2017 G23 Boatmate Warranty Concerns

[JGordon210T]

Ok so I would like some thoughts/opinions from everyone on this issue I am currently having. Boat/Trailer purchased October of 2016. Original owner. Trailer is always stored in a garage. Trailer may have 2500 miles on it total from the date of purchase to today. In this time span, Boatmate has already warrantied out the treadplate steps because they were falling off (sent directly to me along with a can of spray paint due to the glue removing paint), complete coupler/master cylinder assembly due to failure and jack assembly (12/19 dealer handled). On the way home from these repairs (01/2020), both drivers side calipers have locked up and heated the front bearing up enough that the seal blew out slinging grease everywhere. The dealer was notified/submitted warranty request and they just received parts. I get it with all the COVID stuff but this was all processed well before they were shut down. Now I have the paint flaking off everywhere front and back of the trailer. Considering that it is a galvanized painted over trailer, all Boatmate wants to do at this time is send me more spray paint. Call me crazy, but I do not see this as acceptable. I have had 4 Boatmate trailers previously and they were all flawless. 5 Ram-Lin trailers and the only issue I ever had from them were the first gen oil bath bearings. Nothing remotely close to having paint issues like this. Thoughts please...

[ffmedic74]

I'm not overly impressed with my first Boatmate trailer. The paint seems to be a bit thin and overall structure is much less than all of my prior Ramlin trailers. The Boatmate trailers seem to have lots of cheap bling instead of robust simpler style quality parts. My trailer has the trailer king tires (in the rv world these are called China bombs because of the high explosion fail rate).

[bturner]

Like most trailers I've heard hot and cold about quality. A lot depends on which one you buy as they have cost sensitive and deluxe models but in general it's still a crap shoot. My personal experience with the BIL's Boat Mate is not good. While it had all the right components it doesn't fit the boat well and is always a challenge to launch and retrieve the boat without catching the rub rail on the bow. Paint was not good either as we've had to touch up the fenders multiple times as the paint was flaking off in quarter size pieces. Once loaded it does seem to tow well.

As to paint over galvanized..... Who sold you on that mess? I'm surprised any paint sticks to it. The whole idea of galvanized is that it doesn't need paint. This same attribute is part of the reason paint can't get a bite into it without etching primer. The result you're seeing is exactly what I would expect to see from a painted galvanized surface. I see you're from FL so is this a saltwater boat then? If not did they just re-purpose the trailer by sending it out for paint?

One thing I am surprised about is the luck you've had getting warranty claims. Typically once a trailer goes out the door it's near impossible to get any manufacture to warranty anything without a fight. Sounds like they've treated you pretty well on that front.

[JGordon210T]

bturner, I completely agree on it being rough loading but riding well. When I did the order, I did not order galvanized painted. The paperwork from the order does not show galvanized either. My dealer (no longer a Nautique dealer) was out at the beach and I don't know if he ordered it as galvanized by mistake because of the coastal package.
I'm sure your'e well aware that a few of us in here are a little "extra" when it comes to our boats. Mine is strictly freshwater but I went with the coastal package because I did not want a red engine in my blue boat. LOL.
My dealer in Orlando has handled all of my trailer claims flawlessly until now. Boatmate emailed them denying the claim saying its possibly road debris. I would believe that if it was only on the front sides and not all over.
I love the appearance and the functionality of the Boatmates but I am half tempted to see if I can trade my dealer for one of their Ram-Lin lot trailers. Id hate to lose the rear steps but I don't think I should have a trailer flaking all over the place.

[bturner]

Well I just went on their website and in the FAQ's they mention painted galvanized as an option recommended for saltwater use. I would think that this means they'll do it. If they did IMO they didn't do a very good job and I'd be pissed too.

I think you'll take a beating trading the trailer in but if I had a 2 YO G23 with a trailer like that and could afford to dump it for something else it'd be gone tomorrow. The finish on that trailer looks horrible without even looking at the flaking. Up here the the north it's rare to see a galvanized trailer unless it for a cheap fishing boat or a transplant from one of the coasts. It's usually one of the things that tip you off to saltwater use.

Nothing wrong with coastal edition boats but again we don't see them up here much and when we do the warning flags go up. If it were me I'd take the beating and get something nice to match that incredible boat you have. Best of luck.....