Edgewater Boat Warranty

Blackcloud · 02-27-2008, 03:12 PM

Need advise. I contacted Edgewater about gel coat cracks all over the sides of my boat. The email conversations started Sept 07 and they just said NO last week.

The boat is a 2001, had 129 hrs on it when purchase, so new the bottom was never painted. I explained all of this to Edgewater....but they replyed that they wouldn't fix it because the boat was 6 years old and the cracks were only cosmetic. My local shop feel there is a problem with the jell coat being too thick or there are voids below the jell coat causing the crack...this would be structural.

Edgewater promotes a transferrable lifetime warranty on the hull...but still will not fix the issue. Local shop gave me an estimate for just over 6K = ouch.

Any advise?

Blackcloud

ReelCrazySportfishing · 02-27-2008, 04:20 PM

Keep on them. a friend had the same problem with polar boats. it went back and forth for about 9 months, they kept giving the same reasons that you are getting. He kept on them and they finally fixed the boat.
See if you could get a glass repair guy to wirte something for you telling them he thinks its a gelcoat problem and I would start insisting that they have a rep look at it

bent butt · 02-27-2008, 07:26 PM

I will begin at the beginning....a disclaimer of sorts. I am not a rocket scientist. I am not a big boat company guy (though I have worked with a few), nor am I a composites engineer....I am not one to advise you on somthing that I have not actually seen....the cracks that you mentioned. I am a guy who has spent more time than I would like to admit molding hulls in FRP (fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass) and as such I have a pretty good idea as to what you are dealing with.
The process by which your hull was derived goes somthing like this.....
1. gellcoat is sprayed into the mold and allowed to "gel" cure.
2.a "skincoat" of 3/4 oz. mat is then laminated over the gelled mold surface. this material may be applied either in sheets(off of a roll) or with a mechanical "chopper" gun, either way it must be manually rolled by a guy who likley isn't paid that much. attention to detail in this step is critical! Lack of attention to detail in this step is probably your problem.
3.Successive layers of laminate (heavier cloth) is then laid in the mold and wet out using a vacuum infusion process that I am familiar with, but the explanation isn't really warranted given the nature of your problem.

Basicaly, the only part of the production process in modern FRP boatbuilding that invites human error is the application of the skincoat. What happens is this....the hull area is rather large and the working window(the ammount of time between resin application and cure to the point of not being able to work the trapped air out of the matt substrate) is rather compressed, sometimes that severely under paid guy cares an awful lot and is simply overwhelmed, sometimes he just doesn't care. Either way, it seems that you have a clear case of air entrapment in the skincoat and as such you should keep on 'em. it certainly sounds like a manufacturing flaw to me.
If the cracks seem to be limited to areas with hard turns(running strakes,chines etc) there may be another issue at play, but no less sounds like manufacturing snafu.
If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me.
A!

Special K · 02-28-2008, 08:09 AM

good explaination of the lay-up process. informative!
seems like such problems are not limited to any one manufacturer.

Two Bobs · 02-28-2008, 08:40 AM

Had a similar problem with a Cobia. I took it to a fiberglass shop at Hewitt’s Cove in Hingham MA. I wish I could remember the name of the Company, but unfortunately it escapes me. The person who owns this shop (can anybody help me with contact info) is a fiberglass genius. He has done 2 repairs for me and they were both perfect. Back to the Cobia. After spending about 20 min with the boat he determined that it was a major structural flaw with the boat, and the work required to fix it was so extensive that Cobia should replace the boat. He spent a few hours on the phone with Cobia, and convinced them to take the boat back to FL. for evaluation. Long story short, got a new boat, get a few professional opinions before you move forward.

Blackcloud · 02-28-2008, 10:56 AM

I'm not giving up.....but don't know how to get past the customer service guy I keep dealing with. I call, research the company online, I know who owns Edgewater....but he will not take my calls, believe me I've tried.

Thanks for the advise!!

bent butt · 02-28-2008, 05:19 PM

sometimes when dealing with customer service guys the best thing to do is to drive down to the factory, walk right past the receptionest hop on top of the guys desk and dance a jig....IF you play it right you'll be all danced out by the time the police arrive to escort you to the nearest state hospital....or disneyworld, whichever is closer. Or maybe you should send the guy flowers, or maybe one of those vermont teddybears....

Edgewater_245CC · 02-28-2008, 08:23 PM

I am having similar issues with Edgewater. My boat was only a year old last fall and the gas tank was leaking into the Bilge. I am lucky nothing happened 30 miles offshore. They finally determined the tank needed to be replaced. Communication has been terrible with Edgewater. The person handling the service is Jeremiah Carosella. After telling me the boat was being shipped back to Florida I tried contacting multiple times for over a month to find out what was happening. I never got a response. Finally I contacted Bosun's in Mashpee, which sold it to me, to tell me they were no longer shipping it and said they are having someone local deal with it. This issue has been ongoing since last October. The boat is still not fixed and I have my fingers crossed I will be in the water come spring. After no response from edgewater and never any communication of what was going on I emailed edgewater again telling them my experience with them and they have yet to reply or acknowledge the whole experience. I know your boat was bought used, but if you can find the dealer where it was purchased maybe they can help assist with Edgewater. Bosun's has been a great help, but they also sold the boat. I understand your frustration

Bob & Mag · 02-29-2008, 07:16 AM

Good advice about the dealer. It really pays to not only shop around for a good boat but also a good dealer. He'll go to bat with the mfgr. for you. It's really ashame the companies can't just do what's right. Don't they know about bad press and the internet?

Blackcloud · 02-29-2008, 12:12 PM

Edgewater 245CC, I cannot believe for a gas tank problem on a new boat your getting the run around. I just sent you a PM. Let me know.

All of this S&%& started because I wanted to trade up to the 26' edgewater express and found out what my boat was worth as a trade in with the cracks....which is a fraction of what I paid for it 1 year ago with 129hrs on it.

PS...Mako came out with a new line of boats!!!!!

02-27-2008, 03:12 PM	#1
Blackcloud NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24	Edgewater Boat Warranty Need advise. I contacted Edgewater about gel coat cracks all over the sides of my boat. The email conversations started Sept 07 and they just said NO last week. The boat is a 2001, had 129 hrs on it when purchase, so new the bottom was never painted. I explained all of this to Edgewater....but they replyed that they wouldn't fix it because the boat was 6 years old and the cracks were only cosmetic. My local shop feel there is a problem with the jell coat being too thick or there are voids below the jell coat causing the crack...this would be structural. Edgewater promotes a transferrable lifetime warranty on the hull...but still will not fix the issue. Local shop gave me an estimate for just over 6K = ouch. Any advise? Blackcloud

02-27-2008, 04:20 PM	#2
ReelCrazySportfishing User Gallery Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: West Haven Posts: 1,933	Keep on them. a friend had the same problem with polar boats. it went back and forth for about 9 months, they kept giving the same reasons that you are getting. He kept on them and they finally fixed the boat. See if you could get a glass repair guy to wirte something for you telling them he thinks its a gelcoat problem and I would start insisting that they have a rep look at it __________________ www.ReelCrazySportfishing.com Connecticut Charter Fishing www.fishermansparadisect.com

02-28-2008, 10:56 AM	#6
Blackcloud NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24	It's very frustrating I'm not giving up.....but don't know how to get past the customer service guy I keep dealing with. I call, research the company online, I know who owns Edgewater....but he will not take my calls, believe me I've tried. Thanks for the advise!!

02-28-2008, 08:23 PM	#8
Edgewater_245CC NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: South Shore, Ma Posts: 73	I am having similar issues with Edgewater. My boat was only a year old last fall and the gas tank was leaking into the Bilge. I am lucky nothing happened 30 miles offshore. They finally determined the tank needed to be replaced. Communication has been terrible with Edgewater. The person handling the service is Jeremiah Carosella. After telling me the boat was being shipped back to Florida I tried contacting multiple times for over a month to find out what was happening. I never got a response. Finally I contacted Bosun's in Mashpee, which sold it to me, to tell me they were no longer shipping it and said they are having someone local deal with it. This issue has been ongoing since last October. The boat is still not fixed and I have my fingers crossed I will be in the water come spring. After no response from edgewater and never any communication of what was going on I emailed edgewater again telling them my experience with them and they have yet to reply or acknowledge the whole experience. I know your boat was bought used, but if you can find the dealer where it was purchased maybe they can help assist with Edgewater. Bosun's has been a great help, but they also sold the boat. I understand your frustration __________________ Rather B Fishing...

02-29-2008, 07:16 AM	#9
Bob & Mag User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Clinton, CT Posts: 2,679	Good advice about the dealer. It really pays to not only shop around for a good boat but also a good dealer. He'll go to bat with the mfgr. for you. It's really ashame the companies can't just do what's right. Don't they know about bad press and the internet? __________________ Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of food, electricity, gas, and oil, the light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off. Smoke free 4 Months!

02-27-2008, 07:26 PM	#3
bent butt NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: N.C. Posts: 18	I will begin at the beginning....a disclaimer of sorts. I am not a rocket scientist. I am not a big boat company guy (though I have worked with a few), nor am I a composites engineer....I am not one to advise you on somthing that I have not actually seen....the cracks that you mentioned. I am a guy who has spent more time than I would like to admit molding hulls in FRP (fiber reinforced plastic, fiberglass) and as such I have a pretty good idea as to what you are dealing with. The process by which your hull was derived goes somthing like this..... 1. gellcoat is sprayed into the mold and allowed to "gel" cure. 2.a "skincoat" of 3/4 oz. mat is then laminated over the gelled mold surface. this material may be applied either in sheets(off of a roll) or with a mechanical "chopper" gun, either way it must be manually rolled by a guy who likley isn't paid that much. attention to detail in this step is critical! Lack of attention to detail in this step is probably your problem. 3.Successive layers of laminate (heavier cloth) is then laid in the mold and wet out using a vacuum infusion process that I am familiar with, but the explanation isn't really warranted given the nature of your problem. Basicaly, the only part of the production process in modern FRP boatbuilding that invites human error is the application of the skincoat. What happens is this....the hull area is rather large and the working window(the ammount of time between resin application and cure to the point of not being able to work the trapped air out of the matt substrate) is rather compressed, sometimes that severely under paid guy cares an awful lot and is simply overwhelmed, sometimes he just doesn't care. Either way, it seems that you have a clear case of air entrapment in the skincoat and as such you should keep on 'em. it certainly sounds like a manufacturing flaw to me. If the cracks seem to be limited to areas with hard turns(running strakes,chines etc) there may be another issue at play, but no less sounds like manufacturing snafu. If you have specific questions, feel free to PM me. A!

02-28-2008, 08:09 AM	#4
Special K NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: tolland & mystic Posts: 365	good explaination of the lay-up process. informative! seems like such problems are not limited to any one manufacturer.

02-28-2008, 08:40 AM	#5
Two Bobs NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: andover, ma Posts: 22	Had a similar problem with a Cobia. I took it to a fiberglass shop at Hewitt’s Cove in Hingham MA. I wish I could remember the name of the Company, but unfortunately it escapes me. The person who owns this shop (can anybody help me with contact info) is a fiberglass genius. He has done 2 repairs for me and they were both perfect. Back to the Cobia. After spending about 20 min with the boat he determined that it was a major structural flaw with the boat, and the work required to fix it was so extensive that Cobia should replace the boat. He spent a few hours on the phone with Cobia, and convinced them to take the boat back to FL. for evaluation. Long story short, got a new boat, get a few professional opinions before you move forward.

02-28-2008, 05:19 PM	#7
bent butt NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: N.C. Posts: 18	sometimes when dealing with customer service guys the best thing to do is to drive down to the factory, walk right past the receptionest hop on top of the guys desk and dance a jig....IF you play it right you'll be all danced out by the time the police arrive to escort you to the nearest state hospital....or disneyworld, whichever is closer. Or maybe you should send the guy flowers, or maybe one of those vermont teddybears....

02-29-2008, 12:12 PM	#10
Blackcloud NBS Member User Gallery Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 24	Edgewater non-Warranty!! Edgewater 245CC, I cannot believe for a gas tank problem on a new boat your getting the run around. I just sent you a PM. Let me know. All of this S&%& started because I wanted to trade up to the 26' edgewater express and found out what my boat was worth as a trade in with the cracks....which is a fraction of what I paid for it 1 year ago with 129hrs on it. PS...Mako came out with a new line of boats!!!!!

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