Dealer rigging vs. factory rigging. any opinions? - The Hull Truth

rcman · 03-17-2005, 11:54 PM

I just ordered a new Nautic Star 2200. Dealer had a bare one in my color and if I had gone with dealer rigging, I'd have it in my backyard today! I decided to go for a factory fresh boat and let them do the rigging..and now have a 4 week wait

I guess I felt the factory new more about the boat and it was better to let them install various options.

I'm getting:
Minn Kota Riptide with autopilot/copilot
Bimini top (their new version that allows use of jump seats)
High pressure wash down (requires pump plus new thru hull fitting)
GPS/fish finder
water pressure gauge, trim gauge
SS prop
fuel/water separator
dual pro charger
200 yamaha HPDI motor

Was there any validity to my reasoning?

rcman

Anna Kathryn · 03-18-2005, 05:43 AM

Definitely.....I have had new boats that were dealer rigged, and now my 1st new boat that was factory rigged, and I definitely feel that a 4 week wait, or longer, is well worth waiting for a factory rigged boat.... that is all they do day in and day out is rig one boat after another at the factory....perfection....IMO you did the right thing.....

Bruce W · 03-19-2005, 12:21 AM

I think you're doing the right thing, too!

I ordered mine from the factory - but I ordered it in December (2000) and that was no problem 'cause I wouldn't be able to actually USE it 'til April (2001) - so there was plenty of time.

I felt that the FACTORY folks had better "access" to areas UNDER the liner, in the bilges, etc. to do a better job - WHILE the boat was being BUILT - rather than the dealer having to do these things from the TOPSIDE, ONLY!

I got a Bimini top, so I feel like the factory could "get at it" better than the dealer to make it good and STURDY from UNDER the liner. Same with the full bow rail!

Both items are VERY "sturdy" - having been done at the factory!

But the WAITING can be hard on you, for sure!

Enjoy the rig - sounds NICE!

Regards,

Bailey Boat · 03-19-2005, 09:02 AM

Can’t say if you were justified or not, it would depend on the abilities and skills of the mechanic at your dealer. PERSONALLY, I ordered mine with nothing installed and did it all myself. By doing that I know for damned sure that it’s done correctly and that no shortcuts were taken or even attempted. I rigged mine in 2001 and have yet to have anything fail or need attention.

rcman · 03-19-2005, 06:45 PM

Thanks everyone for the encouragement. I feel better now......I thought about trying this myself, but since this is my first "real" boat (and brand new) I decided not to risk trying it myself.

rcman

Glen E · 03-19-2005, 06:52 PM

Bailey has got a point - I would do it myself or have the factory do it. The factory can exert some exactness and if you do it, you will make sure you do it right. The dealer on the other hand is nebulous. I had a Donzi buit and watched them build it from the ground up, they used a lot of jigs for perfect screwholes for things like tranducers, etc. so it was right. On the other hand, I did all my electronics because I wanted that done right..

whaler21 · 03-19-2005, 06:57 PM

rcman I have owned two Whalers.The first one was a factory rigged boat there were no problems.The second boat I still own was a dealer rigged boat all I can say is never again.You will be better off with factory rigged boat.Good luck with your new boat.

Mario D · 03-20-2005, 01:55 PM

I'd like to hop onto this thread since I'm having a factory grady white hard top installed at the dealer. Does anyone have any experience on dealers installing factory hard tops that I need to know about so I can try my best to manage this situation.

thanks

Thom · 03-20-2005, 02:47 PM

I don't agree at all. Other than hanging the engine I don't see a thing on that list that the factory might be expected to do any better a job than any competent dealer's operation. One of the things you listed, putting on a prop, is so straight forward and simple that I wouldn't pay anyone a dime to do it.

The advantage of having a dealer do it is you have much more opportunity for involvement in the placement of things to your liking. For almost everything you had listed there I think you'd be better off with an able 3rd party installer too for that matter.

Then finally I am a believer in owner involvement. Some might call it do it yourself but in fact it mostly involves yourself and some help for first time owners. It is better to know your boat than to not know it and you'll never know what the factory did, rarely what the dealer did, mostly what a 3rd party installer did, and every single bit of what you did yourself. So other than to build the thing I think much of the rigging of a boat should be out of the hands of the manufacturer. To be quite honest about it most of them really aren't much set up for custom service anyway. It interupts the work flow and isn't done any easier than at the dealer or at home unless you're talking about some sort of structural change to the boat like a much larger fuel tank or glassed in transducer. Those are the sorts of jobs best left to the manufacturer, not screwing on little parts after the fact.

Thom

SpaceMan · 03-20-2005, 02:57 PM

The last two boats I bought were dealer-rigged. Aside from one hard-headed manager who tried to talk me out of doing it the way I wanted, everything was just fine. I had almost exactly the same options you had.

As Thom said, it depends on the dealer.