[brianmccullough]

I'm in the market for my first new boat. Are boat warranties similar to cars in that they will be honored at any authorized dealer, or will I always be required to take the boat to the dealer I buy it from?

[POINTER94]

It has been my experience that you will be lucky if you get warranty service out of the dealer you buy it from. Don't look at a boat warranty like a car warranty. Most boat mfg.'s live on fairly thin margins and they a very reluctant to grant warranty even when its obvious. (Look through the archives for a post called boat leaning to port. It has about 300 responses. Read that and you will have a clearer picture of boat warranties.I would have to be very comfortable with a dealer and not expect any other dealer to honor it. That doesn't mean they won't but that is the premise I would start with. Colbalt might be a notable exception but when you price them you will understand.By the way don't hand over the cash for a boat until you are 100% satisfied it is completed to your satisfaction. If they commit to a depth finder as part of the deal, no money until it is installed and tested. Not all dealers are crooks but many have short memories. BUYER BEWARE!!!!!Promises have no value, and you don't appear to have the same avenues of recourse you would with a car. BBB and the like.Just do your best to find a reputable dealer and remember you need to play this deal very close to the vest.

[brianmccullough]

Thanks for the advice. I am looking at a Sea Ray 185...any guess as to how frequently i should expect to need "waranty" service?

[rodbolt]

hello dude go slow check out the boat show in VA beach this week. be aware that there are some serious shoddy dealers in your area that crank out a lot of poorly rigged boats and have some techs who get lucky only sometimes. like POINTER94 says its almost a buyer beware. searay used to be fair about hull warrenties. but boats unlike cars are put together with parts from so many manufacurers that it gets hard to tell who has the warrenty on what. the motor is never warrenteed by the hull manufactur. even though in most cases the parent company owns both. so be very aware. go to a few marinas and ask about. chat it up with others at the boat show but take all advice with lots of salt. use as much common sense as possible .but above all take a test ride on the water with a full load and 3 or 4 people and play for an hour or 2. good luck and keep posting and enjoy your new boat. PS get all the horsepower upgrades avalible. nothing like trying to sell a boat that is an old dog.

[mattttt25]

ask the dealer if the manufacturer of the boat you're interested in pays full rates for warranty work. the better companies do. that way, you don't get pushed to the back of the line when you take it in.

[POINTER94]

A well manufactured boat, properly rigged, should never need warranty. I have never owned a SeaRay but they have a good reputation with those who own them. I think they are second is sales behind bayliner, and are owned by Brunswick, who also owns mercury marine.Get to know who will be the point person who will make decisions on warranty very well. Shop manager, owner of the dealership, etc. Get everything in writing and keep it in a folder in an organized fashion. Keep your owners manuals for the radio (VHF), stereo, depth finder, all items. And send in owners cards if required and keep copies of all. I would also try to have my new boat serviced by the person who sold it to me. That way they cannnot claim that someone incorrectly serviced your boat and voided your warranty. Again, keep all reciepts. A great tool if you need to sell in a couple of years.You can also use these shop services of the marina as a bargining tool. Try to get free winterization for a couple of years, free first couple of oil changes, winter storage, etc. Anything that has a fixed or limited cost to an organization is always negotiable.Best thing is to find people who have had dealings with this dealer in the past and probe them for their experiences. Boaters have a tendency to glaze over some of their negative experiences with the "Great boat" or "Never had a problem". Most do. Not always big or difficult to fix but they do happen on almost every transaction. Find out the dealers approach and how quickly they handled the issue. If you have a problem report it immediately. Don't wait.I hope this isn't too overbearing cuz buying a boat should be one of the great experiences in life. It has been for me. Oh yea if you don't have any experience buying a boat, bring a friend who does and listen to his questions, and the answers from other dealers. Even if you are not interested in say a larson brand, listen to the sales pitch and how they approach the sale. This will help you learn about design and standard busness practices in your area.