Thread: A journey through the dark side of the boating industry.

A journey through the dark side of the boating industry.

Through all this, I cannot express enough, make sure you have a reputable dealer, and one who is an actual DEALER.

After either 10 Months, or 14 months, depending on your math, I have my boat back finally, and complete. This is the journey through the “Dark Side” of the boating industry, a boat returned for warranty work. & The key people who were able to HELP, and get through the dark side, and into the right places.

Fall of 2020, I found that I had an issue w/ my boat, being a 2019, its under warranty. Follow manufacturers instruction, contact my nearest dealer, and call, schedule an appointment, and dropped it off on a April Monday, and was done by Thursday. Three months later, (July 2021) the issue returns only in an alternate position. Call dealer, drop off on a Monday, and by Wednesday, I got an email form the Service manager. They will not fix my boat because the owner says I did not buy the boat directly from them as a point of sale.

Huh? You’re my closest local dealer per the manufacturer, I have no dealer as I bought the boat from an INDIVIDUAL. After some phone calls, mostly bad calls with the owner, I was stuck w/ my boat. Better Business Bureau, Michigan Attorney General for Consumer Protection, etc, were all contacted. Michigan Attorney Generals office replied, and said they closed the case, because I had sold the boat. HUH? It’s in my garage, who said that? Of course, no one wanted to admit they were wrong, and I got the chase the voice mail, and never returning calls. No contact from the Manufacturer as well.

This is where those who were key in assisting come into play. I made contact with my insurance agent, Bob Luellen, from World Wide Marine. After going through the whole story, I was told, “Do not take you boat anywhere until I call you back.” In the meantime, I am making phone calls as well, and I quoited a new boat from the manufacturer and actually got a call from a Factory Sales Rep, asking me about my configuration, etc. I said, “I quoted that to see what a new boat would cost me so I can get proper Warranty, as my 2019 of the same model, and config is not under warranty” She said “huh? How so, its new?” which lead to the whole story again. Sent here the emails, I was sent, denying Service, etc, then she worked with me, and after a list of dealers said Kens Sports in Wisconsin, is one of our BEST Dealers.

24 Hours later Bob calls me back, and says to me “I made some phone calls, and for the BEST SERVICE, its 5.5-hour drive to Wisconsin to a place named Kens Sports”

Well, since we fish, and know that two is a pattern, I called Kens Sports. Chris Young (Service Specialist) answered the phone, and I explained the whole scenario to him, and he said “I checked and your about 6 hours away from us, but if you are willing o bring us your boat, we WILL HELP YOU FIX IT.”

That was enough for me, 48 hours later, (Early August 2021) I was in Wisconsin dropping off my boat. I cannot say enough about how HAPPY I was to do just that, drop my boat off. (More on that later)

So, after speaking to them, and the issues, etc, I drove home. A few weeks later, I got a call from Chris Vanderloop, Service Manager of Kens Sprorts) and the issue was more than just a surface issue/cosmetic, as they had torn own the entire front deck to check from the inside as well as the outside. Something the Michigan dealer did not do the first time. It was determined that the boat was going back to the manufacturer.

Boat was shrink wrapped as required, and went back to manufacturer, and was repaired and shrink wrapped and sent back to Kens Sports in Wisconsin. I arrived Jan 21st 2022 and the boat was ready, except one small issue, the paint was screwed up, on BOTH sides, 21 foot boat, 42 feet of messed up paint. Photos were taken immediately, and then the discussion of do I take the boat and have it repaired under warranty at home in Michigan, or leave it there, in Wisconsin. For the issue of the current weather at the time, and not wanting to make a 3rd trip, we discussed (With Ken’s Sports Personnel, and myself, I would take it home.

In the meantime, I was given the paint codes, and any other information we (Kens Sports & Myself thought would be needed to expedite repair. Two weeks go by, and I get a call. Dave Dwoshack of Kens Sports (Title Unknown) Manufacturer will not cover it as they cannot prove that it was their mistake. Well after some wicked emails, and some lengthy conversations, Dave Dwoshack of Kens Sports (Title Unknown) suggested an Insurance Claim.

Now we circle back to Bob Luellen, a claim was made, and a review/audit was done, & if you have never been through that, its interesting, as you are notified up front (By the Insurance company) that the calls are recorded for legal purposes and can be used in a court of law. So Yeah, this stuff is serious. All I could relate to was someone previously screwed the system, and made it do HARD for the average person with a real issue to get a correction.

Anyway, the whole scenario was relayed to Insurance, and within 48 hours they called me back and had been in contact w/ Chris Vanderloop (Service Manager @ Ken’s Sports). Well After contacting all party’s involved, including the manufacturer, an auditor wanted to see the boat in person. Seems Insurance fraud is serious, and it was mentioned by someone that its probably dock rash.

Well, the Auditor get to the house, looks at the boat, and his first words were “That’s not dock rash, what happen?” Tell him the whole thing I had already relayed to numerous other people @ insurance. Was kind of humorous, as he used blue painters’ tape to mark where there was paint damage, and down the entire port side was one long strip of paint.

Anyway, the Months of February & March of 2022 had passed. Now enter Judds Body Shop of Byron Center Michigan. They were up front, honest, and said if we cannot replace the graphics, we won’t touch the boat. As the graphics are not longer produced by the manufacturer, to which I replied, "well, then I lose them, but get the paint fixed." The boat was dropped off in Mid-April.
After two weeks of working with (B&K Graphics, of Byron Center) who were able to reproduce the no longer available graphic, the project started. After review they opted to use a Semi truck paint (More Durable) than car paint is the way it was explained (I am not a paint person) and a clear coat, and to include the Graphics getting replaced. Almost 7 weeks later (They were closed for a week, so actually 6 weeks, the boat was done.

And man, did it turn out AWESOME, how ever, to get to this point, I would have never made it by myself. So, the real people to help in this whole issue, & helped without question, are as follows, and should be noted that they went above and beyond, in my opinion.

Chris Vanderloop, Service Manager of Kens Sports, Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Chris Young, Service Specialist, of Kens Sports, Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Dave Dworschak (Title Unknown) of Kens Sports, Kaukauna, Wisconsin.
Bob Luellen, owner of World Wide Marine, Grand Ledge, Michigan.
Judds Body Shop, Byron Center, Michigan.
B&K Graphics, Byron Center, Michigan.

Thank you to each of you, even if you're not on Crappie.com

I cannot express my thanks, and help, in guiding me through the crappy part of the boating industry. And if you have read this far, please know that this is the short version.


Attached are some photos of the paint that was corrected, however there are no photos of the completed repairs by the manufacturer. I hope to be on the water by next weekend and have a Lake Erie Walleye report, as one form me is way overdue.


OE