Hi Everyone:
My wife and I are planning on driving to Baltimore from Ohio this weekend to order a CD 22 cruiser from Cutter Marine at the Baltimore Boat Show, but I have some serious reservations on Hondas based on personal experience. This happened in 1988 and 89 and I hope things have changed since then. Please tell me if things have changed.
In 1988-89, I singlehanded a 23 foot sailboat from Lake Erie to the Keys and Bahamas and back, using the old blue and white Honda 7.5 for propulsion. The trip south went fine, but after leaving the Keys to head north the Honda started stalling out and not restarting, necessitating docking and anchoring under sail. This happened 9 times in 8 weeks, with repairs attempted by Honda dealers each time. I got fed up when my mast was against the Bridge of Lions drawbridge in St. Augustine. It closed after I lost headway, but the tide took me into the bridge before I could drop the hook. A powerboat pulled me off; fortunately there was no damage.
I achored under sail, put the heavy thing in the inflatable, rented a car and took it to Diamondback Honda in Cocoa Beach. They worked on it for a week. Their best mechanic could see the problem, but not isolate or fix it.
Finally, I got Boat US legal involved and they said I should get a new O/B under the Lemon Law. Honda national agreed , but was not happy at all. (Side Note: I religiously followed maintence schedules and all dealers saw my application and found no problem. Also, all dealers were great: courteous and professional.)
When the owner of Diamondback Honda called national in Atlanta to advise that there was indeed a problem, but they couldn't fix it, the honcho at Honda told him to sell my engine and NOT send it to Atlanta for evaluation. The dealer protested, noting that people using ob's in FL were using them in the ocean and their lives often relied on them.
The response, "Sell it!" I know because I was in the office when the call was made on a speaker phone. The owner was dismayed by the order.
I got another 7.5 and headed north. In Beaufort, SC, the engine wouldn't start. Another rental and a drive to Hilton Head and I found that the "kill switch" that won't allow starting in gear went into permanent "kill" mode, not allowing it to start in any gear.
Next came Ches Bay, C&D Canal and Delaware Bay. In Cape May, NJ it wouldn't start again. Another rental and a trip to Atlantic City. Stuck valve, covered under warranty. By the way, after getting the replacement engine in FL, Honda national would put me on hold whenever I called. They later admitted they did that because my calls were "putting pressure on them".
I ran the Hudson and the Erie Canal at near flood stage in the spring of '89 and made it back to Lake Erie. When attempting to leave Ashtabula, OH, in the central basin, before heading for the western basin, the engine wouldn't start, yet again. This time I was able to call a friend, being near home, and we took the engine to Sill's Honda in Cleveland.
They had it for a week and gave it a full valve job. They are also good people, but they were told by national that before releasing the engine to me, that I was to sign a waiver, noting that I would no longer hold Honda responsible for the balance of the warranty!
After calling my attorney, he told me to sign it, because legally, I couldn't waive my right to warranty and it was also done under duress. I signed and was on my way back to Spirit, having run up about $150 in dock fees.
A couple things to note. I know boats and engines, having had a 100 ton license. I've worked as a freelance marine writer for years, having been Midwest editor for Boating World magazine. In fact, I wrote the piece on the CD 22, called Cruiser with Character, that is on the C Dory website.
Here's my main question: although I know that quality has improved over the years and Honda has a superb reputation for reliability, has Honda national been responive to the needs of its customers? I swore that I would never again own a Honda product, but logic teels me that they are now better, but I'm still reluctant to deal the company due to their blatant disregard for both me and the poor guy who bought my old motor in Florida.
Sorry that this is so long and thanks ahead of time for your responses.
Best regards,
Nick
My wife and I are planning on driving to Baltimore from Ohio this weekend to order a CD 22 cruiser from Cutter Marine at the Baltimore Boat Show, but I have some serious reservations on Hondas based on personal experience. This happened in 1988 and 89 and I hope things have changed since then. Please tell me if things have changed.
In 1988-89, I singlehanded a 23 foot sailboat from Lake Erie to the Keys and Bahamas and back, using the old blue and white Honda 7.5 for propulsion. The trip south went fine, but after leaving the Keys to head north the Honda started stalling out and not restarting, necessitating docking and anchoring under sail. This happened 9 times in 8 weeks, with repairs attempted by Honda dealers each time. I got fed up when my mast was against the Bridge of Lions drawbridge in St. Augustine. It closed after I lost headway, but the tide took me into the bridge before I could drop the hook. A powerboat pulled me off; fortunately there was no damage.
I achored under sail, put the heavy thing in the inflatable, rented a car and took it to Diamondback Honda in Cocoa Beach. They worked on it for a week. Their best mechanic could see the problem, but not isolate or fix it.
Finally, I got Boat US legal involved and they said I should get a new O/B under the Lemon Law. Honda national agreed , but was not happy at all. (Side Note: I religiously followed maintence schedules and all dealers saw my application and found no problem. Also, all dealers were great: courteous and professional.)
When the owner of Diamondback Honda called national in Atlanta to advise that there was indeed a problem, but they couldn't fix it, the honcho at Honda told him to sell my engine and NOT send it to Atlanta for evaluation. The dealer protested, noting that people using ob's in FL were using them in the ocean and their lives often relied on them.
The response, "Sell it!" I know because I was in the office when the call was made on a speaker phone. The owner was dismayed by the order.
I got another 7.5 and headed north. In Beaufort, SC, the engine wouldn't start. Another rental and a drive to Hilton Head and I found that the "kill switch" that won't allow starting in gear went into permanent "kill" mode, not allowing it to start in any gear.
Next came Ches Bay, C&D Canal and Delaware Bay. In Cape May, NJ it wouldn't start again. Another rental and a trip to Atlantic City. Stuck valve, covered under warranty. By the way, after getting the replacement engine in FL, Honda national would put me on hold whenever I called. They later admitted they did that because my calls were "putting pressure on them".
I ran the Hudson and the Erie Canal at near flood stage in the spring of '89 and made it back to Lake Erie. When attempting to leave Ashtabula, OH, in the central basin, before heading for the western basin, the engine wouldn't start, yet again. This time I was able to call a friend, being near home, and we took the engine to Sill's Honda in Cleveland.
They had it for a week and gave it a full valve job. They are also good people, but they were told by national that before releasing the engine to me, that I was to sign a waiver, noting that I would no longer hold Honda responsible for the balance of the warranty!
After calling my attorney, he told me to sign it, because legally, I couldn't waive my right to warranty and it was also done under duress. I signed and was on my way back to Spirit, having run up about $150 in dock fees.
A couple things to note. I know boats and engines, having had a 100 ton license. I've worked as a freelance marine writer for years, having been Midwest editor for Boating World magazine. In fact, I wrote the piece on the CD 22, called Cruiser with Character, that is on the C Dory website.
Here's my main question: although I know that quality has improved over the years and Honda has a superb reputation for reliability, has Honda national been responive to the needs of its customers? I swore that I would never again own a Honda product, but logic teels me that they are now better, but I'm still reluctant to deal the company due to their blatant disregard for both me and the poor guy who bought my old motor in Florida.
Sorry that this is so long and thanks ahead of time for your responses.
Best regards,
Nick
I'll have you know that CM and I solved some of the worlds biggest problems that night. Things like starvation in 3rd world countries, cures for cancer and ridding the world of terrorism.... The problem was that the next morning neither of us could remember much about it.