Just want to shout out on this forum about the boat I just bought, and the help Ron Tanis gave me with inspecting it and putting it in shape. I live in Florida and wanted to buy that Eagle up in Wisconsin with the cracked block. My background is autos so I could not have done it without all the help Ron gave me with tips on inspection, what to look for, technical info and looking at detailed pictures.
After I got up to Wisconsin and put the trailer in shape (with the knowledge he gave me on the hydraulic brake actuator system for the trailer), I towed the boat back down I55 to avoid Appalachia (towing through the mountains.) When I got to Louisiana I stopped at Ron's shop right off I55 and I12. Not really out of the way because I was headed back to Lake City in North Florida and he is only a mile off the interstate exit.
I left the boat over there and Ron made a report and an estimate of the work needed. It was all standard maintenance and things I preferred to have an expert do so I could concentrate on the engine work. He replaced my steering cable, corrected a problem with the rudder system, made a repair to the gelcoat where the previous owner had scraped the trailer (looks perfect with perfect color match) and he aligned my prop / prop shaft!!!
There is no way you are going to find someone who spends so much attention to detail these days like Ron did on my boat. And it was real fair the labor and parts not like the prohibitive charges for work on new boats and cars at a dealer. Without really any background technical knowledge about boats I could not have got this boat without talking to someone who was an expert - because I think I got a good deal on the price of the boat but it was still a major purchase.
Now the Eagle is headed down to live in the endless summer of West Palm Beach so I have an excuse to go down there on the weekends. And I have my brother in law as a half partner to cover half the monthly in and out marina storage - short money with a partner. If I can help anyone out who is also looking to pick one of these up based on my experience just let me know . And many thanks to Ron. Mike Kane, Lake City,FL
