Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

My dad was going to buy a 1998 28ft Concept with twin 225 ob. with only 50 hrs. He wasn't even going to have it surveyed because it was so new and always stored inside. But decided it was the best move to spend the money on the survey to make sure. It failed the survey with a rotten floor around the center counsel, and stringes around the gas tank. We thought concepts where good boats. Is this common? or a freak thing. Maybe he should look at different center counsels. Any opinions would help. Thanks

What boat is this? I stay up on a lot of the preowned boats for sale and have not seen this 1998 advertised nor heard from the customer about repair. Concept has been all composite materials since 2000; however, in 1998 did use wood coring, never heard of any model that stringers rotted even when we used wood. And, a boat with only 50 hours, something is not right...please have this owner call me...Thanks, Susan Concept 888-635-8712

Now thats service......

I have been selling them for 2 years and just bought myself a new 36 with T-250xs's. Luis, Susan, Maria, Lou and everyone else at Concept are 100% top shelf.

All boat companies should strive to be like Concept in terms of quality, dealer support and customer support.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Thanks Susan, I'm going to have my dad call you. We always felt concept was a good boat. But now have questions. Thanks for your response.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Saw a boat in the shop the other day that was a 2000 model. Customer just bought it and thought he got a good deal. Garage kept (purportedly), immaculate condition until you stepped on the floor. Felt a little soft so out came the ice pick. Found rotten stringers, floor and such. Very close inspection showed a water line inside the boat. Seems it was put away for the winter with the bilge plug in and full of water. Someone should be shot.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I talked to the surveyor myself today. He said that it wasn't a stringer that was rotten. It was the core material of the cock pit liner around the console. And some other structural components. That because of the one piece construction of the boat would be very difficult to fix. I believe that this could be a freak thing. We're just trying to figure that out. Thanks for all the input.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Any updates on this yet !????

Hi Susan !!!!!!!

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Yes, spoke with him this morning. Seems there was moisture detected from a meter by this surveyor which Skamer holds in high regard. It was not seen; however, I believe him especially since a T-top was added after the boat was built. The problem is that this boat looks new and the price is great, Skamer was dissappointed as he wanted to buy it. Need to keep a look out for a 2001 or newer that is all composite.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

An aquaintance of my had to replace his gas tank on an early built Concept.

I think they have solved the problem, but would stay away from this one.

My $ .02

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Wannabe...in the 20 years we have built boats, we have replaced 4 gas tanks, all because of cracks and even though OUT OF WARRANTY, Concept repaired without cost to the retail customer, your friend must have been one of them unless some work was done elsewhere we don't know about. I'm with you, if you can afford newer technology, why buy old; however, some of us can not afford to...that boat skamer was looking at was 39K and someone may get 15 years of fun boating with it or a soft spot on the floor in a year, not a chance he is willing to take.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

They only thing rotting on Concepts from what I heard is your stomach when you go on WickedTwo after a few stops.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I wonder if Reggie would have answered a prospective customer about a specific boats history ????(via a forum like OSO) :argue:
or return calls from a angry customer that has warrenty issues ???

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

WOW! Real people and no double talk, I likey

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Yeah! Customer service.....what a "concept"!!!
:D :D :D :D

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Man I miss it already, GL you gotta jump on my rig (if mines not rotten yet :D ) next year, I've got the fine food & beverage tour of the upper keys down to a science, yes ...the good life :drink:

As far as Concept goes they take everything personally and treat ya like family. These people ( hell I think they're all related including the people on the factory floor) are VERY, VERY proud of their products and their reputation. Luis Avila ( the owner) doesn't seem to understand the boat biz, there's no flash, no bull, no exaggerations and he does EXACTLY what he says he's going to do and DELIVERS it when he says he will........he just doesn't get it :D Sorry to hear about that wet deck, it's always been a problem it just seems more prevelant now because of the moisture meters that detect it long before you feel or see it, I'm not making excuses for Concept cause that kind of a problem SUCKS, I can only tell ya what I saw at the factory in my five or six visits, they were some of the most conscientious people i've ever seen building anything.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

[QUOTE=WickedWon]Man I miss it already, GL you gotta jump on my rig (if mines not rotten yet :D )

ha ha ha ha...you need to start exploring the Bahamas next year! You got the boat to island hop!!

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Just took my 36 for a cruise yesterday here in NJ

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Hey Dave...so happy you were able to keep one for your own!! I saved that pix earlier cause it's one I didn't get before it left. Have poker run for Concepts from Key Largo to Key West on July 17th...were you thinkin of a few days in Florida this summer?

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Hi Susan, the question I asked was for me father. I can only afford old technology, and although I can't quote the surveryor word for word I think you should hear what he had to say about your boats. I will pm you his number. As I said before I always thought your boats where good boats. Have a great day.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I'm not bashing concept, Just asking a questions.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I understand there is some place else he put that meter in the transom deck and got a moisture reading Mike. Just don't know enough info yet on what's been added after.
And, sometimes it'a not "afford" Skramer, it's what one wants to spend on a boat or finding a good deal like that one and it just pisses you off it didn't happen.
I got your mail with his number, I told you dad...I would like to help in making him feel comfortable about that boat...he let me know unless I could replace the hull, it wasn't happening for him. I'll talk to the surveyor, mostly because the knowlege may be helpful to us; however, I'll keep a look out for another boat for your dad that has no wood.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Wow??????????????????

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Hey Dave, Nice looking Boat!!!! Didn't know you were into fishing :D :D

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

[QUOTE=Concept]If you go count me in! Went last month for the firt time, and I can't wait to go again!

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Hi Susan, did you get a chance to call the surveyor?

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Yes, I spoke with him and he is to e mail me pix but he did not do so. I have also spoken to your dad and let him know what we could do for him to fix it at worse case. We have a customer shipping his 36 up in about a week, waiting to hear from our transporter what he will charge to bring this 30' back home in case your dad decides he want it.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I am curious what Concept cores their boats with? Foam or balsa? Just curious from a small builder - BH

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

we used to core with balsa, since mid-2000 we core with foam wood free.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

WOW ..... These folks even offer great "Before the sale" suppport !!! Allow me to get up on my soapbox ONE MORE TIME !!!!! We have had a great experience with Concept... built a totally custom boat with them that was really unlike their "usual" product. They WELCOMED the "challenge" and delivered the boat ON TIME !!! Just as I had ordered it . We had 1 engine fail during break-in.... "Big Lou" from Concept was there in ONE day to pick it up and get it to Central Yamaha .... (who was also fantastic to deal with !!!) I had to come back up north .... got a call about 2 weeks later from Luis at Concept to inform me the boat was back in it's winter home ... ready to go ... including a few changes that I decided I wanted to make after I took delivery of the boat .... The boat is now in the lift behind my house up here (again ... courtesy of Big Lou) and I wouldn't hesitate to do it all over again !!!

Jerry McConnell ... (boat thrasher)

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Concept -

Not to change the subject (but, changing the subject), can you tell me where you get the trick recesses for the cockpit fire extinguishers? I'd love to do the same with my boat but havn't seen any sources for the fiberglass recess boxes.

Thanks - Greg

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

call Maria at 305-635-8712 for ordering parts.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Thanks, I will - Greg

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I've owned several boats that have had to have rot cut out of them. Some I bought for resale, some I bought to keep and use. While it is certainly a concern and needs addressed, I see no reason to get freaked out about the entire boat and manufacturer.

Look at the purchase price, look at the cost (money AND time) to repair it properly, add them together and see how you feel about it. If the deal doesn't sound as sweet then move on. Seems like a pretty simple concept to me...

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

nobody is freaking out mcollinstn..everything is cool, just happening at a busy time, everyone wanted their boat for memorial day and I have some personal things going on.
Jerry, have appt w/my son until 1 pm today, will write you a letter when I return. Never received the survey from Greg, not needed but would like to see. Thanks

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

There was a 1994 Concept 28' at Marine Services in Woodbridge, Virginia over the winter that had badly rotted stringers to the point that the gas tank had broken free of its mounts. When I stopped by the deck was removed, the boat was completely stripped down to the bare hull with the stringers completely removed and there was a lot of grinding going on. The boat is back together now, but I'm sure glad I didn't have to tackle it.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I guess as a boat builder you can't really control the accesories that people put on their boats. For example, if someone were to buy my boat and put a t top, radar arch or some other bolt on and not 5200 it... there is a possibility that my stringers could rot. Or if someone takes the center console off for some type of service, bolts it back on and does not properly seal it... you could possibly have some rot. I just think that, at least in some cases, people do half a$$ jobs to finish quickly and neglect the long term effect of not doing something properly. Just my 2 cents..

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

It's hard to judge any of this without seeing the damage. My guess, with the reputation that Concept has, it would probably be some sort of aftermarket item that was installed after it left the factory.
Obviously, it is completely out of the manufacturer's control what someone does once it is out the door.
But it is refreshing to see Susan jump to a quick response and maybe even a remedy for the situation!

Two thumbs up Susan! That is great customer service! :cool:

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

Hello Sharky Marine, not met you before. Don't know anything about this boat in VA, spoke w/Luis and he says we never got a call on it. Thank you for the compliment, we sleep well at night.

Re: Rotten Concept. Is this common?
 

I'm around here once in awhile.... :drink:

I am a NJPPC member and was in awe when I saw the boats DaveP was selling and his latest addition at the last Poker Run.

Sharp boats.

I manufactured boats for awhile in the mid 80's to early 90's. Always paid attention to the details. It's nice to see a company such as yours do the same....