Sooo...Am I In Trouble?

[jojo]

Hi guys,
I was supposed to install a cockpit/bow cover combination at a boat on a lake about 30 minutes from me; I got delayed waiting for UPS to ship the support poles.
Anyway, the bilge pump in this boat (small 17 foot bowrider) doesn't come on automatically, and we had some rain today. (Can't get there til tomorrow) How long would it take a boat to sink without pumping the bilge? Am I being paranoid? I have no experience with these kinds of things.  Thanks for any input.
Jo

[Grebo]

Did you leave the boat uncovered ?

If you were just asked to install & the owner left it uncovered, it's hardly your fault if it gets wet.
And it's certainly not your fault if it's not got a float switch.

Even a little boat like that will take a bit of water to sink, but chances are the batteries & some electrics are low down & might get flooded. Still not your fault, every boat should have at least one auto pump.

Suzi

[Mike]

ya did you leave it uncovered?  a lot depends is it a outboard with a open low motor well once so much water gets in the bildge the water could come over the well but it would need a lot of rain  id be concerned also if it sank and was not my fault getting paid for my work obviously you couldn't finish the job.

[jojo]

Yes, it's uncovered. Why the owner threw away the old cover, I'll never know. So you think one day of rain won't sink it? It's an outboard motor, Mike.
I kind of would feel responsible if it sank because I thought I'd be done a couple of days ago.

[Mike]

ive seen a lot of water in one day and ive always pumped it out after even if I had to be in the pouring raid to do it ive had boats in the water with no automatic float switch  it should be his responsibility its his boat and he know its open and raining .  you shouldn't be responsible jojo like I saud id be more upset if I couldn't finnish and be paid

[Grebo]

Understand your concerns jojo, particularly if it took longer than you thought.

But it's not your problem, he left it uncovered.

Suzi

[SteveA]

It's UPS fault - have your customer file a claim with them  -

SA

[jojo]

The boat did not sink...but it was pretty low in the water when I got there this morning. Pumped the bilge for about 10 minutes, installed the covers and left.
But now another question: when the boat is on the water and you only have access to one side, what's the best way to put snaps on a cockpit and bow cover? I had a really hard time, and there are some minor wrinkles in the finished product.

[Mike]

well on a small boats bow cover I would snap them under the window and 1 at the bow then being tall it is easier but I reached over the glass from behind the glass and snap the cporners ,  then fill in the side form the dock and if I could untie and turn the boat around by hand to do the other sde same with the cockpit.  my hard thing now is to pattern and install a cover with the boat on a lift and I have to do all the work from inside the boat

[Mike]

how did for pattern it jojo I will use quicckfot pin and I have just put the snaps were the pin holes were but it real eaqsy to be wrong

[jojo]

Mike, I actually did the half-pattern thing....my first time. But when it came time to put the snaps on,  it was rough.  I wanted to turn the boat around, but  there were big rocks nearby, and I was scared. Anyway, I'm thinking of correcting it at the end of the season when they pull it out of the water.

[Grebo]

Glad it was still afloat jojo. Must have been a fair bit of rain then.

I sometimes think the little boats are the most difficult. As Mike said, move it if you can or maybe borrow a dinghy & pull your self around it.
Most of the small boats I do are wedged in between others in the marina, not my preferred option but I end up leaning on the other boats or sometimes sneak on board so I can reach the sides.
Once I had one brought to the shop, it was bliss !

Suzi

[jojo]

Sounds like you guys are used to doing installs in difficult locations; I always have them trailer it to my place. Guess I'm spoiled? Though you have customers on the ocean, and all of mine are lake people.

[Mike]

Jojo. I used to have a shop on a lake in NH for many years they either came on a trailer or by water i would pul them on my trailer. It was great i lived on snap on covers.  90 % of my work then i moved to florida. A d i have to patter and cit the cover o. Most of them with the boat on a loft behi g the customers house. This full cover wans has bad as a cover with snaps

http://i782.photobucket.com/albums/yy102/Mike8560/covers/img_0342.jpg

Then ill snap the center line the ive sit on the metal. Lift and scooted olong the sides of the boats i stLli g snaps if i have to.
This one had a walk plank on the right side most dont have any.