On August 16,1996, I purchased a new 171 Mako center console at Barnes Wright Boats located in Conshohocken, Pennsylvania. The dealer that sold me the boat bragged that the hull came with a 10 year warranty which, because of the companies past reputation, was a deciding factor in the purchase of the boat.
Unfortunately, the boat has not performed as expected because earlier this year I discovered that the hull had broken stringers within its hull. According to the repair shop, this hull lacks numerous advertised items like a foamed in stringer system. The hull had minimal foam within its stringers.
Also the fuel tank was missing mounting hardware allowing the fuel tank to bounce around against the stringers within the hull. Through recreational use this hull should not be experiencing problems of this nature so soon.
I am very disappointed because numerous attempts to contact the warranty department to resolve this issue has resulted in many dead ends.
Origianally, the warranty department agreed to have the repair fixed at a location in our region. But when more intensive damage was dicovered and the repair shop could no longer fix the damage or guarantee hull integrity, I was referred by the company to the new dealer. It was my understanding from e-mails with Leisha (in Trackers Customer Service department) that the dealer (Causeway Marine) would have the damaged hull shipped to Florida.
To compound the problem, the original dealer (Barnes Wright Boats) with whom I've purchased the boat from no longer deals with the Mako company. (This is another issue for another report) Causeway Marine (the new dealer) has repeatedly told me to have, the manufacturer (Mako), call them to arrange how fix the problem.
After I did contact Mako for a point of contact and call them back, either the person who helped me was on vacation or no one there knew what I was talking about. When I called Mako back, Leisha was on vacation and Sandy informed me, after months of communications with the customer service department, my case is not even in the computer system. She told me over the phone she was unware of my problem (whom I had numerous phone calls with) and that I was to wait for Leisha.
When I waited for Leisha to come back from vacation, I threatened to get a lawyer. This is where I've gotten the run around. It seems everyone keeps passing the buck and dosen't understand why I am so frustrated. Leisha informed me I should have my lawyers contact their lawyers to resolve the problem. But I wish to resolve this problem between ourselves.
To resolve this problem I believe the Mako company should replace the hull. I feel that after discussing the damage with the first repair shop, that this hull is damaged beyond repair. It was their opinion that the future integrity of this hull cannot be guaranteed.
After discovering the problem in May and wasting marina fees which I paid for earlier in the year when I thought the boat was operational, My boat is now in pieces because of the attempted repairs. The repair shop is calling my house for payment on the exploration work done on the boat and is threatening to not release the boat till I resolve the payment of current work done and storage given.
George
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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