If you don't ever want to have problems with a boat - especially stress cracks, I have one surefire way to solve your problem:
Sell the boat, and take up golf.
Go onto the BBC, and check under almost every boat forum - there is someone, somewhere, with a gel coat crack complaint that is more than a year old, that the manufacturer doesn't want to fix.
Think of it in their terms everyone - if you warranty your top cap for a year, and specifically state in your warranty that "cosmetic" cracks / crazing / spider webbing, etc... are not covered under the warranty, and then you cave into someone that wants it fixed, even though it is specifically spelled out in the warranty that it is not covered, then you are opening the doors to everyone that wants the same thing fixed. After all, where do you draw the line? 1 year, 2 years, 5 years, 20 years??? How do you justify fixing "Johns" problem - 3 months out of warranty, and not cover "Sally's" problem - 6 months out of warranty???
Warranty is warranty. Learn to read the warranty information before you buy a rig, and you will quickly understand that most every manufacturer out there has the same things written into their warranty explanation statement. I'd be willing to bet that Legend has the same thing written into their warranty statement in some way shape or form.
STRUCTURAL cracks are another issue entirely.
How is a manufacturer supposed to stay in business if they repair every boat that Tom, Dick or Harry bring in that isn't covered under warranty? And everyone wants to *****, whine and complain when the prices of boats skyrocket. Well... there's a reason for that guys - and some of it comes from them having to eat the cost of repairing some guys boat that isn't under warranty.
In addition, how are they supposed to determine whether the gel coat cracks were caused by manufacturers defect, or some mistake of the consumer?
Its like going to the Dodge / Chevy / Ford factory and complaining that the paint on your lower quarter panels of your 4 wheel drive is all chipped up, and calling it a "manufacturers defect". It's a truck for crying out loud! There is a good chance that you caused it. Same thing goes for a boat - it's in the WATER. You jump WAVES with it, you go screaming around corners at 60mph +, with 500lbs of engine hanging off the back of the boat, turning a propeller at 5500 rpm, causing strain on the transom. You smack spinnerbaits off the topcap. Now, isn't there a possibility that YOU might have caused the problem???
Think about what you are complaining about before you complain about it.
I know this will go in someones ear, and right out the other side, not making one bit of difference other than to infuriate them. That is not my intent.
I am asking you to THINK before you VENT.
And to those of you that are so disgruntled about Nitro / Tracker that you hate them with your very soul - I have this to ask of you:
WHY ARE YOU STILL HANGING OUT HERE??? GO FIND SOMEPLACE ELSE TO HANG OUT!!!
If I hated Nitro, I wouldn't come here. I'd go elsewhere. But I like trying to help folks out. Those of you that are just here to stir the pot - Please - Get a life!
All the best,
Glenn
