BPS Gurnee,IL

[Paul W]

The boat a 2001 Pro Deep V 16 SC with a 75 2 stroke. This was mine and my brothers first new boat from BPS(and the last). Frist off last year it took 4 times in totaling 1 months lost fishing just to fix a leak that ended up being a loose hose and bad areator pump. 4 times in just to find this out. Figured just some bad luck,happens to every one. Well comes time for storage and winterizing what better place to get it done than where we bought the boat. Total storage,shrink wrap,and winterization $372.00. Mind you when we brought this boat in it was running great,NO PROBLEMS!!!!!!!!!!!! Get it out of storage in late April had about $1500 worth of new toys to install and did so. Didn't really have a great spring in Chicago and were times we were to busy to get it out so finally on June 1st. take it out on lake Mich. to make sure everything is in tip top shape troll out of the harbor(no wake area) get to the end of the ahrbor and open it up runs 3 to 5 min. and looses power not dies just as if I pulled back on the throtle. Well figure the fogging oil must have fouled the plugs. Get into some calm water I am prepared got a set of brand spanking new plugs throw them in runs pretty good for a while and BANG the same thing. since it is early about 10am run the boat to BPS which is at least and hour drive for us. They are going to check it out after several calls over a 2 week period (and the had to call Merc cause there mechanics could not figure out the problem)they say the boat has been water tested and is fine. Well great get it back last Friday and take it out Sat. seems to be running good after a hour or so problems start boat will not idle and keeps dying manage to get it back to the dock and on the trailer. Well had enough with BPS and take it to a Merc authorized dealer guy's been in business 30 years. This was on Mon. and he says we'll check it out get a call Tue. mourning at work first words out of the mechanics mouth is DID YOU WINTERIZE THIS MOTOR I said yes BPS did so and he say's I have my doubts. To shorten the story I need the three carbs rebuilt at a cost of $650.00. The mechanic said even if we got a hold of some bad gas he has never seen carbs in such bad shape for such a new motor. As a note this motor has at the most 25 to 30 hours on it. Brother says we are dumping this piece of S##T next year and getting another brand!!!!!!!!!!! WE ARE THRU WITH BPS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Would not recomend one to my worst enemy!!!!!!!!



BULLDAWG

 

[Robert Spradley]

Paul, I'm very sorry you are having problems. It sounds like the problems are not because of Tracker, but that of the dealer. Do you have any warranty left?? Also please post a comment in the Dealer report card section under resources on the left side of screen. This way, people who visit site in the future can read about experiences others havd had with dealers in their areas. I hope you get your boat fixed so you can be frustrated with the fish that get away. Robert

 

[Paul W]

NO warranty left was up on May 19 that is why we went to another dealer!!!!

 

[Mark Hofman]

I have to agree that the specific problems mention by Paul were because of BPS in Gurnee. Before he accepted their offer to winterize the boat, it was running great.



I'll get blasted for saying this, and keep in mind I am not an attorney, but I'd think about taking them to small claims court. You paid good money for winterization, which wasn't done correctly. You've got a certified Mercury dealer who can back you up, and you've got receipts to show what you paid for the winterization and the repairs.



That said (my favorite phrase this morning), Tracker Marine, Inc. should have better control over its reputation. Stuff like this can bleed a company (although not as quickly as claiming operating expenses as capital expenditures like WorldCom did. Ha!)



Can you imagine what Tracker Marine, Inc. could become if it brought us all on as owner-consultants, and actually listened to the people who buy their products?



Bulldawg, I feel for you. That just sucks, and I wish I could do something more concrete to help you out. If you want, bring your boat down to St. Louis for winter storage. I'll introduce you to the great guys at the Fishin' Hole.

 

[Mike Watson]

Yikes!!! That is a major bummer Bulldawg. I try to do my own maintenance for these very reasons. As I stated in a previous post, I have had mixed experiences with these folks. Nothing nearly as major as yours but enough to make me nervous about having them do any repairs. Who was the name of your Mercury dealer that did the real fix? I may want to go to them if I ever have any problems. The leak you had early on does not surprise me. My first boat from them did the same. I have learned that when you get your boat go over it with a fine tooth comb and tighten everything yourself. It may not have been done. I only had one problem with the second boat and that was the speedo/paddlewheel for the fish finder was mounted to high to even register a speed. Fixed it myself and works great now.



Does anyone know of a good Tracker dealer not too far from Chicagoland? Just curious.



Mike

 

[Andrew Zuber]

3 hours is probably too far...

KVD's brother runs one in Kalamazoo, MI...



az

 

[Mike Watson]

Thanks Andy, three hours may not be too far to avoid getting your boat ruined. Since I am from Michigan anyway I could always tie it in with a family visit.



Mike

 

[TrepMan]

Whether warranty was up or not, if you have an independant mechanic willing to document that the reason for your problems and costs to fix were due to inadequet (or non-existant) winterizing, I would take that back to BPS in writting and allow them to make it right? Have you contacted the BPS service manager after the Merc mechanic found the problem?



I know it stinks, but if you don't give them the opportunity to make it right by you, you are not giving them a fair shake. What if they agreed after seeing the other mechanic's view and pay for the work (have ZERO idea if that would happen or not)?



Just trying to help get you some $$ back in your pocket.

 

[David Munaretto]

I believe Fox Lake Harbor in Fox Lake, IL is a Tracker dealer -- they're alright to deal with, I've had better service from a dealer, they tend to work on their own time, not the customers in my opinion...