I received a letter this week about the recall and they state they will pay to replace the valves the valves themselves. No mention about paying for the hall out that is required to replace the valve...all in this forum they mention about waiting to we have to haul out the boat to "help them with the costs". Even if this a voluntary recall.... keep in mind the liability of knowing you have installed a faulty valve in a boat could be financially devestating if something goes wrong. My opinion they should pick up the tab for the haul out too. Please post your comments and what they will and will not do...thanks. abe
What will Hunter pay for ball valve recall?????
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recall
Abe, my reading of the letter is that they will pay for the haul out, but if you are getting ready to haul anyway, they'd appreciate it if you'd wait. my valves are due to arrive tomorrow and I plan to call Hunter service to confirm this. I'll post what they say.
Abe, my reading of the letter is that they will pay for the haul out, but if you are getting ready to haul anyway, they'd appreciate it if you'd wait. my valves are due to arrive tomorrow and I plan to call Hunter service to confirm this. I'll post what they say.
Ball valve recal
Abe: Called Hunter's customer service Wednesday last, and talked to AL. He says that Hunter will pay for haulout at rate of $10 per foot. He says that Hunter found just one valve in the listed Hull ID numbers which failed to operate as required. He said Hunter disassembled it, and found it to be corroded, and in discussions with the Coast Guard agreed to a valve recall. Hunter does not appear to see the valve replacements as a critical job for accomplishment right now (unless you have one that doesn't work now.) Main threat appears to exist if a hose leaks or breaks, and you need to shut out sea water from the boat but the valve is stuck open. We think the best defense in the short run (pending valve replacement) is to shut all valves every time you dock, and open them next time you get U/W. Weekly cycling is probably the best defense for protection against any MFGRS' valves corroding and sticking open. I was not on their list for the Hunter's valve notification mailing (2005 H-306, bought in Sept 2004). But my son saw it on Hunter's web site under "Notifications". Incidently although Hunter says they expanded the range of suspect Hull ID #'s just to be safe, our boat number was just outside that range. But we know for a fact that we have the suspect valves on board. Every Hunter owner should 1) Check the notifications on the Hunter web site. and 2) Don't trust the stated range of hull numbers. Check your boat personally. You may have an experience like ours. Watch whoever does the replacement job. They must use new (two of them) stainless hose clamps on the new valves' hose connections.
Abe: Called Hunter's customer service Wednesday last, and talked to AL. He says that Hunter will pay for haulout at rate of $10 per foot. He says that Hunter found just one valve in the listed Hull ID numbers which failed to operate as required. He said Hunter disassembled it, and found it to be corroded, and in discussions with the Coast Guard agreed to a valve recall. Hunter does not appear to see the valve replacements as a critical job for accomplishment right now (unless you have one that doesn't work now.) Main threat appears to exist if a hose leaks or breaks, and you need to shut out sea water from the boat but the valve is stuck open. We think the best defense in the short run (pending valve replacement) is to shut all valves every time you dock, and open them next time you get U/W. Weekly cycling is probably the best defense for protection against any MFGRS' valves corroding and sticking open. I was not on their list for the Hunter's valve notification mailing (2005 H-306, bought in Sept 2004). But my son saw it on Hunter's web site under "Notifications". Incidently although Hunter says they expanded the range of suspect Hull ID #'s just to be safe, our boat number was just outside that range. But we know for a fact that we have the suspect valves on board. Every Hunter owner should 1) Check the notifications on the Hunter web site. and 2) Don't trust the stated range of hull numbers. Check your boat personally. You may have an experience like ours. Watch whoever does the replacement job. They must use new (two of them) stainless hose clamps on the new valves' hose connections.
Don't have to haul out for another year...
and for "at least they are willing to pay.." it is an investment for them to pay now or pay big time after the lawsuits come if a life or property is damaged knowing well that there is a problem with their valve. Sorry to be sinical, but no big corporation does things out of the "goodness of their hearts". I can assure you Hunter has discussed this with their legal devision, made risk assessments, and have concluded it is better to fix it. abe
and for "at least they are willing to pay.." it is an investment for them to pay now or pay big time after the lawsuits come if a life or property is damaged knowing well that there is a problem with their valve. Sorry to be sinical, but no big corporation does things out of the "goodness of their hearts". I can assure you Hunter has discussed this with their legal devision, made risk assessments, and have concluded it is better to fix it. abe
Ross, the boat is two years old...1 more year for
haul out to paint. Can it wait? I will throw that back in Hunters court....if they advice I should wait and the boat sinks then I guess I should not have waited. I open and close my valves everytime I am on the boat to prevent them from sticking open/closed. Frankly, I think it can wait...but I do not know the real nature of the valve problem...only what we are told. abe
haul out to paint. Can it wait? I will throw that back in Hunters court....if they advice I should wait and the boat sinks then I guess I should not have waited. I open and close my valves everytime I am on the boat to prevent them from sticking open/closed. Frankly, I think it can wait...but I do not know the real nature of the valve problem...only what we are told. abe
talked to Hunter today
Abe, I talked to Hunter this AM-they will pay for the haulout, they just want you to send them the invoice for the work so they can pay/reimbourse. I'm sure their legal eagles did a risk assessment, but that's part of good business. I appreciate the fact that they are taking the Tylenol approach to protect the brand and their customers, and not just waiting to duke it out in court like so many companies do today.
Abe, I talked to Hunter this AM-they will pay for the haulout, they just want you to send them the invoice for the work so they can pay/reimbourse. I'm sure their legal eagles did a risk assessment, but that's part of good business. I appreciate the fact that they are taking the Tylenol approach to protect the brand and their customers, and not just waiting to duke it out in court like so many companies do today.
Hunter Service Is Excellent
I also spoke with Hunter today and quite frankly I am very pleased that they are taking these steps to ensure their product is safe. As for when to do it, I will not wait. Let's assume you have one of the few defective valves, you wait until your next scheduled haulout and your boat sinks. The insurance company could and most likely will deny coverage because you did not take the prudent steps to protect the boat and knowingly left suspect defective valves in the boat. Hunter will not have any responsibility, they did the prudent thing. You assume all responsibility and risk your boat if you do not act in a positive manner and have the suspect defective parts replaced ASAP.
I also spoke with Hunter today and quite frankly I am very pleased that they are taking these steps to ensure their product is safe. As for when to do it, I will not wait. Let's assume you have one of the few defective valves, you wait until your next scheduled haulout and your boat sinks. The insurance company could and most likely will deny coverage because you did not take the prudent steps to protect the boat and knowingly left suspect defective valves in the boat. Hunter will not have any responsibility, they did the prudent thing. You assume all responsibility and risk your boat if you do not act in a positive manner and have the suspect defective parts replaced ASAP.
I agree with John
Do it as soon as you reasonably can, it's not worth taking a chance. BTW, my valves arrived today. I think we need to give Hunter a lot of credit-they took this problem to the Coast Guard, and they did not mandate a recall-Hunter is taking care of their customers voluntarily.
Do it as soon as you reasonably can, it's not worth taking a chance. BTW, my valves arrived today. I think we need to give Hunter a lot of credit-they took this problem to the Coast Guard, and they did not mandate a recall-Hunter is taking care of their customers voluntarily.
Makes You Wonder Who Else Used Them?
You just know it wasn't only Hunter who used their product. I suppose they were used on the power boat lines too, and I suspect on a whole bunch of production boats, both power and sail. Of course, I don't know that, but it's a good bet Hunter isn't the sole client. Rick D.
You just know it wasn't only Hunter who used their product. I suppose they were used on the power boat lines too, and I suspect on a whole bunch of production boats, both power and sail. Of course, I don't know that, but it's a good bet Hunter isn't the sole client. Rick D.
Both 2 yr old valves fail to operate and leak
Our recently purchased, virtually new 2004 H260 was always stored on a lift and I assume the valves were always left open. It's now on a trailer in my shop. When doing an assesment of the valves for the recall last night, while easily accessable neither would rotate closed and there are signs of leakage in the bilge. I suppose a valve only 2 y/o could get dry but that seems very unreasonable for a failure so quickly. I'm just glad I checked them before it became an on the water emergency. Congrats to Hunter for doing the right thing in replacing these. I'll be hoping for a quick turnaround on my request. To everyone else, don't delay in checking yours too. Good luck. Michael
Our recently purchased, virtually new 2004 H260 was always stored on a lift and I assume the valves were always left open. It's now on a trailer in my shop. When doing an assesment of the valves for the recall last night, while easily accessable neither would rotate closed and there are signs of leakage in the bilge. I suppose a valve only 2 y/o could get dry but that seems very unreasonable for a failure so quickly. I'm just glad I checked them before it became an on the water emergency. Congrats to Hunter for doing the right thing in replacing these. I'll be hoping for a quick turnaround on my request. To everyone else, don't delay in checking yours too. Good luck. Michael
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