|
|
|
Ruby Red Lip
 
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 10/21/2008 8:32:25 PM
Posts: 11,
Visits: 51
|
|
| I recently bought a Carolina Skiff DLV198 (4 months ago) 2 months after I bought the boat the hull cracked, since the boat was only 2 months old I assumed it would be replaced. I contacted Carolina Skiff and they told me I had to bring them the boat (Waycross,Georgia) after driving for 6 hours I arrived at the factory, the "Warranty Specialist" looked at the crack, tapped it with her pen and said, "no problem, its just the gel coat". I left the boat in Georgia and two weeks later she calls and said the boat is ready "good as new". I return to Georgia to pick up the boat when I look at the boat it has new cracks.I show the Warranty Specialist and she says,"no problem,go to lunch and it will be ready when you get back". I went to lunch and returned to the plant. There were two girls using what appeared to be hair dyers on the fiberglass and six hours later they said "good as new". so I leave for my fourth six hour trip. I took the boat out about a week later in 6 inch seas for a couple of hours when I returned the boat had the same crack , but longer! I immediatly called Carolina Skiff and demanded a new boat, the Warranty Specialist said she will get right on it. A week later I call and get the familiar answering machine and left a messsage inquiring about my boat, I do this for several days-- no call back, frustrated I call my local dealer and they inform me that Carolina Skiff does not call them back either. The Warranty Specialist finally calls back and tells me that they have a new hull (hull only) and they will ship it to me at my expense and I will have to swap my motor and everything else to the new hull. I have had boats all my life, and never had any problems (I'm 36 ) this was my first new boat and the worst buying experience in my life. Has anybody else had similar problems with Carolina Skiff?By the way the crack is about two and a half feet long and ugly.
|
|
|
|
|
Mingo
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 12/13/2008 10:36:44 PM
Posts: 66,
Visits: 219
|
|
| Time to go up the ladder on the ( Warranty Specialist ). I would start with the CEO. Then with the 500 phone calls a day. Until the problem was resolved. Also read your warranty book from cover to cover. Good Luck. I hate to hear somebody getting screwd by an American made boat manufacture. Just goes to show you how good our workmanship is in theis country.
|
|
|
|
|
Trigger
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Today @ 8:40:34 AM
Posts: 203,
Visits: 1,611
|
|
Yours is the second story I've heard of Carolina Skiff hulls cracking. I had strongly considered purchasing a 19 DLV. I heard the first story prior to making that purchase. It wasn't entirely the deciding factor, but it did sway the selection. I ended up with the Tidewater and so far (knock on fiberglass) I have no complaints.
_____________________________________________________SkinnyWater TIDEWATER 1900 BayMax 115 Yamaha "NOT For Sale" 2000 16' Griff Craft 50 Evinrude "FOR SALE" http://www.fishthebridge.com/fishingforum/Topic82835-46-1.aspx 
Reasonable offers or trades entertained.
|
|
|
|
|
Trigger
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: Yesterday @ 11:49:36 PM
Posts: 128,
Visits: 1,529
|
|
| Thats sad...with the little money (their cost) that Carolina Skiff probably puts into those "piece together" style boats you'd think they'd be more than willing to just keep their customers happy instead of getting a horrible reputation like that. Making YOU pay for the freight of a new hull that THEY messed up in the building process...HA, thats a joke! If you have a manufacture defect its easier to eat the cost of replacing one boat than to lose the possibility of a handful of future customers. I was looking at Polar Boats until I heard they had a problem with defects in the hulls on occasion...then I started looking into Carolina Skiff....BUT I GUESS THAT IDEA IS OVER! On to another boat manufacture for me! Best of luck. Keep us updated about how much more crap you have to go through to get the problem resolved!
|
|
|
|
|
Mingo
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/3/2009 6:57:43 PM
Posts: 56,
Visits: 168
|
|
| Has the dealer you bought the boat from been of any assistance? I know hull defects are a manufacturer issue but seeing how the dealer made money off you as well he could at least help in getting the manufacturer to stand behind the product he is selling.
|
|
|
|
|
Snapper
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/5/2009 3:42:28 PM
Posts: 305,
Visits: 665
|
|
alex you need a bigger boat anyway. that way i can sell my and just ride on yours, craasch and skinnywater (my bro). you know i'm good for gas and stuff. good luck with all that crap
better to be dead and cool then alive and uncool.
|
|
|
|
|
Snapper
Group: Forum Members
Last Login: 1/2/2009 3:31:12 PM
Posts: 350,
Visits: 695
|
|
| Your more patient of the dealer than I would have been, he is the person that took your money. Load him up with the responsibility of making things right. He will in reality carry more clout with the factory than you will. I would start with a certified letter to him on what its going to take to make it right, I would request within a reasonable time a meeting with him and a factory rep to discuss the problem and give you a time frame on when it was going to be resolved. The part about swapping hulls and equipment belongs to him.
Danno"Scars are tatoos with a story" http://www.forumpictureprocessor.com/gallery.asp?gallery=1841
|
|
| |