Tartan & BOAT US

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John

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Jun 3, 2006
803
Catalina 36mkII Alameda CA
Does anybody else here get the magazine from Boat US, and if so have you seen their article on the (alleged) defect in recent Tartans? I just read it yesterday and you could either consider it to be the most shoddy piece of reporting around or a puff piece for Tartan. Basically, the two-page article reports extensively on how Tartan explains the issues. Their explanations sound perfectly reasonable, and maybe they are, but I've been on this earth long enough to know that where there is controversy it pays to hear both sides of the story. Maybe the author of the article tried to contact the owners/plaintiffs and they refused to talk. In that case, the normal procedure is for the journalist to report this much. But there is no indication in the article that they made the effort, leading me to believe they never even tried. In any case, there is some information available on public web sites where owners have given their side so their views were easily available to the "journalist", Carolyn Ajootian, who wrote this story.

As I said, Tartan's explanations may be perfectly valid, but the reader of this article has no way of judging. What makes it so ironic is that this column goes under the title "the advocate- consumer protection"... !!

(By the way, I sent a note to Boat US complaining about this one-sided article.)
 
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
In summary:

A Tartan 37 developed a 30" crack forward of the keel. The boat took on water and the crew rescued. The boat was salvaged (it didn't sink). The dealer claims the owners were at fault. Tartan investigated an found the hull forward of the keel was not glassed properly. Tartan fixed the problem to the owners satisfaction. Tartan also contacted the owners of boats built before and after the damaged boat and found no issues.
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,060
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Just pitched the magazine in the trash. The article was not a good one.. In one place, the water was reported to have been "several feet deep in the cabin".. Questionable.. Lots of stuff from the Tartan guy but nothing from the customers other than the owner is now satisfied with the boat .. My opinion is that Boat US does some great stuff but that magazine is not one of 'em..
 
Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
Just pitched the magazine in the trash. The article was not a good one.. In one place, the water was reported to have been "several feet deep in the cabin".. Questionable.. Lots of stuff from the Tartan guy but nothing from the customers other than the owner is now satisfied with the boat .. My opinion is that Boat US does some great stuff but that magazine is not one of 'em..
That's because the CEO of Tartan/C&C/Novus Marine William Ross is a Lawyer. He has essentially shut down owners rights to speak out and sued a few others with gag orders. The boat in questions was fixed but only after much legal battle and finger pointing. Novus Marine claimed it was the owners fault for over tightening the rig....??? Ya right!! Mr. Ross also shut down a thread over on Sailnet, threatening suit, as well. Needless to say Novus has more suits and cases against it than one could even fathom they won't last long..
 
Nov 6, 2006
10,060
Hunter 34 Mandeville Louisiana
Yup.. The old early 80's T-37 that I have sailed lots of miles on is a great old boat.. very well built.. It is a shame that the new build techniques weren't fully shaken out before the public got to be test dummies! It would be nice to know the real story behind this one !
 

Jim

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May 21, 2007
775
Catalina 36 MK II NJ
Humm, all good points well taken. I would still prefer a Tartan to a lower level production boat, like mine!
 
Nov 28, 2004
209
Hunter 310 San Pedro
How much sag in your leeward shrouds do you find acceptable. From the article in BoatU.S. "It's not unusual or a matter of concern for the leeward shrouds to have some slack when a boat heels under sail." Is that how yor or your rigger tunes your rigging?
 
Jun 2, 2004
49
Hunter - Lighthouse Point, Fl
Humm, all good points well taken. I would still prefer a Tartan to a lower level production boat, like mine!
Hey Jim, whats up with the Catalina bashing from a Catalina owner. Last July my wife and I were going from Memory Rock to West End with 35 to 45 knots wind and 12 to 16 foot seas on the nose, and I tell you what I wouldn't have liked to be in a new Tartan or C&C. We sailed are arses off in that stuff and our Catalina said gimme more. Had to slow it down to stop jumping the swells.
 

John

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Jun 3, 2006
803
Catalina 36mkII Alameda CA
On the original subject: I informed Boat US of this thread, hoping that they'd explain, but they haven't done so. I think that says a lot about them.

As far as Jim's "bashing" Catalinas - I don't have real experience with other boats so I can't compare. What I've seen of our C36 satisfies me so far, but as I said, I don't have much to compare with. I also have some criticisms, though. I am sure that there are other boats that are better built, sail better, etc. I am also pretty sure that I'd have to pay for that.
 
May 11, 2005
3,431
Seidelman S37 Slidell, La.
Poor article

IMHO that was a very poor article. Many claims made that would be very easy to verify. For instance, they stated that the boat was repaired to the owners complete satisfaction. What did the owner have to say about the repairs?????? Other law suits going on, but no indication concerning what they were about. Although Tartan says not related. Give me a break.
 
Oct 22, 2008
3,502
- Telstar 28 Buzzards Bay
I'd agree with Nice N Easy, the article was really quite poorly done. There is so much more going on with the newer Epoxy-based Tartan and C&C boats that should have been mentioned, as should have the serious legal and financial difficulties the company appears to be having. Finally, the fact that Jackett et al. have used an assets-only sale to dodge warranty liabilities previously and were looking to engineer yet another assets-only sale should have been discussed.
 
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