Boat Manufactures Should Consider....

[Snotter]

One struggling boatbuilding shop I worked at in Maine went out of bussiness over a tank leak.

We built a 42' fishing boat from a pre-manufactured fiberglass hull. The fuel tank was custom made and installed without checking for leaks. Of course the rest of the boat was built around the tank. After launching it was discovered that the tank leaked. The builder couldn't afford to rip it out and fix it so he dissolved the company. The owner of the boat continued to persue litigation against the man and lost track of the outcome.

I was just an apprentice at the time. It made an impression on my and is one of the reasons I got out of boatbuilding and went to college to persue engineering.

 

[Dave D]

let me guess, the boat cost the purchaser $150K and he was suing for $6.8M to cover his legal fees and his "pain and suffering". I'm not sure which I like more, our political/legal racketeering system or our Medical/Insurance extortion system. That being said, the owner of the business should have made every effort to repair his mistake PRIOR to dissolving the company and covering his butt to his customer's detriment. IMHO

 

[CarlN]

Tank and engine removal is a great way to understand the builder's goal. Is he building a 10 year boat or a 20+ year boat? This decision shows up in many other places.

One of my favorite questions at a boat show is "How would I pull the engine". It's a good test of the salesperson. Only about 1 in 4 have an answer. One (evidently realizing I was not a great prospect) simply answered "with a chainsaw"

One long term sailboat builder I know not only makes sure that the engine comes out easily but insists that this must be possible without a crane. A tackle rigged to the boom must work.

Carl

 

[higgs]

let me guess, the boat cost the purchaser $150K and he was suing for $6.8M to cover his legal fees and his "pain and suffering". I'm not sure which I like more, our political/legal racketeering system or our Medical/Insurance extortion system. That being said, the owner of the business should have made every effort to repair his mistake PRIOR to dissolving the company and covering his butt to his customer's detriment. IMHO

I think we need to stick to the known facts.

 

[Stu Jackson]

One of my favorite questions at a boat show is "How would I pull the engine". It's a good test of the salesperson.

That's good, Carl. Try this one, on like all together too many boats:

"How would I check the engine oil level without pulling the whole aft cabin apart?"

The answer to that one directly impacts the need to pull the engine.