Happy Days Boating Kevin Gottron Happy Days Boating deceives buyer and sells boat needing engine work Port Clinton Ohio

April 2013, I purchased a 2005 Seaswirl Striper 1851WA with 115hp outboard from Happy Days Boating. I was told that every boat went through a rigorous inspection and sea trial before being placed for sale. I was lead to believe that the boat was in excellent condition that was turn key ready to be out on the water. The engine was supposedly in immaculate condition. I now believe this to be the all too familiar sales pitch. This was my first boat purchase and I have been regretting this purchase ever since.

I took the boat out for a sea trial up the portage river. The engine seemed to run fine under low rpm. Since April I have not had a pleasant experience with the engine. The engine has never run right since day one. It could not get above 10mph and wouldn't push 3000 rpms. Any contact I made with the service department it was the same thing over and over, "Its bad fuel, it’s the old fuel" it’s not marine gas". So I never used regular gas always Marine gas that is 100 percent ethanol free. They did not offer to look over the motor or suggested bringing the boat back. They told me I was SOL in other words.

I decided to take my boat and motor to a dealer that has competent Yamaha certified mechanics. After countless hours of Tech trouble shooting, computer diagnostics, and running the boat, the boat fuel system was taken apart; the motor was taken apart and finally found the several serious issues. Happy Days Boats new that the fuel pump was severely corroded; they only temporarily ran cleaner it to run it. The hoses were old and disintegrated and caused particles to clog up the fuel system all fuel filters were plugged up and degraded, fuel lines degraded. Fuel pump was discovered to be bad. The tank has to be drained due to the contaminants found in the motor. There is no way that this just happened. It was a problem they encountered when they purchased the boat and decided to pawn it off on a new customer.

The Master mechanic couldn't believe the motor was over looked by happy days. He stated that they never went over the motor. If they in fact went through their pre-sale inspection they would have most definitely found all these issues. I was told that they had never seen such a heavy fuel system contamination before with the amount of corrosion in the fuel system pump, cylinders, and tank. Happy Days Boating wanted to make a quick sale and only did the bare minimum to get the motor running temporarily so they could pawn off the problems onto me.

Happy Days Boating has cost me currently well over 850.00 and counting. The factory tech has been finding additional issues as we speak.

The owner Kevin Gottram should be ashamed of himself and his service department. Happy Days Boating has made no attempts to make this right. They cannot even provide me with their paperwork showing that the boat and engine went through an inspection before selling it to me.

I will be contacting the State of Ohio Attorney General’s Office, Better Business Bureau, and filing suit.


Buyer Beware!!