Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

[mtnrat]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

The wait "normal" and to be "expected" from big business???? That is a cop out. I read an interesting article in Passage Maker Magazine about a guy who had about a 5 year old Nautica boat that developed some small hull problems. The owner called the company asking if this was normal? Nautica told him to bring it down and they will look at it. He dropped the boat off and left for a few hours and when he returned he found that Nautica removed the engine and all his accessories from the old boat and reinstalled them on a brand new boat. They just said that what was found was not normal and he drove home with a NEW boat sitting on his trailer. Now that is service. I do not remember the boat model but it was not cheap. IIRC it was 16-18 feet.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

They said my boat will be complete in Mid May.

Mid May of 2008 or 2009?

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

If Tahoe tells him that it wants to repair this hull. its time to stop talking to them and turn the matter over to an attorney. The boat looks to me like it is coming apart in multiple locations and trying to fix them will do nothing to solve the apparent underlying problem.

This boat should also not be traded or sold to anyone without a full, written disclosure of its known problems. At a minimum, the buyer should be required to sign a notarized document that says that they are fully aware of the problems, and that they forever hold harmless and indemnify bainyg, his wife, his kids, the cat and the man on the moon. After he does that, he should change his mind, take the document back and refuse to sell the boat because someone, somewhere will eventually figure out how to sue him, while he fights with the buyer trying to get them/it to comply with the indemnification requirement.

 

[Robj]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

I do not think that a month wait is that unreasonable, especially when you consider the shipping. Now with regards to repair or replace. Of course replace would be better they may use your drive and engine, which would be OK again IMO. Should they choose to repair it, I am sure it can be done so that boat is better than new. You can try and fight it, but it may be a difficult one (and expensive) to win for a small gain. What I would do is make sure you have a letter stating what they have done, and a guarantee for the repair. This is a must. I would call them and find out how they will be resolving this. Regardless the fact that they have agreed to do something is a good thing.

Have a great day,

Rob.

 

[BamaAlum97]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

The warranty likely states that Tahoe has the option to repair or replace. I doubt the owner has any option to decline the repairs. You would be smart to get documentation and to request a seperate statement of warranty on the repairs.

I am glad the company is making it right. It really sucks that things took so long, but I was sure things would work out one way or another...

According to my local dealer...new boat orders from Tahoe are taking about 6 to 8 weeks to fill. They must be making and selling a lot of boats...someone out there is happy with the product. (Myself included)

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

I doubt the owner has any option to decline the repairs.

Bainyg has whatever options a decent attorney can obtain for him. In a case with minor or even marginally serious manufacturers defects, I would probably agree with you. In this case, I don't because this owner has a very legitimate reason to feel that the hull is seriously and dangerously flawed, and that is not something that can be fixed.

Actually, I would hope that Tahoe has enough sense to want to get this hull out of circulation because, based on what I have seen, I think its a lawsuit waiting to happen.

 

[BamaAlum97]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

Bainyg has whatever options a decent attorney can obtain for him. In a case with minor or even marginally serious manufacturers defects, I would probably agree with you. In this case, I don't because this owner has a very legitimate reason to feel that the hull is seriously and dangerously flawed, and that is not something that can be fixed.

Actually, I would hope that Tahoe has enough sense to want to get this hull out of circulation because, based on what I have seen, I think its a lawsuit waiting to happen.

If his goal is to get back on the water as quickly as possible, adding attorneys to the mix to fight the repair/replace battle will only drag things out.

I am certain the warranty (with the owners signature) states that Tahoe has the option to repair if they want. That is pretty solid in court. The owner could argue that Tahoe has breached the contracted, but is a pretty hefty burden.

I would much prefer a new boat versus repaired in this situation. I just feel this owner may not have a choice.

If it is truly a manufacturers defect like so many claim it to be...wouldn't a new boat be just as tarnished as the repaired? At least the repaired one has been repaired.

Just my opinions.

 

[Coors]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

I think this thread will make a record, of posts.

Rock on.

 

[oops!]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

country bumpkin holdes that record.....(recent record...could be somthing in archives) .576 replys....and just under 40,000 hits.......

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=207127&highlight=boat+busted

and that one aint done yet.......it will grow by at least 10 % in june

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

To me, this is simple. A manufacturers warranty is expected to cover a wide range of things, the vast majority of which are not complex. Where there is a statement that the manufacturer may repair rather than replace, most reasonable people would expect that the thing to be repaired can be repaired, so such a clause in the warranty would be worthless here.

From the photos that I have seen, it appears that there is hull failure in multiple locations and the damage does not appear to have been the result of hitting something in the water, dropping the boat, etc. In fact, an insurance company's surveyor has already said that the problems are due to a manufacturers defect.

I am far from a fiberglass expert but I believe I understand the basic concept on how such a boat is made. What I get from what I have read and seen thus far, is that there are defects in the basic layup of the boat. So, if someone tries to repair the currently visible damage, but the boat has other areas with hidden problems, how do you fix the entire hull? How do you know where those problems are? What guarantees can anyone give this owner that he will not be out in some chop that the boat should take in stride, but ends up coming apart instead?

As we all know, anyone can sue anyone for just about anything. Sometimes the claims are outrageous and a summary judgement is handed down, tossing the matter out of court. In this case, I doubt this would happen. No one buys a boat thinking that it is going to begin to disintegrate a year or so after it is purchased. That is an extraordinary situation and I suspect the case would move forward if taken to trial. I also suspect that any attorney worth his/her salt (pun intended) would be easily able to find multiple experts that would contend that a repair of this hull simply isn't safe. More importantly, those experts would be telling the simple truth. Put the photos of this hull, along with the expert testimony and a few pics of bainyg's kids in front of a jury, and you're sure to see the dollar signs rolling.

I don't mean to be unfriendly or argumentaive but I have to tell you, when you say things that seem to be a suggestion to bainyg that he better take what is offered to him, if he wants to get back on the water soon, you sound just like a dealer and/or manufacturer who is trying to cloud someone's judgement. Bringing an attorney into the equation if Tahoe refused to replace a few lights, guages or whatever, would indeed be overkill. Protecting a $25,000 investment, along with yourself and your family is not. Somehow, I don't think bainyg is dumb enough to get suckered by a carrot on a string.

 

[BamaAlum97]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

We'll just have to see how things play out...I agree...the owner should prefer a new boat...I just don't believe he can force Tahoe to do it. Should they do it and and will they do it are two different things...

Of course the owner can sue for anything he wants...but would have to prove a breach of contract in this case, and I haven't seen any evidence of that. Your expert and thorough review of pictures and statements made on an Internet forum may be enough for you...but others may still more.

Maybe I should start accusing you of being planted by Tahoe competitors to stir up bad press for Tahoe...They've been selling a lot of boats, I am sure that is hurting your commision. That sounds pretty ridiculous doesn't it? Is it so unreasonable for someone to have an opinion other than yours? Is it allowed on this thread to have a favorable opinion of Tahoe? I didn't see disclaimer that this thread only permits bashing. If that is the case, I will gladly excuse myself to other threads/boards.

 

[oops!]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

i can see tashasdaddys kitty cats fingers tapping allready on this one....

lets try to keep this one from getting locked....

every body wants to know how this turns out

 

[jusfloatin]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

Hey Bama
how's the fishing today? Is it a catch and release day or is it a snag what you can!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

OK, I'll put my "affiliations" on the table.

I don't work for any Tahoe competitor and never did. The closest I have ever come to this would have been the job I had in college, over 30 years ago, when I was a salesman for a yacht brokerage in Florida. We sold Albin Trawlers and any brand of used boat that someone wanted to list with us.

Like everyone else here, I have offered my opinions about things to watch our for, things to do, things to insist on, etc. If I have any axe to grind, it is that I have become saddened and disgusted at what passes for corporate ethics these days. Further, I am seeing things here that, while they are not yet completely apparent, hint at less than satisfactory attention to this problem. Bainyg has invested tens of thousands of dollars of his very hard earned money in one of Tahoe's products and he has received what I think is substandard response and communication from them.

Something else that I also believe in is the power vested in "the average joe." Through the press, forums like this and other media, we can collectively put heat on companies to do the right thing. As someone mentioned in another post, this thread has received over 11,000 hits. In as much as those hits may be expected to have been by boating enthusiasts and owners, many of whom are potential buyers, that is an impressive and important statisitic. No boat manufacturer with a brain in its collective head, would ignore the potential impact of what gets said here. If I have made a comment or two that makes Tahoe nervous, I will consider that to be a plus. At the same time, I hope Tahoe proves me to be entirely wrong ... and if they do, I will be just as vocal about the good things that they did. The ball, as "they" say, is in Tahoe's court.

Just to move on and lighten things up a bit .... all the blues players and enthusiasts need to check out a kid by the name of Matthew Curry on YouTube. He is 11 years old and can jam!

Now y'all know why I write such long posts - I'm always listening to something on YT so I get "lost" in the music, while banging away on the keyboard!

 

[obezag]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

YouTube. I thought that went between the upper and lower!

 

[Ret USN CPO]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

Hmmmm, pretty quiet around here.

 

[Hashi]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

It's TAX DAY.

Glad to hear that Tracker Marine has finally contacted you. I agree with other posts that you should call back and get a name and number of person assigned to your claim. That way when mid-May comes and goes, you'll know who to contact.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

Hopefully in mid May you'll be driving along atop of a shiny new hull or better yet a whole new boat.

 

[brandonsb22]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

How long has it been now? Is there a time line for repairs or replacements in the warranty contract? Good luck and hope you get your boat soon.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?

If they do indeed find that this was a true defect I hope we all find out about it so WE CAN TELL THE WORLD.