Wow!... I stay away for a few months and the guano hits the blades.
I never had any dealings with Trick Marine, but over a year ago I heard some nasty rumors. Since I had never had any transactions with Trick, I felt it WAS NOT my place to mention anything.
Seems Fred had built his business model along the same lines as the MOB did in Good-fellas. Where they take over a distressed business, order case after case of booze they never intend to pay for, and sell it out the back door for less than wholesale. Then the empty shell has to face the music.

I only met him once at the Miami Boat Show. Can't remember if it was '06 or '07. Felt like I needed to take a shower afterwards. Did not make me feel warm and fuzzy. (Hold the F A G comments) I was asking about something he sold and mentioned another brand (competetors product). He didn't try to sell me on his brand just bad mouthed the other company and product. I never deal with people like that. Only thing I ever bought from him was some Leverage Products. I did get those BTW.

is he still doing business?

Local prosecutors usually arent interested in Fraud cases where they might actually have to work (at least in my experience). And there is nothing left of the business to go after to get compensation.
I have a judgement against another board member for $80k (plus interest) for a few years now with what looks like a clear case of fraud (at least to me, but im not a lawyer) but getting any legal authorities to do anyting about it is impossible.

just went down to my frige in the garage and looked at the freezer. guess i need to take this down................

I have a few of those decals in my garage (not used). Wonder if I can sell them back to him on ebay! :)

I was reluctant to post this before as I did not want to hurt Fred good "rep" here. But no longer... when I bought the Too Old Sonic" from Fred, I waited to regster it in Okla.... unfortunately I lost the title somewhere. Fred said sure, I get a duplicate..... after dozens of calls & emails over thr4ee years (while under reconstruction of the boat), Fred kept leading me on.. Sure- I've just been busy, it's here on my desk- I'll mail it tomorrow, etc. After that he just told me it's my problem!! Deal with it. So I had to get Oklahoma & S. Carolina tag bureaus to do a "stolen boat" investigation to verify the boats not stolen, to get my boat registered. All because Fred would not sign a "duplicate title request". Needless to say, the boat I bought was not as advertised by Fred, but that was my my fault for buying with a marine inspection verification of condition. It had obviously been filled with salt water at one time. The starter cases were eaten completely through! One engine was a merc 420, the other a merc 300-454!! This was the cause of the "Too Old Sonic Project" ( now the blown formula Sonic Project- due to this thread & others). I'ts very unfortunate... I thought he was one of the good guys 5 years ago...... guess I was REALLY wrong about him.

the problem with oso is that people are scared to out people who have friends on the board. Amazing how many people thought Fred and even Troutly were so innocent until the end. Yet now we see just how many people really got screwed by Fred over the years ..........:angry-smiley-038:

He's a punk! But damn your boat turned out great!

What an education that was!