Scandal BY World Cat and Town Creek Marina

[worldcat lemon]

Bought a 2004 World Cat HTS boat from Town Creek Marina(TCM) in Beaufort N.C., that Lisa Alley( head sales person) said was "like new" with only 150 hours on the diesel motors. They sold me a brand new trailer that was not heavy enough for the boat and 2000 miles later all 6 tires virtually fell apart and stranded me in Wyoming on the way home. Here we are 10 months later and TCM still has not fixed my trailer problems. They keep trying to blame others. TCM will not even send me the service records for this boat and all the work they claim they did on it.

I hired a surveyor TCM recommended (HUGE MISTAKE), he never even looked in the engine compartment or took time to look at the engine hatches that leak salt water DIRECTLY into the turbos. I found out later the first owner had to put 6 new turbos and many other components on the engines, due to all the corrosion problems everything kept failing.

World Cat knew of the problem and did virtually nothing to fix it. The first owner lost over $60k on this boat and he said EVERY time he took it out it broke down. I am into it over $85k and it still does not run. Anyone need a sea anchor?

World cat has been acting like they knew nothing about any problems, but I found the same boat that a guy bought new and W.C. flew someone down to "modify" the engine hatches to stop seawater entry soon after the new owner took delivery of the boat in 2004.

My boat is a 2004 and it only had 150 hrs on it when I bought it last year. I worked on it for 8 months trying to fix all the problems, and could only keep it running long enough to use it 3 times and ALL three times it broke down. The last time I took it out I had to be RESCUED by the Coast Guard 42 miles off the coast of Washington State.

World cat says the engine problems are not their problem, even though the engines won't run because of the leaky W.C hatch design problem, and all the salt water those engines have eaten.

This is one big scandolous cover-up on this model.

My advice? Do Not buy a W.C. the company has no integrity in standing behind their product.

What do LEMONS and World Cat Boats have in common? ? ?EVERYTHING !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Shortfin]

If what you are saying is true ,that totally sucks ,you might want to get your atty. involved , it is a tough thing to swallow.

You may want to consider keeping it off the net until an atty. takes a look at the case

For what it is worth I am from up north and had to use Town Creek in a few different emergency type repair situations and i thought there service and technicians did an outstanding job in record time.

[thomas70]

I have a customer that had 2 a 27TE and a 24 with the split console. I took the 27TE on a trade from him it had 120hrs on it. I did no survey thinking it was a 3 year old boat with low hrs and had fished on it several times I new the engines ran great. The person I sold it to had it surveyed it cost me a few dollars to repair all of the hull tabbing that was broken loose.
Next the 24, he always kept the boat on a lift, he decides to take the boat too his house in Myrtle Beach and leave it in the water. We prep the bottom and bottom paint, he takes the boat brings it back in the fall for me too look at, it is covered from stem to stern with blisters, I thought these were skin coated with vinyl ester resin? I called WC only too find out thier warranty is a joke, also I said something about the blue hull fading so bad, the WC lady insisted they never made a blue hull, my customer even took it back too the dealer he purchased both bboats from they contact WC only too hear the same thing. THEY ARE JUNK

[marine4003]

The only upside to this crappy economy is the culling out of 1/2 assed company's, in my business i've lost 3/4 of my less-than competition, whatever survives this mess will emerge leaner , stronger and hopefully with a strong eye on customer satisfaction.....Suggestion: paint the boat brite yellow , with "LEMON" for the name,dock it in a big well known marina..take a photo of it,place same in an ad in SPORTFISHER send pics to WC...perhaps then someone will take note. Good Luck.

[Surfergirl]

If what you are saying is true ,that totally sucks ,you might want to get your atty. involved , it is a tough thing to swallow.

You may want to consider keeping it off the net until an atty. takes a look at the case

For what it is worth I am from up north and had to use Town Creek in a few different emergency type repair situations and i thought there service and technicians did an outstanding job in record time.

I have worked in the Town Creek Boat yard many times detailing, and I must agree with you. Steve runs the service department very proficiently. I have alot of respect for him.

[LuckyLady]

Guess Worldcat has enough money to buy their competitors but not take care of their customers.

World Cat parent buying Glacier Bay

Its a shame, this happens all the time. Almost every dealer has some trade that they need to make disappear, one way or another. Unfortunately some poor soul gets stuck with the nightmare and the dealers books might break even.

Thankfully I do not have to deal with this. I am not forced to sell any POS that a dealer/broker might hold. If there is something that makes me feel weird and fuzzy I walk away. Its not worth it to me to damage my reputation or my beliefs just to make a paycheck.

World cat should step up to the plate and take care of this. Its an absolute design flaw. Luhrs had a similar problem years ago with their lazarette hatches allowing water from when you backdown in to the bilge all over your underwater gear. Sounds like something Luhrs would pull.

I have worked with a lot of manufacturers and there are some that do care about their products and consumers even after the sale. Even if its been resold 20 times over. Then there is manufacturers that say not my problem.

Again just another reason for my choice to sell what I sell and do what I do!

Good luck.

[92 feet down]

We had a similar problem with Carolina Classic. It sucks when the manufacturor doesn't stand behind their product & the dealers don't stand behind their service.

BTW, we own a World Cat now, & have had no problems.

[Glenn W]

Where is the "rest of the Story"?
Threads such as these beg a few questions:
Leaking hatches?--- I ain't got a PhD in Naval Architecture, but fixing or replacing a leaking hatch isn't exactly rocket science nor do they require a 2nd mortage to put in a new water tight hatch---- the previous owner went through 6 turbo's due to salt water intrusion/corrosion and you're having the same problems yet it never occured to you that a commercial water tight hatch could be put in for a few hundred dollars-- end of problem forever.
Your into a twin diesel boat with 150 hrs for $85 grand and you are bitching?--- jesus dude, after you factor the cost of the two engines and gears, what do you think you actually paid for the tupperware (boat)?
Onto the Surveyor, he was YOUR agent--- seems you should be talking to him or his professional liability carrier--- assuming he didn't notice said leaks and terrible corrosion., but then perhaps everything was cleaned spick and span so the leak wasn't obvious--- a stretch.--- Curious as to what his report said.
The boat keeps breaking down--- it would seem you should be barking up Volvo's tree. Most boat manufacturers warrant the hull, the mechanical warranty and problems fall under the responsibility of the engine manufacturer (Volvo I assume).
What exactly is wrong with these engines to keep them constantly breaking, have you had a respectable Volvo tech inspect the engines?
World Cat's Warranties and time frame are as clear as clear can be--- you bought a used boat not a new boat and I question if you paid to have the warranty transferred (assuming there was any time left on the 5-year warranty). It is your opinion that the boat is still under warranty as it relates to the hatch problem?--- if in fact it is, quit bitching on a fishing forum and hire a warranty claim attorney--- they are a dime a dozen.
This trailor issue--- a tri axle trailer was not big enough to handle the boat uh?---- what exactly is the problem?--- axles under rated?, too much load on tires given their rating?, buying the cheapest POS you could and then blaming the retailer for selling you what you were wiilling to pay for?. Perhaps you were dooped, perhaps not.

And most important, did Old Town or any once else ever remotely represent that this used boat you were interested in was under warranty or was it sold "As Is" for a fraction of a new boat price you paid it for.
I'm wondering what the rest of the story is.

So, you say you're into this thing for $85k. Thr trailer had to have cost almost $7k and is it safe to assume you've spent another few grand on ther stuff---- so what did you actually pay for a 2004 twin diesel boat ( about $75k I bet) and what does a new one cost?--- and you are bitching about silly hatches?
hmmmmm?

[fowlscay]

I was trying to wait to post on this until Phyllis the customer service person at World Cat did ,she is trying to sign in but has not been able to sign on yet .She is the mother hen at WC and any body that has ever dealt with her about any WC service issues knows that she all ways takes care of WC customers . She has been with the company since the SEA OX and SEA CAT days . After selling WCs ,Seacats and Sea OX,s since 1988 I know this is true They have always stepped up to the plate and have taken care of our customers and there dealers . But you have to let her !!!! Well there is all ways 2 sides of the story and of coarse this this one has another side too.They have been trying to work with this guy as well but he will not let them . He bought a brokerage boat that TCM was selling for one of there customers not a new boat or trade boat not a boat that they owned ,so Town Creek was only the selling agent . At the time of purchase he was offered to have the warranty put in his name for a small fee but he turned down the offer. Even with this in mind they still offered to help him out so Scott Ellis the field service manager went out there to the west coast look at the boat but the customer could not tell him what was wrong if anything with the motors . He never had a Volvo mechanic look at them or even compression check them . They even offered last week to bring the boat back East to check them out at the factory but he would not let them unless they would guarantee that they would put new motors . WC builds boats not motors so this would be a Volvo decision made after they have been looked at 1st , but you got to let them . As far as Town Creek Marina is concerned they have all ways been a 1st rate dealer and marina . I got nothing but good things to say about Chuck ,Steve , Lisa and Jerrimy they have been great people to work with all ways . When ever Phyllis can sign on she will post the rest of the story .
Tommy

[Phyllis Manning]

To all readers:

I now have access to post with our response in this matter. What Mr. Camp has failed to report is that World Cat had contacted a freight company and made arrangements to have his boat picked up and returned to the factory on 3/16/09. After a couple of emails and concerns on Mr. Camps part he decided on 3/16/09 that he was not going to release his boat to be returned to the factory, therefore the trucking company was canceled and Mr. Camp still has his boat. We did send Scott our service field manager to Mr. Camps boat which BTW is located in Washington State which is about four thousand miles from North Carolina in December 2008 to go over Mr. Camps concerns, however the transom cap which housed the hatches had been removed.

So with that being said World Cat has no intentions to continue to post in this matter. Just as others on this post have advised Mr. Camp.

"You may want to consider keeping it off the net until an atty. takes a look at the case."

Regards,
Phyllis