Avalanche Owners -- Help W/Pros & Cons B4 I Buy.

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

We're getting serious about buying a 2004 Avalanche, but first I'd like to hear from you Avalanche owners.

Pros & Cons
Options you wish you had purchased (we'll be getting PP Wakeboard Pro).
Are you happy with the standard ballast system, or do you wish you had more?
What you wish the dealer had told you before you bought.
Etc. Etc. Etc.

krbaugh · Addict Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Posts: 758 City: Edwardsville

which ballast does the boat have 1 tank or 3?

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

Hangtime,
Go for it. I have an '02 Avalanche. The issues I had were Mercury Marine issues. The boat is awesome. Storage, roominess, ride, wake, and the best cooler on the water.
I'd recommend the C4. I have the walk through. It's nice but I'd rather have the larger sun deck.
Mercury has solved the issues it had with the 350 MPI Mag. Fuel boost pump and alternator pulley misalignment.
I have the three ballast tanks and keep them full all the time. I had 8 people in the boat the other day with the tanks full. Wake was sick. Too big. Scared the crap out of me.
What color are you considering?

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

krbaugh,

It has the 3 tank system.

RanMan,

The boat we are looking at is black and it's not a C4; however, I do like the idea of not having people tracking across the sun deck. As far as color, we might wait for the 2005s -- then we'll look into the blues. I'm a little concerned about keeping up a black finish. I've never had it on a boat, but I know it's a b---- on a car.

BurkeViper · Posted: Jul 12, 2004 11:22 pm Post subject:

Hangtime, My cousin and her husband got a 2003 Avalanche and love it. They loved the price (got their's for about $32,000 with 3 year warranty). I think it's a storm series; it's fun. We like the walkway so not everyone is tracking over the sun deck. I think when you buy a Natique or a Mastercraft you're just paying extra for the name; my opinion. No complaint here

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

Hows the wake? Rampy or steep? I'd like to hit the wake RanMan saw. I will definately be setting up that configuration by the end of the season.

GYMBOARDER · Outlaw Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 123 City: Fresno

Ranman,
What is the problem with the fuel boost. Im having problems with my 2002 avalanche. I cant run it above 4000 rpm's. When I do it starts losing power and the rpms drop. Any advice would be apprecaited. I have taken it to my dealer mutiple times and they cant figure it out. Maybe I can steer them in the right direction.

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

Hey Gym,
There is a Service Bulletin on that 350 MPI Merc. There is an electric boost pump that needs to be installed to augment the original pump. Your service guys should be able to get the fix info from Merc and get you going. In the meantime, don't run it out of gas. The exisiting fuel pump won't draw fuel if there is air in the line and you'll need to add a squeeze ball to the line to get it primed so it will start. I learned this little tidbit on day 2 of ownership before Merc. was doing anything about it. It's sort of a silent recall now. Also, check your alternator pully alignment. There is a service bulletin for the mount if you keep going through serpentine belts. Good luck.
RanMan

bmartin · Addict Joined: 05 Feb 2003 Posts: 794

RanMan

How far back does the fuel pump alternator alignment go? I have an '00 Centurion with the 350MPI. I have had it for this season so far and haven't had any problems.

THANKS.

RanMan · Outlaw Joined: 14 Apr 2003 Posts: 186 City: Pittsburgh

The fuel pump and alternator issues make themselves pretty obvious in a short time. I was getting loss of power at speed and beeping from the merc alarms due to the fuel pump thing. As for the alternator misalignment, I was going through serpentine belts in two days. Once a new one lasted about 10 minutes on the water. Major bummer. In the end they found that the mount for the alternator needed a shim or something to bring the pulley back in alignment. If you look down on your belt you can see if the pulleys are in line or not. If you have no belt probs and no running issues them yours is either not affectd or already been fixed.

oshensurfer · Posted: Jul 14, 2004 10:09 am Post subject:

Yeah. Those are the only issues with the merc that I've heard of too. Don't let that discourage you from buying. All of these issues were with the pre 2003 models from what I understand. Centurions are good boats. These issues, while frustrating are not major problems and can be resolved by a good service shop that actually spends time researching issues on boats.

GYMBOARDER, I just replied to your PM. Change the fuel filter first before you take it in for the fuel pump booster issue. Try that and the ECM program next. $20 fuel filter and 10 minutes to change and problem went away completely. Actually the filter was free. The folks at Fineline hooked me up, as usual. Customer Service there ROCKS!

GYMBOARDER · Outlaw Joined: 30 Jul 2003 Posts: 123 City: Fresno

Thanks guys for the input. Ill try to let my local shop know about these issues. They probally wont listen to me at first but ill be very persistent.

jgates · Outlaw Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 158 City: Rome, NY

Hangtime,

A good friend of mine (AF dude) has an 03' Avalanche C4 and is mostly satisfied with it. With the exception of some initial steerage and stereo problems (promptly fixed by the dealer) and some concern over minor upholstery tears the boat has been outstanding. It's fairly big and extremely solid, tower doesn't budge at all or creek, the wake is truly awesome and the boat is a beast. His Perfect Pass is dialed in so the boat is always on. We also ride behind my Supra SSV and another buddy's X-2 so we have something to compare it to. I don't think you'll be disappointed with Centurion.

Fly Navy....

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

jgates,

I have a lot of respect and admiration for Navy fliers. Anyone that can hit a floating postage stamp on a heaving sea -- with a speeding jet -- gets props from me.

Those guys used to stop in at our base occasionally while crossing the country. When they got a chance to taxi more than 100 yards (on a carrier deck), they really haul a.. !!! It was all we could do to keep them behind the "follow me" truck. And of-course, they would put on a great show taking off to show up the Air Force guys. Theres nothing wrong with a healthy rivalry -- makes people try harder.

jgates · Outlaw Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 158 City: Rome, NY

Hangtime,

My days of flying off the boat are over (6 yrs at sea and 22 total is plenty enough for me); I'm about to retire from this Navy gig. Besides, the only hours I plan on spending on a boat will now be of the wakeboarding variety. Much more enjoyable! Very Happy

Hangtime · Outlaw Joined: 14 Aug 2003 Posts: 160 City: Concord

Thanks for all the feedback. We test drove and bought the boat yesterday. What a sweet boat!!! Very Happy

I'll be getting some serious hangtime in my jumps now. The dealer configured the ballast for wakesurfing -- I can't wait to give it a try -- that wake was awesome.

jgates · Outlaw Joined: 14 Mar 2004 Posts: 158 City: Rome, NY

Hangtime,

We've just gotten into the wakesurfing games on my buddy's Avalanche as well. I haven't gone yet but everyone has reported it's a blast and easy to get up to boot. A great thing to do when the waters' rough. Razz

..jg