[C320-list] Warranty Issues

[Robert Seastream]

I, too, for many years have heard that it's best to contact Frank 
Butler by phone.  Seems like he's 'old school' when it comes to 
communications.

Your dealer is all wet, in addition to being lazy.  Catalina arranged 
for the boat to be equipped with Yanmar and Raymarine components, not 
you.

Tell the dealer that unless he makes things right, you intend to 
publish his name and that of his business on this forum, with Frank 
Butler, and anywhere else you can get attention.  That might get his 
attention.  His performance is disgusting.

Bob Seastream
'Intuition', hull 906


On Jun 18, 2007, at 2:10 PM, Chris Burti wrote:

> I had little luck emailing Mr. Butler, but great support form him by
> telephone. In the big picture, it is a small expense.
>
> On 6/18/07, Tbuilder at aol.com <Tbuilder at aol.com> wrote:
>>
>> I bought my second 320 #1081 for my sailing school just over a year 
>> ago
>> after owning my previous 320 #212 for 12 years and covering some 
>> 48,000
>> miles in
>> her.
>>
>> I am incredibly unhappy with the new boat - overall she is nowhere 
>> near as
>> well finished as the 1994 model. I have the problem that I am situated
>> about
>> 600  miles from the only Catalina dealer in the UK  and I am finding 
>> it
>> impossible to get a satisfactory service from him.  Before I ordered
>> the  boat I was
>> verbally advised that any faults should be rectified locally and the  
>> bill
>> should be sent to the dealer. Needless to say the dealer refuses to 
>> pay
>> the
>> repair bill.
>>
>> Some of the items were relatively minor such as gel coat damage
>> but  others
>> were much more serious such as an engine out of alignment, badly  
>> fitting
>> engine boxes, leaking deckhead etc. I fail to see why I should pay  
>> around
>> £75,000
>> for the boat and not get a reasonable product. I have been told  that
>> faults
>> on a Yanmar engine or Raymarine instruments should be refereed to  
>> these
>> companies and not to Catalina. If I buy a brand new Ford car
>> which  develops a fault
>> in (say) a Dunlop tyre I would expect Ford to sort it  out.
>>
>>
>> I now have a broken top step on the companionway which could  be 
>> dangerous
>> to
>> my customers - Catalina appear completely unable to supply  the 
>> correct
>> part.
>>
>> I have emailed Frank Butler on several occasions but don't receive a
>> reply.
>> I have tried phoning but again got nowhere.
>>
>> Has anyone nearer the centre of things had a similar experience and
>> were  you
>> able to resolve it?
>>
>> All suggestions gratefully received!!!
>>
>> Cheers
>>
>> Alec  Blanc
>> Lochaber Watersports
>> Ballachulish
>> _www.lochaberwatersports.co.uk_ 
>> (http://www.lochaberwatersports.co.uk/)
>> 01855  821391 / 07831 846025
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> -- 
> Chris Burti
> Farmville, NC
>