby farmer who rents out one barn in the winter, so I know he didn't go joy riding. I also only had the boat at the winterization place for about 24 hours before I picked it up, so they could not have taken it for a spin. Believe me, I have tried to account for every possible scenario as this seems so unbelievable.