71 Screws and counting.....

[spimik]

I'm wondering if those of you who have purchased a brand new Sea Ray have experienced an abundance of construction debris in your new boat?

Since taking possession of our factory new 2008 330 last summer, I have removed 71 stainless steel screws of various size. When I found my first one last year I was a bit alarmed, thinking that it had fallen out or had not been installed in the first place. Since then, my conclusion is that an enormous amount of these get dropped during the construction process and the technicians simply do not bend over to pick them up.

All told, I have removed the 71 stainless screws, a dozen or more bolts several nuts, washers and a handful of brand new wire ties. (I've made pretty good gas money sellling these off to Rinker owners at our marina who need to tighten things up a bit. LOL!!)

On top of this, the sawdust, loose fiberglass debris,broken wire ties and pieces of electrical tape in the bildge and cockpit are amazing.

It would seem that Sea Ray is missing a step in the build process. These boats should not be this dirty upon delivery. I do not think it should be part of the dealers pre-delivery prep to remove this type of debris- the boat should arrive in better shape from the factory IMHO.:huh:

 

[skibum]

Maybe your dock neighbor with the Rinker is messing with you and tossing the ones that fall out of his boat into yours. He's probably muttering something like "I'll teach that SR snob for looking down his nose at me..." while tossing them in.

I still find the ocassional screw / wire tie cutoff / clamp condom, here and there on mine. Maybe I'll get them all by 2012...

Michael

 

[Lazy Daze]

You guys would be AMAZED at some of the stuff we've found included in our new boats as "optional equipment"! :smt101

 

[fc3]

I only found a few, probably less than 10, since I bought the boat. Looks like you got a bonus!

 

[Tonka Boater]

....the sawdust, loose fiberglass debris,broken wire ties and pieces of electrical tape in the bildge and cockpit are amazing.

I've found about 1/2 dozen screws so far but I was also amazed at the debris in the nooks and crannys and how much crap was in the bilge. I've vacuumed every square inch of my boat and I'm still finding stuff that's making it's way out of places.

Now I'm hoping that it's left overs and not stuff falling off at this point.

.

 

[promocop]

American manufacturing at its finest...

 

[Bridog]

Spimik, We always knew you had a few screw's loose. (ok someone had to do it We only had 2 or 3.

 

[Bridog]

Maybe your dock neighbor with the Rinker is messing with you and tossing the ones that fall out of his boat into yours. He's probably muttering something like "I'll teach that SR snob for looking down his nose at me..." while tossing them in.
Michael

Mike, They can't be from the Rinker. First, they dont use stainless screws and second, they only use 50 or so for the entire boat.

 

[Nehalennia]

The next owner will appreciate you performing the delivery detail for them.

 

[ehaze]

Why doesnt Sea Ray use Loctite or a similar product?

 

[osd9]

Neighbor's 2006 38DA had factory 'stuff' (we found screws, tie wrap cuttings and a gum wrapper) clog up the AC condensate drain pan. Found out on our first trip after the 'entire' salon rug was soaked.....pretty damn bad quality control if you ask me.....

 

[Tonka Boater]

American manufacturing at its finest...

I wouldn't blame "American manufacturing". I think it's a combination of two things. 1) Boats are manufactured differently from cars. Mostly hand made all the way. Robots don't drop screws and leave electrical tape around. 2) Sea Ray's are built in the south and (start the flames) the work ethic is a little more, shall we say, laid back. I'm not saying any more but.....I think the quality controls in Florida are a little looser than Detroit.

Just my opinion.......

.

 

[Jack F]

Saw dust in the bilge seems to be common; I had a few screws on the rub rail and trim fall out.

I did find a spare handset for my NS100 VHF in the microwave.

Could be worse… like someone’s half eaten lunch.

 

[1stSeaRay]

Sea Ray's are built in the south and (start the flames) the work ethic is a little more, shall we say, laid back. I'm not saying any more but.....I think the quality controls in Florida are a little looser than Detroit.

Just my opinion.......

.

I can't believe you just used Detroit as a positive example of strict work ethic.....well you know what they say about opinions!

 

[Daniel P Thomas]

Even on the old ones this happened.
My boat is a 1992
Last season I had to remove a panel in the v-berth hanging closet.
Pretty sure this had never been off before.
I found 3 stainless screws, a roll of electrical tape and an additional panel up against the forward bulkhead.

While running new wiring for the tv last week, I removed the central vac and found 4 more screws, washers and a couple of nuts.

Kind of makes you wonder.

 

[mwph]

I wouldn't blame "American manufacturing". I think it's a combination of two things. 1) Boats are manufactured differently from cars. Mostly hand made all the way. Robots don't drop screws and leave electrical tape around. 2) Sea Ray's are built in the south and (start the flames) the work ethic is a little more, shall we say, laid back. I'm not saying any more but.....I think the quality controls in Florida are a little looser than Detroit.

Just my opinion.......

.

Tonka, I usually enjoy your posts but you are way off on this one. Im not even trying to take up for the south, I've lived on both sides of the line, but "looser than Detroit" ? Really? Here in Alabama the Honda, Mercedes & Hyundai plants are still up and running sans piles of Obama bucks. I believe both the Honda & Mercedes plants win international awards for build quality.

The problem, be it boats, cars or anything else, rests in the hands of the workforce. Pride of workmanship has been proven time and time again to be the only way to a quality product. The sad fact is that Quality "control" as most America business sees it, is end of the line inspection. Which is the wrong end of course.

I could go on but I've preached long enough. For today.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Tonka, I usually enjoy your posts but you are way off on this one. Im not even trying to take up for the south, I've lived on both sides of the line, but "looser than Detroit" ? Really? Here in Alabama the Honda, Mercedes & Hyundai plants are still up and running sans piles of Obama bucks. I believe both the Honda & Mercedes plants win international awards for build quality.

The problem, be it boats, cars or anything else, rests in the hands of the workforce. Pride of workmanship has been proven time and time again to be the only way to a quality product. The sad fact is that Quality "control" as most America business sees it, is end of the line inspection. Which is the wrong end of course.

I could go on but I've preached long enough. For today.

No problem with preaching....

I wasn't looking to ignite a war....it's just my perception. I'll dig my hole a little deeper by clarifying that I was looking more at Florida vs. the south as a whole. I spend a lot of time in Florida and the work ethic compared to up north here is remarkably noticeable....in my opinion.

Also, I wasn't necessarily using Detroit as a model for quality. My points were A) The north has a different (won't say better) work ethic than the south and B) cars are built by robots, boats are built by humans. Humans are prone to error ....combine an error-prone human with a laid back work ethic and you will get things in the bilge.

What do I know though? The forums were getting boring so I needed to shake it up.

.

 

[Summerwind]

Well at least your fuel economy will increase.

 

[chuck1]

.... you will get things in the bilge.
.

Sounds like fighting words to me, but what do I know. I was told if you had any parts left over just put drop them in the top and they will find their way home.
:lol::smt043:lol:

 

[billandamy]

The next owner will appreciate you performing the delivery detail for them.

:lol: Excellent.

I have found a few screws, washers, nuts/bolts, wire ties and yes, some fiberglass debris over the last 2 years. They seem to come out of nowhere, even in my smaller boat.