You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

[JimS123]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I came into this thread late, but read every post since its of special interest to me. Lst summer while going on vacation we narrowly missed accidents twice on the interstate. We caravan with 4 towcars and 4 boats (me, the wife and 2 sons), and TWICE we had trailers disintegrate in front of us. Luckily we all had our wits about us and were able to avoid the wreckage.

But I digress...

I've been a boater for 45 years and have owned more boats and trailers that I can remember, so I'm not a newbie.

Two things here come to mind....

First, regardless of "as is" sale or not, the trailer was a death in the making. It should not have been sold. The dealer is responsible for "some" assistance, if its only a $50 refund. If there had been an accident, they would pay big time.

Secondly, (and I'm in now way bashing Mastercraft), but that specific trailer was defective. It looked OK superficially. Even if the original owner had been a total idiot and done zero maintenance, it would probably have not looked that good on the outside. It fell apart way too soon. IMHO, it had a manufacturing defect.

If it were me, I'd start writing letters to the dealer and copy Mastercraft. Then, approach the dealer's owner and explain it in detail. If they don't respond favorably, contact a lawyer.

Keep the news media out of it at all cost. They are vultures and you don't need to be associated with them.

 

[PiratePast40]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I think you're in a position now that you need to be very careful what you say. Hope you don't take this the wrong way, but you've allready let them push you around by saying it was OK to put things off until after New Years. If they had any indication of doing something to remedy the situation, I would have thought that someone further up the chain would have at least spoken to you in person.

I don't think I'd be attacking like a lunatic, but woudn't be pulling the horns in any either. They would love to have you shake your head in agreement when they say that putting the trailer on the road with the general public was totally your responsibility.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Update?

PS. i would have never taken the boat home on that trailer.....the front of the boat should really be touching the bow stop of the trailer..

 

[jeeperman]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Update?

PS. i would have never taken the boat home on that trailer.....the front of the boat should really be touching the bow stop of the trailer..

It is the holiday weekend.
Bow up to bow stop is no biggy, it just need to be nudged forward a bit more.

Alpheus,
If the nearest boat ramp is not too far, I would be inclined to binder chain a tongue onto what is left of that trailer. Maybe you have another trailer with a bolt on tongue you can borrow.
And then slowly limp the thing to the boat ramp in order to off load the boat onto a different trailer.

 

[a70eliminator]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I wouldn't hesitate one bit to begin blocking up the hull, your character tells me your not towing that rig anywhere, once your blocked up then pull the trailer out from under and half your troubles will be over.

 

[Alpheus]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I'm still waiting for a phone call on the 3rd.

As for the trailer. Im not going to tow it anywhere. The boat ramp is less than 3 miles from my house but that trailer is never hitting the highway again in that condition. I did however use a shop crane to lift the boat up and used some jack stands and wood to take most of the load off of the trailer.

 

[lowkee]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Maybe now that your boat is off the trailer, you can sell the trailer "AS IS, but inspected and passed by the dealer's best mechanic", then that person can go after them. You can make a buck by passing it

(for those who lack humor, I'm joking)

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I'm still waiting for a phone call on the 3rd.

As for the trailer. Im not going to tow it anywhere. The boat ramp is less than 3 miles from my house but that trailer is never hitting the highway again in that condition. I did however use a shop crane to lift the boat up and used some jack stands and wood to take most of the load off of the trailer.

The 3rd? Wtf, most of my friends are going back to work tomorrow.....

 

[Alpheus]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

The 3rd? Wtf, most of my friends are going back to work tomorrow.....

Ya I have to work tomorrow as well.

I was doing a tune up on the engine today and broke a spark plug off in the head. I went ahead and pulled the engine out of the boat instead of pulling the head. I got the broken plug out without incident. Im going to clean up the bilge real good and put a new coat of bilge paint on. I am going to need a new motor mount because the one that is one the engine is pretty rusty. No biggy. I must say this is one of the easiest engines I have ever pulled. Took me just over an hour to get it out...

 

[reelfishin]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

The problem with many painted trailers, especially those made completely of tubing, is that it's nearly impossible to check inside the tubes for rust, and most of which have never been painted on the inside at all, they are usually just sprayed or powder coated on the outside. There is usually no way to tell how bad the rust is getting and no way to prevent it. I've built a few trailers in my day, not boat trailers but trailers that get used in salt and wet environments, the frames are tubular but I also flood the tubes with paint where ever possible. Most never rust through, I have several that are over 30 years old now. The gauge of tubing has a lot to do with how fast it becomes an issue as well.
When it comes to a welded boat trailer, I like the feel of a tubular frame but would want a galvanized trailer only, especially if in saltwater.
I launch mostly in salt water, the first thing to rot away on all of my trailers is the safety chains, which last only a few years, the hardware takes a beating as well. I rarely see rusted frames other than un-drained curved cross members.

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I'm more interested in the situation this guy is in.How is he going to get the boat either to the dealership to put on a new trailer......OR How do you move a boat from one trailer to the other when it's out of the water and there's no crane at your house??

First, RE: post 121: Implied warranty- fitness for a particular purpose. Example: I bought a 1991 Mercury Capri XR2 from a dealer in'96, signed "as-is" paperwork. 2nd day driving home from work, turbo fails. Other issues, too. They "threw in" and oil change to "sweeten the deal" two days prior. I looked at the oil filter after the smoke cleared and it had the same K-Mart filter it had when I first looked at the car. So I looked at the oil again: still black! Dealer wasn't going to fix the car ($1800 quote to repair) cuz they said I paid the $5K for an as-is car. So I pointed out the oil filter, and asked if the dealer's lawyers were good enough to beat the "implied warranty" of "fitness for a particular purpose" and why they lied about changing the oil, which was a likely cause of the turbo failure. They agreed to do the repairs which took them three weeks!! and when I went to pick it up, opened the hood in front of the service manager. Still the k-mart filter...still covered with old oil and road dirt! They changed the oil right then and there and I insisted on watching.

Summary- "fitness for a particular purpose" is an important law made to protect the dumb from those who would profit from an unbalanced deal. In the above example I was the dumb one...I assumed cuz it was a dealer the car would pass muster. Turns out one of the dealer's salesmen had owned the car, had passed away, and they were selling it for the widow, and were aware the car had some issues.

Second, moving a boat from one trailer to another is not that hard with a little planning and the right jacks and stands. Owners of old boats have kinship with the pyramid builders

 

[fat fanny]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I think this thread is a good educational tool for all of us who take something important for granted our trailers, I for one would'nt have thought that trailer would fail in that area but it did, sure it looked shabby in allot of places but it just goes to show ya you have to be more precise when looking at these things especially your own an area I personally will pay more attention to being that I own a tubular trailer. I think Alpheus is taking the right approach to dealing with particular dealership but! I would also keep the tv crew in the loop and in my back pocket and ready the day he actually goes to the dealership for his initial confrontation and if the outcome isn't one of satisfaction to rectify the situatiuon the tv crew can air a story that could possibly save anyone esle from possible dissaster on the road or the same misled information of a tech inspection of roadworthyness I think that there are a number of salespeople out there trying to kepp thier head above water in this economy but at the cost of others safety is the big issue here and not the great deal Alpheus got on the boat (lucky dog) As for Mastercraft I believe they make a fine custom product but as said custom made for thier product line never the less that thing is toast and to be only that old should open thier eyes to something they may improve in their prep before coating and or painting process if thier smart. The owner of the dealership should be in this initial confrontation because the reult of making this right could be dissaster for his buisness. good luck Alpheus and if this whole situation is to stressfull for ya and your tired of looking @ that boat as a bad reminder my offer still stands.

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

call that sumofab up!!

U know their open today!

 

[Alpheus]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I called the dealership up today and the salesman I dealt with and the owner are out until the third. The salesman that I spoke with today is well aware of the entire story and this thread...

 

[Thajeffski]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

great, good to hear - hope they do the right thing..

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

While it is an a AS IS Sale. It must still be useable for it's intended purpose.
Which it isn't.

Are you then saying that if you buy a vehicle "as is" it MUST be roadworthy ??

 

[Alpheus]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Are you then saying that if you buy a vehicle "as is" it MUST be roadworthy ??

If the dealer you bought it from had his repair shop put an inspection sticker on it before he sold it to you, you better believe it...

We are not talking about buying a used car and the engine blows up two days later. We are talking about if you buy a used car that just had a safety inspection and the wheels fall off because the frame was rotted away two days later...

 

[Stachi]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

I issue safety stickers where I work.....not safe , no sticker...period.... not going to hang my hindparts in the wind...

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

If the dealer you bought it from had his repair shop put an inspection sticker on it before he sold it to you, you better believe it...

We are not talking about buying a used car and the engine blows up two days later. We are talking about if you buy a used car that just had a safety inspection and the wheels fall off because the frame was rotted away two days later...

Same law in my state.The dealer is responsible if they inspected it and it has a sticker or document stating so.

 

[puddle jumper]

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Re: You Know The Saying "trailer is worth what you paid for the boat" **I Disagree**

Not sure about the law in the USA but in BC Canada if a dealer/person of any kind can not knowingly let any vehicle (insurable vehicle/trailer) that is not road worthy leave there lot/yard under its own power. It does not matter if the customer was in for repairs or purchase and insists on taking it. The only way to move that vehicle is on a trailer or tow truck to another location. The repair shop/dealer is also liable for that vehicle/trailer if deemed unsafe even though the repairs needed were not detected.

Now saying that if you went in and got a tail light fixed and a wheel feel off well it would get tossed out of court. But in the case of having the trailer being inspected and the poor structural condition being not detected and in the event of an accident there would be a real hard look at the dealer in question and there competent,s/ethics which could close them down.