New guy to the site! Hello out there.

[dstafl]

 
Hello out there!
I am so happy that finally there is a forum of other Epic boat owners. I just found this site yesterday and wish I had this before to bounce questions off of.

I got my 2000 Epic 22 from a toyota dealer in S.E. Wisconsin in May of 2001. As all you know, great boat!

The first time out the following spring, I found out the dealer even though had a winterized sticker on it, never did anything to it . It screwed a bunch of things up but
the dealer gave me a brand new engine. Too bad I only had 150 hours on it.

I was able to order an additional 4 blade prop (3blade came with boat),and accuski system, they installed and forgot to charge me for after Toyota pulled the plug on the ski boats.

This past summer I ran into the owner of the dealership and the guy said he had a factory tower that is sitting in their basement and gave it to me for FREE!

I did install it myself, It is a bitch but I got some good recommendation for anyone out there.

Sorry for rambling on, but it feels great to vent.



Some quick questions for anyone who has comments:

The factory speakers really distort at anything over medium loud volume, I got two new ones(stern) warrantied
by the boat dealer that took over the service agreement.
But they suck just as bad. Are the speckers just lousy or is it the factory Kenwood receiver?

What is a fair price for a impeller? This current Marina wants $65 bucks

How offen do you need to change the Fuel filter, and is it hard?

[cyclone]

Hey Denny,
Welcome to the forum, those brave few of us with Toyotas need to  band together!

Sounds like you got some awesome deals on parts from your dealer, you can't beat 100% off for a factory tower.

As for your questions, see the How To page,
www.epicmarine.com\how_to

There are instructions on impellar replacement on the how to page, the part is available from Skidim.com for 28$, if it is 65$ installed, that is a good price. It takes 30 min or so to put it in, if you are not the DIY type then 65 is a good deal.

The fuel filter is a white canister style filter located in the forward driver side bilge, near the front of the engine. The element is an MF-11, it crosses to a Mercruiser 35-60494-1 It is a spin on filter like an oil filter, easy to change. I change mine every season.

I bought one at BASS PRO SHOPS WOHOO!!!  Just make sure you're listening to Shania Twain or Nascar when you're changin' it out, it fits REAL NICE.

http://www.cyclone-cj.com/forum/index.php?board=1;action=display;threadid=46

[dstafl]

thanks for the input. The marina wants $65 for the part only, I'm afraid to ask what the install $ is.
It looks doable from your how to, It will be part of my spring dewinterize.

[phenom_1819]

Hi Denny, welcome to the forum.  I might have some answers for you on the stereo stuff...

The Kenwood speakers that came in the boat are nothing special... and if your deck is anything like the one in my boat, it's nothing special either...

The easiest fix to the sound quality problem is adding an amplifier.  You can pick them up for real cheap, and it will make all the difference in the world...will give you full adjustability of the sound (and a lot more volume). Sony's do great in boats. Cheap, reliable, powerful...

No, the speakers aren't great...but with a little bit more power behind them, they sound OK.  

The next step, if you want loud: I'd recommend pulling the stock speakers, adding some Infinity Kappa 62m Marine speakers (the 62m's drop right in...check ebay for cheap prices. They are the best marine speaker out there, other than the MB Quartz Nautic's, which you'd have to cut new holes for, and aren't cheap).  

But I'd do the amp first.  If the volume and clarity aren't enough, do the speakers.  

BTW, I just finished a custom install in my boat (62m's, custom speaker pods, amps, subwoofer, capacitor, battery indicator, etc.)...will try and post pics this weekend.

Good luck,
Cal

[phenom_1819]

The first time out the following spring, I found out the dealer even though had a winterized sticker on it, never did anything to it . It screwed a bunch of things up but
the dealer gave me a brand new engine. Too bad I only had 150 hours on it.

Denny,

Could you tell us more about the non-winterizing problem?  From what I've read, you're the first person (that the Epic kids know about) that has had freeze damage.  Toyota tested the hell out of them, and supposedly it wasn't possible to crack the block.

So...what happened to your first engine?  

I live in Seattle, where it barely freezes and I'm pretty risk-free.  But I would guess many (like me) are curious...

Thanks,
Cal

[cyclone]

I saw a Toyota block that froze and failed here in Georgia. The Toyota reps insisted that it couldn't happen, but it did. I think it was the crossover tube under the intake from the thermostat area. There are a couple of o-rings there. I always drain my block rather than fill it with liquid, and I pull the thermostat to let the little bit of water out from behind there.

[toyotafreak]

Pete, could we add this to the 'collective wisdom' page?

Thou shalt change the impeller and fuel filter AT LEAST every season.

Thou shalt change the engine oil with full synthetic every fall.

Thou shalt use only the very best SUPREME unleaded fuel you can find. This means that you shall not fuel in marinas unless the only alternative is a rusty jerry can.





If you move to SoCal you don't have to winterize, but you don't have many lakes, and it takes and you'll spend two hours a day in traffic.



Welcome to the board!!!!!! It's been great seeing a renaissance in Epic owners lately.

[dstafl]

Thanks for the warm welcome from all out their!

  Thanks the help on the speakers. I want to put in a sat-radio this spring, any tips on brands or install issues.

To give you more info on my engine, after my 1st season I didn't feel comfortable doing the winterization myself.
Took it to dealer for them to do it.

In the spring(Ice come off the lake only 2 days prior) took the boat to dealer to have de-wintertized, the tech didn't say much then, just that he was suprised to see water in the water intake filter, but he started it and all seemed ok.  I quickly headed for the closest lake to take a spin.

Once on the water I started having problems when I throttled to 3500 or so RPMS, it started to sputter quite a bit and could not even get it to full throttle.

Then I noticed water coming in from under the rear bench, scared the HELL out of me.  I went as fast as I could to the ramp, sputtering the whole way. I had over 2inches of water above the flooring from the engine back by the time I got to the ramp.
 
Dropped of the boat at dealers still freeked out that I almost sunk in 38 deg. water.  They called me a couple days later and told me that after they changed my oil they simply for got to winterize the boat.

I'm not totally sure the extent of all the damage but the manifold exhusts cracked causing leakage.

Since toyota stopped production the dealers thought it easier to warranty an entire engine. Too bad it only had less than150 hours.

While they were waiting for engine and parts I ordered a 4-blade prop and had them order and install an accuski system.
They never sent my a bill for any of that.

I did winterize the boat my self the following year. I wish I knew you guys were out there to answer some questions(the owners manual was somewhat  vague)
Its kind of scary doing it yourself the first time to make sure its right. However the boat started fine and runs great ever since.

T

[toyotafreak]

Tell you what....the broke engine - what are the odds that the dealer still has or knows where that broken engine went? Starter, alternator, ECU (!!!!!!!!).

[dstafl]

I can try to find out I don't think they still have it.
All thier boat stuff is gone. Thats how I got a free factory tower because it was the only thing that they still had down in the basement storage.

I do have the Phone Numbers of the Sales manager who handled the toyota boat line, He's at a Honda dealer now, But very knowledgeable on all aspects toyota marine. He was even at their manufacturing plant and still has some contacts. I also have the number of the service tech that did all the service work on my boat including changing out the engine. He helped me with the tower install which still was a bitch.

[cyclone]

Sat radio thing has had several comments from me, I have XM. I think it's on here somewhere, do a search. Also try www.wakeworld.com and www.wakeboardatlanta.com for fun WB stuff.

I will put together a full on winterizing article featuring my Epic22. I realize it's late this season but there's always next year!

Perfect Pass pics will follow, good weather would help.