Thanks for nothing, dealer

[Tonka Boater]

I'm very upset and need to vent. The dealer pulled my boat last week to repair some gel in the cockpit that they cracked while repairing the broken trucks on my cabin door. They pulled the boat the day after Memorial Day and returned it that same Friday.

Because of work and poor weather I haven't been to the boat since they returned it and here's what I find tonight. Two huge gashes in the gel -- one on the port side, aft corner and one in the same exact spot on the starboard side. It's not dock rash and the hours are consistent with two short runs to the nearest ramp for haul out/delivery.

I won't name names but if you guess national chain you are correct.

Here's the port side:

Here's the starboard side:

Here's how it looked on Memorial Day:

 

[Rono007]

Unacceptable. Time to make another phone call.

People just don't treat your stuff with respect these days. I a related subject, I had a Nav system put in my car I bought fresh off the showroom floor over the weekend. I picked it up yesterday (they were closed, but keys were locked in car at dealer) and the glove box and center console were gouged and scratched. No note, nothing.

I understand how you feel.

Call them, be nice about it, and explain the damage and ensure they'll repair it. I have learned from experience that being nasty with them will get you nowhere.

 

[Henry Boyd]

That's too bad. Have you contacted them? How narrow is this ramp? It seems kind of strange that both sides got clipped.

Putting aside the "how they got there" issue for the moment, the good news is that other than the nick in the rub rail, the scratches are actually minor. Get the right Arctic White gelcoat paste from Spectrum color and they are an easy DIY fix.

I don't know if there is any repair for the rub rail, other than replacing it. I'm not sure how effective sectioning it would be.

If they do have a fix for the rub rail nick that is not major, please post a how to as I have a couple I'd like to repair.

Henry

 

[Tonka Boater]

Thanks for letting me vent. I sent the service manager and store manager an email last night along with the above pics and asked that they meet me at my slip this afternoon. Still waiting on a phone call this morning.

It looks as though they used a forklift to take it off the trailer and the lift gouged it on both sides. It's not obvious from the photos but the marks are very deep and they are at the same angle on both sides....suspicious to me. The port side is actually cracked which really pisses me off.

Scott -- I agree. This is the only time someone has taken my boat unsupervised. I was out of town when they took it otherwise I would have done it myself. Lesson learned.

Henry -- I'll let you know how they fix the rub rail. The only option that I will give them is to completely replace it. I want it to be in the same condition as before so patching a section is not acceptable to me.

 

[At Ease]

Sorry to see and hear about the damage. I had a similar incident with my brand new Crownline a few years back. Really pissed me off and they didn't man up and repair. My gouges were in the colored gel coat. I hope they step up and make it right! :smt009

 

[Presentation]

Outch!

Please let us know what they say.

 

[Two Peas]

Sorry Tonka, that really blows. It is not just the scrapes and scratches, but they are costing you precious TIME. They can't make any more of that for you. On top of returning it to the original condition, they should do something above and beyond to attempt to compensate you for the lost time and the hassle...

 

[Summer Fun II]

That really sucks big time.
Did they honestly think you wouldn't see that ??. :wow:
Why didn't they call you and tell you they did it. :smt021

 

[Tonka Boater]

I just talked to them and they are saying that it was caused from my dock wheel compressing and the boat rubbing against the stainless steel bracket on the wheel. They sent pictures but the problem is that only possible point of impact on the bracket is 4"-6" below my damage. It also doesn't account for the damage on the other side.

They haven't said this -- but they are suggesting that I did it and didn't realize it. It was flat calm last night with zero wind when I returned and the dock wheel didn't come into play. I actually trust the guy who delivered my boat 1000% so I don't think that he did it. There are only 1-1/2 people that I trust at this place and he's one of them. I contend that it happened in the shop or in transit back to the launch ramp.

Thanks for the support. I will continue to update.

 

[tobnpr]

That sucks.

I gotta add that Sea Ray, and other builders that follow suit by putting the hull/deck joint damn near at the waterline, are asking for this kind of damage.

A rub rail needs to be high enough to serve it's purpose...putting it just above the waterline serves no purpose.

 

[Presentation]

I just talked to them and they are saying that it was caused from my dock wheel compressing and the boat rubbing against the stainless steel bracket on the wheel. They sent pictures but the problem is that only possible point of impact on the bracket is 4"-6" below my damage. It also doesn't account for the damage on the other side.

They haven't said this -- but they are suggesting that I did it and didn't realize it. It was flat calm last night with zero wind when I returned and the dock wheel didn't come into play. I actually trust the guy who delivered my boat 1000% so I don't think that he did it. There are only 1-1/2 people that I trust at this place and he's one of them. I contend that it happened in the shop or in transit back to the launch ramp.

Thanks for the support. I will continue to update.

Take some measurements. Go look at their fork lift and other equipment and see if anything lines up. Please hold your own equipment to this same scrutiny.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Take some measurements. Go look at their fork lift and other equipment and see if anything lines up. Please hold your own equipment to this same scrutiny.

Good advice. They said they don't use a forklift which comes back to transport if the measurements don't add up.

I hate the taste of crow but I am big enough to admit if I over-reacted and placed the blame in the wrong place.

They said they will do whatever will make me happy even if they didn't do it. I'm not looking for anyone to make me happy -- I just want things done right. The expectations in the marine industry are too low and we, as consumers, tend to just accept this as the way it is.

Can you imagine if you bought a car for same price that many of us paid for our boats and you received the same service experience?

 

[Presentation]

.....I hate the taste of crow but I am big enough to admit if I over-reacted and placed the blame in the wrong place......

My dad once had a car getting terrible fuel millage. It was sent back to the dealer for diagnostic many times. Long story short, my brother was siphoning gas out of my mom’s car. Nice, I know.

Look at all possibilities.

 

[AKBASSKING]

Can you imagine if you bought a car for same price that many of us paid for our boats and you received the same service experience?

Very good point! Most of you guys have spent much more than what a truck/car would cost. Please keep us updated.......

 

[OldSkool]

Sorry folks but I would have gone postal. (I guess that's why I'm taking anger management classes.):smt021:smt013

I hope the dealer man's up on this for you.

 

[Tonka Boater]

Here's the update. The dealer is going to take care of the damage but I wouldn't say they are "manning up to it". They deny that they did anything and I feel that think that I did it. There is 100% no chance that I did this. I've been firm, yet as polite as possible under the circumstances and they're basically fixing it just to shut me up.

I measured the dock wheel and the alleged point of contact is 4" below the lowest point of the gouge. There's no way that it was the dock wheel -- not to mention, I start my pivot at about midship. I'm close to shore and if I started my pivot at the aft corner my bow would be kissing rocks. Also, I have a 10" dock wheel and I would have to hit that thing at about 20 mph to compress it enough to hit the hardware below.

The driver says he didn't do it. I know the driver a little and trust him more than the guys in the shop. Long story short, it was likely a junior tech moving my boat on the trailer with a skid loader and he squeezed it into an opening that was too tight.

Would you guys contact Sea Ray and the dealer headquarters even if they do fix it? If so, at what level?

 

[Slippery When Wet]

I think you did it.... Damn Minnetonkans. :smt021

:grin:

 

[Bridog]

Here's the update. The dealer is going to take care of the damage but I wouldn't say they are "manning up to it". They deny that they did anything and I feel that think that I did it. There is 100% no chance that I did this. I've been firm, yet as polite as possible under the circumstances and they're basically fixing it just to shut me up.

I measured the dock wheel and the alleged point of contact is 4" below the lowest point of the gouge. There's no way that it was the dock wheel -- not to mention, I start my pivot at about midship. I'm close to shore and if I started my pivot at the aft corner my bow would be kissing rocks. Also, I have a 10" dock wheel and I would have to hit that thing at about 20 mph to compress it enough to hit the hardware below.

The driver says he didn't do it. I know the driver a little and trust him more than the guys in the shop. Long story short, it was likely a junior tech moving my boat on the trailer with a skid loader and he squeezed it into an opening that was too tight.

Would you guys contact Sea Ray and the dealer headquarters even if they do fix it? If so, at what level?

OK, so they are going to fix it, right? Going any farther will do what? Complain to corporate will do what? How about how you are handled next time around by the people at that marina? I used to keep my boat at a "small local marina" and I can tell you that if it was your word against them....THEY would win.

 

[Bridog]

I'm very upset and need to vent. The dealer pulled my boat last week to repair some gel in the cockpit that they cracked while repairing the broken trucks on my cabin door. They pulled the boat the day after Memorial Day and returned it that same Friday.

Because of work and poor weather I haven't been to the boat since they returned it and here's what I find tonight. Two huge gashes in the gel -- one on the port side, aft corner and one in the same exact spot on the starboard side. It's not dock rash and the hours are consistent with two short runs to the nearest ramp for haul out/delivery.

I won't name names but if you guess national chain you are correct.

Here's the port side:

Here's the starboard side:

Here's how it looked on Memorial Day:

Why did they need to pull your boat out of the water for gel coat repairs in the cockpit related to repairs made to a cabin door?

 

[Woody]

I don't think I would persue it further, since they are going to fix it. I'm not sure what contacting SR or HQ would do to enhance your relationship with Marine Ma...uh, that nationwide dealer. I would continue the path you have taken, which is politely but firmly insisting that they were the ones to cause the damage, and that you are disappointed that the individual responsible did not report the damage when it occurred.

:thumbsup: