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These are just a few of the letters we've
received from new boat owners. Their boats have either blistered,
or the manufacturer recommends that they not keep the boat in the
water long.
Not keep the boat in the water long? What should
they do, put wheels on it? Sounds sort of like an auto manufacturer
telling customers not to drive their cars in the rain because they
will melt if they get wet.
We thought you would be interested in the boat
builder's responses, particularly as respects the warranty.
Hello,
I'm a new Crownline boat owner and I've been
reading your excellent articles at your web home page, especially
as concerns hull blistering. I hope this innovation in communication
brings much new business your way.
BACKGROUND:
Next year, I plan to dock my boat in a marina in fresh water for
approximately 6 months with ccasional removal to trailer elsewhere
for a few days at a time. During the times that the boat is out
of the water, I will thoroughly wash it down and wax the hull.
However, I have become concerned because my
Owner's Manual states the following:
"If your boat will be in water
continuously for two or more weeks, Crownline Boats, Inc. recommends
sealing the hull bottom with a high quality barrier coating. Unsealed
gelcoat may form water blisters. Repair of water blister damage
is not covered under the Crownline Boats, Inc. Warranty."
Elsewhere, Crownline's recommendation for gelcoat
maintenance involves using a fiberglass wax that is capable of
filling gelcoat pores - with the implication that this is the
way to avoid blisters.
QUESTIONS: Given your opinion that blisters
are usually caused by inferior materials and poor workmanship,
is the above warranty statement a manufacturer copout?
Do you have any opinion on whether I would have
the ability to enforce the warranty if I don't follow their barrier
coating instructions? Should I follow their instructions
and barrier-coat the hull?
I am resisting the barrier coating method because
it appears to be messy if not done correctly, unnecessarily expensive,
and I'm afraid the end result will grossly detract from the appearance
of the boat.
Respectfully,
Al
Here's another one:
I purchased a 1995 19ft Caravelle runabout that
was being brokered by a caravelle dealer in April of 1996. This
boat had 16 hours on the hour meter and comes with a 5 year hull
warranty. The summer passed and upon removal of the boat at the
end of October I found to my surprise thousands of bubbles on
the hull. When I contacted Caravelle and they told me they
do not recommend leaving the boat in the water for a extended
amount of time, in this case the boat was in the
water about 3 months. They then proceeded to tell me this
was not covered by the warranty. What should I do?
Sue caravelle or the boat dealer which told me at the time of
purchase that told me this boat was 100% covered by warranty?
Thanks for any help you can offer
And another . . . .
Dear Mr. Pascoe,
I have been reading your articles regarding boat blistering and
find it refreshing to know that I am not crazy. I purchased a
new Sanger V210 Ski Boat in May of 1996. I moor the boat for the
ski season, typically May-Sept on a fresh water lake, (Lake Arrowhead,
Ca.). During that time, I remove the boat, periodically, to take
ski vacations to the nearby, Colorado River. After the boat was
in the water for the first season, I noticed small pimple like
blisters had developed all along the hull below the waterline
after removing it at the end of the season, Oct. 96. I notified
the dealer that sold the boat to me and he said the blisters sometimes
happen and that it was not covered under the manufacturers warranty.
Upon the advise of my insurance carrier, Boat US., I had a marine
surveyor survey the boat. He determined the blisters were a result
of a defect during the manufacturing process. The manufacturer
eventually agreed to repair it, under warranty. I do not know
what the specifics of the repair were.
The following season, I put the boat back in the same lake, May
of 1997. I used the boat the same way for the season and removed
it in Oct. of 1997. Much to my surprise, the blisters
had returned, consistent to my previous experience.
I took it back to the dealer but this time they refuse to fix
it. I contacted an attorney that I know, and he sent a demand
letter to them trying to get some action. This is not his specialty
but he thinks I might be up the creek because the warranty excludes,
gel coat. Do you have any advise for me? I live in Southern California.
It looks like I may need to sue them. I don't want to spend thousands
of dollars to fight this but it isn't right! Any advice would
be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
And another:
Dear Mr. Pascoe,
I have just discovered your web-site & have spent many hours
devouring the wealth of information that you have provided. I
was particularly interested in your reply to the owner of a Crownline
boat enquiring about the "blister warranty restriction".
I purchased a new Chaparral 2335SS last April, it had all features
that I needed for touring the Great Lakes area of Ontario. I understood
it to be of above average in quality of construction (probably
not up to your standards) but on looking at the manual I find
that I have the same restrictions as the Crownline owner:-
<If your boat will be in the water continuously
for the majority of the boating season, Chaparral recommends sealing
the hull bottom with a high quality barrier coating. Repairing
water blister damage is not covered under the Chaparral Boat Warranty.>
[Italics ours]
Updated 01/27/98
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