1973 22.2 redo ===== SOLD!!!!!

[gran398]

Hi,

Here's to you guys

Based on the deck striping motif...and the interior color of the livewell...I know the shop.

And I'm from North Carolina.

We're on your team bro....and there is a new Tampa alternative.

PM manana.

[Capt Matt]

Any new boat or rebuild is going to have a few issues that take some ironing out
Its how the builder takes care of it that is important
Capt Matt

[shortpants]

Yep, I understand that Matt but......it's been three weeks and he has yet called me to set up a date and time to fix the cracks in the deck.  Ignores many of my e's.  I have even e'd him to see at least if he could fix the leaking livewell intake and disharge which are both leaking.  I could fix it myself but payed him to rig the boat originally and don't want to fix something and then have him say I screwed it up and that he's now not going to fix it.  I knew there would be some issues when I got it home because things I wanted done he either didn't do or did it another way which I knew I was going to have to fix.  One of which was I wanted the front area enclosed under the cap since I have a hatch for an anchor.  He left it completely open and put a hole in the deck for my anchor line which all drains into my hatches.  Hmm!  When I asked him about it he just said it was easier that way.  

I will give the builder a little more time but it is increasingly becoming frustrating and don't want to resolve it through legal action.  Again, I hoping he steps up to the plate soon and takes care of these things.  

Just a funny little note...I noticed a week before I picked up the boat that the lower unit had been repainted on my brand new motor.  I know it was fine the week before so I did not say anything at the point thinking maybe I just thought it was the way the lower unit was...you know how sometimes the lower unit isn't the same color on other motors?  Anyway, I called the dealer and they told me that he had come in and bought a can of spray paint since and expressed my concern with them that I thought something had happened to the lower unit and asked if he had bought a new one.  An hour later, I get a call from the shop with conversation going pretty much went like this.  "I understand you asked about your foot being repainted?" (motor dealer that I spoke with called him..hmm)  "Ah....Yaaa!".. "I hit it by accident with a fork lift and scratched the skegg and repainted it, that's how shops do things, are we good?..."Well, why didn't you just touch up the scratch instead of repainting the entire foor?"  "That's just how we do things in shops, I scratched it so it was just easier to repaint the whole lower unit."  

My question to everyone would be, shouldn't he have called me to inform me about the damage before painting the entire lower unit as if to hide something and not giving me the oportunity to see the damage first?  I then noticed he sent me a picture of the bracket that he had painted a week earlier, power pole bracket, and could clearly see some damage on the front edge of the lower unit near the speedo intake.  It appeared to be two big dents into the front edge.  So, when I picked the boat up I asked him where the scratch was just for "s**** and giggles".  He went over to the lower unit and half hazzardly ran his finger along the lower edge of the skegg indicating it was just a small minor scratch.  When I then brought the picture out and showed him it he said, "I don't know what that is."  Hmm!  I am not good with not being involved in the repair/repaint of the motor not being able to see exactly what the damage was.  Maybe I'm blowing this out of proportion..am I?

I did take the boat to the marine where I purchased the motor to have them make sure evertyhing was good and diid not allow the other shop to turn the ignition which they were going to do.  They looked at it and told me that it was good that the only problem might be later on if I decided to hook up a speedo it may not work.  I did this to make sure of the warranty was covered since Suzuki is very strange about things.

Thats was one of many issues like that.  I may post more later on but an waiting for him to step up and take care of the cracks and other issues.  

Shorts

[gran398]

That sucks.

If it smells like a fish, its a fish.


Nothing worse than a "professional" screwing something up and not advising the customer, then try to cover it up. Every once in a blue moon my guys will eff up something...and I pick up the phone and call the customer, right then. Not pleasant. But when you tell the truth you don't have to cover up, or remember your lies.

You have been given clear indication of the way he does business. It is now up to you, although unpleasant, to act upon what you have been shown.

Take the boat to a respected rebuilder. Ask them to examine the work, and obtain an estimate to fix it. Cut the company name off the top of the estimate. Then take the boat to the the engine dealer and have them inspect the engine, get an estimate.  Then take both estimates back over to what's his name. Demand the amounts quoted. Explain to him that it will be in his best interest to take care of this NOW...don't give him the chance to get you again.

Get the boat away from him regardless. Once bitten twice shy.

[Blue Agave]

Drop the boat off at his location. As far as the lower unit goes I believe you are making a mountain out of an ant hill. Look at any boat running the shallows and the paint will be gone on the lower unit. If the LU was cracked and the fluid was leaking that would be a different story.  I realize it's a new motor and all but once you start using the boat the paint on the LU will be gone.

[shortpants]

I do realize that eventually the lower unit will be all scratched up.  Maybe that issue I'm blowing out of proportion and should just stop letting it eat at me.  However, I would like to still get the deck fixed from where's it's separating from the transom as soon as possible and will continue to call him to make arrangements to get it to him to fix it along with other unmentioned issues.

Thanks!!!!!

[gran398]

If a guy covers up damage without telling the customer, he's not to be trusted.

The only thing I'd be dropping off is an invoice.

[gran398]

once you start using the boat the paint on the LU will be gone.[/quote]




Maybe the Marine-tex will be gone too

[seabob4]

An interesting read, almost (actually, probably) worth a THT thread...10 pages minimum!

Anyway, Fernando is correct about LU paint, basically the bullet and the skeg.  However, that, in my opinion, is up to the owner to remove that paint via his own usage, not the shop due to an accident or negligence.  A new motor is a NEW motor, as it came out of the crate, not with dents and paint missing.  That being said, a simple phone call would have sufficed, explaining that, hey, the motor got dented, we need to repair and paint, it is easier to re-paint the entire LU as it is very difficult to paint a small area and have it match the rest of the factory applied paint.  It's done all the time, even though Suzuki, Yamaha, BRP, Merc, all sell dealers, marinas, and shops spray cans of BRP white, Yam blue, and Suzuki and Mercury black.  The chit just doesn't match up...

So, with the paint out of the way...there are certain aspects of building and rigging a boat that are basically no-brainers.  Both the owner and the shop, blind-folded, would do it the same way.  There are also aspects of component installation that require the shop to make a decision, basing that decision on experience in using boats in the real world, what makes sense from an ease of use standpoint, what doesn't.  That's when the shop makes a "management" decision, does the install, and explains to the owner why the install was done in that particular manner.  Often times this install is NOT the easiest for the shop to do, but it makes sense.  I do this quite often, then, later, explain to the owner my thoughts as to why I did something a certain way.  Haven't had one disagree yet.

Then there are the installs that can be done a myriad of ways, all functional, yet all different...and the install is a bit more complicated, once it's done, it can't be un-done without some serious consequences.  It is at this point that the shop has to confer with the owner before any work is commenced to determine exactly what HE wants to do, how HE wants it done.  Once this conference is held, and the decision made, then the owner has only himself to kick should the install not work out as he intended.  But, the conversation MUST be held in regards to these types of situations.

In regards to the repair of the scratches on the leading edge of the bullet where the speedo pickup lives, THAT particular situation, should the opening for the pickup have been plugged up (either by a weld or other means) needs to be taken care of by the shop.  That has limited the motor of all it's functions, which is not right, by any means...

So, all that being said, the decision in regards to the shop is in your hands, SP.  Sometimes a happy little chat with the owner can work wonders as far as getting things resolved in a timely and correct manner in regards as to what you want on your boat, in your boat, and, especially, what you have paid for.  There are many threads that have been started on THT that are basically mirror images of your situation, and, trust me, the offending shop/marina/builder REALLY doesn't want to see those types of things out there for the boating public to see and comment on...

Just my $.02....

[Gonzo25]

I know the shop, and I honestly do not know how they are still in business...his rep in the bay area has gone from good to ok to not so good within a years time it seems...work looks ok on the boats, but customer service is really lacking. I wonder, is it a lack of boat rebuilders in the area that keeps him somewhat busy?

[fitz73222]

Before we get our talons out; let's give the guy an opportunity to make it right. I've also heard he is building his own AS or Proline knock off and may have shifted his attention to new boat sales. In the past, this guy had a heck of a reputation for doing some high quality work so we will see if he still wants to maintain that status.

[seabob4]

Fitz,
Regardless of he particular shop's intentions as to the direction they want to go, the business model remains the same.  Whether it's a new boat, a rebuild, a livewell addition, a FF, whatever...the customer needs to be taken care of, as satisfied customers can be the basis for much business i the future.  

Conversely, the customer also has to understand that he is not the only fish in the pond, and must be aware that there are other customers to be dealt with, with some needs more pressing and time consuming than others.  We ALL know, that in the boat world, what may appear to be a 2, 3, 12, even 24 hour job?  Double that, and then some.  So that is the nature of the beast, and both sides have to be aware of that...

The key is communication.  Simple explanations at the onset of certain projects can go a long way towards making everyone aware, on the same page, and, to a certain extent...happy.

[gran398]

"The key is communication"

I'll try and give the benefit of the doubt here. But I've been financially injured regarding boat deals, taking people at their word. So if I can help an AS brother, its gonna happen.

I am in retail. In the grownup toy business, just as Seabob is in the grownup toy business. My toys are for ladies for the most part, and Bob's toys are for gents for the most part.

NO ONE has to have what either of us sell. Strictly for feel-good fun, enjoying life and good times.  A person that spends discretionary income (hard-earned earmarked play money) on a toy deserves their money's worth. That is, happiness and satisfaction in the end. Value received.

For shortpants  to have paid and paid on draws all through the build process....then the owner not even take or return his calls or e-mails at the end....

I'll tone it down here...that's just not right.

[seabob4]

Scott, you are absolutely correct in saying..."That's just not right"...

However, the world has changed, albeit to your's and mine's chagrin, and one see's more and more of this type of behavior.  Right, wrong, or indifferent, it is here to stay, and, in some eyes, is becoming more and more prevalent.  

Remember back to the time of Greek mythyology, and our friend Pandora.  All was right with mortal kind...until she opened her little box.  20 emotions were let loose upon the mortals to wreak havoc, yet one remained at the bottom...hope.

We to often dwell on the 20 that got out, instead of the one that stayed in...


JMO...

[gran398]

We're gonna find out.

Break out the jumbo popcorn, and giant-size Milkduds.