Need some opinions FAST!

[Kenny Lively]

My 898 came in, went to pick it up yesterday, signed all the papers got everything ready to hook up and go try it out. While hooking to it we found a gel-coat crack about 10" long just above the rub rail where the trolling motor is mounted. After a long discussion back inside with the dealer, the boat was taken to a fiberglass shop and is to be repaired today, the dealer has compensated me with, a new LMS 320 graph/GPS, another upgraded graph from a x-71 to an x-97, a tank of truck gas for making the trip, a full tank of boat gas, several extra gallons of oil and some other stuff. and they are going to dilever it to me. This is all if I want to go ahead and take the boat after it is repaired. I talked to the fiberglass guy and he felt certain it is just a gel-coat crack and no fiberglass damage. The dealer thinks it may have happened in the loading and unloading stage??? I have not decided what I am going to do yet. I am going to talk to the fiberglass man for sure after he gets into it.



Give me some guidance please. I have sure missed not having a boat. Been waiting on this one for 2 months. First time without a boat in 12 years. KENNY

 

[Kraig Clement]

I would do just like you said in your email... talk to the fiberglass guy and look at it after it has been repaired. I have had my boat for 2 years and the only crack I have is the trolling motor mount area, and thats my fault. There is nothing worse than having a new boat and having it in the shop every year to repair cracks..... But as we all know, cracks are going to happen somewhere sometime. .... take it after it is repaired and run it and see what happens... I bet it will be fine! Good Luck

 

[Bob G.]

Kenny,



Sounds like you have a good dealer that is trying to make it right. Hopefully the fiberglass shop can fix it right the first time. Might want to get a repair guarantee from the dealer and fiberglass shop. Keep us posted on the repairs and the performance of the boat when you get on the water.



Bob G.

 

[Kraig Clement]

how long did they say the repair would take?



Kraig

 

[Kenny Lively]

Kraig,



The fiberglass shop said it would be today, the job was just minor. But the is going to have to keep the boat till Tuesday to get the new graphs mounted if I decide to take it. It's just hard to spend $30,000 on something to that has to be repaired before you even get it. But the fiberglass guy said it is not all that uncommon to have to fix new boats that are damaged loading and uloading. he said they did 2 sketters last year.

 

[Kraig Clement]

I dont know if this helps, but even in my line of work, I find trucks with shipping damage all the time. We just fix it and get them out to sell......



Kraig

 

[Tony Payne]

look at it this way:



You found the crack before the dealer did.



Had it been the other way around, they would have reparied it, never told you, and you would not have all the freebies you're getting.



Since you found the issue, not only do you get a lot of freestuff, you also know that there are no "hidden" fixes!



Get it in writing that if this crack re-appears, or get's worse, that repairs related will be under warrenty.



Enjoy the boat!

 

[Texas Transplant]

Just a quick note. Make sure that the crack, and the repair are full documented somewhere in the transaction papers. This is something that should be reported back to the factory folks.



If you can get this added, I'd have put on the delivery documents that any further cracks, similar to the one that has been repaired, that show up within X days (not sure how long here), will constitute reason to return boat for replacement by the dealer.



I'm not really sure this will fly though.



Sounds like it's just something that happened. Like above, if the glass guy is confident of the reason, and the repair looks good, then I'd probably go for it. Sounds as though you got some nice upgrades/goodies for your troubles.



And of course, the first time you crash it into some rip-rap, you won't have to worry anymore anyway!



Best of luck.



I'm wishing now that I would have purchased your Dad's boat!



Tex

 

[Kenny Lively]

Tex,



You missed a great buy, guy that bought it has called twice, first time letting us know how much he liked it and 2nd time questioning type of oil Dad used. He said he loves it and felt he wouldn't been able to find a better buy if he would have looked for another 3-4 years. Just a hint if my Dad ever has anything to sell it will be well taken care of and way underpriced. He's one of them obsessive/compuslsive type people. KENNY

 

[Kenny Lively]

Just got off the phone with the glass man, said he took the paint all the way down to the glass, no ckacks,stresses or anything. Can't find nothing wrong. Called the dealer told him I would take the boat, but wanted written documentation on the crack and repair, just in case for future purposes. He said he fully understood and that would be no problem. Took Tuesday off and dealer is giong to meet me at the lake that is about an hour away from both of use. Plan to run the boat and fish. thanks for the input. KENNY

 

[Buzz Bouvier]

Kenny, do a search for a article written by MOFish dated 2/28/03 stated something to think about...(when buying a new boat)Greg Meyer wrote a reply where he talks about a statement that a lawyer friend of his said that you should write on the contract prior to taking delivery. I thought it was good information. It was the 7th or 8th post down.

 

[Rob LaMoy]

Sounds like they are trying to make good by it. As long as you get it documented before signing and the repair is as good or better, the compensation they are offering is FAR more lucrative than even the repair costs. Take it, but also, do a GOOD once, then TWICE over on the boat before signing to find any other potential issues. If there is a crack in one place, it's likely there is another. Lift out the storage boxes behind the seats and look at the resin coat. Look for cracks or splits there and in the bilge area. Good luck. You'll love the rig.