Issue with Fays service dept

Belmont Resident · 10-01-2009, 08:10 AM

My wife brought her boat to Fay’s Boat Yard for a problem she was having with her outdrive clunking or vibrating as she described it. They found a bad gimbal bearing and replaced it water tested the boat and deemed it fixed. Well after driving the boat back to her slip and backing it into the slip she found it doing the same thing. She calls Fays and returned the boat to them. This time they said the shift linkage was the problem and repaired several things associated with that. Tested boat deemed fixed.
The first time my wife uses it the boat is again doing the same thing and seems to be getting worse. At this point I’ve told my wife they do not have a clue and all they have been doing is guessing.
Well as it turns out I was correct, she brought the boat back and they pretty much said it might be this it might be that but they just were not sure and recommended a very costly replacement of outdrive parts.
Also the first time she picked up the boat the cover was full of water because the center pole was not put back up. The mechanics response was that it is not their responsibility to put up the poles.
Insurance company was called, the boat was taken to a different location, the outdrive was inspected by their mechanic and the insurance adjuster. Right away several things came to their attention. Parts were not put back together correctly (bellows left unconnected) and a wire was found hanging which alone was causing her outdrive to corrode at a higher than normal rate. 2 of the steering bushings were so worn we cannot figure out how they were not noticed especially since they had removed the outdrive at least once if not twice. The steering cable was separated and broken.
The last two things were probably inducing considerable play into the steering creating the problem at hand.
I was against using Fays because I do not knowingly give business to anyone who was a supporter of the speed limit bill, but they sell Chaparral boats so my wife thought they would be capable of taking care of the problem.
Thanks to Jason at Irwin Marina for locating and going over the problems in detail with me.

10-01-2009, 08:10 AM	#1
Belmont Resident Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Belmont NH but prefer Jackman Maine Posts: 1,857 Thanks: 491 Thanked 410 Times in 251 Posts	Issue with Fays service dept My wife brought her boat to Fay’s Boat Yard for a problem she was having with her outdrive clunking or vibrating as she described it. They found a bad gimbal bearing and replaced it water tested the boat and deemed it fixed. Well after driving the boat back to her slip and backing it into the slip she found it doing the same thing. She calls Fays and returned the boat to them. This time they said the shift linkage was the problem and repaired several things associated with that. Tested boat deemed fixed. The first time my wife uses it the boat is again doing the same thing and seems to be getting worse. At this point I’ve told my wife they do not have a clue and all they have been doing is guessing. Well as it turns out I was correct, she brought the boat back and they pretty much said it might be this it might be that but they just were not sure and recommended a very costly replacement of outdrive parts. Also the first time she picked up the boat the cover was full of water because the center pole was not put back up. The mechanics response was that it is not their responsibility to put up the poles. Insurance company was called, the boat was taken to a different location, the outdrive was inspected by their mechanic and the insurance adjuster. Right away several things came to their attention. Parts were not put back together correctly (bellows left unconnected) and a wire was found hanging which alone was causing her outdrive to corrode at a higher than normal rate. 2 of the steering bushings were so worn we cannot figure out how they were not noticed especially since they had removed the outdrive at least once if not twice. The steering cable was separated and broken. The last two things were probably inducing considerable play into the steering creating the problem at hand. I was against using Fays because I do not knowingly give business to anyone who was a supporter of the speed limit bill, but they sell Chaparral boats so my wife thought they would be capable of taking care of the problem. Thanks to Jason at Irwin Marina for locating and going over the problems in detail with me.