09/16/2026
2020 - I ordered a 30/40 Yamaha Jet-drive motor in July 2019 during covid and paid a higher price ($10,000) because of shortages during covid shut downs. It took about 8 months to come in. Well it came in but the dealer was on vacation for the winter so I had to wait for them to come back in late February.
When it finally came in he went to get it out of storage where it had been all winter. I noticed a huge hole in the top of the box and the gas tank, hose, manual, extra parts and tools were all missing.
I thought the hole was for inspection, but it was to steal my $100 tank and hose because I wanted to mount the motor myself and save a few hundred dollars after paying so much for motor. I had to buy a small crane to lift the heavy 4-stroke, so I only saved about $300. I just didn't want to leave my boat sitting in their parking lot all winter. Using an old tank on a new motor is risky and so stealing the tank was a dumb thing to do.
2024 - My Jet-drive motor had a bearing going out in shaft from picking up a piece of steel that got jammed in the prop freezing it up. I removed the lower unit and tried moving some washers to see if that helped as I didn't know yet what was wrong. It made it worse, I then knew it was a bearing, I have had them go out before. So I quick put the lower unit back on without the lock tabbed over the nut since it was gong to be worked on.
I stopped by the river to do one last test before bringing it to a shop where I bought the motor and I was possitive it was the shaft bearing. Well they made a big deal out of the tab on nut, accusing me of making an error and nothing wrong was with motor. I found this out 2 weeks later when they hadn't called or worked on motor. My garage kept boat sat out in the rain for 2 weeks for nothing.
I hooked it up to take home, then thought maybe I should test it right there at the river next to dealer and found it was in fact still broke. I went back into dealership and we argued. I told him to get in the boat and I will show them. So his mechanic got in the boat and he said nothing was wrong after putting his ear up to motor. I told him to raise the idle and then he knew I was right.
Part 2: So now 2 weeks later with my boat sitting out in the rain in the open, I told him to order the kit because the bearing is too hard to work on and requires special tools. He didn't listen and ordered the bearing.
Getting the run around on the phone, I drove back two weeks later to see how they were doing and he said he had to send bearings back to get the kit! Eyes rolled, and now I have to wait 2 more weeks for parts.
They did get it fixed weeks later and didn't cost me anything because under warranty. I doubt I ever go back. We have a shortage of dealers around these parts in NW Illinois.
