Is your boat under warranty? If yes, read this!

[midnight_run]

I have been a loyal Ausfish member for quite a few years now and I thought it would be of interest to all the other boaties out there just how much a warranty is worth these days, especially the warranty on your boat. I have a centre console boat which I purchased from a local boat yard at Capalaba which has recently changes premises on Old Cleveland Road. It has been used heaps and is still under it's manufacturer warranty. It has had a long history of cracked welds which is unusual for a brand new boat. I had all of the previous ones fixed by the manufacturer before I even took the brand new boat home, but was shocked when I took it back to the boat yard last week after discovering the base welds that fix the centre console to the boat structure were almost completely split along with the weld that attaches the back step (which has hardly been used). I went back to the boat yard today after hearing nothing and they advised me in a very rude manner that I should speak to the manufacturer on the gold coast and drive it down there myself to get it looked at by the builder all at my own expense as they were bound to do nothing for me. Now how's that for service when I paid over $16000 cash for a brand spanking new boat! I then called the manufacturer who was unavailable at that time and was to be phoned back within the hour. two hours later I phoned and got an instant greeting of "well clearly someone does not get out of bed early in the morning", no nice greetings for a "valued customer" I was infact at the hospital this morning having my monthly oncology tests to make sure i am still in remission! He told me to bring the boat to him to havea look at it for himself and when i offered to take time off work to get it to him the following day he rudely told me it was "NOT CONVENIENT". To make sure that I get the quality of service that I deserve when forking out hard earned money I decided to take it to a local marine welder at Cleveland to get the job done properly. I myself work at highly regarded boating supplies retailer and understand that when my customers buy something they pay in the mark up for your service to be the best! I somehow think that a warranty means that you get after purchase service and workmanship until it is void! Oh well I hope that your warranty is better than mine and worth more than the paper that it was written on. So much for a company and boats that are "BUILT WITH PRIDE"!!!!

[manchild]

Thats bad mate,sorry to hear that.This kinda stories made me choose the poly.I can pick up the phone anytime and speak to the owner and director of polycraft anytime and receive full support .You cant beat that service.Hope it works out for you .If you talking about the same company i thinking of ,i wouldnt buy anything from them at all.I happened to do some work on their factory roof and got talking to a few of their employees.Everything had to be just good enough and quickly made according to them and nobody i met there took pride in working on boats.
George

[PinHead]

is there a "highly regarded boating supplies retailer"..they are the same as manufacturers and builders..they are all good until there is a problem. Unfortuantely we always want our problems solved instantly which does not happen...I can tell you of one very "respected" boat manufacturer that has a waiting time of 3 months for warranty work.

[BM]

Seems to be an all too familiar tale within this unregulated industry sadly...

Be it a new boat warranty, or a used boat warranty (hehe) or warranty work on engines..

I am often ashamed to belong to an industry so full of corrupt individuals....

[tully]

I have to say midnight, that there is nothing more frustrating than to have the bums who took your money, give you the big middle digit as soon as you try to get some backup. They know most people just don't have the resources to challenge them. Personally I would do the same as you, i.e. swallow my pride and pay someone competent to fix it properly. You know when your flogging a dead horse.
It was a pleasant surprise to find the same thing as manchild, re: dealing with polycraft. They are not perfect, nor are their boats, but a pleasure to deal with. Despite the fact that their boats are sold through a dealer network, they are happy to deal directly with boat owners in a friendly and timely way.
Good luck midnight, I hope you get it all sorted out.

[sid_fishes]

if IT,S BUILT WITH PRIDE,why is it that they so much warranty work. as a matter of fact that could be anyone of the ally popout boat building companies here on the coast.

[bisso]

Ahhh! i remember going through this crap a year ago with a new outboard i purchased that seized after 20 hours. i was told that i was unfortunate but still have to pay for it. so my $8k motor ended up costing me $12k after rebuild. warranty, its a piece of paper to wipe your butt with... i am sorry for your loss and expense and sympathise with you completely as i am all so aware of that feeling you are going through.
can i ask if you have taken it to a tribunal or pursued a legal avenue. i from experience beleive a legal avenue is your best bet.... if you want to discuss further or have any questions i would happily oblidge as i know the shitty sunken feeling you have to go through..
cheers
bisso

[bluefin59]

Thanks for the warning mate i'v had mine for just over 3yrs mines a 4.5mt side console and have had no probs yet but will keep an eye out now, the dealer is the same as i dealt with by the sound of it but have received great service from them i suppose things can happen with anyone and any brand but you sure do lose confidence when you read a story like this mate hope your back on the water now ...bluefin59

[davo]

Unfortunately that is the problem with production boats. An 18yr old off the street can be your welder. Even so I would wish your problem on my worst enemy.

[wags on the water]

Midnite, you're not alone with this one. My boat is now 3months old and been back to the company twice and problems have arisen again. This has finally given me the sh!ts. $41k of boat - paint oxidisation after 5weeks and it's deemed as not a warranty item. WHY should this happen !!!! It's brand new!!! This problem is on going.
Have you contacted the office of fair trading?

Wags

[midnight_run]

Thanks for all your posts. I took it to a professional welder yesterday and got it fixed professionally. Needed to get it done real fast for the fishing comp next week! Bluefin59 have you ever checked under the floor and had a look at the structure of the ribs???? My welder looked at mine yesterday and almost collapsed when he saw that there was no bracing between the ribs! and to wags I hope you get them for that cos I was gonna buy the same boat exactly as the one in your picture for my new boat and get rid of my "two fin". Seems like there is a continuing cycle of recycled leftovers bodgied up together and sold again that we are supposed to feel safe in!

[wags on the water]

m_run , I think it's just me as a mate of mine swears by stacer boats and has never had a problem. In my case though, it won't be swept under the carpet.This sort of money doesn't grow on trees. I've worked bl@@dy hard to get this so I can enjoy my time off work.

Wags

[wags on the water]

sorry double post

[Pual44]

I sympathise with your situation. You have done the right thing and probably saved yourself a lot of time and inconvenience by taking it to a professional for repairs.
It seems to me that not all dealers are the same as I have cause to make a claim on warranty not once but twice for the same problem. The dealer I went through at Bowen hills Brisbane could not have been more obliging and he is not the one who sold me the motor, just a dealer/mechanic with integrity.
Some of us will know who I mean.
I hope he stays in business for a very long time (purely selfish reasons ofcourse) as there seems to be a limitted number of these people around.
Hopefully loss in sales can weed these people out.

Cheers

[Sean]

I had a bermuda and after 6 months had a split in the weld near the transducer, when i took it to the dealer i was told I must bash my boat around! Thanks a lot Andrew Short marine in Sydney!!