[CHA CHING]

Just checking to see if any of you guys have any experience with Contender standing behind there warranty??
I have multiple serious issues with my 27. Contender is telling me that a lot of it is Cosmetic, that I load the boat wrong on the trailer?
The center console is coming loose from the deck. The glass that holds the lip of the console under the deck is cracked or delaminated.
If you pull down on the t top at the back between the spreader lights you can lift the front of the console at least an inch of the deck.
The inside of the livewell is falling out and no I haven't been hauling my downrigger balls in it. The bottom is just falling out.
The floor insert between the console and the bilge access hatch is warped in the center. The balsa or honeycomb is either rotten or just weak.
The outside running stakes or chines have air voids all along the sharp edges. Contender says this is cosmetic. I disagree, if those edges didn't need to be sharp for a reason they wouldn't have made them sharp. I have gelcoat chipping off ever sharp edge on the boat. This boat is only a 2000 model with 500 hours on it. Just hoping Contender stands behind there name.
All Star Rods is now owned by Shakespear. Beware!!!! The warranty is not a lifetime anymore. I drove over there last week with a handful of busted rods for exchange and was turned awat at the door because customer service hours are noe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The hours are 12:30 to 3:00 PM
If you didn't mail in your original warranty card when you bought your rod your SOL. I have 8 broken All Star rods that are supposed to have a lifetime blank warranty that I guess I'll just have to throw away.
I think I'll try American Rodsmiths.

 

[Argo]

I have a couple of the 5.5' american rodsmith rods that I have been happy with so far. I have my Avet 50ws on them until my other chaos rod gets in. I did not expect to like them but they are nice, light and strong rods. I had alot of negative feedback when I asked about them but am happy with them so far.

 

[Captn C]

WOW Those problems around your console are the same as mine...You sure that your boat in not a SeaCraft?

Sorry to hear that. I have been getting the feeling that ALL boat manufacturer will try to slip out of their responsibility if they can.

On my boat it is only has 3 1/2 years on the water and they claim they are not responsable because I am the second owner......WHY NOT I ask them....did they refund part of the original owner money to him when I bought the boat? NO! It's just a loop hole they are trying to slip though.

Thank our representatives in Austin for the Texas Deceptive Trade Act!

 

[WilliamH]

. . . . .
All Star Rods is now owned by Shakespear. Beware!!!! The warranty is not a lifetime anymore. I drove over there last week with a handful of busted rods for exchange and was turned awat at the door because customer service hours are noe Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. The hours are 12:30 to 3:00 PM
If you didn't mail in your original warranty card when you bought your rod your SOL. I have 8 broken All Star rods that are supposed to have a lifetime blank warranty that I guess I'll just have to throw away.
I think I'll try American Rodsmiths.

Not to start an argument . . . .but,
How did the rods break? I read all the time about broken rods. I can say I have never had a rod break on me while fishing. (Knocking on wood) I have even used rods to help break my fall on the jetties, have used rods to help retrieve wayward lures, have even used boat rods to try and pull the bottom of offshore rigs to the surface!! Not once have I had a rod snap. (again knocking on wood) Castaways, All-Stars, bargin bin specials, I use them all.

That does "inhave vigerously" about the warranty.

 

[fishanywhere]

doesn't matter, all-star used to always exchange no questions asked, they aren't doing it now, that is his point.

 

[Capt. Lowtide]

Capt. Jeff, have you consulted with your local Contender dealer?

 

[WilliamH]

doesn't matter, all-star used to always exchange no questions asked, they aren't doing it now, that is his point.

I understand his point. Still curious as to how rods get broken.

 

[CHA CHING]

rods and warranties

I have consulted Texas Marine. I really don't care to deal with them. I have nothing but bad results in the past with them as other friends have. I brought my boat to Northwest Fiberglass. He sent pictures to Contender. I have spoken with them direct and they told me that is an old boat. I told them it still has 6 years left on their 10 year hull warranty. They are trying to tell me that the chines chipping is just cosmetic. I tend to disagree.
As for the rods, ask KevinA, Ronnie, Little Bill, Scotty, and so on. They all have broken with fish on. I do have a few with cracked tips which I usually can get them to repair for a minimal charge.
If you haven't ever broken a rod your working way to much and not spending enough time on the water.
I have 6 snapped rods in the last 3 weeks. All Allstars except one Ande bought at Cut Rate. It broke on it's first fish.

 

[CHA CHING]

William H

Where in Cypress are you William? We are close.

 

[WilliamH]

. . . .
If you haven't ever broken a rod your working way to much and not spending enough time on the water.
. . . . . .

I agree with you!! I live at 290 and Mason. How about you?

I drool over your website every few days. I want to take one of those Venice trips.

 

[Stay Bent]

Ironically, I just spoke with Academy here in League City last Friday about the Allstar warranty rumors and they said bring it on in. I have exchanged about 3 there and no questions asked. I'm bringing my latest tip broken one in a few hours, so I will post the end result.

Bernard

 

[Scott]

Contender Issue:

Sounds to me like they did a bad job laying the boat up in the mold (at least with the chine problem). Somehow, air remained in the layers as it set. This happens sometimes, but shouldn't. This is a manufacturing problem. I've never heard bad things about Contender like this. This surprises me. You might do some checking into your trailer manufacturer etc. I do know of instances where trailers cause serious damage to hulls because they are not done in conjunction with consultaiton with the factory. I also know, "trailer issues" are a common excuse for boat builders.. its like their canned response to hull problems. You might ask Contender who is an authorized repair shop in this area for hull warranty issues. Then take the boat to that guy to have them look at it. Then have him contact Contender and complain for you.

 

[James Howell]

Jeff, Did you buy the boat new or used?

 

[Tall1fin]

The chines chipping is because they used a putty filler before they lay the glass and the putty is brittle. Most of the puddy should be displaced by the glass if its done right. Could also be gelcoat too thick in the chine...you should be able to see this in the cross section.

The other things you mentioned are probably the bonding putty has just fatigued to the point of delamination? The live well is probably just too thin and finally has started to give way. Basically you may have gotten a Monday morning or Friday cant wait to get this one done boat.

I think most boat mfg. are cheap SOB's that don't stand behind their work. Its always the customers fault. There are probably some exceptions but few. Every boat that is not vacumm molded is going to be different as the crews that lay them up are not the same either. Its common practice to pay these roaming band of lay up teams on a piece work basis. Not that this is a bad thing since they do this every day and some are very good but they get paid the same for a high quality job or low quality. I was a lead man on several crews in So. Cal and have seen things you cannot imagine.

 

[pacontender]

Call Ronnie's Marine and talk to J Jones (361)991-9538. I just bought my 36 from them and had all my repairs on the 31 done by them. He should be willing to help you out with the warranty issues or at least get you headed in the right direction. My 31 was a 99 model with about 1200 hours and didn't have those problems. They should fix it.

 

[Argo]

Tall1fin, what kind of boat do you have again?

 

[Stay Bent]

Allstar Rod Update:
I had no problems returning my rod today at the Academy in League City. (45 South) She said if we don't have any more of the PRMs, then I can give you $$$ for it to get another model. So turn them in at Academy and post if you have success / problems.

Bernard

 

[Tall1fin]

Argo,
I have a 29' Seaswirl. I own a composite mfg company and used to work on a couple of laminating crews when I was younger out in So.Cal. Basically, a builder will try and muddy the water as much as possible and play dumber than a door knob when dealing with defective fiberglass because the truth of the matter is some defects cannot be fixed "right" and the job once botched is botched for life. Examples would be resin rich areas or too hot exotherm that makes it brittle.....hence cracking and repairs that only crack again or elsewhere.

George

 

[Argo]

I guess you konw a little bit about hulls?

 

[Captn C]

Jeff, Did you buy the boat new or used?

I think I know where you are going James, but that is a lame *** reason not to warranty a boat....They are using it on me.

All I can say to the manufacturer when they state that second owner BS...."Did you refund part of the original purchase price back to him when I bought the boat from him? I didn't think so!". They still got their money....it a slimy *** way to get out of standing behind their product!

What would make a boat break just because it was sold by the original purchaser?????????????

BTW-Yes I am a little bitter towards boat builder, just incase you didn't notice!