You're gonna get some piecemeal answers. Here's my part:

Make SURE you have an understanding that "teething problems" will be dealt
with like they are an emergency. I've seen many a new boat sit languishing
at the dealers to get silly little outfitting and rigging problems reworked.
Even when I did all the re-rigging of my new hull. I still had teething
problems and the resulting punch list - mostly left over from when it was
new. Except that I introduced a new one also.

I didn't tighten the nut far enough (by about 1.5 turns) in the shift cable
retainer in the motor. About 2 days into use - I put it in reverse and the
cable managed to jump out because the retainer had turned a bit. No big deal
for *me*, but that would be a trip to the shop (and tow to ramp) for an
"end-user". A five minute fix like that of a silly rigging error should be
done for a new boat owner on the spot - not via a long wait.

My new tachometer didn't work properly and I had to get it exchanged for a
new one. My battery had discharged too far (listening to the radio while
rigging the hull) and I popped the rectifier going to WOT right away while
the battery was presenting a dead load to the system. My glovebox cooler
was improperly mounted at the factory and "fell in". The snap in rugs didn't
have stainless screws holding the snaps into the floor. I had to remount the
ski-tower because no adhesive was used. A missing snap on the bimini. Etc
Etc.

Bottom line: My boat would have spent a LOT of time at the shop to get
silly stuff fixed, if I wasn't "the shop" LOL. It had quite a "punch
list" and would have had a LOT of downtime.

I took note of this so I could impress people like *you* of the fact that
you need make SURE the dealer understands *your* punch list is an EMERGENCY.
If not you'll lose weeks of water time, I've seen some people lose MONTHS.

-W


"David Ditch" wrote in message
...
Is there a written process to new boat buying that someone may have on
thier
website?

I have narrowed my new boat choice to 3 or 4 brands.
I've checked out some of them at a boat show and will be attending another
before I'll be going to the Dealer's locations.

How much time will I want to spend at each dealer before I decide on the
boat?
Once I decide on a boat, do I get a test drive in a demo?
It the boat is not on location and it needs to be ordered, how much of a
deposit to expect?
How long are factory lead times typically on a 21-23' cuddy?
Do I need a surveyer for a new boat?

Serious replys only please

Thanks in advance!

David