Servicing Epic in Wisconsin

[bidbuy]

Hey Cheeseheads! Where do you get your Epic serviced in Wisconsin.
Thanks!
Joel

[tryme]

i just bought mine this years so no service work yet.  would love to find a good dealer and also a good place for trailer repair.

[eagle1wi]

Skipper Buds in Waukesha is the "official" place.

Do you have a Malibu or Mastercraft dealer in your area?

Chances are if they have a clue they will be able to service your boat no problem.  The normal maintenance items are typically the same ones they already have or ones you can buy online and give to them to do things like winterizing. 

For instance I give it to my local dealer (much closer than the official Toyota one) and he already has or can get his hands on the impeller, oil filter and fuel filter to winterize it.  Mine is the only Toyota he has ever worked on and he was hesitant to work on it as first.  Once he saw it I think he was very intrigued.  He told me that I might have to hunt the parts down for him but he called back a couple of days later and told me that it was no problem.  I guess he found out that many of the mainteance items are not specific to our boats. Johnson Impeller, Mercruiser Fuel Filter etc.

I get mine winterized by Lakes Area Marine in Burlington.  Right across the street from Brown's Lake Public Beach on Hwy 11.  He hasn't done anything major to the boat (I haven't needed it) but it sure beats taking it to Skipper Bud's.  Nothing against them but it is an hour away.  An hour there, hour back, hour to pick it up, hour home, you get the idea.  Lakes Area is a 45 second drive from the public launch. 

[Lakeside]

Skipper Buds does great work.? They've got the Toyota diagnostic equipment and access to Toyota parts and training.? Ryan is the service manager.? They get work done quickly and have a "can do" attitude.?

As I was picking up my boat from storage there last weekend and I made a passing comment about my bilge pump to the receptionist.? I didn't ask for anything to be done.? Before I knew it receptionist mentioned it to the mechanic.? He dropped everything to take a quick look at the pump and got it working again: n/c.? Nice!

If you are near Wausau, check the Toyota dealer there.? A couple of people in that area have Epics serviced there.? You can find their story on this site.? (Someone at that dealership owns an Epic.)?

If you are near the Minoqua area, you might want to avoid the Mastercraft dealer there.

If you are near Superior/Duluth, Barkers Island Marina can probably help you, but it may take them some time to get parts.? They do a lot of custom work on the one of a kind yachts that break down on Lake Superior.

Eagle1 is right.? Ask inboard dealers near you, you'll probably find someone who can help you with a lot of your stuff.? If it's a special Toyota-oriented question, call Ryan at Skipper Buds.? If he doesn't have the answer, he consults with Captain Rick from Toyota for a solution to your problem.

[Lakeside]

For wheel oriented problems with trailers, call the manager of the Pewaukee Firestone dealer.  The manager trailers a boat up to the Northwoods throughout the summer, so he relates to the problems of fellow boat owners.  He has the "can do" attitude. (i.e. we closed 10 minutes ago and we don't really do that kind of repair work here, but I'll stay late to help you out because I'm a boater, too.)  I can't remember his name, but if you ask for the manager and ask if he owns a boat, you'll get him.  He's a very nice, courteous guy.

[eagle1wi]

Yes Ryan at Skipper Buds knows what is going on. 

Talk on another thread that 4 Epics is the most in one area at one time.

We can beat that.

Email me or PM me so I can get a list going of who is in our area.

[Rambling Wreck]

The 4 in one area means all at the same spot on the same lake at the same time i.e. together as a group. Competition is a GOOD thing!