Thread: Not happy with my Grumman Oneida fishing boat

In my normal job, I work with issues all the time that require a great deal of questions in order to accurately diagnose the problem so that I can setup a plan to fix it. The majority of that time, I dealing with phone conversations or email.

Oftentimes, the person with the issue has one key piece of information that will ultimately tell you the direction you need to take.

You make mention that the registration says “used”. I am curious as to if the State of New York made a mistake when it was registered OR if the title is “used” as well. If it were me, before I did anything else, I would find out exactly WHY the registration says “used”. Cross Reference it with your title. Maybe the State made a mistake OR, maybe they found something that makes them believe it is a “used” boat.

IF you do find out that they in fact sold you a “used” boat. Your beef is not with the manufacturer but direct with the dealer. This would be considered a case of fraud. The dealer frauded you into believing you were purchasing a NEW boat when he in fact sold you a used boat. This would no longer be a case of getting something fixed. This would instead be a legal issue that would more than likely entitle you to recoup the entire amount that you paid for this product.

However, if it was a mistake by the State, and you did in fact purchase a brand new boat (as titled), I believe your issues are with the dealer. It appears as though they did the majority of the work and additions to this vessel.

It kind of looks like a hodge podge of stuff put together in order to make a complete package.

For what it is worth, Grumman has been producing boats under this name for a long time. Back in the mid 2000’s, Grumman was purchased by a holdings firm called REC boat holdings. They owned things like Scarab, 4 Winns, and Grady white to name a few. REC eventually sold some of their assets to BRP. BRP then sold assets to… who knows.

Find out the origin of the title and see if it is “used”. Then check with the State to find out why it was registered as “used”. From here you will know whether to seek legal advice or not. This would be my direction. The used/new status is the ticket to getting out of this turd!

Talked to Marathon Boats this morning to clarify warranty coverage and other issues.
1. The dealer attached a motor of his choosing and his improper mount is his (or my) problem to correct. The boat package only includes seats, tach and speedometer.
2. The company didn't know why the boat was registered as used and a title issued. But they still cover warranty issues. (??) He is an authorized dealer of Marathon Boats (Grumman being one).
3. The dealer obviously tried to pry off the steering wheel cover and didn't have a clue how to replace it. Grumman hopefully will cover the damage by the dealer.
4. The trailer was chosen by the dealer not the company, so the ball hitch is my problem to replace. (My ball is 2" and works fine with my bass boat trailer.)
5. Here are the specs:
Marathon Boat Group
6. The gas tank is my problem according to Marathon. Obviously the dealer washes his hands of most non-company issues.
7. The on board weight distribution is minor and tackle related.

The rep I spoke to understood that allowing shysters to sell their crafts is not good for the company especially with the internet/forums. Whether they will consider removing him from the list only the future will tell. I'm optimistic Marathon will correct many of the defects so I can sell or trade in the boat - at a loss most likely, but being able to get the Merc fixed on my bass boat will make my day. Continuing to own the Grumman won't make sense. It may even be possible to eventually replace the 2 stroke with a 4 stroke considering the fiberglass hull is intact.

I would look down the road of the Title as I previously stated.

As a note regarding trailers. Ball sizing for trailer tounges are based specifically on weight. Smaller boats and trailers will have a size of 1 7/8 with a medium hit of 2" and a large ball size of 2 5/16.
For me, any trailer I own that comes with the smaller 1 7/8 ball automatically gets swapped with a 2in tounge. You can purchase the tounge at most trailer stores or TSC. Some of them are bolted on while others are welded. If welded, I cut them off with a die or angle grinder and then bolt on the new one.

On my bigger trailers (job trailers, heavy equipment trailers, and BIG boat trailers) they come with a 2 5/16 ball and I do NOT swap them out.

I own several receivers with different drops depending on the trailer. For my tournament boat, it is quick a bit heavier then some of my other boats so it only has a 1 inch drop. The reason for this is that your tow vehicle, when sitting on level ground, should be level all the way across with your trailer. You do NOT want the trailer sitting too high or too low. On some of my smaller trailers (and boats) with far less tounge weight, I have 3 and 4 inch drops on my receiver.

On my huge trailers, I use a pintle hitch system.
So, I suspect the trailer has a 1 7/8 inch ball. You have a few options. One being that you can change the ball out every single time you want to tow it. You can purchase an entirely new screw in ball OR, you can buy a system where the ball comes off with a pin and you put a new ball in. Keep in mind that the drop doesn't change. They also sell a receiver with 3 different balls on them. Unfortunately, many of them have a fixed drop.
OR, change out the tounge with a 2inch ball if that is what you prefer.

For me, I spend the 20 bucks and just buy a new receiver with a different drop pattern based on what I need.

Originally Posted by wicklundrh

In my normal job, I work with issues all the time that require a great deal of questions in order to accurately diagnose the problem so that I can setup a plan to fix it. The majority of that time, I dealing with phone conversations or email.

Oftentimes, the person with the issue has one key piece of information that will ultimately tell you the direction you need to take.

You make mention that the registration says “used”. I am curious as to if the State of New York made a mistake when it was registered OR if the title is “used” as well. If it were me, before I did anything else, I would find out exactly WHY the registration says “used”. Cross Reference it with your title. Maybe the State made a mistake OR, maybe they found something that makes them believe it is a “used” boat.

IF you do find out that they in fact sold you a “used” boat. Your beef is not with the manufacturer but direct with the dealer. This would be considered a case of fraud. The dealer frauded you into believing you were purchasing a NEW boat when he in fact sold you a used boat. This would no longer be a case of getting something fixed. This would instead be a legal issue that would more than likely entitle you to recoup the entire amount that you paid for this product.

However, if it was a mistake by the State, and you did in fact purchase a brand new boat (as titled), I believe your issues are with the dealer. It appears as though they did the majority of the work and additions to this vessel.

It kind of looks like a hodge podge of stuff put together in order to make a complete package.

For what it is worth, Grumman has been producing boats under this name for a long time. Back in the mid 2000’s, Grumman was purchased by a holdings firm called REC boat holdings. They owned things like Scarab, 4 Winns, and Grady white to name a few. REC eventually sold some of their assets to BRP. BRP then sold assets to… who knows.

Find out the origin of the title and see if it is “used”. Then check with the State to find out why it was registered as “used”. From here you will know whether to seek legal advice or not. This would be my direction. The used/new status is the ticket to getting out of this turd!

There seems to be some mis information taking place here. In addition to having owned several Grumman aluminum boats as mentioned, ive also owned several Grady Whites. My first was purchased new in 1986. I traded a 2 year old Grumman center console with a 60 hp Evinrude on the Grady. The owner of the G/W company was Eddie Smith, who was at the time also the president. Today, its still a privately owned company, and Eddie Smith still owns it, although he is no longer president. For sure Grumman aircraft ceased its boat building operation in the early 90s and im not aware it was ever sold, it just ceased operating. The same facility in Marathon NY was then used by a different company made up of former employees to produce Princecraft boats. It did not continue under the Grumman name. The PA dealer I had bought several Grumman boats from became a Princecraft dealer.
So in reading this post it is made to appear that Grumman is back in the boat building business?
Or is some other company now utilizing the name under some kind of licensing agreement?
It's not at all uncommon for boat building companies to fold only to reemerge under new owners using the old name. In fact there aren't many that haven't, but I hadn't heard of that happening with Grumman.

It kind of looks like a hodge podge of stuff put together in order to make a complete package.

That's exactly what it is.

The ball under the truck bumper is 2". Not sure what the trailer hitch size is that takes the ball until the trolling motor is repaired and the boat returned.

Marathon sells different brand boats: Marathon Boat Group - Grumman just one.

Here are the facts.....

In the summer of 1944, after portaging a heavy wood and canvas canoe on a fishing trip in the Adirondack Mountains, William Hoffman, Vice President of Grumman Aircraft Engineering, had an idea: What about making a canoe from the same lightweight, stretch-formed aluminum that Grumman had used to become the single largest producer of carrier-based fighter planes during World War II?In 1945, the very first aluminum canoe, a 13-footer, was produced at the aircraft plant in Bethpage, Long Island. By the end of World War II Grumman was producing a line of 13', 15', 17', 18', 19', and 20' canoes.
The plant relocated to Marathon, N.Y. in 1952.and in 1988, Grumman produced the largest aluminum boat in its history at Marathon. Designed for the Great Lakes, it measured 22' 3".
In 1990 the Grumman boat and canoe division was sold to O.M.C. of Illinois, who soon purchased the DuraNautic Boat Company's tooling and assets and moved them to the Marathon Plant.
In 1996, a group of former Grumman managers and investors formed the Marathon Boat Group to purchase the canoe and boat operation from O.M.C., and resumed production of Marathon canoes, identical in every respect to the legendary Grummans.
In the summer of 2000, a licensing agreement was reached between Northrop Grumman and Marathon Boat Group. The name Grumman is once again back on the canoes where it always belonged.

A couple of things you might want to look at on the hitch. The top latch design is adjustable. If it's too tight, it will not slide over a 2" ball, despite the fact that it's made for one. Loosening the nut until a proper fit is acquired is the fix. Also, I have seen hitches bent on the bottom side by receivers mounted to tractors on a three point system. Too much metal hanging out from the base of the ball and lifted at high angles by way of the 3pt hitch can catch and bend the locking mechanism and cause various problems depending on how it's damaged. And of course, the top of the hitch should be imprinted with the size of ball it's designed to attach to.

I looked up the model of boat to see how it was laid out. From what I seen, it appears to be a somewhat narrow deep v design with an open bilge for a portable fuel tank. If that's the case, you will have to secure the tank in a fashion suitable to your liking. The listing and stability of the boat can be tricky on boats like that. Try to place as much equipment weight along the centerline of the boat or offset it with similar weight items on opposing sides of the centerline.

Originally Posted by "G"

Here are the facts.....

In the summer of 1944, after portaging a heavy wood and canvas canoe on a fishing trip in the Adirondack Mountains, William Hoffman, Vice President of Grumman Aircraft Engineering, had an idea: What about making a canoe from the same lightweight, stretch-formed aluminum that Grumman had used to become the single largest producer of carrier-based fighter planes during World War II?In 1945, the very first aluminum canoe, a 13-footer, was produced at the aircraft plant in Bethpage, Long Island. By the end of World War II Grumman was producing a line of 13', 15', 17', 18', 19', and 20' canoes.
The plant relocated to Marathon, N.Y. in 1952.and in 1988, Grumman produced the largest aluminum boat in its history at Marathon. Designed for the Great Lakes, it measured 22' 3".
In 1990 the Grumman boat and canoe division was sold to O.M.C. of Illinois, who soon purchased the DuraNautic Boat Company's tooling and assets and moved them to the Marathon Plant.
In 1996, a group of former Grumman managers and investors formed the Marathon Boat Group to purchase the canoe and boat operation from O.M.C., and resumed production of Marathon canoes, identical in every respect to the legendary Grummans.
In the summer of 2000, a licensing agreement was reached between Northrop Grumman and Marathon Boat Group. The name Grumman is once again back on the canoes where it always belonged.

So apparently the Grumman name has resurfaced, I wonder what happened to Princecraft which for sure was built in that plant. Grumman also built a model they called the (sport canoe), which was a 20' canoe reduced to 15" with a square stern. It had oarlocks and could also be had with a sail setup, and was rated for up to 5 hp motors. I bought one in 1973, along with a new Evinrude 6hp motor. I still have and use the motor which still purrs like new on my 60s vintage 12' Grumman. The sport canoe was a wonderfull boat as a motor boat. But it was heavy and not really condusive to car topping, and not usefull as a canoe either. I did cartop it around the country while traveling with the RV trailer and had some very memorable fishing trips in it including Canada and Yellowstone lake. I ended up trading it back to the dealer I bought it from on an even swap for a new standard 15' Grumman canoe which I still have also.