New boat warranty

Cloud 5 said:
I have issue with my year old boat , which to me should be simple as abc.

1: Rust on Engine Mounts. Dealer response ‘ you need to talk to engine manufacturers , then engine manufacturers response we did not supply mounts.’
2: Batteries falling flat. Dealer response ‘ you need proof of this ‘. Vouching report from boat yard batteries flat ‘
3: cabin door off level. Dealer response ‘ it’s only cosmetic ‘
4: other minor items Dealer response. ‘ it’s a new boat you have to expect these things ‘

Is this type of carry on the normal , it’s like taking a new car back to garage and being told we did not manufacture the engine .

Thanks
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In the real world you have to expect some issues so sadly no 4 is right. That doesnt mean that the dealer is not obliged to correct them - just that in the pretty basic world of boat manufacture you cant expect new car standards of quality. As for no 1 - your contract is with the dealer so its his problem. No 2 - that could be an electrical problem or it could be the way you are using the boat. Investigation required to make a case. No 3 as for no 1.

Incidentally the engine mounts will be painted mild steel and in a damp marine environment, rust is to be expected. Why would you be bothered by it?
 
PlumDuff said:
In the real world you have to expect some issues so sadly no 4 is right. That doesnt mean that the dealer is not obliged to correct them - just that in the pretty basic world of boat manufacture you cant expect new car standards of quality. As for no 1 - your contract is with the dealer so its his problem. No 2 - that could be an electrical problem or it could be the way you are using the boat. Investigation required to make a case. No 3 as for no 1.

Incidentally the engine mounts will be painted mild steel and in a damp marine environment, rust is to be expected. Why would you be bothered by it?
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‘ why would you be bothered about it ‘
Because my marine Surveyor says this is not acceptable on a new boat
 
I am surprised by the idea that rust on engine mounts was to be. When we got our boat it was 4 years old and there was no rust on the engine mounts, 4 years later there was still no rust on them. Okay I do wipe them down and clear any salt off them etc, but they are also left over winter for 6 months and they are still okay
The idea that on a new boat that you have had for a week has rust on the engine mounts is not acceptable to me
 
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jordanbasset said:
I am surprised by the idea that rust on engine mounts was to be expected. When we got our boat it was 4 years old and there was no rust on the engine mounts, 4 years later there was still no rust on them. Okay I do wipe them down and clear any salt off them etc, but they are also left over winter for 6 months and they are still okay
The idea that on a new boat that you have had for a week has rust on the engine mounts is not acceptable to me
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He said a year old not a week. I suppose that it you are anal enough to polish your engine mounts regularly, you might avoid some surface rust. Likely you have shiny bed springs too :D but certainly my experience is that the mounts supplied both by Volvo and Yanmar are made of mild steel and are thinly painted with paint cut through where nuts, bolts and lock washers bear on the base metal. Any bare metal will rust just in a damp marine atmosphere.

But each to his own. If the OP wants to get upset about such trivialities, thats his choice.
 
Cloud 5 said:
1: Rust on engine mounts , pointed out when boat was 1 week old.
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PlumDuff said:
Incidentally the engine mounts will be painted mild steel and in a damp marine environment, rust is to be expected. Why would you be bothered by it?
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jordanbasset said:
I am surprised by the idea that rust on engine mounts was to be. When we got our boat it was 4 years old and there was no rust on the engine mounts, 4 years later there was still no rust on them. Okay I do wipe them down and clear any salt off them etc, but they are also left over winter for 6 months and they are still okay
The idea that on a new boat that you have had for a week has rust on the engine mounts is not acceptable to me
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PlumDuff said:
He said a year old not a week. I suppose that it you are anal enough to polish your engine mounts regularly, you might avoid some surface rust. Likely you have shiny bed springs too :D but certainly my experience is that the mounts supplied both by Volvo and Yanmar are made of mild steel and are thinly painted with paint cut through where nuts, bolts and lock washers bear on the base metal. Any bare metal will rust just in a damp marine atmosphere.

But each to his own. If the OP wants to get upset about such trivialities, thats his choice.
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The OP had said the rust was there after a week
I am far from obsessive about cleaning as anyone who knows me will tell you, I repeat I do not think it reasonable for engine mounts to have rust after a week
On it's own you could live with it, but coupled with the other problems I think it does show poor service, new boats have problems, it's the way the suppliers deal with those problems that makes the difference. From what we've been told the suppliers fell well short of the service I would expect
 
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You need to control the level of water in your bilges, rusty mounts will be rejected under negligence.
 
pvb said:
Boat dealerships do seem fairly bad at resolving niggles. I guess a lot depends on how persistent you are. Equally, you should accept that boats aren't usually build to the same standards of fit and finish which a similarly-priced car would be.

How bad is the rust on the engine mounts? Have they been exposed to seawater? My Bavaria is 6 years old and the engine mounts aren't rusty, but there's only dust in the bilges.

Batteries are probably a wear-and-tear item, because you might easily have damaged them in some way. I wouldn't expect the dealer to do anything about them.

Cosmetic and minor items may well be present. If you think they're the result of poor manufacture or commissioning, and the dealership refuses to help, get your boatyard to fix them at your cost, then attempt to recover the money from the dealer.
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Dust in the bilge indicates your mounts are wearing out.
 
Have you asked the boat dealer how long was the boat wrapped for when in storage, and what is the year of manufacture?
 
B58 said:
Have you asked the boat dealer how long was the boat wrapped for when in storage, and what is the year of manufacture?
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Think this has been mentioned earlier, but the HIN will provide the date of the hull lay up and the builders certificate will provide the date of completion of the build.
 
Resolution said:
Think this has been mentioned earlier, but the HIN will provide the date of the hull lay up and the builders certificate will provide the date of completion of the build.
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I know that engines can be effected by long periods of storage.
 
Cloud 5 said:
Thanks for reply :
1: Rust on engine mounts , pointed out when boat was 1 week old.
2: Batteries pointed out when boat was 5 days old
3: Cabin door pointed out on delivery , fixed door handle not joinery
4: Other items
Hot water heater takes 4 hours
Leak into aft cabin
Inverter does not work
There is 23 items on the list
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As you are discovering, the sales agent is not keen to spend his sales margin on rectifying elements that are really down to the condition it was in when the dealer took delivery and passed it to you. Boat builders rather expect dealers to handle such matters since they are on site whereas the manufacturer is not. I know of a major dealer repudiating an international boat builder on just these grounds - boats came in so much in need of finishing, there was little margin left for the dealer.

Hence the dealer's dismissal in your case. You are going to have to gird your loins and take a firm line or eat all these shortcomings.

You need photos and a stiff letter to the manufacturer, relating the unwillingness of the agent to do what he is contracted to. Then push hard and likely the agent will be instructed to deal with most of your problems or you will receive a lump sum to take the boat elsewhere for finishing. As you present it, you have an excellent case for rectification of what looks to be a "Friday afternoon built boat" I'm very sorry to say.

Of your list, the hot water taking 4 hours to hit max heat is the only one that might be down to spec - they are usually only 1kw at most and take time to heat a tank.

Best of luck, but be prepared for some shouting! Not all dealers are like this, but not so many take responsibility for what they sell, and recognise their UK legal liability to deliver goods of merchantable quality - that means in this case more than just an ability to stay afloat !!

PWG
 
prv said:
Liability to you, however, lies with whoever you bought the boat from (dealer or manufacturer, depending whether the former is the latter’s agent or not). They may then recover their costs from the equipment manufacturer if applicable, but that’s not your concern.

Trying to pass off responsibility by saying “you’ll have to take it up with the manufacturer” doesn’t work in a shop, I can’t see why retail sale of a new boat would be any different.

Pete
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This is true for any item sold ... first you claim on the dealer - makes no odds whether he is agent for builder or not. He has sold you goods that should be fit for purpose. The dealer is the one who would then take it up with manufacturer / supplier. But dealer is responsible to you ... should fix the items and then its his job to be compensated by manufacturer.

If dealer refuses or proves difficult - then an avenue is to report to Trading Standards or whatever their latest name is ... report dealers lack of support to the manufacturers / builders of the boat. Basically put pressure on the dealer to do the right thing.
 
Cloud 5 said:
I have issue with my year old boat , which to me should be simple as abc.

1: Rust on Engine Mounts. Dealer response ‘ you need to talk to engine manufacturers , then engine manufacturers response we did not supply mounts.’
2: Batteries falling flat. Dealer response ‘ you need proof of this ‘. Vouching report from boat yard batteries flat ‘
3: cabin door off level. Dealer response ‘ it’s only cosmetic ‘
4: other minor items Dealer response. ‘ it’s a new boat you have to expect these things ‘

Is this type of carry on the normal , it’s like taking a new car back to garage and being told we did not manufacture the engine .

Thanks
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For thd money you spent you expect by UK law a product of merchantable quality.
The distributor / agent is the first point of contact in the event of failure against that stanndard. He gets an allowance / margin from tbe manufacturer (15% often) against snags. Of course he wants to pocket that allowance so every item has to be proven, knowing you will go over his head to the manufacturer if he is unreasonable.
Got your photos and evidence ready?

A new boat and you havd to expect these things is the giveaway. You will get nothing from this cowboy without heavy threat. Get another source - surveyor or egineer to assess and put the shortcomjngs into writing, then return to the distributor; if he refuses, you threaten with complaint to the manufacturer, and if necessary go to the small claims court. He will make an offer (probably half your claim) to avoid this.

UK boat dealers I have known - they call it a cottage industry with good reason.

PWG
 
Cloud 5 said:
I have issue with my year old boat , which to me should be simple as abc.

1: Rust on Engine Mounts. Dealer response ‘ you need to talk to engine manufacturers , then engine manufacturers response we did not supply mounts.’
2: Batteries falling flat. Dealer response ‘ you need proof of this ‘. Vouching report from boat yard batteries flat ‘
3: cabin door off level. Dealer response ‘ it’s only cosmetic ‘
4: other minor items Dealer response. ‘ it’s a new boat you have to expect these things ‘

Is this type of carry on the normal , it’s like taking a new car back to garage and being told we did not manufacture the engine .

Thanks
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I wouldn't accept their response. Tell them it is their responsibility and will resort to small claims action if they don't rectify - assuming it's under warranty.
 
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