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I don’t really know where to start (sorry about the length, but I hope that you enjoy the photos), … our family took “contactless” delivery of our new 2020 GS20 from a dealer within our Nautique dealership territory over the past weekend (the dealership delivered it to our storage facility during a rainstorm that impacted our area—the dealer delivered it as “new” (15.3 hrs. on the boat: see my earlier post over in the "Trailer Discussion" group). We had worked over the telephone to “do the deal”—and, in many ways, felt extremely lucky to find a GS20 that seemed to be set up for our family during these challenging COVID-dominated times. The boat that the dealer delivered was not in “showroom” shape like we had hoped: the delivery revealed several relatively small issues that the images from the dealer had not exposed (some minor damage to the SeaDek, a bit dirty—it had apparently spent some time on their lot uncovered, gel coat/rub rail near the cleats on both sides, a couple of bow scuffs from power loading)—we figured we could get these cosmetic issues addressed—the dealer agreed to do so and the price seemed to reflect the boat’s condition/“use”—so we went ahead with the deal (I had to set my OCD way over to the side). In anticipation of the delivery, we took yesterday off to go to the lake. Here is a picture of our new GS as we headed to the lake yesterday late-morning (along with our two “silly hearts”—love and spoil those two):
Note: It was really hard to let our ’94 SN go (so many memories made on that amazing skier over the past eight years … just the type of boat that I was fortunate to drive and ski behind as an adolescent)—just know that this GS20 is a HUGE upgrade for us (my wife and I are old-school slalom skiers), both our children slalom ski but want to progress their wakeboarding and, of course, surf! Our old '94 SN (I completed a full restoration of the trailer myself):
Now the part that I need help with: Our family has a long-standing habit of rubbing down the hull with towels prior to putting the boat back on the trailer (we do it out on the water at our last swim break … it gives us some time to chill, swim, have a bit more fun before heading to boat ramp—it also cuts down with the amount of “muscle” that we usually have to wipe down after we put the boat back on the trailer). Please note that we do always wipe the entire boat again after we put it back on the trailer! During the pre-trailer wipe down out on the lake, I discovered the gel coat damage shown below. (My wife and I are “pros” … we neither damaged the boat getting it off the trailer—we slid it into the water; nor hit anything while enjoying the day on the lake—all middle of the lake fun getting to know our new boat: we sacrificed the better water on the lake for just the point of learning the surf, wakeboard, ski and upgraded functions without having to focus on navigating potential more constricted water … had we hit something that hard we would have known—trailer or otherwise … period!) I immediately called the dealer. Our salesperson was responsive and attentive. I suggested speculatively that someone likely didn’t tell him that they had hit something while the boat was out on a “demo”—he did not know, I SURE DID NOT!? I just wanted to call and let him know what I found before I put the boat up on the trailer!
Here is a picture of the trailer I took prior to loading the boat (I searched for any exposed bolts, trailer damage ... could not find anything):
A final picture of the boat back on the trailer enduring its post-load wipe down (my wife is in there somewhere):
Long story short, or shorter … the dealership wants to repair the damage but has encouraged our family to keep using the boat until the end of the season (we will only go to the lake once each week, with a longer period of four days near the end of the month where had planned to go each day for four consecutive days in a row—the boat always comes out of the water at day’s end)—the summer is fading, we have limited time, the dealer’s gel coat repair person is booked out, etc. We would likely put the boat up for good on or around the last week of September or first week of October. I am concerned about longer warranty issues if I don’t get it fixed immediately—which seems nearly impossible to do—(the dealer says not to worry about water intrusion to the glass or warranty issues), but know that I also had hoped to give my family a bit of relief by being able to enjoy some time out the water before the boating season ends? The dealership is suggesting “use it” … again, don’t worry about it, get it repaired in the off season.
Really appreciate all the advice and suggestions.
Note: It was really hard to let our ’94 SN go (so many memories made on that amazing skier over the past eight years … just the type of boat that I was fortunate to drive and ski behind as an adolescent)—just know that this GS20 is a HUGE upgrade for us (my wife and I are old-school slalom skiers), both our children slalom ski but want to progress their wakeboarding and, of course, surf! Our old '94 SN (I completed a full restoration of the trailer myself):
Now the part that I need help with: Our family has a long-standing habit of rubbing down the hull with towels prior to putting the boat back on the trailer (we do it out on the water at our last swim break … it gives us some time to chill, swim, have a bit more fun before heading to boat ramp—it also cuts down with the amount of “muscle” that we usually have to wipe down after we put the boat back on the trailer). Please note that we do always wipe the entire boat again after we put it back on the trailer! During the pre-trailer wipe down out on the lake, I discovered the gel coat damage shown below. (My wife and I are “pros” … we neither damaged the boat getting it off the trailer—we slid it into the water; nor hit anything while enjoying the day on the lake—all middle of the lake fun getting to know our new boat: we sacrificed the better water on the lake for just the point of learning the surf, wakeboard, ski and upgraded functions without having to focus on navigating potential more constricted water … had we hit something that hard we would have known—trailer or otherwise … period!) I immediately called the dealer. Our salesperson was responsive and attentive. I suggested speculatively that someone likely didn’t tell him that they had hit something while the boat was out on a “demo”—he did not know, I SURE DID NOT!? I just wanted to call and let him know what I found before I put the boat up on the trailer!
Here is a picture of the trailer I took prior to loading the boat (I searched for any exposed bolts, trailer damage ... could not find anything):
A final picture of the boat back on the trailer enduring its post-load wipe down (my wife is in there somewhere):
Long story short, or shorter … the dealership wants to repair the damage but has encouraged our family to keep using the boat until the end of the season (we will only go to the lake once each week, with a longer period of four days near the end of the month where had planned to go each day for four consecutive days in a row—the boat always comes out of the water at day’s end)—the summer is fading, we have limited time, the dealer’s gel coat repair person is booked out, etc. We would likely put the boat up for good on or around the last week of September or first week of October. I am concerned about longer warranty issues if I don’t get it fixed immediately—which seems nearly impossible to do—(the dealer says not to worry about water intrusion to the glass or warranty issues), but know that I also had hoped to give my family a bit of relief by being able to enjoy some time out the water before the boating season ends? The dealership is suggesting “use it” … again, don’t worry about it, get it repaired in the off season.
Really appreciate all the advice and suggestions.
You want to build a good relationship with the dealer.
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