Re: Stringer Pushing through bottom of Boat?
I don't disagree with the thought that Tahoe's warranty probably has something in it about their right to repair or replace as they see fit. I also don't disagree that this sort of thing is common in warranties concerning other products such as automobiles. When talking about cars, it is even common for the insurance companies providing damage coverage, to claim the right to repair or replace at their disgression.
The problem with reliance on such clauses in a case such as this, is that they are worth exactly nothing when a defective product, which should have been replaced but was repaired instead, subsequently fails and serious bodily injury and/or death results. We are not talking about slapping an aftermarket fender on a damaged car, rather than a factory part. Instead, what is at stake with this boat, is base level reliability of something that could fail with catastrophic results if not remedied properly. The simple fact of the matter, is that the risk management folks at Tahoe will have to consider the consequences of facing a jury in a civil lawsuit, if something dire happens. My opinion, also based on a lot of real world experience, is that they shouldn't want to even contemplate a jury getting a crack at such a case.
I keep pointing this out because this is not a hull with some bad gelcoat, or other minor flaw. Go back and look at the photos that bainyg provided a link to - the boat had come apart in multiple locations, including stringers penetrating the hull in at least one location. His own insurance company surveyed the boat and offered the opinion that the problem was due to a manufacturing defect. I just don't know how in the world this hull could be properly repaired, with any degree of certainty that it won't just come apart again in a location where problems are not presently apparent. Maybe I'm wrong, and I would love to hear the opinion of someone with extensive knowledge of fibergalss hull construction, but I don't think so.
The sad part of it all is that, in many companies, these sorts of problems are often decided by the bean counters, instead of the risk management and quality control people.
I'm still hoping that sensibility has prevailed and that bainyg will have a boat returned to him with a new hull.
