Why can't thing be easier to get at?

[WinnerZ880]

I have a Skeeter WX1880. I like the boat a lot but there are a few things that drive me nuts. I just can't get at certain parts that may need replaced. The live well circulation pump is blowing fuses and I need to check out the pump. I can't begin to find it to work on it. Everything is jammed into the bottom of the boat and can't be reached (at least by me) I can't imagine why this has to be. My old Winner bass boat had a lid across the back that let me get at everything fairly easy. One of the things that has plagued me since I bought the boat is the livewell overflows onto the floor if you leave the pump on (instead of flowing out the overflow) I felt around in there by the back of the livewell and found that the fitting for the overflow is an el and is pointed at a 45 degree slant upward. If I could get at it I might be able to move it down and solve the problem. Now I need to replace the shift cable for the T8 Kicker. I'm wondering how much pain this will bring. If the installer used cable ties and strapped all of the cables, hoses and wires together it might be more fun than I want. Yuk. One thing I can say for sure. Don't let your installer use Teleflex cables when installing your kicker. Yamaha and Mercury cables are much more flexible. My shift cable is broken after only three years service.

[ffishman]

Your right. My boat, not a skeeter has a kink in the live well over flow tube. There is no way to get at it. What a royal pain.

Alot of things are put in place before the boat is fully assembled. Take a two piece (hull and liner) fiberglass boat for instance. Alot of the wiring and plumbing that's under the floor is installed there at the factory prior to installing the top piece (liner / deck cap) on the hull. It makes for easier installation at the factory. The down side is that it makes it harder for us owners to work on. Some boat manufactorers (I had a Proline that was this way) don't even include an access panel in the floor to accomodate removal of the fuel tank. You need to remove the fuel tank? Simple, cut a big square hole in the floor above the fuel tank. Once you've installed your new fuel tank, that's when you do the glass work to make an access panel.

When you can't access something, you sometimes need to cut a hole and install a deck plate. Once of these: http://www.boatersworld.com/product/166610451msk.htm (there are various types, sizes and colors).

Bottom line is that in some cases, the factory just takes the easy way out and leaves it up to the owner to cut and install the plate if / when they need access.

[tbobber]

How old is your boat? Skeeter ha a 3 year warranty on stuff like that. I take the screws out of the jump seat bottom to allow more room to get in. The livewell overflow needs to have the hose shorten so you can get the hose angle to dain and not air lock.

[K2]

I have the exact same thing happening with mine. I also tried to change the auto switch on the bilge pump and gave up. I got lucky that a dealer opened up 5 miles from my house and they took care of it under warranty. I also noticed that Skeeter left about 10 pounds of old fiberglass cuttings and dust in the bilge. How about trying to pull the starting battery? I would have to remove the oil pot in order to do that.

[Lundexp]

Easy. They make things so complicated and space crammed these days so the average do it yourself guys can't do it and end up taking it in to have the work done, hence making them more money.