2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

[hjohnson12]

I'm wondering if anyone else out there has had the poor experience I have with my harbercraft kingfisher boat. Mine is less than two years old (2007) and I've experienced:

-Chain locker leaked water into the fore berth causing significant mold and mildew problems.
-Door to head is significantly warped where it?s easy to see in and/or out with the door closed.
-Fittings attaching the raw water wash down pump had no Teflon tape and were not tightened. On first use it sprayed the entire rear compartment (batteries, terminals, etc) before it became obvious by the bilge pump kicking on and shooting gallons of water over the side there was a problem.
-Through hull fitting drain for chain locker had brass lock ring with no plastic spacer and no sealant applied during assembly. Paint blistered outside
-Counter top cracked at one edge where the Wallas heater was installed.
-No ?clam shell? vent cover was installed at the exhaust outlet to the Wallas heater as it should have been according the installation instructions from Wallas for fast boats. The heater kept blowing out and this caused premature wear and tear.
-Bulkhead to the pilothouse was warped, causing exhaust fumes to enter into the cabin.
-The macerator pump plumbing to the holding tank was dripping into the bilge on the inside of the pilothouse.
-Hinge lost pin on the transom door.
-Trim tabs never worked because fuse kept blowing .
-The little water pump screwed into the fresh water tank that served the sink was over tightened and stripped out the threads on the tank, causing a leak
-The sink drain was not sealed well and leaked into the drawer below.
-No sealant applied to the optional rail around the stern of the boat, causing the paint to blister around all attaching points
-No sealant applied around stainless screws in the transom, causing paint to blister
-No sealant applied to the bimini top where it?s attached to the hull.

I have paint coming off the boat in sheets. Is this normal?

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

http://www.harbercraft.com/harbercraft_warranty.html

Paint falling off in sheets?

What does Harbercraft say?

 

[hjohnson12]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

Well, they fixed the bulkhead so the rear door seals enough that I don't choke on fumes anymore. They also fixed and repainted where the through hull drain for the chain locker was causing the paint to bubble because it was brass on aluminum.

Since then however they have said they would fix the zolatone "if they had a truck delivering boats to the area so they could take it back to the factory". I offered to haul it myself to the factory and they have not replied in a month or more. I sent another email to Ryan Hall their warranty manager letting him know the boat is not exactly getting good approval ratings from all the neighboring boat owners at the marina, but he has not responded. I think the company is hurting.

Yeah, even though I paid $140k for the boat, I can live with certain things, but poor response from the manufacturer on obvious poor build quality on significant issues is not acceptable or respectable.

I even found brass and stainless steel hardware in the bottom of my bilge, had I not noticed that, those components could have burned holes through my hull eventually. I just don't think there is any quality control at the company, nobody checking to make sure folks are doing their jobs right and making sure components work when before the boat ships.

Trim tabs not working for example? I worked with Bennett tech support myself and replaced a bad switch and a bad selenoid. It seems to me this could have been detected at the factory, like so many other things.

If the manufacturer was responsive, responsible and took care in the assembly of these otherwise great boats, I would have no problem repairing a thing or two, but repainting zolatone because somebody didn't put a few cents worth of sealant really chaps me. What is worse is the harbercraft knows they screwed up and said they'd fix it and then reneged. That is pitiful.

Who do they think buy these boats, people that will just write off 140k? They have these new big kingfishers they want to sell now, what incentive do I have to move up or recommend one of those expensive behemoths to my friends?

I don't know what they are thinking.

 

[QC]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

Welcome aboard

We do not allow product bashing here, so let's keep this as clean as possible please.

I think you have figured out that:

a) the quality is less than you hoped for

b) the market is really bad causing cash crunches everywhere, especially with luxury items (boats)

c) they aren't as responsive as you expected

It appears to me that you have a couple of options. Continue to fix things yourself or be more aggressive regarding warranty repairs. We'll help you get her right, if that's what you want to do. What one of these issues do you want to tackle first?

 

[hjohnson12]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

QC, I didn't think I was bashing as much as I am exasperated by the issues I've had and was trying to feel out whether or not other folks have had similar problems and how they have dealt with it.

You say you would assist or something to that effect, what are you suggesting?

 

[QC]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

If I thought you were seriously bashing, I would've edited or deleted the thread. Trust me, I'd be fit to be tied, but I felt I should mention our policy as you are a new member . . .

As far as help is concerned, I guess the primary focus of this board is assisting owners with problems and issues with their boats, power packages, safety, navigation, electronics, camaraderie etc. etc. etc.

So . . . uh, maybe difficult to appear polite always, but I was kind of saying that if you want to fix these things (which you seem very capable of) then we'll all help out when there are questions. Other than that, the only direction this thread could take is downward . . . There's no real question except "anybody else think they suck?"

 

[hjohnson12]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

Well, my biggest problem at the moment is the zolatone paint coming off. I have tried spraying new zolatone and it was a mess. I can't fix it and I've talked to paint shops about it and they don't even know what zolatone is. How would you recommend I get the manufacturers attention in order to get them to repair it? Do you even think this is something that they should be dealing with since they have a lifetime warranty on the hull, or is is not really considered hull, but cosmetic?

This is my first aluminum boat and did not expect this to happen. I've had minor issues with my fiberglass boats in the past, and I'm very handy, but this mess is over my head. I can't even find someone to fix it if I pay for it, it's really a downer to see your expensive boat "rotting" in it's slip. It's even an embarrassment now.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

I'd get someone on the phone or go there in person, get it sorted out.
Or get a lawyer, that wouldn't be my way.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

Well, my biggest problem at the moment is the zolatone paint coming off. I have tried spraying new zolatone and it was a mess. I can't fix it and I've talked to paint shops about it and they don't even know what zolatone is. How would you recommend I get the .QUOTE]

http://www.zolatoneaim.com/

 

[hjohnson12]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

I don't like to involve lawyers unless it's ABSOLUTELY necessary. I've been trough divorce and legal issues involving the company I work for. We have always come out ahead because we don't do anything wrong, but that aside, dealing with attorneys is expensive and unpleasant. Yuck. I have tried spraying zolatone with no luck. Another guy in another forum has had issues with his boat and offered me the name and number of the CEO of Harbercraft. I'm going to call him and see if he'll even talk to me.

 

[hjohnson12]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

I do have some interesting and surprising news. The folks at Harbercraft came alive today after several months of silence and are offering to fix my boat in mid-December. Unfortunately it's late in the year now and towing my boat to Kelowna, BC in december weather doesn't sound like a smart thing to do. At least Harbercraft is showing signs of life.

 

[toastmab]

Re: 2007 harbercraft kingfisher 2825 with serious problems

Good luck with everything !