Getting the bug's out

**robertsmcfarland** · 05-12-2005, 01:16 PM

I have a 2005 210 Team with 26 hours with no problems. Put in water the 15th of April.

**Flux** · 05-12-2005, 01:17 PM

RE: Getting the bug

All in all, I would expect that a wake/ski boat would be more reliable than a car generally speaking. Most problems are going to be mechanical or electrical, both of these systems are much simpler on a boat. Seemingly, alot of problems are caused by all the electronics on newer FI engines and are complicated by transmissions, tire size, etc.. On a boat this should also be simplified due to operating conditions taking place within a better temp range, lack of multiple speed transmission, etc.

As far as reliability, that could easily come down to each individual boat, one bad sensor, a flawed part, etc. would take the boat down. Also, the inability of the mechanic to diagnose and repair properly will render the boat unreliable. I would expect that these mechanics would consult with factory techs who have a knowledge base, if they don't do that, it again compounds the problem.

I would suspect that CC's have no more or less problems than MC, Malibu, etc. I don't hear too many folks on here screaming up and down about problems, and usually they try to diagnose the problems themselves with some help from this board. I expect that new boats are gonna have a few bugs and some recalls. That's why the dealership should play a major factor in the decision making process when purchasing. There was a post today from a disgruntled owner whose 04 210 TE is screwing up for a year now. I don't understand why he did not call CC direct to get this ironed out, sounds like his dealership is somewhat clueless too as they have not fixed the boat.

IMO- If you own a boat you should understand it as best you can. You need to be able to properly explain a problem to your service guys. you also need to put them and the manufacturer on the spot for chronic problems.

I got my first Nautique this year, used 110 hrs. It had been to a reputable dealer several times before we got it. We ran it for the first time a month ago and it's going out this weekend. I have been all through the boat and changed the oil and will always keep my fingers crossed that all will be well, no machine is perfect. But I would rather take my chances with a Nautique with a PCM than just about anything else anyway.

Check below, although I am not sure how biased the info is. There is a link on the side for engines, PCM was near the top with indmar only a point ahead.

http://www.jdpower.com/cc/boats/jdpa...jsp?boattype=6

**Christopher-W.-Becker** · 05-12-2005, 01:34 PM

RE: Getting the bug

Took delivery of a Air 216 May 1, 2004. During the dealer checkout ride, one of the "Correct Craft" launch control valves was found with a body leak (they never held back the water).

I did have the recall on the Steering.

The connection for the vent on the Starboard ballast tank came off the tank (probably during installation at the factory) so when you filled the tank, you filled the boat. Dealer replaced that at my convenience.

There was the problem with all the electronics turning off (killing the engine if running) when I pumped the tanks out. Tech Buletin on that one.

Now...the last piece of teak on the swim platform (man do those things flex when you stand on it) has started to come off. Dealer will replace when it is convienient for me/

Outside of that, wax, clean, repeat

Nothing was found on the 25 hr check.

**wakefun** · 05-12-2005, 04:30 PM

My 2000 SAN has never caused us to miss a day on the water over 4+ years and about 500 hours of use. Ballast pumps were a little quirky at first (both replaced in the off season) and I did have the heater core rust out at the end of last year. Other than that, just routine maintainence.
Like Grant, if realiability where my primary concern, I would much rather take a new Accord on a x-county trip than a new Ferrari. A buddy of mine just took delivery on a new 360 Spyder (really cool car) and the fit and finish of my Suburban looks as good if not better than the $125k supercar... (And it wont pull my boat!)
CC pretty much makes their boats by hand (like almost every other boat maker) and there are 100's of places for one of those human tasks to go wrong. Should we expect the build quality of our boats to be the same as our cars/trucks - probably not. Even though we pay big bucks for our boats... Like my friend who just took delivery of his Ferrari 360, he got a very cool hand made car. Is it perfect - no. Does he love it - you bet. I have been lucky with my CC experience. The 1st boat I pruchased (not a CC) was a different story so I know what it is like on the other side of the table.
My point to this long winded reply. None really except that I am very, very fortunate to have the means to afford a boat and share it with my family and friends. Every day I get on the water is one more than 99.9% of the rest of the world.
Just my $.02.

**SGY** · 05-12-2005, 05:32 PM

Wakefun. Well put--especially your last comment.

**bkhallpass** · 05-12-2005, 10:16 PM

Well, Correct Craft has won the JD Power and Asosciates
award 3 or 4 years in a row. This means that Nautiques have
had fewere quality problems in the 1st 1 or 2 years of ownership and/or
the nautique owners have been more satisfied with the quality during the
first 1 or 2 years of ownership as compared to other brands.

Personally, I have a 2001 SAN. I've had three or four digital guages
go bad. All replaced under warranty, and none left me dead in the water.
I've had 1 computer chip go bad at about 250 hours. Also replaced
under warranty, but did leave me DITW. I'm at aobut 375 hours, and
these are the only issues I've had other than routine maintenance.

BKh

**hsmunoz** · 05-13-2005, 11:53 AM

I think we all have different tolerence levels for product reliability, and quality expectations. In General when I buy something brand new, it's because I feel that a "pre-owned" version is likely to have been abused, example as streetbike, or dirt bike, but I would consider a "pre-owned lexus, and specifically a CC as that is less likely. If I buy brand new, my expectations are extremely high in terms of quality, and if I had paid brand new retail for my CC ,and had problems, I would have been pretty annoyed. Because I think I got a great deal on my 211, I am more tolerant of the things I have found, but at the same time, believe that CC could very easily eliminate these little things, with some basic quality control. You guys ever pull off a courtesy light and see how that hole was drilled, or pull the Clarion remote off the drver's panel and see how that hole was cut. Luckily in my case I have some extra funds to fix the little things myself instead of towing the boat for 50 miles one way, and then having it sit for ?weeks waiting to get fixed.

If you buy a 60K lexus and it craps out, your dealer shows up with a duplicate, parks it in your driveway , and takes yours away for repair. When it comes back it's fixed and detailed. If I spent 60K on a CC, and it crapped out, I would expect the dealer to come to my house towing a like replacement, hook up my boat, fix it , and detail it when it comes back. The first manufacturer that achieves that level of customer service will do to the competition, what Lexus did to Mercedes.

**ag4ever** · 05-13-2005, 12:27 PM

I don't know that even the lesser cars are all 100%. heck everything is human built in some way. The machines that build most parts of the cars were designed by a human. The metal going into parts might not have a perfect alloy blend always. The printed boards in computers might have a crack. there will always be little problems in any mechanical device. NOTHING IN LIFE IS PERFECT.

I think we, as boat owners, generally understand that and accept it.

In short, I think all boat mfgs have about the same no. of problems with new delivered boats. The difference is how they deal with the problems and also how the boats last long term. I have not owned mine long enough to comment on durability, but if past experience by others hold true for me, i don't expect many major problems for a long time to come.

I have had numerous utilitarian vehicles, and have not had the pleasure of an exotic, but even all my utilitarian vehicles had multiple trips to the service dept for warranty items.

**d_rock** · 05-13-2005, 01:17 PM

I had a few gauge problems with my new 2003. Very annoying, but I guess not that big of a deal. I gues the trips to the dealer are the most annoying thing to me, just because it is such an ordeal. And I don't even live that far as some. Other than that, I am still loving the 5 year warranty. Got three years left!!!!

**97SN** · 05-13-2005, 03:02 PM

New boats purchased in my family over the years:

My parents purchased a Ski Supreme in 1985 and the hour meter crapped out at 425 hrs. Other than that, it still performs like new. It's amazing how reliable this boat has been (knock on wood).

My sister purchased a Ski Sanger in 1989. It had some carburetor problems during the second year of use, but it is running great today.

I purchased a Ski Nautique in 1997. The battery went dead two months after I took delivery and I have to replace the gas springlift on the glovebox every year, but everything else works perfectly.

Of the three boats, I have seen no difference in reliability of the major electro-mechanical parts.

**bkhallpass** · 05-13-2005, 06:47 PM

I agree with Henry that most people purchasing a boat
for 60K have very high expectations as to quality, service, etc.
They have a right to such expectations, and IMO, Correct
Craft goes out of its way to try to meet those expectations.

I also think that people tend to set their expectations by comparing two
like priced items as Henry has illustrated. Thus, if I pay 60K for a Lexus
and 60K for wakeboard boat, I should expect the same level of
quality and service from each.

Unfortunately, these comparisons tend to be driven by our emotions
and our inner sense of what is right, and are not well supported by the
facts or business analysis.

Lexus is a division of Toyota Motor Corpoartion who sells over $150
Billion per year, including over 1.7M vehicle in the US alone. Toyota's
profits exceed $7B per year. They have at least 12 manufacting
facilities, multiple distribution plants, and thousands of dealerships in the US alone. The average Lexus dealership should sell at least 20 vehicles per month.

On the other hand, Correct Craft makes less than 2000 boats per year (
Mastercraft makes less than 5000, and Sanger makes only 500). Correct
Craft has only about 100 dealers around the country, and only a handful
of distributors. The average nautique dealer will sell less than 20
per year.

Given the economics of the situation, it is not surprising that Correct
Craft, nor any other boat manufacturer can deliver a "Lexus quality
and service model." This is not to mention that fact that boats will just
inherently break down more often that automobiles. I suspect that
to match the quality, service, fit and finish of Mercedes or Lexus, our
boats would need to cost well over $200K. Which is probably
not and option many of us could live with.

In the end, I think you gotta agree with AG4EVER. If your gonna
own a boat, you live with problems and accept them.

Just my way more than 2 cents.

BKH

Getting the bug's out

Getting the bug's out

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