Used PWC questions

BroadHopper · 05-18-2015, 09:02 AM

in Hooksett. I purchased a used 1997 GTX from them three years ago. The first time out the bearings seized and the machine requires a new crankshaft, bearings etc. There was a 15 days 'limited' warrantee on the machine and Owens refused the honor it. After days of hassling between two lawyers, it was settled that Owens will provide repairs.

They procrastinated and procrastinated, one excuse after another until finally after about a year, I got the machine back. Low and behold more problems and they will not honor their repairs. Back to the lawyers and I agreed to pay a $300 deductible, pending on if they make good their repairs. Another year went by (Waiting for parts etc.) until I decided to take the machine to a reliable indie. Unfortunately parts of the engines were scattered throughout their shop. Owens claim they want $300 to reassemble the engine. I picked up the machine, I did not bother to check under the seat, I was so mad. The indie mechanic open the seat and all the parts were thrown in the engine compartment he would need to reassemble the engine! Back to Owens and another long story.

I finally able to use the 1997 Seadoo GTX Limited this year. It cost me twice what I paid for it to get it going! I wish I had just left the machine at Owens. I can see why their back yard is a huge graveyard of boats, parts etc.

SIKSUKR · 05-20-2015, 09:57 AM

I always thought that was such a strange location for a marine store. There is no water near there except the Merrimack River a bunch of miles away. Just seems like an unlikely spot.

chipj29 · 05-21-2015, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I always thought that was such a strange location for a marine store. There is no water near there except the Merrimack River a bunch of miles away. Just seems like an unlikely spot.

They used to be on the 28 bypass in Manchester, right near Lake Massabesic.

SIKSUKR · 05-26-2015, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chipj29

They used to be on the 28 bypass in Manchester, right near Lake Massabesic.

My bad Chip. I was thinking of Greens Marine near Suncoock.

chipj29 · 05-27-2015, 08:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

My bad Chip. I was thinking of Greens Marine near Suncoock.

I agree with Greens being in a strange location. They seem to do a fairly good business though. Been there a few times, and there are always customers there.

jetskier · 05-20-2015, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

in Hooksett. I purchased a used 1997 GTX from them three years ago. The first time out the bearings seized and the machine requires a new crankshaft, bearings etc. There was a 15 days 'limited' warrantee on the machine and Owens refused the honor it. After days of hassling between two lawyers, it was settled that Owens will provide repairs.

They procrastinated and procrastinated, one excuse after another until finally after about a year, I got the machine back. Low and behold more problems and they will not honor their repairs. Back to the lawyers and I agreed to pay a $300 deductible, pending on if they make good their repairs. Another year went by (Waiting for parts etc.) until I decided to take the machine to a reliable indie. Unfortunately parts of the engines were scattered throughout their shop. Owens claim they want $300 to reassemble the engine. I picked up the machine, I did not bother to check under the seat, I was so mad. The indie mechanic open the seat and all the parts were thrown in the engine compartment he would need to reassemble the engine! Back to Owens and another long story.

I finally able to use the 1997 Seadoo GTX Limited this year. It cost me twice what I paid for it to get it going! I wish I had just left the machine at Owens. I can see why their back yard is a huge graveyard of boats, parts etc.

I have a 1996 GTX that I bought new and I would recommend that you stay away from that vintage.

We replaced the engine after only a couple of seasons as the shaft seals failed and it burned oil like crazy. That was clearly a design/manufacturing defect.
We replaced all the fuel lines; ethanol eats the B marine grade lines that they used (put in A grade).
We replaced the voltage regulator.
We had to have the pump rebuilt after the gasket failed and all of the pump oil leaked out.
We had to rebuild the carburetors after the fuel lines gunked them up.
The reverse gate fell off and that had to be replaced - really hard to find.

Jetskier

ishoot308 · 05-20-2015, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

in Hooksett. I purchased a used 1997 GTX from them three years ago. The first time out the bearings seized and the machine requires a new crankshaft, bearings etc. There was a 15 days 'limited' warrantee on the machine and Owens refused the honor it. After days of hassling between two lawyers, it was settled that Owens will provide repairs.

They procrastinated and procrastinated, one excuse after another until finally after about a year, I got the machine back. Low and behold more problems and they will not honor their repairs. Back to the lawyers and I agreed to pay a $300 deductible, pending on if they make good their repairs. Another year went by (Waiting for parts etc.) until I decided to take the machine to a reliable indie. Unfortunately parts of the engines were scattered throughout their shop. Owens claim they want $300 to reassemble the engine. I picked up the machine, I did not bother to check under the seat, I was so mad. The indie mechanic open the seat and all the parts were thrown in the engine compartment he would need to reassemble the engine! Back to Owens and another long story.

I finally able to use the 1997 Seadoo GTX Limited this year. It cost me twice what I paid for it to get it going! I wish I had just left the machine at Owens. I can see why their back yard is a huge graveyard of boats, parts etc.

Just an fyi... Owens Marine is no longer in business...and your right, Randy Owen was just an awful person to do business with!!

Dan

BroadHopper · 05-20-2015, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ishoot308

Just an fyi... Owens Marine is no longer in business...and your right, Randy Owen was just an awful person to do business with!!

Dan

I went by there a couple of weeks ago and looks like the place is open. I do know the property been for sale for quite a while!

I tried to negotiate to get The Magnum Missile and the vintage Allision with the famous 'tower of power' on the back. Both have not been registered in almost decade. Perfect examples! He will not budge on the prices. Not even the collectors will deal with him. If he is out of business and sold the properties, I hate to hear what he has done to those classics!

lfm · 05-20-2015, 11:41 AM

Thanks to all for the great advice. However in the end, I decided to buy new. I purchased a 2014 Yamaha VX cruiser at HK Powersports-Laconia. FWIW, Joe at HK was a pleasure to deal with.

TiltonBB · 05-20-2015, 11:54 AM

I purchased a Yamaha two years ago at HK and just bought another one there on Saturday. Joe was the salesman.

HK, and Joe, could not be any better to work with. The process was simple and straight forward, the price was fair, and they delivered the machine right away.

Bring on the warm weather!

05-18-2015, 09:02 AM	#1
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,615 Thanks: 3,245 Thanked 1,115 Times in 801 Posts	Stay away from Owens Marine in Hooksett. I purchased a used 1997 GTX from them three years ago. The first time out the bearings seized and the machine requires a new crankshaft, bearings etc. There was a 15 days 'limited' warrantee on the machine and Owens refused the honor it. After days of hassling between two lawyers, it was settled that Owens will provide repairs. They procrastinated and procrastinated, one excuse after another until finally after about a year, I got the machine back. Low and behold more problems and they will not honor their repairs. Back to the lawyers and I agreed to pay a $300 deductible, pending on if they make good their repairs. Another year went by (Waiting for parts etc.) until I decided to take the machine to a reliable indie. Unfortunately parts of the engines were scattered throughout their shop. Owens claim they want $300 to reassemble the engine. I picked up the machine, I did not bother to check under the seat, I was so mad. The indie mechanic open the seat and all the parts were thrown in the engine compartment he would need to reassemble the engine! Back to Owens and another long story. I finally able to use the 1997 Seadoo GTX Limited this year. It cost me twice what I paid for it to get it going! I wish I had just left the machine at Owens. I can see why their back yard is a huge graveyard of boats, parts etc. __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

05-20-2015, 09:57 AM	#2
SIKSUKR Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 5,075 Thanks: 215 Thanked 903 Times in 509 Posts	I always thought that was such a strange location for a marine store. There is no water near there except the Merrimack River a bunch of miles away. Just seems like an unlikely spot. __________________ SIKSUKR

05-20-2015, 11:41 AM	#9
lfm Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Alton Bay Posts: 96 Thanks: 29 Thanked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Went New Thanks to all for the great advice. However in the end, I decided to buy new. I purchased a 2014 Yamaha VX cruiser at HK Powersports-Laconia. FWIW, Joe at HK was a pleasure to deal with.

05-20-2015, 11:54 AM	#10
TiltonBB Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Gilford, NH and Florida Posts: 3,062 Thanks: 726 Thanked 2,236 Times in 956 Posts	I agree about HK I purchased a Yamaha two years ago at HK and just bought another one there on Saturday. Joe was the salesman. HK, and Joe, could not be any better to work with. The process was simple and straight forward, the price was fair, and they delivered the machine right away. Bring on the warm weather!