Do you agree that this is atrocious service from Beta Marine?

[Dalliance]

Three years ago I bought a new Beta 28 with saildrive for my yacht. Four weeks ago, with less than 80 hours on the engine (my wife HATES motor-sailing so we end up tacking a LOT!), the gear box failed to go into astern. The engine and sail drive were removed by the engineers in the marina and, after dismantling the sail drive they found a severely worn gear cog. Beta Marine could not supply a workshop manual for the unti, stating that the saildirve legs are supplied by Selva. Selva UK don't seem to have a Customer Service facility and Selva Italy is closed for the summer holiday. Beta Marine is not interested in solving the problem but, "helpfully", suggested that I buy a new Selva saildrive from them for £1800 plus VAT! They obviously cannot guarantee that the same fault will not re-occur.
If a manufacturer supplies an engine and saildrive as a single unit am I being unreasonable in expecting them to accept responsibility for the the whole thing? /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[Talbot]

Do you leave the engine in gear when motorsailing?

What is the recomendation by the gearbox manufacturer?

 

[pyrojames]

My feeling is that as Beta supplied the unit to you, they are responsible for it, even if they then have to persue Selva. They supplied the engine and gearbox, they should accept liability.

 

[Dalliance]

I do leave the engine in astern when sailing - there's nothing in the handbook recommending either way. I've got a Bruntons Autoprop which I've always imagined reduces any torque on the gear box anyway when sailing.
Anyway, irrespective of whether the gearbox failure is due to my actions or not, I can't see that Beta Marine can be so disinterested in supporting a piece of kit which they sold to me. I'm thinking of going to SIBS simply to sit down on their trade stand complaing loudly whenever a potential customer walks past!

 

[Talbot]

I cannot condone their attitude, and would have expected the autoprop to minimise the rotation

Have you asked autoprop to comment?

 

[ChrisE]

I feel for you, a bit, as it is never good when a bit breaks. However.....

My experience or Beta Marine has been exemplary, so I'm a bit surprised about your problems.

A couple of questions. Have you had the engine and gearbox serviced each year, as from memory, that is a condtion of their warranty? Again, from memory, I believe that the Beta parts warranty extends for three years, are you inside the warranty period?

Regarding the autoprop, Bruntons state that you should leave the gearbox in forward gear.

 

[Dalliance]

I'm not inside the warranty period and I've always serviced the engine myself at the prescribed intervals in the handbook. I'm not expecting Beta to accept responsibility (although a contribution would be nice given the age of the engine) - I'm just expecting them to be able to provide the relevant workshop manual to one of the engineers named on their website and who sells their equipment.
To be fair - I've just sent and e-mail to the CEO and he replied immediately saying that he will look into it. I hope he has more success than the Beta technical dept.

 

[Talbot]

I suspect you already have this document - http://www.betamarine.nl/newsite/downloads/HandBooks/Beta%20Saildrive%201470%2013.5-28bhp.pdf

 

[davidfox]

I have a Bruntons, and the recommendation is that you switch off the engine whilst in gear so that it feathers.

 

[ChrisE]

I'm glad to hear that you have had a positive response from CEO, I hope that it gets sorted out soon.

 

[stevebirch2002]

Only ever had fantastic service from Beta. Ask for Adrian and if still no joy then ask for Andrew Grewcott (The gaffer).

Cheers

Steve B

 

[kds]

I too, have found there service and advice excellent.
Ken

 

[wotayottie]

Yes this is unacceptable. The saildrive legs arent supplied by Selva - they are made by Selva and supplied by Beta. You can reasonable expect them to hold spares and to have technical information available. Whats more after only 80- hours use, the problem is theirs not yours. No way that something of merchantable quality should fail after so little use.

Go after them!