2002 Ski Nautique Project

[Stuart Cooke]

Man you have touched every inch of this boat! I know it will be amazing. I am interested. Looking for something to put at Lake Waccamaw NC..

[NautiqueJeff]

Stuart Cooke It is just about ready to start being put back together. I need to wrap up the gelcoat, and then the fun part starts, where all of the new stuff gets installed. I'll keep you posted.

[Stuart Cooke]

Thanks! My neighbor, Jeff Smith, recently bought a boat from you. He gave me your contact information. His boat is very nice. Do you have anything or any prospects of a Open Bow Nautique?

[Stuart Cooke]

If the 2002 Nautique is not sold could we discuss the possibility of purchasing it? I saw you have a 2005 SV-211 with an Open-Bow but that is probably going to be out of my price range.

[NautiqueJeff]

Oh yes, Jeff Smith purchased my Air Tique 176! That is a great boat. It wasn't a restoration project, it was just a boat I had and used for a while. I really enjoyed working with Jeff on that boat. Super nice guy!

The 2002 isn't spoken for yet. It is going to be thoroughly restored though, and will sell for quite a bit more than the boat that Jeff bought. The 211 is certainly another option. We may be able to work something out on that where we don't restore it quite to like-new, and that way we could keep the price down for you.

I'll send you a PM tomorrow and we can discuss some options.

[Stuart Cooke]

Sounds good. I knew we would be looking at more since the 2002 was an "no expense spared boat". I like the fact that it has been so thoroughly restored. I want a boat that will service me and my family for many years and understand the value of having that. Looking forward to hearing more.

[NautiqueJeff]

This boat has finally been dropped off at the fiberglass/gelcoat restoration place.

Here are the "before" pictures.

[NautiqueJeff]

This boat is --STILL-- at the gelcoat place being worked on. I know they have started it, but it is taking them FOREVER.....

The reworked propeller came in today though, and it looks great! Delta Propellers is always great at fixing these things!

[NautiqueJeff]

So, I went to the fiberglass place that has had the boat, and I was thoroughly unimpressed with the state in which I found the boat.

I dropped the boat off on April 14. They knew what was to be done, and they promised me I would have it back and complete in TWO WEEKS, and gave me a somewhat high quote. Wanting the work done, I accepted the quote and even paid a deposit.

I explained that time was of the essence when I dropped it off.

After four weeks, I hadn't heard anything, so I showed up to see what the deal was, and they had only patched some of the holes from the tower mounts and the cleats. No finish work had been done at all. I reminded them that I needed it complete ASAP, and left it with them.

Fast forward to today. I showed up out there and NOTHING else had been done. It was in the exact same state as it was four weeks ago. The guy comes out and tells me that they had a little more sanding to do on the top deck, and that oh, by the way, the price he quoted me when he originally inspected the boat has now gone up by at least $2,500!!

I calmly asked him why I should agree to pay that when he had already given me a price, and had held the boat four times longer than he said he would. He proceeded to curse me out and yell at me for expecting him to do the work he promised at the price he promised in the time he promised. I remained calm, but I really thought this guy was going to hit me. He just kept working himself up more and more, and I think he was getting mad that he wasn't getting a rise out of me.

I calmly asked him what I owed him for what he had done, and told him I would be taking the boat with me right then. He screamed at me to just get it out of there.

WOW.

I have dealt with some poor businesspeople in my day, but this guy was one of the worst.

There was orange stuff all around the areas where he patched the tower holes and the cleat holes. I found out from another gelcoat expert that this is likely a type of cutting compound that will stain and soak all the way through the gelcoat if left in place too long. He told me to go and try to wash it off right away. Of course it didn't wash off, so now it is likely that the ENTIRE top deck will have to be completely resprayed with gelcoat. Thinking back, I remember that being on there four weeks ago when I was out there the last time, so it has likely been sitting like that the whole time.

When will I learn to stop giving deposits for work I am having done?

[MN Ryan]

Yikes, what an a-hole.

[Rednucleus]

I hope you give him the reviews he earned on every site you can think of.

[bturner]

I remember using compound like that a very long time ago. That's some really low grit, fast bite stuff we used to knock down over spray or dry paint without sanding. We used to cut it with water and avoid coming into any body lines as it would burn through instantly. Very effective when used properly. And yes, it will stain porous surfaces.

[NautiqueJeff]

I thought about leaving a review for him, and I still might. I am not usually that guy, but others should be warned about this guy.

There is actually more that he did that I didn't get into. He did other things during the process, like lying to me about when he would be at the shop (or leaving so he wouldn't have to address his lack of work), lying multiple times about when he would work on the boat, and leaving the boat out in the rain with the drain plugged. Luckily I had all of the wires and things tied up high, and the steering cable and battery cables are getting replaced anyway, so nothing was damaged, and luckily I stopped by and found it like that and unplugged the drain. There's more, but I won't get into it. I'm ready to move on I guess.

Trying a new glass/gel place today.

[BasaltRMK]

Ugh - so sorry to hear NautiqueJeff. You’re a better man than me for keeping your cool with that jerk. Good luck with the new shop!

bob

[fsts2k]

Sorry to hear about the gel coat struggles, it seems really hard to find quality people who do good work. I feel your pain