Compliments to the factory guys

[rogerbum]

All,

I finally got my boat back on Sat. AM (10/1). I had dropped it off Sept. 8th for
1) the 200 hour service on the engines
2) To have a crack repaired where the bulkhead meets the hull
3) To have a crack repaired on the gunnel near the bulkhead
4) Gel coat repairs on the bow (from bouncing on the bow roller - since corrected with a strap to hold the bow down)
5) Loose anchor light mount (screws stripped out).

Initially, we thought it would be close to 2 weeks to get this done. The glass work is taking a bit longer than usual these days as people have to be pulled from production to do it. Wound up leaving the boat a bit longer than I had hoped since the factory decided to replace the boards in front of the fuel tanks under warranty. The previous mounting system was the chocks screwed into the hull that sometime get pushed out when the tanks expand. I didn't really see any problems with mine but the factory did or replaced them as a preventative.

The new panels look great - fiberglass - a big plus as fish blood comes off of glass much more easily that it does from starboard. Also all cracks were fixed under warranty and because they felt bad about keeping the boat a bit longer than expected, they threw in the gel coat repair on the bow for nothing. Chet treated me great and showed me the crack repair (which he indicated he did personally). The only things I was charged for is the 200 hrs on both engines and the repair to the anchor light. Total bill was about $450. For reference, 3-Rivers Marine hit me $330/engine last year for the 200 hour alone.

Had the boat out today. Engines run great. Noticeably smoother and easier starting. Posted two pic of the new fuel tank covers in my album. Will take the boat back to the factory for the 200 hours next time around too! Like the Mariners - "ya gotta love those guys" at the factory. For those at the factory who feel bad about the comparison to the Mariners, I meant the Mariners from a few years back when they used to win more...

Best,
Roger on the SeaDNA

 

[Pat Anderson]

We were talking about this at Sequim, and perhaps others can chime in here. While we give kudos to the factory, it is definitely time for them to think about separating their maintenance and repair functions off from their production functions. Jeff Messmer, is this a possibility some time in the near future?

The glass work is taking a bit longer than usual these days as people have to be pulled from production to do it.

 

[Chivita]

Having taken our boat to the factory for a tune-up and at the same time getting a small amount of gel coat repair done, I too can understand how the extra time it took the factory to perform that repair could frustrate a boat owner. The extra time didn't bug me (1 Week) as I planned the work around a time I knew I would not need the boat, AND they did a great job and never charged me for the work.

Compared to the time that it took an auto body repair facility to fix my new van when a moron decided to broadside it, one week was a piece of cake. Expecially if I compare it to the amount the moron's insurance company had to pay.

In my humble opinion, if we as owners demand that the factory hire a seperate and speedy dedicated work force to repair our dings, dents and miscellaneous damage, we better as well be prepared to pay the expenses of that work force. Having managed a automotive dealership parts department focused on making it a sound business, I can relate to how the additional costs that bringing the body shop repair portion inhouse adds to the expense line.

If the qualified person(s) C-Dory brought in to solely perform fiberglass and gel coat repairs had a constant flow of work, AND the factory properly billed for that work, it may be a sound business addition. But if that person sat around half the time, or if as in my case C-Dory decided to do those repairs for free, they are not making a very profitable decision.

I have heard via this site and the C-Dog site that quite a few people have had repairs done complimentary at the factory, and I believe it adds to their reputation. But I know for a fact that if I brought my van to the manufacturer and asked them to repair something that was not their fault, they would either decline or charge me up the gazang.

Of course, now that I'm a rather long boat trip away from the factory, I no longer get factory service. Up here, either you pay an ungodly amount to get you boat repaired quickly, or you wait until summer season is all over, then wait for the repair shop staff to go out and get their quota of deer/moose/bear or whatever they need to stock up the freezer for winter and then perhaps they will fix what ails your boat. And yes, they will charge you up the gazang because they need a new quad/snow machine/drop bow aluminum skiff to go after that deer/moose/bear!

 

[rogerbum]

The factory used to have a couple of people devoted to warranty work and repair work but they have since left and the factory is currently in a bit of a bind on this. I agree it would be good if the factory had a dedicated sub-group to deal with such issues but with the current size, this is not always practical. I assume that as the business grows, it will be possible to keep an in-house staff dedicate to repairs fully occupied. However, I'll leave it to the factory to figure out the best way to run their business.