Bow Thruster RE-POSESSION by VETUS

[scattered_grass]

Went to pick up our boat last Thursday, the boat unfinished, but had some of the major hardware. The first thing I noticed when we pulled up was an empty hole in the bow of our 32'. The story goes, the builder took the bow thruster up front and was supposed to pay later...well, that didn't happen so VETUS decides they are going to come and un-install a bow thruster, thats been installed for months, out of a PRIVATELY owned boat. That's right, this was not the builder's boat anymore but was privately owned by someone. (my father) and has the bill of sale to prove it. I'm no legal expert but I don't think this is going to fly on VETUS's part...

any similar experiences or stories?

[Deep C]

No lawyer but my take is that they have comitted a criminal act. If their action is against builder then they must pursue legal recourse against them. They would however be in a position to affix a lien against the boat itself and then it would be the boat owners obligation to then pursue action against the builder...
The company that did my pool tried something similar. They never payed the screen company although I paid them to do it. The screen company placed a lien and I went on the war path... Found they had done the same thing to a sherrif officer before skipping town.
I found where they skipped to. He and I paid them a visit and miracle of miracles the problem went away...

I would call police and file theft charges...

[scattered_grass]

Deep, thank you for responding. We have filed a police report, so did the other guy that this happened to while on the boatyard.

No lawyer but my take is that they have comitted a criminal act. If their action is against builder then they must pursue legal recourse against them. They would however be in a position to affix a lien against the boat itself and then it would be the boat owners obligation to then pursue action against the builder...
The company that did my pool tried something similar. They never payed the screen company although I paid them to do it. The screen company placed a lien and I went on the war path... Found they had done the same thing to a sherrif officer before skipping town.
I found where they skipped to. He and I paid them a visit and miracle of miracles the problem went away...

I would call police and file theft charges...

[Deep C]

Deep, thank you for responding. We have filed a police report, so did the other guy that this happened to while on the boatyard.

They most certainly did not follow the law to the letter... Fry em and I'd add civil litigation for any damages that may have been done to the boat when they removed it. The cops may add theft and criminal tresspass to the complaints.

They should have gone the legal route and now they need to pay...

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

I have been kindof following the whole process here of you having that boat built, as well as your constant griping.

I am not just talking about the thruster, I am talking about you paying him to build you a boat and he failed to do so.

If your side of the story is correct, this boat builder screwed you guys and bad.

Do you have any contract?

You should be persuing legal action against the boat builder.

[Sea Witch]

Bill of Sale does not mean that it was "free and clear" of all liens. Not condoning what what was done and they clearly were not able to just "take it out" but I would be worried about other components of the boat that the builder supposedly paid for. Good luck.

[scattered_grass]

I have been kindof following the whole process here of you having that boat built, as well as your constant griping.

I am not just talking about the thruster, I am talking about you paying him to build you a boat and he failed to do so.

If your side of the story is correct, this boat builder screwed you guys and bad.

Do you have any contract?

You should be persuing legal action against the boat builder.

We do have a contract Jay, but I don't know how much good its going to do. We were quoted a price that was WAY too low for a completed boat, so we are really not coming out of this deal too bad with what we have in it now..we only have about 130 in the boat, and in my opinion, you cant find a prettier boat of it's size. Although the builder was very frustrating to deal with, I have sympathy for him and wish him the best. In hindsight, the first day outside of the completion date, we should have taken action against the builder instead of dragging it out for 3 years. I guess we wanted to give him every opportunity to fulfill his end of the deal. It's been a real learning experience to say the least, but I am very pleased with the boat that we came away with! The only grudge I hold is with VETUS stealing the damn bow-thruster and then offering to sell it back to us!

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

you have $130k in an unfinished 32' boat with no motor?

What are you going to do with her now?

I would be making sure what you walk away with is free and clear of any leins.

[scattered_grass]

you have $130k in an unfinished 32' boat with no motor?

What are you going to do with her now?

I would be making sure what you walk away with is free and clear of any leins.

Well, gonna drop some power in her and go fishing. Still have a lot of small things to do down below..and she got pretty beat up sitting down there for so long but..a few months and she should be wet. I don't understand, if the builder owed someone money, how is there a lein on my boat and not the the business? Our only contract was through him. It would be different if there was a contract between us and Vetus..not my problem that he didn't pay that company..That would be like Mercury going to every private owner of a Fountain and saying "give us that Verado, Reggie didn't pay us for it"..

[Captain Jay Kavanagh]

Well, gonna drop some power in her and go fishing. Still have a lot of small things to do down below..and she got pretty beat up sitting down there for so long but..a few months and she should be wet. I don't understand, if the builder owed someone money, how is there a lein on my boat and not the the business? Our only contract was through him. It would be different if there was a contract between us and Vetus..not my problem that he didn't pay that company..That would be like Mercury going to every private owner of a Fountain and saying "give us that Verado, Reggie didn't pay us for it"..

Well technically it is not "your" boat, untill he says it is your boat.