Careless fitters on new boat

hornblower

hornblower

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2 serious and potentially dangerous problems came to light during the shake down/delivery trip on our new Elan Impression 434. I have already mentioned one of the problems in earlier posts (New QL bowthruster).

We had a gas leak into one of the lockers because the fitter had failed to tighten one of the connection nuts properly.

I now know that we nearly had a fire (the cabin filled with acrid smoke) because a fitter had failed to tighten an electrical connection nut, causing the wiring to overheat and burn the fuse and the fuse holder.

It seems crazy that such shoddy workmanship is allowed - one gets an apology but it just doesn't seem enough somehow.
 
That's appalling. If it was a car it would go straight back to the dealers but a boat (now elsewhere presumably) is not so easy. Can you persuade them to pay for a proper CORGI gas check and for a marine elecrician to run over the boat. The gas check is a must surely and the dealers must be liable for ensuring that safety standards are met. I wouldn't leave it there and if they refuse then get it checked and issue a small claims summons and threaten to publisize it in one of the mags.
 
I believe that the dealer should now pay for a full independent survey of the boat. Two potentailly serious errors of workmanship have already come to light.

If they refuse I would have it done at your cost and subsequently seek to recover the costs plus any ensuing work from the dealer. Elan have quite a lot to lose from this and I guess they will agree after a little pressure. U.K. law is fully on your side here - I assume sale was under UK law - but don't waste time.
 
The combination of gas leaks and electrical faults is lethal.

I agree with dom and Moodysailor. You should insist that they pay for a full electrical survey and a full gas system survey and test by an electrician and Corgi fitter of your choice.
 
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It seems crazy that such shoddy workmanship is allowed - one gets an apology but it just doesn't seem enough somehow.

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It isnt allowed - the workmen concerned are supposed to be conscientious but given the excessive employment rights they have in Europe, why should they bother? After all, its their employer who carries the can not them - they cant be fired.

Surprised you didnt employ a surveyor to monitor the build as recommended by the RYA, though given my experience of surveyors on second hand boats, maybe a day long crawl all over the boat by you would be more effective. Its your neck after all. You will spot more than any surveyor IMHO

If you feel that you cant do this job, then employ a surveyor to do it for you. But getting the money back after acceptance will be a challenge.

P.S. Boats arent cars. Cars are reliable because they are largely machine made and machines dont shirk..
 
One cockup is careless, 2 is shoddy, 3 is damm right dangerous!

Something definitely gone wrong with their quality control - are the gas fittings not pressure tested as a matter of course? Are the electrical systems not run up and checked?

Get a survey is the most popular suggestion - but would a surveyor check every nut and bolt for the correct tightness?
 
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oops forgive my spelling of doubt please.

[/ QUOTE ] No probs about the spelling - I do the same all the time, but did you know that you can use the 'editt post' button up to half an hour or so after hitting 'submit' and put right your mistakes...

My problem is spotting typos in my old posts which I can no longer edit.
 
I do not think that a surveyor is going to go over every nut and bolt. Are dealers selling boats, new boats at least, not required to get their gas fittings checked independantly?
 
Welcome to the cottage industry called the Marine industry where they sell dreams and get away with murder.

I have bought 3 new boats and had commissioning problems on each. Many offer good advice but the reality is that unless you are holding back money they do not want to know!

There are a number of factors.

1. The quality of the base build is comparable to the UK motorcycle industry in the 60's when every motorcycle came with its own oil leak. It did not change until the Japanese came along.

2. Similarly every mooring rope to fender to radar etc is an extra and the majority of the problems are post fit extras similar to when BMW sold a car and even the wheels were an extra - sold on the basis that it gave customers individual choice.

3. When things do go wrong the seller/dealer/distributer - call them what you like doesn't really want to know but wants to refer each problem back to the source eg Volvo engine or Raymarine etc. When a car goes wrong the dealer doesn't get away refering you to say Siemans because they supplied say GM with the faulty component!

I don't think it will change until boats are manufactured and sold like modern cars with everything done at the factory and under tight quality control.

I hope your comment about Volvo indicated that they are now getting their act together as I have had so much bad experience of them not wanting to know that I bought the last boat only on the basis that it could not have any Volvo bits (hence excluded the Elan 434 from my choice!). Perhaps at least one company is learning at last but I am not holding my breath.

Unfortunately I am old enough to remember the days when buying a car 1 yr old was a good idea as they would have sorted the teething troubles out by then. I think its only a matter of time before the Japanese/Koreans/Chinese realise what a potential market there is worldwide for a standard range of well equipped boats built to a good standard.

Pleased you got your bow thruster sorted so quickly. We only had a leak but took 18 months and 2 lift outs before it was finally fixed properly and only then because I insisted on a company that I knew did quality work.
 
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