Pbo challenge

[PabloPicasso]

I'm challenging PBO to write and publish an article about marine suppliers who use substandard components in their products. For example, not usingmarine grade stainless steel as in the thread "Plastimo Parts :-(((( YUK!".

At the very least they could contact the manufacturers to get an explanation, or encourage them to change their manufacturing/supply processes

 

[john_morris_uk]

But who is going to arbitrate as to what is 'marine quality?

Most people would agree that brass isn't suitable as a material for skin fittings.
Many people consider DZR acceptable.
Some insist on bronze.

A few believe that plastic is inappropriate (yet many logs and echo sounder transducers are plastic).

Many people would suggest that mild steel is inappropriate for interior fit out, yet we had a boat built by Camper and Nicholson that had interior woodwork assembled with steel screws when it was built in 1959.

Honest packaging might be a better request. I'm quite happy to use A2 screws when I fit something inside the boat, but I want A4 for fittings on deck etc.

 

[Norman_E]

My biggest grouse is with manufacturers of marine electronics who supply cables made of plain copper instead of tinned, even for things like transducers that are going to be fitted in the bilges.

 

[prv]

My biggest grouse is with manufacturers of marine electronics who supply cables made of plain copper instead of tinned, even for things like transducers that are going to be fitted in the bilges.

I wouldn't say it's my biggest grouse, but it definitely annoys me. Every piece of cable I have fitted is tinned, I hate having to connect to plain copper for the last few inches into a device. Having rewired two boats now (and taken out lengths of cable that were rigid with corrosion or fell apart into black powder) I'm having no truck with people who claim plain copper is ok.

Pete

 

[neilf39]

It won't happen. Who arbitrates? If you get one person who claims substandard goods or services how do you determine how widespread a problem it is? You would need all sorts of evidence that would stand up in court in case the company mentioned decided to take legal action. A few people having a personal rant probably doesn't hold much water. All sorts of legal nightmares for the mag. It would need lots of research and investigation at vast expense and would probably prove nothing. We all know a certain Megastore and its various disguises have a reputation from the various comments written on these Fora and I think that is about as far as anything is likely to make it to publication as anything on here is just a personal opinion.

 

[rob2]

Quite right, no publisher would walk into a situation like that with their eyes open. Sometimes in fact products which have been engineered to survive in a marine environment create their own problems. Transducer leads, which as said lie in the bilges, are made with sealed ends, but as the insulation degrades, the core can become exposed.

When buying my boat, I turned the battery isolation switch and it fell apart. As it had done a few decades service, I was happy to replace like with like so it would screw straight in, but the new one broke immediately. I replaced it with an unbranded Chinese switch because I could disassemble it and set it up better than new - no problems since. Likewise one time the engine cooling intake was an unusually small size and at the time I couldn't get a bronze or DZR version, but B&Q brass ones were very cheap in a multi-pack, so when installed it has a label with the date and "replace annually" on it.

Rob.