Taking delivery

[Forty5120]

I have owned boats of 20 to 23 feet. I am purchasing a new 40 ft. Was to be delivered to marina/ dealer in NJ. Dealer is now stating that I take ownership upon build date (Oct.) in Florida and then boat will be transported by water (Dealer to provide Capt.) to NJ...That means I will close on loan & own boat sight unseen & be responible (insurance) during transport,,Is this normal pratice or is dealer taking advantage of a 1st time buyer????

Thanks for any input..

[Silmaril]

You are being taken advantage of!!! First off, your contract should state clearly when and where you take ownership of your vessel. Do not deviate from that.

You will have your new pride and joy sailed for thousands of miles by someone you don''t even know?

During Huricane season?

Off the East Coast or in the ditch? If it will be in the ditch, how will you be sure that the new engine will be properly broken in, the first 10 - 20 hours of operation being CRITICAL for the long term health of the engine.

If off the coast, will your insurace even permit it? Many insurance companies require substantial riders for off shore sailing during huricane season, if they will even cover it at all.

Was the original delivery in NJ supposed to have the vessel trucked in from Fla? Sounds like your dealer is trying to increase his profits on the deal! Trucking is WAY more expensive than a captained delivery.

Who will be installing all of your optional equipment? How do you know it will be done in a competent manner?

You sigened a contract for a new boat to be delivered to you in NJ. Under no circumstances would I permit these types of substantial changes to a contract. I would contact an Atty and have them draft a stern letter to the dealer outlining the consequences of this breach of contract.

If you for some reason, you feel comfortable with this change in delivery, I would expect SUBSTANTIAL financial compensation (Thousands of dollars, not hundreds)

You are the customer, spending hundreds of thousands of dollars for a substantial investment. You should not be treated like you are buying a used car from "Fly by Nite Motors, Inc."

Stick to your guns. You have every right to feel uncomfortable with this new twist on your deal.

Rick

[shmangasarian]

first - read the fine print in your contract!
If it does not specify (in exact wording) when and where you will take delivery and more importantly - that you will take delivery only after inspection - then it''s just like buying a car. You have agreed on a price, you may have put down a deposit, but the item is not yours and you are not liable for the item or the purchase of the item, until it is delivered in good condition by the dealer and you accept it. If your contract is in any way non-specific or "boiler-plate" generic and you have plunked down money, spend the $200 for a lawyer to review the contract, draft a letter (you are on very solid ground here) and then deduct the attorney''s fees from the final payment (or threaten to) and watch the dealer''s face. If it were me I would use this opportunity to cancel the deal (possible if the dealer is changing the terms of contract without your approval) and shop somewhere else. That guy''s a sleaze.

[SoC]

Forty5120,
I am currently involved in a nightmare from a new boat purchase, and rejection standpoint. I urge you to contact me immediately(before you sign off on that deal) off message board for information, and more importantly insight as to what I have learned the hardway. Email me directly at wsabanski@comcast.net, if you prefer to speak in person, email me your phone # and I will call you, or I will provide my number to call me.
What I will tell you is I purchased a new 36'' boat in Oct. ''03'' and it now sits decommissioned, never used, a 6-7 hour drive from my home with me paying the bills.
In general in the boat business, no consumer laws apply until enforced by the courts.

SoC

[Sasha_V]

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