Funny- don't read unless you're bored

[PDA1]

The Chesapeake Bay demanded a sacrifice for allowing us to cruise its waters.

In our case it was the non-floating seat behind the helm which I incautiously let fall into the bay.

I intended to put foam under it to allow it to float. Now....I don't have to!

The worse part is I called up Catalina (in Florida) on their non-toll free number (honestly, what kind of company doesn't have a toll free number?). They couldn't give an exact price but said it probably would be around $350 but that they would also have to "find the moulds" for making it.

The seat isn't missed one bit.

 

[caguy]

Its attitudes like that it will cause you to live a long happy life.

 

[Anonymous 121765]

PDA1,

I have always thought they should rename themselves "Catalina Pirating", instead of Catalina Direct.

Spend some time online searching for a replacement. Normally, online parts save you money.

However, the problem with the whole industry is three part.

1. It's a small nitch market, hence the ridiculous pricing structure.

2. If it's "Marine Grade", it WILL last half of it's expected lifetime and @ twice the price.

3. The whole industry operates on the theory that ALL boat owners have deep pockets & short memories.

Sort of like the US government operates..........

CR

 

[cat30]

Except he said- Catalina - not Catalina Direct.

He dropped it into the Bay- not Catalina?

other than that the boat industry is bad.

PDA1,

I have always thought they should rename themselves "Catalina Pirating", instead of Catalina Direct.

Spend some time online searching for a replacement. Normally, online parts save you money.

However, the problem with the whole industry is three part.

1. It's a small nitch market, hence the ridiculous pricing structure.

2. If it's "Marine Grade", it WILL last half of it's expected lifetime and @ twice the price.

3. The whole industry operates on the theory that ALL boat owners have deep pockets & short memories.

Sort of like the US government operates..........

CR

 

[hathawayr@theleeco.com]

The molding section of Catalina Direct is just finishing construction of items for the new 2014 boats, so there may be some 'tude, there. I'm grateful that Catalina Direct exists, as other, more expensive boat manufacturers do not offer such post-sale support. And most items are domestic, so your money is actually helping fellow Americans. Can't say that about a $300 item at Wally-World.

 

[jimmcgee]

The Chesapeake Bay demanded a sacrifice for allowing us to cruise its waters.

In our case it was the non-floating seat behind the helm which I incautiously let fall into the bay.

I intended to put foam under it to allow it to float. Now....I don't have to!

The worse part is I called up Catalina (in Florida) on their non-toll free number (honestly, what kind of company doesn't have a toll free number?). They couldn't give an exact price but said it probably would be around $350 but that they would also have to "find the moulds" for making it.

The seat isn't missed one bit.

The guys from Catalina will get you squared away, but making small fiberglass parts is usually squeezed in between the bigger jobs necessary to get the new boats out.

I don't doubt that someone has to rummage around to find the molds, after all the MKIII has been out of production for about 10 years.

When they did a fridge lid for me (cracked when I bought the boat), it took a little while and came in about half of what they originally quoted.

I don't know any other production boat builder that will custom make parts for boats that are no longer in production.