Up, down, or sideways?

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Liam

owners responsibility

Although I understand Puffin's point... Part of taking delivery of a new boat is going through it and cleaning the "construction debris". It isn't just Beneteau. A friend of mine almost sunk his brand new Pacific Seacraft when a hose clamp came loose and the bilge pump was clogged with bits of fiberglass and plywood. He was 100 miles off shore. That happened back in the 80's and having heard the story from him about 30 times I learned. Since then I have bought two brand new boats of very high quality (They will remain nameless). In both cases, I spent the first weekend of ownership "taking the boat apart" and cleaning, vacuuming, and detailing everything. Bilges, lockers, lazzaette, engine room, etc. In both cases I found nearly a shoe box full of crap in addition to numerous loose screws and hose clamps. That's just the way it is... It is the owners resopnsibility. It is also a really great way to "get to know" your new boat and it's systems. It is better to do this at the dock than 100 miles off shore. Best of luck Puffin. I am sure that you will have many years of great times in your new boat.The 323 is a really nice machine.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Now wait a minute!

I bought my Hunter 34 new. It never had ANY construction debris or loose parts. And it didn't leak either. And the dealer didn't clean it up. I know because I broke the shipping seal. If anything, the dealer made it dirty. But it's 19 years old now and according to another thread, Hunter has really improved them.
 
L

Liam

Amazing

Hi Fred, That's pretty amazing! Not even a scrap of sandpaper or the cut end of a wire tie? Sounds like Hunter is pretty unique in that regard. Or it could be that I have been mistaken and that the manufacturers don't make the mess, it's the riggers at the boat dealer. Actually that sounds more likely.
 
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JohnS12875

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Jul 21, 2005
79
N/A N/A N/A
Boat prep

Don't know about other factories, but the Catalina boats always came in with lots of glass dust in the lockers, occasional larger chunks of building debris, and in one instance, a half eaten burrito in the lazarette. Part of my job was to detail the boat before the customer takes delivery. Still, you're the one out on the water. I don't care who built/rigged/oufitted/detailed the boat. They're not the one's whose life will be endangered if something goes wrong (at least not until you make it ashore). Check it over stem to stern, keel to masthead, in and out.
 
Fred Ficarra

Fred Ficarra

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Dec 2, 2003
4,245
- - Seabeck WA
Not so amazing.

I can't think of a single piece of anything that was sanded aboard. All that work was done in the shop. As for wire ties, The only ones used were hidden. I don't recall if those were cut. I don't think so. One of the partners of the dealership did the rigging and outfitting. What a slob! HIS work I had to clean up!
 
R

riber boy

river boy

Looking for a McGregor Motor/sail boat. New or used, near or around Penn, Del, Maryland.
 
P

Puffin

Cleaning up a newly delivered new boat

You've got a point about the owner of a new boat being responsable for the final seaworthiness of a boat, be it a power boat or a sailbaot. One just can't sailaway on a new boat the same way you drive a new car off a dealer's car lot. Yet, as I said before, it is in the finishing details that I found Beneteau USA slacked off. I don't know if other popular sailboat makers, such as Hunter, Catalina, etc., have the same nonchalant attitude toward finishing details. Rumour has it that Beneteau had a high turn over of workers in the last year. If it's true, it might explain the substandard finishing details inside our 2005 Beneteau 323 due to lack of opportunity for adequate worker training. Anyway, our local Beneteau dealer has promised to do what he can to set things straight before the one-year comprehensive warranty is over. Sail on! Puffin
 
T

Terry

New Boat Debris

I too bought a new Ben 323 and had construction debris under the floor. The debris was fiberglass dust etc from construction. Where this debris was cannot be seen until water washes it out to the bilge pump. My dealer did a good job cleaning and they missed it too. A couple quick clean-outs of the filter and it was a done deal. It's odd the battery box doesn't fit, as mine does, maybe they built mine before all those workers quit :) Sail On... Terry
 
S

Steve

no decision

I think a boat is the only thing that looses "new" value faster than a car. If i had to have a "late model" i'd buy a used late model.
 
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