KCHOTBOAT

How do you deal with a boat builder that does not meet Merc specs? My transom was only a inch and 7/8 thick and not the best of jobs. I have tried to work with HTM and here is the response I got at the bottom. Merc specs a min. of two inches thickness. Also I bought the boat new and it was the one that was used in HotBoat the month I bought it with the power I told her. I have the ad with it for sale with the same power I told her. The picture of the motor in my boat was even used for ProCharger ads. The boat was in Hot Boat 2/98. I no longer have the serial numbers of the motor since I replace it years ago.


From: LIA COULOMBE [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thu 5/19/2005 4:35 PM
To: Richard Fisher
Subject:


Hello Richard,
I would not have a copy of the contract from you to Off Shore. I need to make sure that you were the 1st owner and what the boat came out fitted with from Off Shore, I can not do this with out the original contract. I do have records but they show that HTM did not install the motor package and a pro charger in the box was sent up with it. I wanted to see if there was any notes on your contract. I have measured several of the boats here (new and old) and I have documented them and they are all shy of 2" this is not a defect

KCHOTBOAT

I did tell her I was going to do this and she insists they are correct.

Hello Richard,
Please do call Mer Cruiser, I spoke with there tech department - Bill- he is the only Bill in this department - I am sure he will have no problem speaking with you. We test boats with many kinds of different packages and many are photographed and tested by HTM and the magazines, and then pulled out. That does not mean that we sold the boat with that exact package in it, many time we have a use for that package right away and if the boat has not sold right away we will use it somewhere else and give the buyer the option of whatever package that they want. Some times we may take a package out because we are going to possibly sell it with stock power or higher HP. When the add was placed it may or may not (if anything) have had that package from the test in it, if we had a buyer for another boat and they wanted that package it would have been pulled out and sold with another boat.
I have asked you for your engine #'s, I have asked you for out drive #'s, I have asked you for a copy of your contract, which as of yet you have not provide, due to the outdrive has been repainted and that the engine is at a machine shop and that your contract is so light that you can not read it. From the photo's and measurements you have sent the transom and floors are not defective. The photo's you sent only show so much and the tools that you used to measure did not look like calibrated tools. There may be something we may be missing because of only having photo's. To continue further will need the vessel here to be able to examine it. We will be more than happy to look at your boat at our facility and if it is determined that the transom is incorrect than we will be more than happy to fix it at no charge. Again as a courtesy if there is anything else that you want done on the boat (within reason) we will do it at our cost.
Mer Cruiser stated that the break looks new for the photo's provided by you. If in fact the transom was defective the transom would have caused the plate to break much earlier, it would be very unlikely to break 7 years later. If you send the plate to us we will forward it to Mer Cruiser so they can further inspect it, if they feel it to be defective they may replace it, but they will also need the engine and outdrive #'s and your original contract.
Unless you are able to provide us with the vessel, the parts and items as listed before, we will still not be able to help you.
Send copies of your contract, engine and outdrive #'s and plate so it can be sent for further inspection.
HTM, P.O. Box 985, Acton, Ca 93510

Lia


-------Original Message-------

From: Richard Fisher
Date: 05/21/05 01:08:47
To: LIA COULOMBE
Subject: RE:

Lia
I take it that all your statements in the last email are correct and that
you will not have a problem with me posting them on a public boating forum
or showing them to others. I also take it I can call Merc and they will
state the same thing as you did to me.
"I do have records but they show that HTM did not install the motor package
and a pro charger in the box was sent up with it"
Look at the issue of Feb. 98 of HOTBOAT I own was used in and I also have
the ad that you guys posted the boat for sale in Powerboat.


Richard H Fisher
_____

From: LIA COULOMBE [mailto:[email protected]]
Sent: Thu 5/19/2005 4:35 PM
To: Richard Fisher
Subject:



Hello Richard,
I would not have a copy of the contract from you to Off Shore. I need to
make sure that you were the 1st owner and what the boat came out fitted with
from Off Shore, I can not do this with out the original contract. I do have
records but they show that HTM did not install the motor package and a pro
charger in the box was sent up with it. I wanted to see if there was any
notes on your contract. I have measured several of the boats here (new and
old) and I have documented them and they are all shy of 2" this is not a
defect. In addition the surface is not completely flat on ay of them and
again this is also not a defect. I have called and spoke to mer cruiser and
the 2" is for a flex factor. Mer Cruiser asked if any others had broke and
non have. We run single and twin 1100 HP and up and non of them have ever
had a problem EVER. As for the floor, again we built them all the same with
the same drainage system and again there has never been a problem with them.
Unless there is excessive water sitting on the floor or put away wet, this
will not happen. We use high strength materials which changes the thickness
required. I know this is not what you want to hear but we do stand up behind
our product. I have spent a lot of time researching and sending your photo's
out to get other opinions and they have been the same as ours. If you wish
to bring your boat to us we will be willing to do a full inspection
including measurements using caliper from top to bottom. If there was work
you wanted to have done on boat we would be happy to help you by working on
the boat for direct cost of labor and materials as a courtesy. From what you
have described and show us by your photo's there is nothing wrong with the
boat. It is again the same build as our other boats.

KCHOTBOAT

Here is a picture.

H20 Toie

Sounds like they are trying to work with you unlike a lot of companys would.

FOUNTAINATLAST

You need to get on the phone with mercrusier and get there take on this problem. Why do they need the boat for inspection can't you take it to an authorized Merc dealer in your area for inspection???

vette131

sounds like they are being fair. your boats seven years old. show us a picture of the transom with a strait edge for reference.

Chuck

I know your looking for a diffrent response, but sounds to me like she is concerned and wants to help you. Take the boat to her, and see what happens. Good Luck

offthefront

iTrader: (1)

What they said .... seems they are being more than fair ....is there damage to the Transom as well ???

Ed

Mercruiser prints a publication called an "Mercruiser Engine & Bravo Installation Guide" for O.E.M.'s & Dealers, or anyone else that might be performing the install. In that guide, it states(among other things), how thick the transom should be. I think you will find that 1 7/8" thickness is well within standards. A Bravo inner & outer transom plate will not sandwich up to a transom that is even a fraction over 2 1/4". Whats more important, is how flat the inner side of the fiberglass transom is, before installation. A cracked or broken inner transom plate is caused by just plain over-tightening on a level inner transom...or normal tightening(or overtightening) on a uneven mounting surface. There is usually never a problem with the external surface, or outer transom plate assembly. The most commonly used transom core material thickness that all manufacturers use, is 1 1/2", whether it be plywood, high density foam, etc. The amount & type of glass on both sides determines final overall thickness. Hope this helps. Ed

OLDRAT

KC,

Lia and company will work with you to ensure you get the
issues resolved. They have had too much tragedy in their
lives lately not to make sure owners are safe and happy.

OR