New Boats - the downside

[admillington]

I have recently taken delivery of my first new boat, a Fairline Targa 40 loaded with all the bits, Colour Radar/Plotter, generator etc. Heaven I hear you say. The downside is that when I pop down at the weekend, I don't have any jobs to do. Any problems are fixed under warranty. There is nothing else to fit, it is all very clear inside and out - ok I did hover the bidges of the stuff the builders leave.

I end up starting the engines, running the heating and going home.

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[barryjl]

Ok..leave it for a couple of days..then go down and clean it. You can also sit on it and make coffee, practice using the new GPS, rearrange all the cupboards etc to make sure your 'bits' are stowed in the most appropriate place. Have you done 'fender socks' and fitted fender baskets..oh and this time of year, don't forget the dehumidifier and heater. Added to that, you must always check the warps regularly. Oh..and if all else fails, why not take it out for a spin?

<hr width=100% size=1>There's no problems..just opportunities

 

[BrendanS]

If you can start the engines, I presume it in the water. Why not take the thing for a spin, it is what boats are for /forums/images/icons/laugh.gif

<hr width=100% size=1> I asked an economist for her phone number....and she gave me an estimate

 

[barryjl]

By the way, where do you keep the new toy?

<hr width=100% size=1>There's no problems..just opportunities

 

[Jim44]

Whenever I go to the boat the last thing i want to do is jobs that i should, like giving the boat a good wash, much rather start the engines and take it out.



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[jfm]

Surely loads of things must have gone wrong with it, being a new boat? No?

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[admillington]

Chichester Marina

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[tripleace]

for a small fee a group can be orgainised to come down a trash the boat and gives you the odd few jobs to repair.

good luck on not having any jobs to do.... long may it continue

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boating-ads.co.uk> Boating Website</A>

 

[DavidJ]

If the plotter/radar is a Raymarine then you have a one inch instruction manual (and probably if its any other make also). Put the heater on and slog through it. You will get the best out of your first cruises if you know the equipment in advance.

Incidently do Fairline antifoul the stern drives as part of the delivery package because Sealine don't and mine consequently ended up quite a barnacled mess very quickly.

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[tcm]

There shouldn't really be too many problems if all you do is start the engines, although i would turnem off before going home haha.

You may notice on some days (eg this week) loads of humidity on cars left outside overnight or in the eveneings and the same happens to boats, making non-marinised stuff rusty. So you could make happy with wd40 on places like say the door hinges and so on.

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[Will_M]

Sealine dont antifoul the drives... Odd!!

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[DavidJ]

Sealine & antifoul

I wrote to Sealine about it and they replied
quote from letter 1 April 2003
"I have established that the standard specification for the S37 includes antifouling of the hull only and excludes the outdrives. It is viewed that cetainly in UK waters regular usage should ensure they do not become unduly fouled"

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[ccscott49]

Re: Sealine & antifoul

Prats!

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[DRH]

Incindentally, is it worth antifouling the outdrives. I hear conflicting opinions on this.

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[DavidJ]

Absolutely yes, remember though (and I'm sure you know) that the paint is different from hull paint and than you need a gap between the hull paint and the metal of the stearn drive.

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[davedpc]

Why not just go down and give her a big kiss an cuddle like the rest of us do. Going to see Clarkson with the big toys at Earlscourt on Saturday ,might buy another car to share my affection.

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[admillington]

Fairline do NOT antifoul the drives so I expect them to turn into a weedy mess shorlty.

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[Benny1]

ummm...well...has the shower door fallen off yet? It will if you go out in anything other than a flat calm.

What else?

Hmmm...

The pole to hold the tender garage open for long periods or if the locker above is full of fenders/liferaft etc will fall off and then roll out and into the sea as soon as you open the gagage door. This is because it is secured by two rubbish clips to the UNDERSIDE of the garage roof and therefore has gravity trying to pull it off at all times (or a wave in anything other than flat calm).

Hmmm....

Cupboard door support struts will be either too stiff or too loose and therefore cupboards will either be a bugger to open or fall on you head when open.

Hmmm...

Your legs will be continually caught on the seat adjustment handle when standing with the base bolster raised, as it sticks out 3-4inches beyond the fixed part of the seat base.

Hmmm...

Don't leave either a) the bung in the dingy over the winter or b) if you do leave the bung in, don't leave anything that doesnt like to be totally submerged in the dingy, as it will be full of water fed into it fromt he drian holes positioned directly above it, rather than the the side where the water would then drain into the bilges and be pumped out (as opposed to sitting in the dingy).

Hmmm...

Don't put the boarding ladder down as it will be a total bugger to get back in again.

Hmmm...

Other than that it should all work well, so not bad considering all the things that could go wrong. Just a shame that (as with most british boats) when you look behind the gloss it's much shabbier that you'd hope for the money, but just don't show your guests those bits!

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[telmate]

Well, I have also recently taken delivery of a new Fairline Phantom 40 and my weekdays and weekends have been spent following up on the many issues with the dealer. Mostly minor issues it has to be said - like replacing the cockpit floor, the teak steps, the crack in the transom door, the sofa which rubs against the cupboard, the fridge which rubs on the galley floor, the coachroof lining which is hanging off, the strip below the sofa which is hanging off, the batteries which will not stay charged, the sofabed infil which did not arrive, the marks on the saloon table......Apart from that it's been erm nothing short of the worst service experience I have ever experienced in any industry.
The issues are now mostly fixed but it's taken since July until now to get MOST of them resolved. It must be the norm though because the word 'Sorry' has not been uttered once.So I'm kind of like the Targa owner except mine wouldn't start!

<hr width=100% size=1>I've only gone and bought it!

 

[Benny1]

Yes,
It's not a bad reflection on Fairline, as all new boats seem to be delivered the same ay. It just makes you wonder how much they must spend rectifying build defects within the first year and whether they would not be better off just improving their quality control in the first place.

It is, I think, just a reflection of the fact that those who build these sorts of boats do not usually have much experience of using them in a real world environment. Not sure how you can rectify this, as the cost of ownership means that most boat builders will not be able to afford the products they build and hance not know what works and what doesn't.

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