18' CC

I bought a new boat last year. I have not even had it a year. A couple
months into ownership, small cracks began to form where the deck meets
the sides. There were some other cracks throughout the hull, mostly on
curved egdes. Not really bad but cracks nonetheless on a new boat.

I took the boat back to the dealership (different from the manufacture)
and they spoke with the manufacture. The boat manufacture said these
were from the glass being too thick. They said to grind it down and
smooth it out. The dealership decided to fix it by grinding down the
cracks and reglassing. After grinding it down a bit, the dealer found
voids in the glass and they think this is the problem.

Are the other cracks voids? Will more cracks form?

Anyway, they have had my boat for 3 weeks now (eating up my season for
Dolphin and Cobia) and when I went to pick it up today, I was PO'd.
There were still a few small cracks, the glass job on the seams was not
finished correctly (a lip around the edge from tape, I assume, glass
that was rough and not buffed; also glass that needed sanding); the
boat obviously was only washed but not buffed, etc. I ran my hand on
parts of the boat and picked glass dust. The glass was not smooth and
shiny in the work areas but coarse and rough - like it was sanded and
left that way.

I told the shop manager that I used to work for an autobody shop. When
we completed a vehicle, it was detailed. Any issues could be easily
found at this point and fixed. He was expecting me to accept this poor
workmanship by saying he has a new detail crew.

I also complained about a guage that retained moisture for a day or two
after getting wet - the only one out of 7 guages. They said that's just
the way it is, nothing they can do.

And to boot, I was told by another dealership location (same company)
that they were not going to carry my boat anymore. My salesman said he
was full of it. Guess what? The shop manager tells me not only are they
not going to carry my boat, but my motor won't be carried either.

At this point, what can I do? I would like to work this out so I can go
fishing. Should I contact an attorney? Would I be out of line to ask
for some compensation for my "pain and suffering" - only a fisherman
will understand LOL. I mean, it looks like I will be without my boat
for at least a month of excellent fishing. I bought a new boat and I
feel like I have a used one.

Thoughts? Opinions?

On Fri, 06 May 2005 00:22:01 GMT, "TC" wrote:

At this point, what can I do?

If there are voids in the glass and you can prove that, sue the hell
out of the manufacturer. That's a quality problem not to mention a
potential safety problem.

I would also take the dealer to small claims court for improper repair
- go for the max your state allows.

Half the time, once you set things in motion, they resolve themselves
very quickly.

Out of curiosity, what make/model boat was this?

Later,

Tom

Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On Fri, 06 May 2005 00:22:01 GMT, "TC" wrote:

At this point, what can I do?

If there are voids in the glass and you can prove that, sue the hell
out of the manufacturer. That's a quality problem not to mention a
potential safety problem.

I can't prove it. This is what the boat dealer told me. Of course they
aren't willing to go to court on my behalf. Although, I wonder if I can
get them to put it in writing.


I would also take the dealer to small claims court for improper repair
- go for the max your state allows.


Half the time, once you set things in motion, they resolve themselves
very quickly.

That's what I had hoped for. Yesterday was 3 weeks without my boat and
I'm looking at at least another week. Only have the work was done and
not very well either.


Out of curiosity, what make/model boat was this?

2004 Seahunt 186 CC

TC -

Ask an independent surveyor to inspect your boat and write a survey along
with his recommendations to repair the boat. Send this information via
registered mail to the manufacturer and copy the dealer.

Let them know if you do not hear from them by "X" date, you will file a
claim in small claims court and file a complaint with Boat/US.





"TC" wrote in message
.. .
Shortwave Sportfishing wrote:

On Fri, 06 May 2005 00:22:01 GMT, "TC" wrote:

At this point, what can I do?

If there are voids in the glass and you can prove that, sue the hell
out of the manufacturer. That's a quality problem not to mention a
potential safety problem.

I can't prove it. This is what the boat dealer told me. Of course they
aren't willing to go to court on my behalf. Although, I wonder if I can
get them to put it in writing.


I would also take the dealer to small claims court for improper repair
- go for the max your state allows.


Half the time, once you set things in motion, they resolve themselves
very quickly.

That's what I had hoped for. Yesterday was 3 weeks without my boat and
I'm looking at at least another week. Only have the work was done and
not very well either.


Out of curiosity, what make/model boat was this?

2004 Seahunt 186 CC

TC writes:

At this point, what can I do? I would like to work this out so I can go
fishing. Should I contact an attorney?

Yes, decide exactly what remedy you want, and have a lawyer send a
nastygram to that effect. This dealer/mfr is an expert professional at
evading responsibility, you are just a dabbler at enforcing it.

If it's not worth hiring the lawyer, then you really don't have enough of a
gripe to be worth pursuing.

Richard J Kinch wrote:

TC writes:

At this point, what can I do? I would like to work this out so I
can go fishing. Should I contact an attorney?

Yes, decide exactly what remedy you want, and have a lawyer send a
nastygram to that effect. This dealer/mfr is an expert professional
at evading responsibility, you are just a dabbler at enforcing it.

If it's not worth hiring the lawyer, then you really don't have
enough of a gripe to be worth pursuing.

I hate lawyers, but I hate getting the shaft even more. I think I will
give one a call and see what happens.

TC wrote:

18' CC

I bought a new boat last year. I have not even had it a year. A couple
months into ownership, small cracks began to form where the deck meets
the sides. There were some other cracks throughout the hull, mostly on
curved egdes. Not really bad but cracks nonetheless on a new boat.

I took the boat back to the dealership (different from the
manufacture) and they spoke with the manufacture. The boat
manufacture said these were from the glass being too thick. They said
to grind it down and smooth it out. The dealership decided to fix it
by grinding down the cracks and reglassing. After grinding it down a
bit, the dealer found voids in the glass and they think this is the
problem.

Are the other cracks voids? Will more cracks form?

Anyway, they have had my boat for 3 weeks now (eating up my season for
Dolphin and Cobia) and when I went to pick it up today, I was PO'd.
There were still a few small cracks, the glass job on the seams was
not finished correctly (a lip around the edge from tape, I assume,
glass that was rough and not buffed; also glass that needed sanding);
the boat obviously was only washed but not buffed, etc. I ran my hand
on parts of the boat and picked glass dust. The glass was not smooth
and shiny in the work areas but coarse and rough - like it was sanded
and left that way.

I told the shop manager that I used to work for an autobody shop. When
we completed a vehicle, it was detailed. Any issues could be easily
found at this point and fixed. He was expecting me to accept this poor
workmanship by saying he has a new detail crew.

I also complained about a guage that retained moisture for a day or
two after getting wet - the only one out of 7 guages. They said
that's just the way it is, nothing they can do.

And to boot, I was told by another dealership location (same company)
that they were not going to carry my boat anymore. My salesman said he
was full of it. Guess what? The shop manager tells me not only are
they not going to carry my boat, but my motor won't be carried either.

At this point, what can I do? I would like to work this out so I can
go fishing. Should I contact an attorney? Would I be out of line to
ask for some compensation for my "pain and suffering" - only a
fisherman will understand LOL. I mean, it looks like I will be
without my boat for at least a month of excellent fishing. I bought a
new boat and I feel like I have a used one.

Thoughts? Opinions?

Update: The boat dealer called and tells me he has good news: "The boat
manufacture is going to come get the boat, take it back to North
Carolina and fix it." How is that good news? Who knows how long it will
be gone now. I contacted a surveyor and was told the boat issues are
not acceptable but could be repaired. However, voids could be hard to
find. I contacted an attorney (a friend of mine) who is going to send a
letter to either the dealership or manufacture. I'm going to draft a
letter for him to send. He says if we sue, that I probably won't come
out very well as the bigger company can drag it through the legal
system until it has cost me far more than the cost of the boat.

Sigh.

FACT: You'd have to ultrasound the entire hull to find the all the *not yet*
visable voids. Period.

Have your lawaer demand of them all the ultrasound scans that they used to
find and detect the voids they claim to be wanting to fix for you. ie Make
it more expensive to have *them* do what they want, then to just give you a
new hull.
Just like they can make sueing expensive, you can play chess too. Play
it......... and you best use the powers of the Dark Side..... remeber it's
Corporate America you are up against. The almighty dollar wins every
time.....
-W



"TC" wrote in message
...
Update: The boat dealer called and tells me he has good news: "The boat
manufacture is going to come get the boat, take it back to North
Carolina and fix it." How is that good news? Who knows how long it will
be gone now. I contacted a surveyor and was told the boat issues are
not acceptable but could be repaired. However, voids could be hard to
find. I contacted an attorney (a friend of mine) who is going to send a
letter to either the dealership or manufacture. I'm going to draft a
letter for him to send. He says if we sue, that I probably won't come
out very well as the bigger company can drag it through the legal
system until it has cost me far more than the cost of the boat.

Sigh.

On Fri, 06 May 2005 00:22:01 GMT, "TC" wrote:

18' CC

I bought a new boat last year. I have not even had it a year. A couple
months into ownership, small cracks began to form where the deck meets
the sides. There were some other cracks throughout the hull, mostly on
curved egdes. Not really bad but cracks nonetheless on a new boat.

I own over 30 boats. Sometimes they crack, you will have to deal with
it.

Do you want to see pictures of my driveway?