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Random Quote: the drinking light is on,look to the east at sunrise
You guys know from my profile that I bought a new Sea Ray 310 DA back in 2000. I bought this boat thinking I was getting top of the line quality, at a premium price. The boat has been a source of joy and misery since the day I took possession. I understand every new boat has some issues, but it’s been 1 thing after another.
It started with the forward anchor locker not draining properly thus flooding my boat with rainwater.
Then it was windless problems, which still plague me today (more on this later)
I had originally taken in-water delivery never getting the chance to inspect the underside. Upon haul out at the end of my first season, I discovered my swim platform underside was severely damaged, I know that I had hardly used the boat that 1st season and didn’t hit anything with my swim platform. The fiberglass guy told me this damage could have only been caused by the swim platform being lifted upward as the boat came down. So unless I docked on top of the dock and the tide dropped, that I didn’t cause this, but most likely it happened in transport. My Sea Ray dealer did share the expense of the repair, but lesson learned. Inspect the boat out of the water before accepting delivery. Even on a brand new boat.
More various trips back to the dealer for repairs.
Then I had a gel coat gouge on the starboard side near the transom. The gouge wasn’t there before I dropped the boat off at the dealer (for more repair work). Of course, they say it wasn’t them. I once again paid, for a gel coat repair.
Then it was a starboard engine fuel pump with less than 50 hours. Soon to be followed by a port engine fuel pump and MAP Sensor with less that 70 hours.
Now I’m waiting for my boat to undergo, major engine work, due to this “water ingestion problem”, that Sea Ray hasn’t issued an official recall for.
Now the windless problem again. I just spoke to Imtra, the manufacturer’s technical rep for my Lofrans windless. When I described the problem, he suggested that I loosen the top star shape nut, tighten the other star shaped nut that is off to the side, then retighten the 1st nut. I mentioned that I only remember seeing 1 star shaped nut on my windless. WELL … it seems that Sea Ray had told Lofrans of a defect in their design where the clutch would loosen and anchors would freefall when traveling. So Sea Ray made LoFrans add a 2nd locking nut to the clutch mechanism. Guess what … My unit can NOT be retrofitted with this other nut. Of course, Sea Ray wouldn’t admit a defect and replace it for free. So now I have a defective windless, defective engines…
I’ve had enough … ANYBODY WANT TO BUY A BOAT!
This would be one of the funniest 'For Sale' ads I've ever read...at least it's honest . Sorry to read about your problems, too bad I'm not in the market for a money pit at this time.
Sorry to hear of your problems, Sea Ray has alot of customers like you. They're not known for quality or good customer service. The only thing to do is fight them tooth and nail, they only listen when people sue them.
Sorry about all of your problems. Could be any builder. Some are worse than others. I had my share with an Albin 27 that I bought new in 86. Once you have the boat the builder doesn't want to hear about it anymore. I am now a very firm believer in buying used but fairly new. Less than a few years old is about right. All the bugs should be worked out by then.
I went home and mentioned my frustration and outrage to the Admiral ... I printed out my rantings for her to read ...
She reminded me that I forgot to mention a few things:
In the 1st 2 seasons:
We had the bow mounted spotlight replaced - bad motor.
We had the Starboard windshield wiper arm & motor replaced.
The walk thru transom door (a piece of "StarBoard") is impossible to close and lock in the hot weather, so we never open it. We just step over it.
The air conditioning unit failed to turn on after returning from a trip. It had to be serviced by a air conditioner specialist. It has never cooled the boat down adequately ever since the fix.
She also reminded how everytime I brought these problems up to Sea Ray how they just so happen NOT to be covered by my extended Passport warranty.
Now the last straw has tipped the scales. After being told for 2 seasons that the windless was fine and it was user error. That I didn't know how to use it. Last season, I avoided any activity where I had to drop the hook. I carried a 2nd anchor always at the ready for safety. Now I find out Sea Ray knows about a defect ... and made the manufacturer address it, but said nothing to a customer who complained multiple times about it .. continually saying there was nothing wrong with it.
I was the biggest SeaRay booster ... I wouldn't let anyone tell me that Sea Ray was inferior. All I want to do now is get this boat fixed, so I can sell it ... without having to lie about it's condition or take a beating on the resale price (That's probably already too late ... thank you Sea Ray for you lack of a recall on the Water Ingestion problem).
I wouldn't recommend a Sea Ray to my worst enemy ...
I will now enjoy shopping for a late model cruiser from another manufacturer. Any recommendations?
quote:You guys know from my profile that I bought a new Sea Ray 310 DA back in 2000.
No, as a matter of fact, I see nothing in your profile that mentions a Sea Ray. For that matter, this appears to be your first post at THT.
My former boss owned a 2000 Sundancer 340 and moved up to a Sundancer 410 last year. She has had a very positive relationship with her dealership and has received exemplary service from them and Sea Ray.
Your experience is unfortunate, but to me it does not sound like you have worked effectively with your dealer and the manufacturer to resolve your issues with the boat.
As to whether Sea Ray is a
quote:top of the line quality, at a premium price
that is probably open to debate; but it's not really the point.
You need to take ownership of the problems and work with the dealer and the manufacturer to come to a resolution acceptable to you. No one else is going to do this for you.
gf,
You're correct. This is my 1st post on this forum. I am very active on another very popular boating forum and I did a cut & paste form that site to this site. I am pissed and wanted the world to know it.
I have worked with my dealer in the past only to get the short end of the stick over and over again! I really don't want to hear their BS. I feel extremely betrayed over the engine issues (Water Ingestion) and this windless issue.
Every claim I've made is 100% true and my dealer can look up each complaint and work order in their system.
I love boating ... but I got into boating to relieve stress and relax, not to make a hobby over getting my boat repaired time and time again.
My boat is 2 years old has 115 hours on it and I have a laundry list of issues.
If I wanted to deal with these constant repairs, I could have bought a used boat ... saved lots of $$$ and be better off then I am now ...
If fact, that's what I'm going to do.
Art
SeaRay has a ticking time bomb with their cored bottom 40-55 foot boats; manufactured since 1995. The folks who bought those boats have plenty of money and the lawsuits will start flying. We had a guy in 40 something SeaRay get run into by an 18 foot runabout at the inlet to our lagoon. The 18' runabout penetrated the SeaRay until the gererator stopped it. This happened late at night, no one had any injuries. To my suprise the SeaRay hull was split through the gunnel to the keel. The transom was split from one side to the other. They got it on a lift or it would have sunk. Right under the gelcoat was some sort of pink crumbly stuff that looked like bondo. The boat was trashed; and the little runabout suffered minor damage.
ArtW, I would seriously look into a Bertram. Bulletproof.
Since you purchased a Sea Ray31, a Bertram31 probably woundn't do it for you.
However a Bertram33 would.
A Bertram35 w/3208 Cats would put you in Heaven!!
I've calmed down enough to start talking to my dealer ...
We talked out all my issues and they are addressing them to Sea Ray to see what Sea Ray decides to do.
I really hope they come through and make me a true believer again.
i have said this before and i will try to say it again.we on this site are many and we should be able to get our issues heard,we have buying power we are the ultimate consumer paying God knows what for our toys but than we let ourselves get pushed around or are given the run around by some dealership that probably wouldn't be in business with out are patronage and then you can double what i'm saying when you consider the state of the economy.how many out there would cough up more monies to THT if we could get wiley to get us some legal representation.we should be able to fight back and not take this bull shit.i work to hard and the hours are too long for some creep not to keep up his end of the agreement.there is only so much one person can do but if we start naming names and make examples of unsatisfactory dealershps maybe than we will get some satisfaction......
Sorry to hear of your troubles, and I'm glad you posted because my next boat will be a 30'+ cruiser. I'm leaning towards Formula, mainly because I owned one (until 6 weeks ago), and they're aren't any excuses when it comes to the product, or getting it serviced. I hope you get the problems resolved, boating is about relieving stress, not creating it.
quote:Originally posted by ArtW:
I've calmed down enough to start talking to my dealer ...
We talked out all my issues and they are addressing them to Sea Ray to see what Sea Ray decides to do.
I really hope they come through and make me a true believer again.
Let's see - this is a 2000 SeaRay and, "The boat has been a source of joy and misery since the day I took posession."
So in THREE years, this hasn't been resolved???
What makes you think they'll treat you any different NOW???
Art,
Sorry to hear about your troubles. If you're in the market, take a serious look at Tiara. They cost more than Sea Ray, but are worth it.
My 10 yr old Tiara has mostly original equipment ... all working. The fuel tank is relatively new ... voluntary recall by the factory. This last action won them the praise of the CG and the industry for doing a massive recall right.
gf,
I can vouch for Art from the other web forum. He's not a troll.
ANYBODY WANT TO BUY A BOAT! 
. Sorry to read about your problems, too bad I'm not in the market for a money pit at this time.
