Unhappy w/hull damage repair...

[Hrkdrivr]

My prop had an unfortunate (and expensive) "meeting" w/an underwater object last summer, which resulted in two small holes (1") in the hull near the rudder port. Water level was low and I think I backed the trailer off the end of the ramp and I think the prop hit the end of the concrete.

Had it repaired at an MC shop, who sent the boat to a different specialty shop for the fiberglass/gel coat fix.

While I was cleaning her up after our last outing, I noticed the gel coat over the repair spots has come off. The fiberglass is good, just missing the gel coat. We've only been out four times (grrrr) and put about 18 hours since the repair. We haven't hit anything else since the repair either. Will try to post pics tonight.

I wasn't very happy w/how the repair went...poor communications, much longer to get fixed than estimated, boat was filthy when I picked it up (managed to get them to wash/wax the hull but they left the inside a mess), fiberglass sanding dust all over the engine, etc.

Anyhow, I don't really want to bring it back to the same place. Can/will another dealer clean up the other guy's mess? I guess someone else would be willing to fix it but it'll come outta my pocket, huh? :mad:

As I type this I know I should call the original shop and give them a chance to make it right, but I really don't want to deal w/them again...grrr. 'Guess I'm just venting.

[Sodar]

To be honest, when a boat gets subbed out for work, it is always a horrible experience, unless the sub is as good as you original dealer. I worked a summer at a high performance boat repair shop and we had the BEST gel/fiberglass shop. The boats always came back in better condition than they left our shop, but with that said their hourly rate was $95 and through us it was $110.

Call your dealer and give him a chance. If he does not make it right, then move onto the sub shop and try to get him to make it right.

[flipper]

I know you don't want to, but I'd take it back to the same shop 'til they get it right. Inspect it, and if it's not clean like when you left it, make them clean it!!!!!

This way you're kind of getting back at them. They'll be putting labor hours and not getting paid.

[JimN]

The condition of something that's subbed out reflects strongly on the shop that referred it but the only reason it may "always be a horrible experience" is due to the sub not being conscientious. Subs like that should never be recommended, IMO. The original dealer needs to know what it looked like and that the gelcoat came off. If they left a crisp edge and didn't feather it, there's no way it should have stayed in place. Wiping it with solvent and slathering gelcoat in, leveling it and sanding/polishing it is not the right way. Not covering the boat when it's in the same area as other boats that are being sanded is just sloppy.

Call the dealer and let them see the "fixed" gelcoat. If you have photos of the way it was after you got it back, show them. Don't yell, don't throw a tantrum (as much as you may want to, understandably) and do as much of this in writing. The shop that did the repair should warranty their work.

[Dball]

Did you inspect the repair before you picked up the boat? Sound like they didn't even shoot any gel on it. Does the area around the fiberglass look like it was sanded at all. They should have at least sanded 6 inches around the repair in order to shoot gel and sand back down and buff out. I do gel work and have fixed other shops repairs because they sand an area and over shoot the gel, then it will start to chip. But even then I have always needed to take a knife or a scrapper to scrap back the gel to the area that was prepped, and sand it back down to be buffed or re shot in most cases. So it shouldn't have just all come off .What color is your hull maybe the sanded to much and when they buffed it they burned through and now you can see the repair.

[nascar]

Are you near Wilson ,NC ? If so check with Joe at Inboard Marine Service . He is a great guy and might be able to help you or get you going in the right direction to repair your gel coat .

[TMCNo1]

Pat's Body Shop on Country Club Road in Winston Salem has always been a great NC source for fiberglass/gelcoat repairs, especially metalflakes. They have done a lot of Ranger, Skeeter, bass boat repairs.

[Hrkdrivr]

Here are some pics of the damage. These are after the boat was repaired the first time and after we used the boat (about 15 hours engine time) following the repairs.

It looks like the gel coat just fell out of the repaired spots.

In the pic of the more round-ish spot (aft of the rudder) you can kinda see some pitting, which makes me think stuff applied over the repaired fiberglass (and under the colored gel-coat) had bubbles (?) in it...

Anyway, I called the MC shop and they had me bring it back to the sub who did the work. The sub was very friendly and said he'd get it back to me soon. Neither of us mentioned $$$. It's been one month over a year since the repair, so he might not eat the cost. Of course, stupid-me, I discovered the damage before the repair was a year old, but I was too busy w/work to get the boat up to the shop until today. We'll see how this pans out.

[Hrkdrivr]

I guess you can only attach 5 pics per post...

[jimmer2880]

Wow... I'm pretty sure a blind person could have done a better job. Hope you get this straightened out quickly.

[djhuff]

I have heard nothing but good things about the guy that did your repair, and know several people who are very satisfied. I would give him the chance to make it right, and reserve judgment until after you get it back.

[Hrkdrivr]

Hey gang...

I dropped it off at the sub on the 17th of October, then was gone on a trip until yesterday. I think I'll be able to pick it up tomorrow or the next day and we'll see how it went. In talking to the owner of the shop, he seemed very nice and I got the impression he was gonna make it right.

Will post pics after I pick it up to winterize it and put it away (*sob*) ...

[Hrkdrivr]

djhuff,

You were right...he made it right. We never discussed money and when I picked it up, there was no charge for the repair, and he said if it EVER happens again to bring it back and he'd fix it again.

Here's how cool he was: I couldn't pick it up this week due to work. I hadn't winterized it yet and he kept it inside all week for me because the temps were below freezing a couple of nights. And he doesn't have a big "inside" in which to keep boats. I was very thankful for that!

When I dropped it off I asked him to detail it and it was beautiful when I picked it up. He charged $250 for the detail which included wash, buff/wax and the whole interior. I tipped him some extra for all the help.

If anyone wants to know the shop and you're in the Raleigh-Durham-ish area, drop me a PM.

Will post the "after" pics tomorrow; it was too dark when I got home to take good pics.