BUYERS BEWARE - SURVEY'S - ELECTRONICS INSTALLERS - RADAR

[LuckyLady]

BUYERS BEWARE - SURVEYS -ELECTRONICS INSTALLERS - RADAR

I am having a problem with a customer in a recent pre-owned boat sale with newer electronics.

The electronics were said to be installed in Aug. 07

In May 2008 the boat went to survey and the radar came up as not transmitting or something rather. This also came up when the new owners and I went for our seatrial. Even the previous owner warned the listing broker before we arrived that there was an issue. There was even a 2nd call made while all of us were on the boat. Asking what the problem was.

Selling broker agreed to fix all electrical items that were not working as part of contract some things the guy was on his own with.

The radar was a huge concern to the buyer. We had asked numerous times as to what was found to be the problem. The selling broker said that the radar had been repaired.

The customer gets the boat home and the radar is not working. The new owner has his installer troubleshoot the problem and it turns out that the pedestal base of the open array had water in it.

Turns out who ever installed/assembled the radar originally never seated the case gasket properly from the original install and there is a 4" breach in the case gasket allowing water in. The radars come in a few pieces before they get installed on your boat. Who ever installed this radar is clearly at fault and is not a warranty issue that anyone will cover

Apparently it was either fried upon contract and the dealer lied or it was an intermittent problem that was never resolved.

Unfortunately I am stuck between a rock and a hard place with the new owner, but fortunately he is not upset with me and is still thanking me for continuing to assist him thru this problem.

After speaking to the listing broker today, it was clear that the broker or the owner was not going to step up and take care of it. The new owner even offer to pay a portion if they paid some it too.

Unfortunately for these guys the new owner has been in contact with his lawyer and its going to the next level. He has more than enough documentation to support his case and win it.

The listing brokers words to me were " It worked when it left" and "It's a used boat what do you expect" Boat is a 2005 and the electronics were upgraded in Aug of 2007

The electronics being less than a year old, should be in working order. Not that price makes a difference but its a full raymarine e120 setup and 4kw array NOT CHEAP by any means

I even told the owner if I had the money to spare I would pay half just because. I even expressed this to the other broker and there was no comments other than the above.

Moral of the story is this boat went to survey and the water damage would of never came up till the radar failed completely.

Be careful who you use to install your electronics.

Be sure to have any issues noted in a contract signed by your dealer/broker of who is doing what and what is expected. This was done and this owner has it in writing on contract, in survey, and email "Repair Radar".

If its not on a contract and you are going by words most likely your in to get hosed

Here are some pics below of when the radar was opened up.

The new owner said he doesn't care if the lawyers fees cost 6 times the amount of the repair its principal and I do not blame him one bit

Keep you posted as we work thru this and what the outcome of it is

[B-faithful]

too bad.. In the future you may want to request that any repairs that are to be made as a result of the survey be done by a certified professional and ask for receipts prior to taking delivery. This protects the seller and the buyer as either can hold the repairing company accountable if the repairs were not done propperly. (assuming they use a creditable repair company)

[Wild Life Management]

Be careful who you use to install your electronics.

Don't even get me started.

It sucks this happened Mary, hope all works out for you. Why are people such shitheads?

[Deep C]

Great that you brought this up Mary... Installation is everything. You might recall that we had issues of major proportions on the 31 with its electronics. Sloppy work basically rendered an E120 and all its trimmins useless. Was not a single trip this year that I didn't find some other slop somewheree in the rigging.
Shop it out and ask around folks.

[LuckyLady]

too bad.. In the future you may want to request that any repairs that are to be made as a result of the survey be done by a certified professional and ask for receipts prior to taking delivery. This protects the seller and the buyer as either can hold the repairing company accountable if the repairs were not done propperly. (assuming they use a creditable repair company)

It was done thru a regular service and repair dealership.The repair receipts we have dont do us any justice when its still broken.

Its a fact it was done during install.

[sportfishingusa]

All i can say is that i would call the company who produces the electronics.. When i purchased my raymarine system 2 years ago it all game and the antenna was all together...

They should cover it as it is a faulty gasket thats all... I would start there which i am sure you already have but give em hell and i bet you raymarine will back you 200 percent on this one..

If there has ever been a problem with anything i know they stand by their products... and this seems like it could have been another problem other than the installer.

[LuckyLady]

Great that you brought this up Mary... Installation is everything. You might recall that we had issues of major proportions on the 31 with its electronics. Sloppy work basically rendered an E120 and all its trimmins useless. Was not a single trip this year that I didn't find some other slop somewheree in the rigging.
Shop it out and ask around folks.

You guys certainly had your fair share of install issues for sure. I would love to know who the installer is on this one. That is who should be liable not this selling dealership.

Cheaper and quicker is not always better. Is the nornaml case.

A different customer had another company do an install and we were squaring some small issues away on the 1st trip.

I was sitting inside the console and I noticeed the speakers that were installed were never caulked in and the physical holes were never epoxied and sealed. I asked, why was it was like that and I got the owner was in a rush. I asked the owner at a later date and he said no I would never say that and why would they do that.

Exposed fiberglass like that leads to delamination

The surveyor did his job and there is nothing more that could be done what so ever on his behalf. The survey part of the title is because surveys do not pick this stuff up. They are not going to open up the units and say yup no water. It actually could void warranties if they are opened up by anymore other then thier certified techs or factory

[LuckyLady]

All i can say is that i would call the company who produces the electronics.. When i purchased my raymarine system 2 years ago it all game and the antenna was all together...

They should cover it as it is a faulty gasket thats all... I would start there which i am sure you already have but give em hell and i bet you raymarine will back you 200 percent on this one..

If there has ever been a problem with anything i know they stand by their products... and this seems like it could have been another problem other than the installer.

I have tried that route and I know the reps for many many years




Raymarine said that there is a 10% chance that this will be covered under warranty. The chance is real slim

Its 1250.00 charge just to look at it and possibly up to 2100 to repair or replace the pedestal. Plus labor on and off the boat and the freight back and forth.

I am not about to send the unit back without knowing who is responsible for the charges that is not fair to anyone to assume anyone is paying for anything.

[Avenger]

Sounds like the lawyers are going to end up sorting this one out.

Personally, I prefer to re-negotiate the price of the boat for the deficiencies. If the seller does the repairs there's too much incentive for them to do the cheapest job possible since there's no return on it for them.

It's not always possible, especially if there's a broker involved because it cuts into their pie too. But if I had a choice I'd get an estimate and do the math.

[LuckyLady]

Sounds like the lawyers are going to end up sorting this one out.

Personally, I prefer to re-negotiate the price of the boat for the deficiencies. If the seller does the repairs there's too much incentive for them to do the cheapest job possible since there's no return on it for them.

It's not always possible, especially if there's a broker involved because it cuts into their pie too. But if I had a choice I'd get an estimate and do the math.

I didn't take a penny on this one, there was no co brokerage commission paid to me what so ever. I actually laid money out of my pocket on this one. Oh wait I got a nice crab cake lunch out of it By far the best crab cakes I have had to date.

The radar was told to be an issue before we even stepped foot on the boat for the 1st time for seatrial before any deposits were even placed or a contract was written.

I hate when lawyers get involved it just makes everyone spend more money than needed. The consumer is right in this situation.

I know when you buy a used boat it is "As is" and is a "Used Boat" - If this came up 6 months later after purchase okay maybe, but it was a problem from the get go.