[danielgoldberg]

Our current boat is our first new boat, as opposed to used, so we're dealing with teething issues now for the first time (rather than cleaning up the mess created by the PO). So, what are the teething issues all you "new" boat owners have had to deal with? Here's a non-exhaustive list for us:

1. A few light bulbs out for courtesy lights and one overhead.
2. Voltmeter panel defective and sounds alarm even though voltage not too high.
3. One floorboard does not fit particularly well.
4. Some dings and scratches on interior woodwork in spots.
5. Ate our shaft zinc at a rate I consider too high at the end of the year last year, so investigating whether we have a "leak" or bad ground somewhere.
6. Fluxgate compass not calibrated properly.
7. Bimini and dodger needed some adjustments.
8. Holding tank leak (that was fun!).
9. Aft head door latch mechanism sticks.
10. Condensation pump for one of the AC units did not function.
11. A deck leak.
12. Chain speced for the windlass was HT, but the boat delivered with BBB.
13. Small check in the teak decking at the bridge deck.
14. Missing velcro strips for certain interior cushions (to secure them in place)

There are a handfull of other things that I just can't think of at the moment (I don't have the "List" with me), but the missing ones are of a comparable character, which is to say, not too serious. The only issue that gives me a little pause, but my dealer is on it, is the zinc issue. If I've got a leak somewhere, that could be a pain to find.

All in all, I am very pleased. Frankly, I expected worse. And I have to say, our dealer has been absolutely fantastic. I couldn't speak more highly of him.

I really hope I'm not jinxing myself here, as we still have the better part of this upcoming season under warranty, and I fully expect a few more surprises. I just hope they are nothing too inconvenient or serious.

So, how about you?

 

[Hillster]

I have heard of some woes with buying new (warrenty work and such). Just curious, what brand and model of boat do you have?

 

[bobmcgov]

Our two boats had a combined age of 65 years. It would be simpler to list the things that weren't broken, leaking, or absent. Takes the gloss off the love affair a bit. Best to just start sailing the thing and deal with the punch list as time allows. I suspect all sailboats are prone to stray entropy currents, whether on the water or land, causing them to decay at a faster rate than mere physics would predict; do they make sacrificial zincs for entropy?

Holding tank leak -- that's a good place to begin....

 

[danielgoldberg]

I have heard of some woes with buying new (warrenty work and such). Just curious, what brand and model of boat do you have?

Beneteau 49.

Just to be clear, I'm not complaining about our punch list. I think it's nothing short of GREAT that our list, so far, is comprised of minor stuff (potential electrical leak aside). I too have heard horror stories, but so far, that's not been my experience.

 

[JohnRPollard]

Daniel,

Where was the deck leak?

 

[Hillster]

I have heard from others that purchased new, that ran into similar manufacturing defects and such. They suggested buying used so most of the problems would already be dealt with through warranty.

I recall reading on the net a few years ago, of a fellow that bought a new Catalina 350. When he filled the water tanks, the boat flooded. Upon checking, he found that the hose clamps were not even tightened and after checking throughout the boat found that most were loose, not just the fresh water.

 

[danielgoldberg]

Daniel,

Where was the deck leak?

Genoa track. I was not thrilled with that, but it turned out not to be the best sealant job, which was a very easy thing to cure. It happens. To be candid, I've never had a boat that at some point I didn't have the rebed the genny track, except for our Freedom, which didn't have a genoa track of course.

 

[TSOJOURNER]

The voltmeter panel / spurious alarm is a known problem. Beneteau has prototypes out of a new panel. Last I heard all panels will be replaced in June when the testing of the new design is done.

Regarding the zink ; I have the same problem. I went through three prop zinks last summer. For testing I used two different plates (Zink and Copper) and measured the voltage potential btw the plate and the shaft for different distances prop-plate. It was actually substantial. I grounded all thruhulls to the shaft (using a home cooked spring loading system) and that out to a zink plate. Didn’t help (may actually have made it worse). I have started to think that it’s the water heater that is the problem when the water heater is in the on state on shore power. I don’t know if you have the same water heater in the 49 as the 40 but curiously the manual for my heater states that you need a galvanic isolator. And at least my boat didn’t come with any galvanic isolator so I’m installing one now on the incoming shore power AC line. I actually think that will help (crossing a lot of fingers while writing so it may be difficult to read ).
Let me know if you need the water heater manual. The company that builds them have been bought and sold a couple of times so it took me a week or so to track them down and get hold of it.

And yes, I’m impressed. Your punch list is short.

 

[blt2ski]

Also remember, the zinc issue may be the boat next to you too! Not your boat. But try to rule you boat out first, then figure out if it is a marina issue or a boat near you.

Also, being in construction. Folks think that new is better.....generally speaking it is. BUT, we need to remember humans made the product, and we ALL seem to error at something at some point in time, if not daily at something no matter how perfect some folks seem.

Marty

 

[tweitz]

When we bought our brand new Beneteau three years ago, our first new boat, our punch list was even shorter. Our dealer was very responsive, and it was an altogether pleasant experience.

 

[boatpoker]

That is a very short list! I am asked 3-4 times per year to survey "new" boats and with sailboats typically find not much more than you did plus the usual standards issues that most builders ignore.

I have found it much different with power boats and am no longer surprised to find major structural and installation problems. I am at a loss as to why new power boats have so many more problems than new sailboats.

 

[OsmundL]

Here's a non-exhaustive list for us:

An exhaustive list would be beyond my memory capacity...Teething problems? If you could see my teeth flashing and hear the ominous low growl…

I helped take delivery of a boat last year, expensive Italian job. By the time we reached its new home port, the waiting owner had lined up a lawyer based on our interrim reports.
Hoses to the holding tank leaked. I woke up above a hull stinking with slop. uke
The cockpit plotter began to flicker on the second day, and gave up the ghost on the third. For a week we navigated by paper maps.
High winds in a port ripped out a cleat and took fibreglass with it.
The ignition key broke; we carried on using a screwdriver
...I cannot continue.. blood pressure… leave me alone
----------------------
My own boat was new three years ago, and I declared it fault-free after two years' ownership.
The positive news was that no fault was registrered on the boat itself. The negative was an endless list of faults on third-party equipment and installations:

An extra sail was cut wrongly, mounted on a roller that fell apart.
Eighty percent of the navigation components failed and were replaced, or had been wrongly configured. Twenty components in all, four functioned without further work.
The wind generator span out of control in moderate winds, and two broken wings flew off and vanished in the deep blue. Its bracket broke.
The charger and inverter both went up in puffs of smoke (on separate occasions) and were replaced.
And so on…
I stress that all of these components came from leading and respected suppliers, supposedly only the best. All were fixed under warranty, but the time waste was considerable.

You could read this two ways: (1) damn the suppliers, or (2) allow for time to complete. I used to laugh at people saying it takes 2 years before you are happy with a new boat, but it turned out to be accurate. A stock standard boat should tally much fewer faults, but it is a complex beast where thousand things could go wrong, especially when you veer off the yard's basic offering.

Boats are a case where buying one 2-3 years old may be a superb strategy from every point of view!

 

[CGMojo]

Jeanneau

Only issues addressed under warranty for my Euro trash 2007 Jeanneau 36i:

Bilge pump (Swedish) replaced twice, now have West Marine pump
Replaced diesel fuel tank (source of leak unknown)
Two minor gel coat "paint throughs" in the cockpit
Digital fuel tank level indicator still shows 95% regardless of tank volume.

All items addressed promptly and cheerfully by the local dealer (San Diego) dealer with no problems other than the fuel guage.

Could have bought a used 2005 Jenneau 39 for about the same money, but with the cost of surveys and less convienient financing I decided to go with a smaller, new boat with a warranty. Boat is well designed, well built, goes like stink.

 

[jstroup]

The only problem I've had with my new Morris M36 was with the remote for the autopilot and a few drips from my Marelon seacocks that were quickly solved with tighten a few screws. Can't really blame that on Morris. Of course, I'm coming to the end of my warranty period so with my luck stuff will start to fail the day after it ends.

judie

 

[AE28]

Dan:

We bought a new HUNTER h260 in 2001 and had a "list" shortly after taking delivery.

I've been a buyer for almost forty years and have done at least my fair share of factory visits and product inspections.

I'm a demanding SOB!!!

Some of the screw-ups in boat construction can be explained and maybe even understood/forgiven.

My real problem is with the miscues that are the result of poor design. Things that would have cost $00.00 to eliminate at design stage. Sometimes, it seems the designer never even stepped aboard a boat, much less ever sailed one!!!

In my opinion, it's how the dealer and factory handle the list that makes or breaks the experience.

Best of luck!!!
Paul

 

[Cruisingdad]

I hear ya Dan!!! We actually still have the same issue on one of our compasses (the other is rigth on) - I just have not prioritized to fix it because there are 50 other things I have had to deal with.

About all of my boats have been new. They all have problems!! The difference is that someone else has to fix it! I also typically tell people to put good loads on their systems as if they are going to fail, they seem to want to fail within the first 90 days. Afterwards, you know what you got and where. I guess that is one of the biggest positives???

No, wait, what am I saying? Catalinas never have problems. Never. HEHE!

- Brian