Who says that Hunter isn't listening. I had posted a question to Peggy about keeping the bilge clean in my new boat. Turns out that Eddie at Hunter (the guru of customer service) was poking around and gave me a call. (I assume that he had my number from a previous call about a year and a half ago, good record keeping!) Eddie informed me that Hunter has been using two different interior gel coats for the bilge and other internal compartments. One contains some form of wax to ease the cleaning and the other is an Antibacterial gel coat to keep down mold and mildew. Eddie mentioned that this has been going on for some time, but the notices that should have been placed in the boats didn't make it. So now you know. Kinda nice to not even have a boat delivered yet and (gasp!) get a call from the manufacturer to answer a question, that is what I call customer service! People ask why I bought a 2nd Hunter, it is this type of service that made it real easy for me to buy the second one. I hope that I don't have to contact Hunter about any problems with my new boat, but if I do, I know (notice I didn't say hope) that they will address my concerns in the same timely, efficient and friendly manner that I have experienced in the past. Regards. Bruce. Neon Moon
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Eddie's the best!
He and I have had occasion to talk a few times...and NOBODY tries harder to keep people happy (when it can be done within reason) than Eddie does. That he makes the time to monitor this group says a lot by itself. That he'd make the time to call a customer just to pass on information says even more. Hunter's aren't Hinckleys...they don't pretend to be. Hunters ARE an excellent value for the money, and I doubt that even Hinckley offers better customer service than y'all get, especially when you consider all that Jim Bohart contributed when he was active on this site and the kind of care people like Eddie give owners.
He and I have had occasion to talk a few times...and NOBODY tries harder to keep people happy (when it can be done within reason) than Eddie does. That he makes the time to monitor this group says a lot by itself. That he'd make the time to call a customer just to pass on information says even more. Hunter's aren't Hinckleys...they don't pretend to be. Hunters ARE an excellent value for the money, and I doubt that even Hinckley offers better customer service than y'all get, especially when you consider all that Jim Bohart contributed when he was active on this site and the kind of care people like Eddie give owners.
Don't forget Greg Emerson!!!
Eddie has been great helping me out this past year with my new boat but Greg Emerson has been the really trooper for me and my new boat. I could go on and on about all the great things he has done for me this past year and all of the problems he has solved for me. Hell, he even got me tickets to the Strickly Sail Chicago show when I only gave him just a few hour notice that I wanted to go to the show. I too am on my second Hunter and hope that with in 10 years I will be buying my 3rd!!! "Bigger is better"!!! To "ALL" of you at Hunter, Thank you and keep up the good work. Steve, s/v Odyssey...
Eddie has been great helping me out this past year with my new boat but Greg Emerson has been the really trooper for me and my new boat. I could go on and on about all the great things he has done for me this past year and all of the problems he has solved for me. Hell, he even got me tickets to the Strickly Sail Chicago show when I only gave him just a few hour notice that I wanted to go to the show. I too am on my second Hunter and hope that with in 10 years I will be buying my 3rd!!! "Bigger is better"!!! To "ALL" of you at Hunter, Thank you and keep up the good work. Steve, s/v Odyssey...
Just Wait!
Not to be a nay-sayer guys but, wait till your boat is 7, 12, or 15 years old. Need a rudder tube packing nut? "Sorry, we have none and threw out the drawings some time back." Need a Stanchion? "Sorry, we have none and threw out the drawings a while back, but we'll be happy to sell you a new boat." Get the picture? I've called Hunter a few times and gotten the same story. No particular interest in assisting with the older stuff. They don't seem to understand that the used market in part fuels the new market. In my distant past I worked for a company that built machinery. We maintained drawings for and supplied parts for equipment built as far back as 1947. And the company made a PILE of money doing it! Is there a lesson here?
Not to be a nay-sayer guys but, wait till your boat is 7, 12, or 15 years old. Need a rudder tube packing nut? "Sorry, we have none and threw out the drawings some time back." Need a Stanchion? "Sorry, we have none and threw out the drawings a while back, but we'll be happy to sell you a new boat." Get the picture? I've called Hunter a few times and gotten the same story. No particular interest in assisting with the older stuff. They don't seem to understand that the used market in part fuels the new market. In my distant past I worked for a company that built machinery. We maintained drawings for and supplied parts for equipment built as far back as 1947. And the company made a PILE of money doing it! Is there a lesson here?
Bruce is Right
I would like to put in my two cents (that's all I have left after buying and outfitting my new Hunter with all the toys). The Hunter warranty and customer service system has been fantastic. The previous poster is right....we didn't buy a Hans Christian, we bought a boat we could afford. I have talked with owners who bought the high-end priced boats and as far as customer service goes, Hunter meets or exceeds their services. I wouldn't hesitate at all in buying another new Hunter. Although, I can't imagine them building a boat I would want more than my Passage 450! Thanks to you guys and gals at the Hunter factory! (And go Gators.) P.S. Try to get a part for an Endeavour or Erwin or Coronado!
I would like to put in my two cents (that's all I have left after buying and outfitting my new Hunter with all the toys). The Hunter warranty and customer service system has been fantastic. The previous poster is right....we didn't buy a Hans Christian, we bought a boat we could afford. I have talked with owners who bought the high-end priced boats and as far as customer service goes, Hunter meets or exceeds their services. I wouldn't hesitate at all in buying another new Hunter. Although, I can't imagine them building a boat I would want more than my Passage 450! Thanks to you guys and gals at the Hunter factory! (And go Gators.) P.S. Try to get a part for an Endeavour or Erwin or Coronado!
If there is money in it
If there is money in it why are ther not a company who maintains all that stuff for ones who do not or are gone? Try to get parts for a Chrysler or an ODay as a previous poster was eluding. My boat is 5 years old bought it second hand and all the folks have been wonderful at the factory. The only complaint is that they do not answer the phone all the time guess they are busy giving that great service to someone else. If I was in that much of a rush that I could not wait a little bit to talk to one of them it would seem that I have a much bigger problem than the little gadget on the boat.
If there is money in it why are ther not a company who maintains all that stuff for ones who do not or are gone? Try to get parts for a Chrysler or an ODay as a previous poster was eluding. My boat is 5 years old bought it second hand and all the folks have been wonderful at the factory. The only complaint is that they do not answer the phone all the time guess they are busy giving that great service to someone else. If I was in that much of a rush that I could not wait a little bit to talk to one of them it would seem that I have a much bigger problem than the little gadget on the boat.
Experience with my 91 H28
Funny you should mention customer service in regards to an older boat. When I bought my 1991 H28, there was a leak in the hatch board area (go to the photo forum to see the fix), I called the factory to see if they had templates or at least the formica to cover a new custom made cover. It took them a day to find that they didn't have a template for the cover, but they did have the formica. They asked if I would be willing to ship them the cover and they would make a new one using the pieces from the old one. I did, they did (by the way, they turned it around in 2 days) and if fit perfectly. I have called Hunter a couple of other times and have had no cause for complaint. So the point of my original message was the fact that PRIOR to delivery of my new boat, Hunter contacted me to answer a question posted on this forum. I found that to be impressive customer service. Regards. Bruce.
Funny you should mention customer service in regards to an older boat. When I bought my 1991 H28, there was a leak in the hatch board area (go to the photo forum to see the fix), I called the factory to see if they had templates or at least the formica to cover a new custom made cover. It took them a day to find that they didn't have a template for the cover, but they did have the formica. They asked if I would be willing to ship them the cover and they would make a new one using the pieces from the old one. I did, they did (by the way, they turned it around in 2 days) and if fit perfectly. I have called Hunter a couple of other times and have had no cause for complaint. So the point of my original message was the fact that PRIOR to delivery of my new boat, Hunter contacted me to answer a question posted on this forum. I found that to be impressive customer service. Regards. Bruce.
In my posession is a photo
...which I've got to return to the rightful owner, showing the "factory", including Warren Luhrs, posing in front of the very first Hunter ever built. I'll bet there are abut 12 people. We tend to think of Hunter as what they are today, but for much of their history they were very much a mom and pop boat builder. I don't believe there was any great master plan, or even business decision, to trash drawings... my hunch is they just can't find all the old napkins. From what I understand, the availability of parts gets gradually better as the boats get newer. But I'll bet there's pretty much nothing left for boats that are older than mid- to late 80's.
...which I've got to return to the rightful owner, showing the "factory", including Warren Luhrs, posing in front of the very first Hunter ever built. I'll bet there are abut 12 people. We tend to think of Hunter as what they are today, but for much of their history they were very much a mom and pop boat builder. I don't believe there was any great master plan, or even business decision, to trash drawings... my hunch is they just can't find all the old napkins. From what I understand, the availability of parts gets gradually better as the boats get newer. But I'll bet there's pretty much nothing left for boats that are older than mid- to late 80's.
I talked to Eddie Breden yesterday..
and asked him several questions. He did not know the answers, but about 1hour or less he called me back with some of my answers and this morning called me with the rest of the answers to my questions. I have NO complaints! Mark Johnson
and asked him several questions. He did not know the answers, but about 1hour or less he called me back with some of my answers and this morning called me with the rest of the answers to my questions. I have NO complaints! Mark Johnson
Remember Jim Bohart
When I was buying my new H310 and was at the point of a commitment, my dealer was really jerking me around and I really wanted to walk away. Jim Bohart flew up to Wisconsin see me, ( see owners photo album) and to set my dealer stright! Well, The dealer lost his dealership at that point and Bohart assured my that he and the Hunter crew would see me through my commishioning. Not to drag a dead horse around any longer, my point is, I know of seven other people in my marina that got new boats this past year (none of which where Hunters), All of the had/have problems. They never had a factory rep fly a 1000 miles to see them and rectfy their promblems!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey...
When I was buying my new H310 and was at the point of a commitment, my dealer was really jerking me around and I really wanted to walk away. Jim Bohart flew up to Wisconsin see me, ( see owners photo album) and to set my dealer stright! Well, The dealer lost his dealership at that point and Bohart assured my that he and the Hunter crew would see me through my commishioning. Not to drag a dead horse around any longer, my point is, I know of seven other people in my marina that got new boats this past year (none of which where Hunters), All of the had/have problems. They never had a factory rep fly a 1000 miles to see them and rectfy their promblems!!! Steve, s/v The Odyssey...
We just visited Hunter this week...
in Alachua. Carol and I wanted to visit the plant and had a wonderful time. A great gal named Pat gave us the tour and even remembered the custom interior material request Carol made for the new H410. Met a lot of enthusiastic people and Greg Emerson had a new H410 opened up so we could see some of the latest improvements. A quick note for any of the H460 owners - saw two of them with bow thrusters installed and wondered if anybody has one with that option? We'll try to post some photo's if any of them turn out. Thanks to Greg, Pat, Timmy, and the rest of the wonderful folks at Hunter. Jeff, Carol, and BC s/v Twilight
in Alachua. Carol and I wanted to visit the plant and had a wonderful time. A great gal named Pat gave us the tour and even remembered the custom interior material request Carol made for the new H410. Met a lot of enthusiastic people and Greg Emerson had a new H410 opened up so we could see some of the latest improvements. A quick note for any of the H460 owners - saw two of them with bow thrusters installed and wondered if anybody has one with that option? We'll try to post some photo's if any of them turn out. Thanks to Greg, Pat, Timmy, and the rest of the wonderful folks at Hunter. Jeff, Carol, and BC s/v Twilight
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