Is this what buying a new boat is all about - or am I just unlucky?

[AndyO]

I first got into boating in 2006 when I bought my very first boat. Since then, I caught the bug in a major way and have bought 3 more (all new Sea Rays from the same dealer). Every single one I bought had issues. It's really been quite frustrating because my expectation is that a new boat would be perfect upon delivery - especially given what you pay for a new boat!!

Cases in point:

2005 180 Sport: fuel gauge not connected to the dash board (when I touched it, it fell out), hole in the sun pad, scratch on the gel-coat - (dealer/marina fixed everything eventually)

2006 225 Weekender: hatch leaked (life a faucet) it was so bad I found the the cushions in the cabin were mildewed (and ruined), missing the rear seat (inserts) - (dealer/marina didn't fix anything because I traded it in so quickly)

2007 240 Sundancer: TV housing was cracked, bad battery cell, electrical issues (all instrumentation would go out while boat was running), various gel-coat issues. - (all summer the dealer/marina was trying to fix the TV but never did. they fixed the gel-coat issues and bad battery)

2008 - 270 Select X: the piano hinge on the door to the bow was so far off that the door wouldn't latch, top to oil dipstick broken, transom radio controller doesn't work, port side 12V outlet doesn't work, one of the radio amplifiers was hanging by the wires, the refrigerator didn't work, when on one battery AND shore power the battery is completely draining. (dealer/marina currently working on these issues)

I gotta say that I love boating (and Sea Rays) but I feel these things are unacceptable. I don't know if these are issues with Sea Ray OR issues with the marina where I bought the boat. Am I nit-picking too much and is this normal when buying a new boat or should expect better? Since I'm new to this, I thought I'd ask if anyone else has had similiar experiences?

 

[fwebster]

Your expectations may be a little over the top...........

Boats are not like automobiles. They are essentially hand built from components purchased from outside vendors and assembled by Sea Ray. There are no assembly robots to insure every part is exactly positioned, etc. I'll be the first one to say that for what you pay for a new Sea Ray, the stupid thing should be perfect. However, the realist in me makes me realize that very few are perfect when they leave the factory.

The other factor that comes into play with new boats is how long they sit around the dealers place for months and are damaged before they are sold. How many grubby kids and improperly shod prospective customers have crawled all over your "new" boat before you enter the picture? Many dealers leave the new boat out where the customers can see, feel, smell and touch them. The smart ones control access to the new inventory.

You've had more than your share of issues, but it isn't always that way........a friend of mine just returned from a 1500 mile trip in a new 44DA that was delivered 3 days before he departed. The boat has far more systems on it than yours and it was perfect and has had only a bad TV and a Satellite weather system fail...so it does happen.

 

[Quint4]

Most of your issues sound relatively minor ( I know you paid big dollars and want it perfect )...Boats are complex and have lots of different systems and things to tweak. From what I gather all new boats will require a "punch list" of things to fix after your first few times out.
Good luck with your current boat and welcome to CSR.

 

[AndyO]

Thanks guys. That actually makes me feel a lot better. And it's funny because in my mind, I was using the automobile analogy.

I guess the true test is how fast the dealer/marina responds to these types of issues. So far they've been pretty good with a little nudging. Either way, when you get out on the open water with the sun shining down, it makes it all worth it!!! Thanks again.

 

[fc3]

The other factor that comes into play with new boats is how long they sit around the dealers place for months and are damaged before they are sold. How many grubby kids and improperly shod prospective customers have crawled all over your "new" boat before you enter the picture? Many dealers leave the new boat out where the customers can see, feel, smell and touch them. The smart ones control access to the new inventory.

When I bought Just Ducky she still had her Sea Ray shrink wrap intact. My sales guy handed me the knife and I opened her up, so I know I was the first guy aboard after she left the plant.

We had few warranty issues, a bad oil pressure gauge, the A/C system was low on charge, and the trim tab cylinder leaked. That was it. Maybe Frank has a point about "showroom boats." Glad I didn't take the other 330DA with the Horizon engines. That one was sitting in the showroom.

Best regards,
Frank

 

[JVM225]

Sounds like the Dealer should be going over the boats a little better before he delivers them to you.

 

[ankrummg]

Fwebster was on the money with that reply. I have had many issues and most were after the boat was delivered. I am much more patient than my wife so i could care less if it took a month to fix some minor glitch, but stand by if she gets a hold of the service guys.

But dude... seriously 4 boats in two years!!!! I thought I was bad with two boats in one year. (my wife got a boat when I was deployed to iraq and I had no input (210 select) but when I got back we looked at 240 SD's (i like liquor and in NC you have to have a galley to have liquor on the boat) and got one this february)

Attempting a little pattern analysis you should be getting a 30 foot boat in about 6 month's. Congrats!

 

[chuck1]

Fwebster was on the money with that reply. .....
got back we looked at 240 SD's (i like liquor and in NC you have to have a galley to have liquor on the boat) and got one this february)
.....

Big Ditto Frank hit the nail on the head. Just keep a note pad on the boat so you can add items to your punch list date them when you found them and again when the dealer takes care of them just in case you ever have to get Sea Ray involved.

ps: Mike you have 240 DA not a 240SD. I was just about to get jealous of you have a Gallery on your SD :lol: They keep telling me I'm the only one with a 240SD cruiser. :thumbsup:

 

[fwebster]

One thing you might find helpful is knowing how the Sea Ray customer satisfaction rating thing works. We see folks on CSR saying that their dealers take months to repair initial warranty issues on new boats. The reason is so you will go ahead and send in the initial customer satisfaction survey and give the dealer high marks.

Sea Ray dealers are paid for warranty work either at full retail labor rates or at a discounted rate. Master Dealers get the full retail reimbursement which pays them quite well to fix warranty claims. The Master Dealer program is driven off customer satisfaction. High marks on the new boat satisfaction survey you complete is critical to the dealer's rating. Getting you to wait on the repairs means you fill out the survey without rating the dealer's performance on that critical part of your new boat satisfaction, or lack there of.

If I bought a new boat today, I would make up the punch list and first try not to close the sale and pay for the boat until the repairs were done, then failing that, I definitely would not fill out the survey until the punch list was completed and I was happy.

And to heck with a dealer who rushes you to close before you are ready........This isn't a foreign concept. Some dealers in Florida who are close to the factories are now sending technicians and captains to the factories to inspect the new boats before they pay for them rather than accepting obvious defects they then have to repair after receiving the boats and arguing with Sea Ray for approvals.

 

[ankrummg]

Sorry about my cnfusion with the SD DA thing. Yes i do have a sundancer and not a sun deck so i do have a 240 DA.

 

[AndyO]

Fwebster was on the money with that reply. I have had many issues and most were after the boat was delivered. I am much more patient than my wife so i could care less if it took a month to fix some minor glitch, but stand by if she gets a hold of the service guys.

But dude... seriously 4 boats in two years!!!! I thought I was bad with two boats in one year. (my wife got a boat when I was deployed to iraq and I had no input (210 select) but when I got back we looked at 240 SD's (i like liquor and in NC you have to have a galley to have liquor on the boat) and got one this february)

Attempting a little pattern analysis you should be getting a 30 foot boat in about 6 month's. Congrats!

Ya know, I was thinking the same thing regarding a 30+ footer in 6 months. The problem is that my monthly payment would be $15,000 a month - can you say "upside down"!! My wife has been great about it since she likes boating as much as me - the first was actually the hardest to convince her to let me buy.

To JVM225's point, I agree the dealer should take more time going over the boat before delivery. It would have taken them 15 minutes to find the things I did - Hell, it took me only took me 15 mintues and I don't even know what I'm doing!

Also, I believe my marina is a master dealer so the whole satisfaction survey thing makes sense. The salesperson was pressing me to give them 10's. I've held off completing it until my issues are resolved - it seems to be some good leverage on getting things done (and my only at this point).