Brand new boat listing to port!!

[RatFish]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Good luck Suds ole boy. Chap is really foolish on this one. I am in the market for a new boat and at this point in time, I have crossed them off my short list. Their loss...<br /><br />Suds, drop me a line when you get a chance, mblake0729@yahoo.com

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

If Chaparral thinks that this issue is going to die by itself over time, they are terribly WRONG.<br /><br />Just spent some weeks in a Spanish resort with marina etc. Got inspired by it and started to wonder if one should upgrade to a little bigger boat.<br /><br />Plenty of nice examples in the marina, even a number of Chapparals (without list, btw) but this story kept popping up in my mind. OK - an owner selling his used boat can't be responsible for the manuf.'s bad behaviour - still, it sits there in your memory, flashing that red alert light<br /> Chap = Problem: Don't do it!

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Hello<br /> I read all the posts. WOW. It is so reminiscent of a dealer I worked for in Norfolk VA. The owner was a striaght up guy and paid several claims from his pocket.Th eproblem was the boats that came from a really well known brand in florida by the mid 1990's were so nasty that we would not accept delivery on 2 semi trailer loads of them. the dealer sometimes is stuck in the middle. that is why the place i work now quit selling boats. you would not belive some of the hull warrenty nightmares we delt with. and some of the other local dealers found out we had an excellent glass man and stated sending their customers to our dealer ship for warrenty repairs and the manufacure would not pay us. tyhe way boats are made and assembled out of such a hodge podge of parts with all kinds of different parts it a wonder anything gets fixed under warrenty.I made a lot of money in the past 2 years rerigging new boats annd reinstalling pumps and water lines.I wish I was talking about little boats but most of the problems are on boats with twin engines above 25 ft. one boat burned out 4 macerator pumps in 2 months. I wrote up the problem everytime and the manufacurur paid for 3 of them.<br /> the 4th and last the customer ate and I reinstalled the pump up high in the bilge and no more problem. the manufacuring engineer told me that those pumps were water proof and would work in the bilge. cost about 220 dollars for the pump and takes about 4 hours to remove the fishbox replace it and reseal the box, this was a mad customer. but nothing I could do. so my advice to all is to have that new boat delivered with a water test and a professional marine surveyor. I could go on all night about nightmares with big boats that get pushed out the door with systems that did not work and the customer had no clue.

 

[Ralph 123]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Wow! How do they get away with it?! Car makers sure can't, why can boat makers?

 

[lbi14lbb]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Often times where manufacturers are confronted with this type of defect, or acknowledge that there is a common, recurring defect seen in their product their solution will be to rectify the problem with the users that complain, but not make public the fact that there is a problem or it has been solved for others. They do exact a price in the cases they resolve; usually the silence of the customer. Generally these non-disclosure agreements are specifically conditioned upon supplying the customer with his remedy. Suds may have no choice but to sign such an agreement to ensure that his matter is resolved. However, we would all be interested to know when he's back out on the water enjoying his "new" boat. Best of luck in a successful resolution-

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Can anybody supply a status report on this?

 

[Topmason]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

No doubt, I just read this whole thread for the 1st time and would really like to know the outcome.<br />I feel for ya suds!

 

[POINTER94]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Hypathetical<br /><br />If someone was "injured" due to a manufacturers defect, and say one of those nice friendly insurance company lawyers got involved. Perhaps this could end "SUDS, CEO Chaperal boats"<br /><br />Good Luck in your unfortunate and difficult situation. If I have anything to say about it, I will dissuade anyone from purchasing a chaperal. And we have a dealer right here in town.<br /><br />Keep us posted if you can.

 

[Floyd]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Its been a while. If there was some resolution, there might have been a non-disclosure agreement, but at least they could let us know if "life is good"........or not.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Ok, I heard, AND THIS IS A RUMMER, that Suds sold this boat. <br /><br />Suds did give us a weather update once, when it was suspected that he was no longer posting. I would really like to know if it was resolved or not myself. Never put much stock in rummers. Put an end to our missery ole fellow boater! Give us the scoop, tell us a riddle, E mail somebody!

 

[T S N]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

I think you said the boat had a water line mark on it from sitting in the water, and now the line is higher on one side than the other.This indicates that the boat was not listing at one time. something changed. Could be soaked foam flotation. Any holding tanks? keep looking. good luck.

 

[djweber]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Well I got home last night from visiting a Chaparral dealer, among others, and logged on to do some computer hunting and pecking. Have been all over the internet reading reviews, watching videos, have even been to iBoats but somehow missed this forum. Did a Chaparral search b/c after many long discussions of the virtues of bowrider, deck and cuddy and visiting half a dozen dealers of various brands the wife and I finally settled on the 215 cuddy as the boat for us on the ride home last night!!!<br /><br />Needless to say I'm blown away by this thread. I got the whole song and dance at the dealer about how the orig guy is still involved at Chap and 'they build a boaters boat', etc, etc. The listing/mounting issue is huge, but what says volumes is that the stainless is rusting in half a season?!?!...and not returning calls, even to say we are still working on how we are going to handle this (since it may be a very large problem in many hulls) is completely disappointing.<br /><br />Suds....please post again. If this has not been resolved and their are systemic problems with this model, I may be stepping out here, but I think you owe it the boating community after posting here to let us know.

 

[taz33911]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

I am not on chapperal side but, a boat can list to one side from too much weight on one side.They should have tested all of that before it was manufactered for the public.Seeing it was cuddy model it could be a weight problem more stuff on one side water tank,batteries ,sinks,cabinets,whatever.A boat is balancing game not so much a bad boat bad planning . I build boats for a living glad it is not at chapperal. Sounds like somebody dropped the ball on that model.Even some of our dealers don't know what to do or want to even when we pay the bill on the repairs.Alot of times the dealer never even calls till the customers get a lawyer . most of ours love to call with little crap like you will love this somebody put the cover on the carb. backwards all they had to do was loosen the nut and turn it around. sorry for getting long winded but I think the dealer started in the right direction.Chapperral should have correctd the problem a lot sooner.E ven cars have to be balanced right or the tires will wear out somebody that weighs 400 500 pounds will wear out the tires a lot quicker the car is leaning to one side all the time.

 

[GodsBeast]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Taz, This is a long thread, you might want to go through it again. Suds, finally found out that the Motor was mounted 2" off Center, and with that being off center, chances are the Outdrive was off center also, or severly out of line, if not. So, if this is the case, Chap() really dropped the ball on this one. They built the boat, and put the motor in it, and they should have to make good on this SAFU! Why should a person buy a boat with the drive out of line, then begin loading the boat to offset Chap() mistake? <br /><br />In any event, I too, wish Suds would repost some type of follow up reply. <br />

 

[taz33911]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

I guess I missed that earlier but, he never said the center line was off on the outside of the hull or not.Stringer could have been off center in the back .But in either case should have been caught in the plant.I am not trying to defend chapparel if the center line is off somebody can,t read a tapemeasure and the inspecters are blind.Sorry for missing that part earlier but I think 2 inches offcenter is kind of noticable wouldn't you think.Like I said ealier I'm just glad I don't work there.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

What would happen if say, someone sent this thread to Crapparel?????????? would I,ERRRRRRRR, I mean, would somebody get in trouble???<br />

 

[bob58]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

you haven't done it yet?????

 

[KCook]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

This reply is to athiker -<br /><br />

discussions of the virtues of bowrider, deck and cuddy and visiting half a dozen dealers of various brands the wife and I finally settled on the 215 cuddy

This gives me the impression you are new to boating? If not forgive me for going over some old ground.<br /><br />

I'm blown away by this thread

Yup, this thread has been a whopper. Unfortunately, it is not unique. Over the years I have seen several such whoppers for several other brands (not just Chap). I'm not saying this episode should be ignored! It clearly knocks Chap off the pedestal as a top flight company (if that happened to be your belief). But, sad to say, many other builders are just as difficult when it comes to a lemon boat. So I would not jump to the conclusion that Chap is now your worst choice out there. I think the posts here by 77sunset, rodbolt, and Tony R have given us a good look at how the industry really works.<br /><br />

song and dance at the dealer about how the orig guy is still involved at Chap and 'they build a boaters boat'

Yeah, the salesman told you what you wanted to hear. That is what they are paid to do. With so many nice boats out there, I would not do business with a dealer I am not comfortable with. No matter what his brand of boat. Here is a thread that goes into the dealer game -<br /><br /> CHAPARRAL- PURCHASING FROM LOCAL DEALER <br /><br />If you should end up revisiting the other brands, here is a good thread on boat brands -<br /><br /> Please help with my boat decision <br /><br />Can't say there is any reason to expect to hear the end of sud's episode soon. I would not wait on that.<br /><br />Kelly Cook

 

[Spidybot]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

Thnx, Kelly, good point of view.<br /><br />I think you are right in more ways. However, Chaparral stand out badly and it is up to any potential buyer to ensure he gets the best for his hard earned money. One way to do this 'homework' is to listen to folks on this forum.

 

[djweber]

Re: Brand new boat listing to port!!

KCook,<br /><br />Thanks for the reply and tips. I had a sailboat out of Chicago on Lake Michigan for 10 years, but haven't spent a lot of time powerboating since I was a kid (bowrider). A move to the 'burbs, 2 very young kids (4 and 2.5 next summer) and a large lab retriever later and I'm looking for an inland lake boat (occais. Lake Mich. on a VERY calm day). We thought we could stay out longer (looks like we will be trailering) with a head and a cuddy for for over-tired kids to crash.<br /><br />The Chap 215 seemed to be one of the few cuddys of that size to squeeze in ample guest seating and at least has the appearance of good quality. What really has me concerned is if it is a widespread prob with that model and the apparent lack of responsivenies. <br /><br />Regal does has a similar one we didn't like quite as much, the 2250...any thoughts on those? Four Winns has a nice Sundowner 205 (from pics only) but they seem even pricier than Chap...others have very limited seating.<br /><br />You made very good points and I greatly appreciate the links...as mentioned we have gone around and around on what style of boat...in addition to brand. I also won't write off Chap due to one thread...but if we do still go with the Chap it will be after getting some very good answers to some very good questions thanks to this forum.<br /><br />Thanks again for the comments and links.