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I've toyed with boating on and off for years but now that I知 retired I知 going all the way this time. I have been reading some of the threads about Vector Marine and Les Collins and I知 currently concerned about spending my life savings on the 33' vector after reading the comments about Les and his Business Practices. My previous Hydra-Sports boat was purchased from John Calari at Johnson Marine, and I can't imagine Les being any shadier or deceitful than John. However, Johnson no longer has Hydra-Sports and my heart is with the 33" Vector. If anybody can offer further information on Vector Marine or Les Collins any suggestions will be appreciated and welcomed.
Look else where. Don't wnat to get into why. Lets just say I left that place pissed off.. Only way to get a deal there is to be in his Click. Trust me.. Hydra-sports are nice but others sell them to... There Slogan "WE'LL DEAL" is a big OL' LIE.....
__________________ Hit em' like Ten pound Hammer with a Five foot swing....
I would ask for Rodney Page at Vector Marine in Wilmington. My understanding is that they are part of Collins but they have their own staffing.
I have dealt with Rodney on numerous occasions in two industries before he started managing Vector Marine. I would not hesitate to do so again. Rodney's brother Brian Page may be at Collins in Smithfield, he was last year. I would also trust anything Brian says regarding sales, but I do not know how much influence he has with the service department in the Smithfield location.
I have a 33' white 2004 H.S. w/ twin 300's getting ready to go on the market.The boat only has about 175 hour's on it and if it was'nt for two unexpected babies we would never sell it.If you would like to ride her just let me know
I bought a Vector from Les Collins in 2002. Now, after the fact:
One day the instrument paneling cracked, so I called him and he said that if I brought it in to him he would replace it. I did and one week later I picked it up from his shop. I took it back to the boat, which is dry stacked on the beach and tryed to install it, but the cut-outs for the instruments were not cut properly. So I took it back to him When I was talking to one of his associates at the shop, he told me that it came off another boat. The replacement panel also had scratch marks all over it. This was my first boat and I was really expecting him to come to the marina and take care of it. Instead, I did him a favor by removing it myself and bringing it to him. Then he had the gull to give me a second rate part. Go figure..
I called Vector Marine and was told that Rodney has been gone for about six months, also his brother Brian is no longer with Collins. I currently do most of my fishing and boating in the Wrightsville beach area so this is why I was considering Vector Marine.
The salesperson that I spoke with at Vector Marine (John) was very helpful and very knowledgeable about the Hydra-Sports boat line, however I知 still Leary of doing business with Vector do to the ties to Collins. I would like to thank everybody for their input it has been very helpful in making my decision on what to do. I think that I will continue to follow this post for further information from all.
John is the ex sales manager at Collins, he runs Vector now. Three employees left there in the past month including the service manager who is now at Power Marine. I have no opinion either way, have not done business with them. I do know there are huge ego's in the Collins/Vector world!!!
DONT FEEL BAD............. GOT 2 250S FROM THEM WAS TOLD FROM THEM THAT THEY TOOK THE BOAT OUT AND THEY RAN IT AND IT WAS GOOD TO GO....................... FRIST DONT THINK THERE IS A LAKE THERE THEY CAN RUN A BOAT AT AND GET UP ON PLAN.............2ND THE OIL PUMP WENT OUT..... 3RD WHEN WE GOT THE BOAT IT LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE KEEPING HOGS IN IT MUD TRASH ECT...................WAS TOLD TO BRING IT BACK SO THEY COULD LOOK AT IT....................DONT THINK WE WILL BE BACK THEY NEED TO GET SOME TECH.IN THERE THAT KNOW HOW TO RIG UP BOATS,125MIL FROM THE COAST THEY MIGHT WANT TO GO BACK TO JON BOATS...........
I like Bills Marine in Portsmouth, VA. I have known Travis for 3 years and would buy from him again in a second. No relationship to him except he is a good guy and deserves praise, esp, when dealing with some boat dealers. He is straight forward and no BS kinda guy.... he even picked up my boat and trailered back to the dealer for my hourly service, although he was in the neighborhood, 30 miles away. They deal all kinds besides Hydra sports. Not sure if this helps...Correction it was actually about 15 miles away to his shop rom my house...anyways
__________________ 1992 Grady White Overnighter 206G
Wanted to update everybody on my trip to the Raleigh boat show. I took the time to speak with (Jon) which is Jon Finez the general manager at Vector Marine. I feel he truly is a nice and trustworthy guy. Jon took the time to give me a good feeling about doing business with Vector Marine in spite of all the negative feedback about Collins. I feel that I will purchase the 33' vector from Jon. He currently doesn稚 have the hull color that I want but Jon said that he will order the boat I want with the options that I want on it. The boat show was great and I met a lot of nice people who have a true love of boating and fishing. I also would like to say I appreciate all of the comments that I received from many users of The Hull Truth, I look forward to asking many questions about king fishing and the tricks and tips that I know many of you old pros have up your sleeves.
Wanted to update everybody on my trip to the Raleigh boat show. I took the time to speak with (Jon) which is Jon Finez the general manager at Vector Marine. I feel he truly is a nice and trustworthy guy. Jon took the time to give me a good feeling about doing business with Vector Marine in spite of all the negative feedback about Collins. I feel that I will purchase the 33' vector from Jon. He currently doesn稚 have the hull color that I want but Jon said that he will order the boat I want with the options that I want on it. The boat show was great and I met a lot of nice people who have a true love of boating and fishing. I also would like to say I appreciate all of the comments that I received from many users of The Hull Truth, I look forward to asking many questions about king fishing and the tricks and tips that I know many of you old pros have up your sleeves.
Again Thanks,
MFlowers
Keep in mind that at some point Jon may leave Vector just like Rodney did and in the end you are left with Les. I've had my dealings with Collins and my advice would be to stay as far away from them as you can even if you have to pay a few more dollars at another dealership. It will be worth the difference.
Jon didn't say anything different than any other dealer would say that wants to sell a boat of that caliber or any boat for that matter. Any other dealer that has access to that boat can order it like you want it too. But if you want to go with the Les Crew that's cool. You might want to get some hip boots or waders handy for when it gets deep if you know what I mean. Just my opinion. If I was in there looking to buy a boat like that then Maybe they would have treated me with some respect. But I went in there with my work uniform on looking around and they treated me like dirt under their fingernails. They wouldn't git into any big discussions with me untill I had the pen ready. "come back in when your ready to do something" was some exact words. Also wouldn't return my phone calls etc... I took my money elsewhere. But anyhow, Good luck on whatever direction you go. That sure is a NICE rig.....
__________________ Hit em' like Ten pound Hammer with a Five foot swing....
I bought an F150 motor from Jon and my brother bought a 19ft maycraft from him in the last year and half. No problems at all and great price. I went to school with Jon in High School and he could have easily put me on the back burners and handled his 'other' customers first or better. However, he did an extremely thorough job with both deals.
I guess each situation is different, not saying they are perfect but they did an excellent job for us. Just my 2c
I second that for Travis at Bills Marine in Portsmouth. Took a trip to see HS down there and Travis was knowledgeable and polite. Seemed like a straight up guy!!
Vector Marine/Les Collins 
When I was talking to one of his associates at the shop, he told me that it came off another boat. The replacement panel also had scratch marks all over it. This was my first boat and I was really expecting him to come to the marina and take care of it. Instead, I did him a favor by removing it myself and bringing it to him. Then he had the gull to give me a second rate part. Go figure..
