Re: TWL: Trawler Owner Ripped off be Boatyard
Personally, I have done business with Washburn's and have always found them
to be entirely above board--in fact my boat is there right now waiting work.
But the question that I pose is whether it is appropriate for us to be
enlisted into taking a position on behalf of someone and some circumstances
about which we have no direct knowledge. The "sample letter" put before us
asks questions in the nature of "Do You Still Beat Your Wife?" and the
recommended letter-writing campaign seems to carry the implication of threat
or "blacklisting".
Although there are always exceptions, successful boatyards seldom get big and
stay in business by doing slipshod work and by being dishonest. Do we know
what representations were made to Mr. Cox when he was towed in? Washburn's
is a boatyard whereas Calvert Marina is a marina--merely because he was
sitting at Calvert's docks does not give him a priority on service. And
while it would be difficult to run an engine without a water pump, do we know
this to be the case?
I for one would recommend that Mr. Cox try to resolve his differences
directly with WBY, and failing that, submit the matter to either (1)
Mediation, (2) An appropriate governmental regulatory or professional
organization or group, or (3) A private attorney. To my mind, it is
inappropriate for members of this list to write strong letters smearing a
business merely because some guy lays out a bizarre set of circumstances.
And, BTW, last time I looked Calvert Marina and WBY were separate entities,
and going off half-cocked in writing to the first may even smack of libel to
the second....
My $.02--Michael Oritt
Durbeck 48--NAMASTE
In a message dated 10/9/02 6:33:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
traw1ertrash@yahoo.com writes:
Trawler Owner in need of help.
A friend and fellow Trawler man is being ripped off by a so called
reputable boat yard in Solomons Island MD.
The following post appeared in the Mainship list recently. Since I am a
member of both I thought it an informative idea to share this with the
Trawler Owners List:
Sent by: Ronald S Cox DLVA
We attended the mid bay raftup in earrly July. Travelled 9 hours from
Dahlgren to Solomons. Spent the night at Calvert marina. Proceeded up St
Lenard's
creek and thoroughly enjoyed mainship hospitality with new found friends.
We prepared later that evening to leave and PANACEA's Perk went
ZZZ,,,,CLUNK!. Never in the two day adventure did we run hot and the motor
ran great.
It sat for about 4 hours and went ZZZ,,,,CLUNK. After numerous trips to and
from home to Vera's we determined that there was water in 5 (we could not
get the sixth one out) injectors. Had it towed to Washburn's Boat Yard
3 week wait to get in and another 3 before they looked at it). They took
everything off from raw water in out thru elbow and turbo. They said they
fired the motor up and ran it (without the water pump) to dry out the
motor. Parts came back (weeks have passed) and failed the test so they were
going to replace all pieces ($3900 parts and $1800 labor was the estimate).
So off we go and everything is put back together and the motor runs for 20
minutes and locks up. They say I have a problem. The motor is locked up and
I need a rebuilt bloc (Perkins 165) and that the parts previously
procurred cannot be returned. We are talking $7500 for a rebuilt block from
TAD and $3K labor so we are approaching ($18K)a new Cummins cost here! I am
captive, perplexed, need some advice from the Mainship family.
(the engine surveyor from Boats US insurance didn't give a warm and fuzzy
as to why I went from smooth sailing to this extreme situation. He just
said that it was locked up)! Help!
I thought an email campaign by concerned Trawler owners would be effective.
My thought it would be more effective for Washburns to receive fewer
original emails that 100s duplicates. In any case I will be sending my
email to Washburn Boat Yard C/O Calvert Marina at the following address:
My email:
Chris Washburn,
I have been following with interest the story of a Mr. Ronald Cox and his
misadventures with your business. The 600 plus Online Mainship Group
community is having a difficult time understanding how a reputable company
would:
-
Not offer immediate relief to a boater who informed you that he had
salt water in his block, and instead not get to the work for six weeks
leaving the raw water unattended and most likely causing irreparable damage
to the engine.
-
Ran the engine without water pump to dry it out. This is the most
absurd thing that we have heard.
-
Not diagnose the cause of the original failure. -
Rebuilt an engine that was run with water in it! -
That a rebuild that you performed for a fee of nearly $8,000 lasted
a mere twenty minutes before locking up. And that further you refuse to
stand behind your work immediately rectifying the situation.
I have been sharing the story with dozens of local fisherman and boaters in
the Annapolis area who are appalled by the gross negligence and like Paul
Harvey are standing by for the rest of the story.
All certainly agree that your boatyard has been negligent, as we know of no
reputable boat yard that would not have set all aside and immediately
rectified the raw water situation.
We have not yet communicated this entire story with The Maryland Better
Business Bureau as they recommend us communicating with the establishment
and attempting resolution first.
Thanks for your time
Phil
At 07:53 PM 10/9/02 -0400, Awgertoo@aol.com wrote:
. To my mind, it is
inappropriate for members of this list to write strong letters smearing a
business merely because some guy lays out a bizarre set of circumstances.
I agree, Washburn's saved my butt over a holiday (July 4th!) with rapid
repair of my stranded boat. They are a class act.
Frank
Michael,
Thanks for the advice. Points are well taken. Not being a lawyer conscious individual I have not considered libel issues. And I should not have solicited assistance from non involved individuals. Please accept my apologies. I will pass the salient points of you advice to Ron.
I too have done successful business with local "above board" businesses that others have had a disaster dealing with. Sometimes a business colors show when the chips don't fall so well. This situation is not so much a question of honesty as much as it is about service. Small shops sometimes find it easier to blow off an individual when things go sour, thinking that they have all of the business that they can handle.
What is important is that they realize how critical it is to be consistent with service, fix errors that occur and take a little loss because bad news travels even faster in this day and age. Human errors are going to occur under normal circumstances. They will occur more often under busy high pressure times. Everyone from time to time in their life needs a wake up call.
Phil
Awgertoo@aol.com wrote:
Personally, I have done business with Washburn's and have always found them
to be entirely above board--in fact my boat is there right now waiting work.
But the question that I pose is whether it is appropriate for us to be
enlisted into taking a position on behalf of someone and some circumstances
about which we have no direct knowledge. The "sample letter" put before us
asks questions in the nature of "Do You Still Beat Your Wife?" and the
recommended letter-writing campaign seems to carry the implication of threat
or "blacklisting".
Although there are always exceptions, successful boatyards seldom get big and
stay in business by doing slipshod work and by being dishonest. Do we know
what representations were made to Mr. Cox when he was towed in? Washburn's
is a boatyard whereas Calvert Marina is a marina--merely because he was
sitting at Calvert's docks does not give him a priority on service. And
while it would be difficult to run an engine without a water pump, do we know
this to be the case?
I for one would recommend that Mr. Cox try to resolve his differences
directly with WBY, and failing that, submit the matter to either (1)
Mediation, (2) An appropriate governmental regulatory or professional
organization or group, or (3) A private attorney. To my mind, it is
inappropriate for members of this list to write strong letters smearing a
business merely because some guy lays out a bizarre set of circumstances.
And, BTW, last time I looked Calvert Marina and WBY were separate entities,
and going off half-cocked in writing to the first may even smack of libel to
the second....
My $.02--Michael Oritt
Durbeck 48--NAMASTE
In a message dated 10/9/02 6:33:42 PM Eastern Daylight Time,
traw1ertrash@yahoo.com writes:
Trawler Owner in need of help.
A friend and fellow Trawler man is being ripped off by a so called
reputable boat yard in Solomons Island MD.
The following post appeared in the Mainship list recently. Since I am a
member of both I thought it an informative idea to share this with the
Trawler Owners List:
Sent by: Ronald S Cox DLVA
We attended the mid bay raftup in earrly July. Travelled 9 hours from
Dahlgren to Solomons. Spent the night at Calvert marina. Proceeded up St
Lenard's
creek and thoroughly enjoyed mainship hospitality with new found friends.
We prepared later that evening to leave and PANACEA's Perk went
ZZZ,,,,CLUNK!. Never in the two day adventure did we run hot and the motor
ran great.
It sat for about 4 hours and went ZZZ,,,,CLUNK. After numerous trips to and
from home to Vera's we determined that there was water in 5 (we could not
get the sixth one out) injectors. Had it towed to Washburn's Boat Yard
3 week wait to get in and another 3 before they looked at it). They took
everything off from raw water in out thru elbow and turbo. They said they
fired the motor up and ran it (without the water pump) to dry out the
motor. Parts came back (weeks have passed) and failed the test so they were
going to replace all pieces ($3900 parts and $1800 labor was the estimate).
So off we go and everything is put back together and the motor runs for 20
minutes and locks up. They say I have a problem. The motor is locked up and
I need a rebuilt bloc (Perkins 165) and that the parts previously
procurred cannot be returned. We are talking $7500 for a rebuilt block from
TAD and $3K labor so we are approaching ($18K)a new Cummins cost here! I am
captive, perplexed, need some advice from the Mainship family.
(the engine surveyor from Boats US insurance didn't give a warm and fuzzy
as to why I went from smooth sailing to this extreme situation. He just
said that it was locked up)! Help!
I thought an email campaign by concerned Trawler owners would be effective.
My thought it would be more effective for Washburns to receive fewer
original emails that 100s duplicates. In any case I will be sending my
email to Washburn Boat Yard C/O Calvert Marina at the following address:
My email:
Chris Washburn,
I have been following with interest the story of a Mr. Ronald Cox and his
misadventures with your business. The 600 plus Online Mainship Group
community is having a difficult time understanding how a reputable company
would:
-
Not offer immediate relief to a boater who informed you that he had
salt water in his block, and instead not get to the work for six weeks
leaving the raw water unattended and most likely causing irreparable damage
to the engine. -
Ran the engine without water pump to dry it out. This is the most
absurd thing that we have heard. -
Not diagnose the cause of the original failure.
-
Rebuilt an engine that was run with water in it!
-
That a rebuild that you performed for a fee of nearly $8,000 lasted
a mere twenty minutes before locking up. And that further you refuse to
stand behind your work immediately rectifying the situation.
I have been sharing the story with dozens of local fisherman and boaters in
the Annapolis area who are appalled by the gross negligence and like Paul
Harvey are standing by for the rest of the story.
All certainly agree that your boatyard has been negligent, as we know of no
reputable boat yard that would not have set all aside and immediately
rectified the raw water situation.
We have not yet communicated this entire story with The Maryland Better
Business Bureau as they recommend us communicating with the establishment
and attempting resolution first.
Thanks for your time
Phil
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