I’m 46. Owned over 25 boats. Been on a boat since I was In My mothers belly on my grandfathers boat at his home in key largo. The boating industry is crashing in several ways. In quality and the sales do to prices eliminating the middle class. Gone are the days where a middle class family can go buy a 25-30 ft boat. Now ? All the middle class can buy is poor quality 17-23 ft jet boats. I say redo your old boat and keep boating. Let these thieves eat their new,crap boats. This is a GREAT video guys.
About 6 years ago, Miami, brand new 39’ SeaVee. We went to check a issue with the audio…We ended up discovering the cables of the bilge pump in the stern all loose, some with zip tide, screws half installed, main switch cables loose, and returning to the audio problem…2 jl amplifiers burned due to lack of ground. Under the console, all the hardware was loose, causing failures on the screen, autopilot, etc, in short, something very difficult to believe in a brand new boat!
I bought a 20yr old Grady that's built better than most new boats. Tin coated copper, fully heat shrunk connectors and 316 stainless throughout. Plus the factory STILL gives me a few small parts here and there at NO CHARGE! GW customer service is second to none!
What a shame! These Manufacturers are well known names, yet they sell crap like that. You are doing all potential buyer a justice by showing all the defects. You advocate for the buyer and not the Mega corporations that pawn this garbage at unbelievable prices. Someone psyched on buying a new boat would never look for the defects you highlighted. Thank You.
Thank you so much for that. I hope potential buyers can learn from videos like this one. But you're right, someone psyched on buying a new boat or a new anything for that matter, overlooks A LOT of things. Something has to change.🤙
@@nordwind8689 hahahaha. Right! You show mockups to customers willing to pay hundreds of thaousanda of dollars! According to your “logic” the arms industry exhibition should only be displaying himarses made out of plywood…. 🤡
I recently looked at a 140k boat and the caulking look like a child had applied it. I struggled but I finally got my head out of my ass and decided to just rebuild rather than buy new crap. Great video you are doing a great service for boaters
This seems to be the way my dad gave me shit for getting a older boat but for the half the cost of a newer boat n the repairs they need I can have a boat refurbished n ready to go
I was in the boating industry for 30 years and everything at a boat show is ready for sale. The boating industry is sinking to the level of the RV industry regarding lack of quality control...but you don't take your RV offshore, at least not on purpose.
That’s what I was try to convey here in the comments. These boats are ready to go from factory. Some rvs should be hooked up to these boats and taken out to the ocean to see who sinks first. 🌊🛥️🤙
Disclaimer: Hi everyone! We want to be clear and transparent with all of our viewers. The idea to make a video showing you all the defects on these boats came to us AFTER we were filming multiple boats for the future videos which you will see on our channel. We did not go to the boat show with the intention of finding and filming things wrong with boats. Nor is it our intention to show these boats in a bad light. We are simply showing you what is being showcased to you, the consumer so you can make an informed opinion and perhaps an informed decision when purchasing a boat. Thank you for watching and please let us know your thoughts here in the comments! 🌊🛥️🤙 Edit: Since this video has been posted almost 24hrs ago, we’ve had two people reach out to us from the manufacturers/dealer. One confirmed and one alleged employee. Both attacking me personally and not addressing the issues we pointed out in this video. I will be making a follow up video and I’m bringing receipts to show all of you what these people truly think of us boaters. I said I’d show you guys the truth and I always will. If anyone else that represents these dealers or manufacturers has something to say, don’t delete your comments. Write them here. WE. ALL. HAVE. QUESTIONS!
A lot of companies don’t want to pay their employees a livable wage, so due to that the employees don’t give 2 fucks and are only there for a paycheck. They don’t go the extra mile. In the other hand the more money they pay the employees the more the boats will cost.
As previous regional manager for one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world (not boats) I will tell you they find any way they can to save money. You don't think it cost a lot but when you add it up for hundreds or thousands of boats, the cost cuts equal millions. They ship stuff and expect the dealers to go over it and complete anything that was missed. It is sad this is what manufacturing in the US has come too. It's very hard to find good quality anymore without having something custom built. If it's off an assembly line, it's cheap!!!
That’s really eye opening! They’re saving millions and we get stuck with sub par quality. It’s hard to find good quality but when you do, you sure are paying for it. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing! 🤙🌊🛥️
I see it allot in the plumbing world also but its one thing if its an appliance or fixture. On a boat costing somtimes 100k to 200k and up thats pretty bad
Home Appliance industry is notorious for setting the product for failure at the same time bragging efficiency and green when it only ends up in the landfill early🤦
Bc its all about increasing profits. Im curious what the ceo, executives, and board members make every year. Im sure its a number most people can't even fathom making.
Thank you for the comment. We appreciate that. More than that, if consumers were more educated we’d really be in a better situation. Hopefully this video helps. Thanks for watching! 🌊🛥️🤙
I worked at a boat dealership that would steal parts off of customers boats dry docked in the back to put on the new boats. When the customers took there boats out from storage they would then have to come back to the dealership and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to get there boats "fixed." I've never witnessed so much fraud in my life.
Great video. You probably burned some bridges but I’m glad you took your time to expose these issues. Any reputable manufacturer would welcome your feedback and not crank up the music.
That’s true, but the way we see it is, we’d rather not work with people that work this way. These people all know about boats. Probably more than we do. If we found these issues then they KNOW about these issues and they’re trying to get people to buy them. 🛥️🌊🤙
I was at the same show( 8/25/24 ) and when I gave a quick glimpse to the Robalo dual console R207, I was amazed that there were sharp screws exposed, which is a potential accident waiting to happen or simply could ripped your life jackets. Mind you this boat was priced at $67k. Went to the direct competitor, the Cobia Dual console 220, the bow compartments wouldn't even lock, meaning if you put ice in them it would melt immediately. Went to the upscale Grady White dual console Freedom 215, priced at a "discount price" of $117k, when put my head inside the console, I could see also exposed screws and also I could clearly see that the console was build out of plywood, which it wasn't even painted with gelcoat all the way. Also beware that the "boat show price" could mean that's just the same price they got if you would've gone to the dealership, or in the case of Beachline Marine, even higher than their listed price.
Brother, I believe you! We didn’t get to see those boats because we just didn’t have the time. If we would’ve stayed another day I bet we would’ve seen a lot more! I can’t believe that about Grady! 😳. And still have plywood? Insane! Thanks for commenting! 🌊🛥️🤙
I was a desk clerk near Fisherman's Landing San Diego. "THE 2 DAYS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH A BOAT IS 1ST DAY YOU BUY, 2ND DAY YOU SELL'' IS a phrase I heard about 10 times.
I think that phrase holds true if you know nothing about boats and you are not mechanically minded. When you have to pay someone to maintain and fix your boat it is going to be a money pit. If, on the other hand, you have the knowledge and enjoy working on your boats, then it becomes a rewarding and reasonably economical past time.
Wow this was a real eye opener! Everybody on RUclips doing "boat tests" just tell you about how great the boat is because they need something to review next week 😂
This is the kind of video I really appreciate. Thank you for educating the public. As someone with in depth knowledge of boats it is good you are helping people see past the shiny gel coat. The vast majority of consumers have no clue and most boat consumption is purely emotional buys but am certain your video will help someone.
Thank you so much for that. I don’t know everything but we’ve gone learning over the years and we try to share as much info as we can. It’s hard for people to see past the shiny gel coat. 🛥️🌊🤙
Congratulations on the video ! You are the only channel that i have contacted that has taken the challenge to " look beyond '' the frills , bells and whistles of the boat manufacturers . Some customers seem to accept poor quality of new boats , but the same customers wouldn't accept that quality in a new car ! Some of the builders are having hulls built in Mexico now , shipping up the hulls and finishing them in the US . once again , thanks for the great work !
Thank you so much for that. We’ve been doing shows since last year. Each time I dive a little deeper into what makes one boat better than the other. Most people as you said are too distracted with the shiny gel coat and fluffy seats to even think about what may lie beneath. It’s a tough situation we put ourselves into because we don’t want to come off as virtuous. We just want to show the truth and help our boating community. It’s what are channel is all about. Thank you so much for commenting we appreciate it! 🌊🛥️🤙
Thanks for sharing, I built the Miami Vice Scarab's and then went to work for Apache Power Boats, the good Ole days are gone. The shrink wrap today is total garbage. Lousy quality, It's in every industry today, boats, cars/trucks, airplanes, new Boeing's are falling apart in the sky and look at their Starliner, they launched 2 people aboard a space craft full leaks. We are witnessing the complete collapse of society. Thank again for doing the video. Blessings
The Boat industry, the RV industry, even Boeing Aircraft & Aerospace industries are all horrible quality. The answer is putting Corporate officers & board members in Jail !!
It because its all about the god almighty dollar and making the owners, executives, and shareholders rich. This is Reagan's legacy. Corporations before customers.
No the answer is stop settling/ buying shit products. It's not law to have good industry standards, only safety standards are fines and jail and bad silicon jobs aren't covered in a safety standard
@@Porkpickle I agree we have to stop buying bad products but loose fill hoses and vent lines are safety standards that weren’t followed on many of these boats. It’s not just about bad caulking.🤙
Perhaps if consumers put in a little effort to educate themselves before purchasing low-quality products, there would be less cost-cutting and poor craftsmanship. If the public stops demanding subpar goods, companies will have no choice but to improve or go out of business. It's all about supply and demand.
Bought a brand new 2024 Sea Ray Sundancer 320 and it’s been in the shop for salt!! water and fresh water leaks and many other problems all summer. Been at the dealership for over a month. Some are well known problems that they refuse to correct. Thanks for exposing the shoddy manufacturing.
Very sad to hear. Should not happen on a Sea Ray. I also boat on a current model 320 (OB) and have been disappointed with the quality in the current generation Sea Rays. They did a great job on the cosmetics, though - one of the best looking cruisers in its class.
I was on the fence about getting a new or used boat and this video is priceless. So sad that the manufacturers are loosing quality as the prices keep going up.
I’m glad the video could help! Used might be the way to go. You still have to check for all of these things, but more than likely the previous owner has already dealt with issues like these. Thank you for watching! 🤙🌊🛥️
As a Quality Inspector for 20+ years I love your video. Also as a boat owner you are on point. People pay good money more then cars for boats and the standard should be the same. Would you but a car or truck that had scratches and dents... no... Great video and thank u
Thank you so much for commenting. The people want the standard which is the bare minimum. It shouldn’t be so hard to get that. We gotta change something! Thank you so much for commenting! 🤙🛥️🌊
Back in 2001 I was at the New England boat show and due to my Quality Control career I brought a flashlight and an extendable inspection mirror. I only looked at boats I was interested in and that's the 21' W/A types. Grady White was the worse with exposed wire strands, no service loops jumbled wire harnesses. I could flex the hull with a medium push of my hand! I ended up getting a Sea Pro which had excellent wiring, fit & finish. However over the years I would find all kinds of crap in the bilge from butts to candy wrappers and even a pair of pliers! That's why I always check the bilge around the bilge pump float switch before and after every trip! Great work!
That’s the way to do it! I’ve found all types of stuff too! Seapro is actually one of the better boats we’ve seen at the shows. Even at this one. We go over one in the next video! Thanks for sharing! 🤙🌊🛥️
This is so true. I made the mistake of buying an RV years ago. I paid $60,000 for a class C with a Triton V10 engine. Then I spent the next three years replacing all the cheap components and repairing the horrible build quality. I finally got rid of it because it was more trouble than it was worth. The pain was greater than the pleasure. Very similar to my experience with women. Everything in America is falling apart because the value of the currency is losing its value. Dah.
Boats have been built like crap for as long as I can remember. I've owned and worked on boats since the mid 90's. You're going to be disappointed in any brand if you look hard enough. I've seen MTI's and Fountain's arrive with defects in the glass/gel, electrical issues, mechanical issues, if a human touched it there's a good chance it's f'd up in some way. The manufacturers get these boats out as quickly as possible. Dealers aren't touching these boats until they are sold and being prepped for delivery. The boats they take to shows are not prepped for delivery. They're sent through detail to look as shiny as possible. The issues you are seeing are not uncommon. When you are shopping for a boat you really should be shopping for the best dealer that sells the brand you are interested in, because that's going to determine the quality you receiving on delivery after they've addressed the issues from the factory.
Idk sailboats had some decent quality albeit some brands were just always shit but even then they mainly stuck to we built this many a year not we have to hit this number it’s what they can make n this shows with number of boats they made it tends to be low like my sailboat from 1978-83 only 115 total were made 23 a year even if we add up all the other models still wouldn’t crack 1000 boats annually vs bayliner trying to pump out 20000 a year
I used to work in Cape Hatteras. I was born in 81 & grew up on the water. Around the mid/late 90s is when quality started going down hill even on the best manufacturers. If you press them they’ll claim they had no choice bc everyone else was doing it & that they’d go out of business. They got away with it for the most part for another 10 years until they went too far. Whats sad is until the late 90s you could buy a nice entry level boat & have it for a long time with little to no issues. The biggest problem you’d have is the small amount of people you could have onboard.
Dealers can only address a few things. My dealer fixed a mfg fault because of a recall and was reimbursed. Don’t expect many fixes from the dealer during that one-year warranty period.
The QC in all production boats went out the widow in 2022 some more than others. They keep me busy,but I hate seeing customers getting screwed. I have 40yrs experience in custom Sportfish building and I still don't think I've seen it all sad to say.
All the loose debris can clog up the bilge pumps. Most builders suck , the bigger boats also . I am a yacht diesel tech, I can write a book on sloppy builders. Captian’s and owners know it takes two seasons to correct the builders hack work . One 70 foot boat we found 6 water leaks. This guy is right on.
You are correct, quality workmanship is becoming a thing of the past. It is one thing to build to a price point but having zero pride in your work or the lack of quality checks is out of control.
It’s the sad truth. And the only way to get acceptable workmanship is to pay top dollar that most regular people just can’t afford. And even with those “quality” boats, we still have to thoroughly check them. How about the people selling them KNOWING these issues? SMH
but cars are getting worse every year too, no matter which brand. it has to look nice, with a lot of electrical bullshit. after 3 years nothing works as it should. my daughters boyfriends skoda has as much problems as my daughters 25 year old audi, but the old car, we can fix by ourself, the new one you dont know what is happening there. everything is computer based.
I work for boston whaler boats,,and I can assure you every boat Is treated the same way, whether it's a show boat or not...safety and quality is absolutely paramount....jump aboard one and take a look.. Or even take a look at a used one...lol.... I definitely enjoyed your video...We have boats headed to tampa soon!!!!
@lesfaust9634 awesome! Boston whaler makes a sweet boat for sure. But you definitely pay for the name! Edit: re read your comment and wanted to say that boat manufacturers should be doing exactly what you just did. “Hey, come see ours. Let us know what you think” that’s called confidence in what you are providing. Every salesman SHOULD feel that way about the product they’re selling. We’ll see you in Tampa for sure! Hopefully you have some of the smaller and more budget friendly boats our viewers can relate to! 🌊🛥️🤙
You guys are the best. Every manufacturer going to put a lock on every hatches in after this boat show. They are going to install a face recognition cameras at the gate and look out for you guys. Keep up the good work. Thanks for doing this.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Man, we thought about that! Maybe they won’t let us on their boats anymore haha but if they’re smart, and believe in their products they’d invite us to show what they’re there to show case! The consumer deserves better! 🛥️🤙🌊
I don’t think too many people know what a good standard is for a boat. I’m glad that you’re setting one for people now this is crazy how bad some of the stuff is on these boats. These boats look like they’re starting to be built like campers nowadays.
Rivets are fine when done correctly and better for things that flex airplanes have been done this ware for years and for this reason. They flex so any thing that flexes rivets are the superior choice
This is absolutely the best review on new boats that I've seen yet. I really hope this video goes viral and every new boat shopper gets a chance to view it. Instead of slamming any particular vendor, it shows you what you should be looking for and where you should look. Thank you so much for doing this!
Raymond, we aren’t the type of people to call out or talk bad about people or places. And as you may have noticed, we didn’t say a thing about the dealers. But the manufacturers need to do better and the people need to know what to look for and demand. I hope this video helps! Thanks so much for commenting! 🌊🛥️🤙
@@perfectfitboating I totally agree. You were doing a "how to" video on what to look for and I think that was great. I also think that the issues that you found indicate a lack of training in the labor force... i.e. too much work and not enough professionals to fill the professional roles. I do boat restorations and my restorations are 10 times better than what you showed. And, I'm no professional. So, your conclusion is spot on. We need to let these manufacturers know that these things are important to us shoppers and, as a group, they need to step up their game. Again, great video and thank you for sharing it.
@raymondbrown940 thanks Raymond. We restored our Grady. And still restoring it little by little. That’s how I’m able to point out all these things and I’m nowhere near a pro! Things have to change! 🌊🛥️🤙
Interesting video, I purchased my first freshwater boat 4 years ago knowing nothing about boats. It was a Tracker and made like you would expect for a mass produced boat. I did improvements and repairs on the boat, learning lots about boats. This year I purchased a Vexus and am amazed by the quality and attention to detail by the people that make Vexus boats. Yes they are expensive boats, but now I know what quality looks like. You are correct lots of manufactures are cutting corners and not ensuring quality when shipping a final product, you did a great job showing that in the video.
Dollar goes where it's treated the best. I own a 2013 regal 28 express. My dad bought the same boat in 2022 and it was a pile of crap for 3x what I paid for my used one. Workmanship was worse and materials were much worse. Really sad to see. But if people are buying them boat companies will keep cutting corners until sales decline because of it. These videos will help keep the market honest
The issues you pointed out are the quality items that are visible. I can’t imagine the issues you would find under the deck with dry laminate on stringers, voids, and just overall sloppy work.
Bought a ski nautique 1993 for my first boat this season after reading how well they are made. Interior still looks new and its 31 years old. Boat sat for 4 years and the old ford 351w runs like a champ still.
I have never seen a channel exposed this companies for what they are it's really absurd the amount of money they ask for a boat. I'm definitely subscribing to this channel !!my respect man !!
Great video and you are 100% correct on that WE the consumer must stop accepting this. Its a rampant issue across all industries including RV which are even worse,cars, and new home construction. We built new and would not ever do it again and happy to have sold that home for an older one. We try to buy things that are older and have lasted the test of time and fix properly as needed. Imagine the stuff they took shortcuts on or improperly constructed that you can't access or see.
My wife and I are currently sitting in our 1983 53 foot Spencer Ketch anchored of Langley on Whidbey Island Washington. It has carried us to Alaska , Haida Gwaii and back. She has sailed to the Sea of Cortez ,Hawaii Alaska and Vancouver . She has weathered hurricanes in her life and always carried her owners safely home . I know all her warts and blemishes by heart. She just passed her recent survey with no deficiencies. The faults you are showing me on these new boats make me realize I would never go near a newer boat. We bought her from her second owner Both previous owners cared for her and loved her at a level I strive to keep up too. We paid $100,000 for her and she is our key to the world.
Thank you so much for that comment! I’m glad to hear you’ve had great success with your boat! By the sound if it, you own a sea worthy tank that has really given you two the key to the world as you say. I hope she gives you plenty more years at sea! 🛥️🤙🌊
@@perfectfitboating Thanks . Your review of the boats was enlightening. You have taken up where David Pasco has left off. Good work on both your parts. Hopefully you save people money and heartache.
Great video - you just earned my subscription. It saddens me how little quality there is in boat manufacturing in this country. As the owner of three boats and a life-long boater (up to and including offshore transoceanic racing) I know that every make/model will have issues, even when brand new. Every boat will have maintenance issues over its lifetime, and people should have no illusion about it! However, to see such poor quality and so many built-in points of failure in a new boat it makes me question whether buying a new boat is worth it... probably far better to get an older boat with a lot of the bugs already worked out, or at least old enough that points of failure are already known.
Wayne, thank you so much for subbing. It meals a lot to us. We did exactly as you state. Our channel was started with the resto of an 85 Grady and we’ve gone through the whole thing. Probably the best way to ensure things being done right. 🌊🛥️🤙
This is by far the best most informative boat show video I've seen. Thanks so much for a true real evaluation of new boats. Most of the boat show videos only tell you how great the boats are without any real evaluation. Outstanding Job you 2. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the kind words. This is the worst we’ve seen. In our other videos we point stuff out too but this was an accumulation of all the things we saw in one day and it was just too much. Love the pup in your profile pic! Thanks for watching! 🌊🛥️🤙
Great video! An experienced boater is more familiar with what constitutes quality but…. a new boater wouldn’t be able to see the nuances that you showed and explained. If you’re new to boating you should ask someone with years of experience to steer you to a quality boat that’s within your budget. I’d recommend you buy a better quality used boat than a brand new POS as shown in your video. Thank you for being candid and shame on those manufacturers for taking short cuts.
@@perfectfitboating you should offer your services to “new” boaters to help them choose an appropriate boat for their intended usage. If they have a bad experience with their first boat it very well might be their last boat. We all use our boats for different purposes with many straddling multiple uses. New boaters wouldn’t know what works for their use.
@user-zk7ws3xl9w thank you for that. In the follow up video, I’m going to have a new boat buyers check list that they can download off our site for free. Hopefully that helps a ton. I’m also thinking of getting my surveyors license for those that really need someone to check out the boats they’re buying! 🛥️🌊🤙
@@perfectfitboating I’m sure the better built boats would pay you to be spotlighted or advertised and there’s nothing wrong with promoting a quality product! I’ve been boating my entire life up and down the east coast and have owned many boats. Some of my earlier boats were not of great quality but i learned real fast what constitutes a quality boat.
Yes! I believe lot of people just like to show the boat off in the driveway but after few years of making them payments and just sitting there then it’s time to sell!
@@jonathantaylor6926 Not really, you don't know the actual history or hours of used crap, people are shady especially those that need to offload a burden.
Iv gotta say respect to you & the lady for making these videos,most RUclipsrs do these videos making every boat out to be the best ever,your exposing things we normally wouldn’t see or no,I’m looking to by a boat over the winter (UK) ready for 2015 & it’s nice to no these things as I’ll now be looking out for it,and I’m shocked there still using wood,wood vs water don’t go together,I’m shocked,making boats out of cheap materials & charge the earth for it,like they do with homes
My 2021 Eastern Rosborough 246 was delivered with faults in nearly every installed system. Back to the factory in NH 3-4 times left boat unsafe for use.
Thanks guys another great and informative post. Another thing thst really bothers me and is very dangerous are improperly installed cleats all cleats, bow spirits, anchor winches etc must be through bolted and have poper sized backer plates Aldo those through bolting must be stainless steel and have either lock washers or self locking nuts of some sort. I have seen on more than one occasion cleats ripped of boats extremely dangerous. Correct me if I'm wrong but all boats are expected to be built to exacting coast guard standards periodically inspected by safety inspectors. If this is not being performed this is a huge product liability issue for manufacturing, and potentially the agency thst is charged with making sure these standards are being adhered too. Sorry for the rant but I like you am amazed by the shoddy workmanship and the total disregard for public safety. Keep these great posts coming you are fast becoming my favorite utube channel.
Thanks Dave! Don’t apologize for the rant! We’re all tired of the crap being put by these companies. I’m going to read up on the coast guard standards and get educated myself. Then I’m going to compare to what’s being done on these boats! 🌊🛥️🤙
This video is great. I hope every new boater looks at this video so they know what to look for when buying a new boat. Keep doing these types of videos so the new consumer can protect them selfs from crazy boats.
This is true for almost every manufactured items since the pandemic. Its because the inspector is not doing their jobs in every aspect of the manufacturing process from the company building fasteners all the way to the final customer not knowing what they are looking at. Its true for car's to house's and camp trailers to shoes. So many sub par items that being built with sub par materials pushes profit for the company's doing the customer dirty with a smile knowing that customer will be getting further in the hole with every repair in the in house repair facility. Thanks for bringing it up in the boats and showing the best reason for finding something from when Americans had pride in their work.
Woww, Im not a boat owner yet, maybe someday, but your video sure shows a person like me what to look for. Thank you so much for pointing out the obvious hazards that could cause a disaster once the boat leaves the dock!
Thank you for helping thousands of new boaters. This helps us in what to look for before we make such a huge investment. I did notice a lot are missing gaskets on the components too 🤦🏻♂️
In the 90’s I worked in the UK for Fairline Boats we knew what quality meant, but these days the quality of boats generally is poor, from small to the big 80’ers are mass manufactured where possible and craftsmanship has gone out of the window. US manufacturers are lower quality than European manufacturers in general.
More or less, but it depends when and where the boats were made in Europe. So Bavaria for example had some good and some crappy boats depending on who was the owner of Bavaria and where they were made. But in general european boats are better made than american.
Thank you! I appreciate it. All you did was show the poor quality that was brought to the shows and presented as their best 🤦🏻♂️ I would hope that one or more manufacturers would see the videos and have some people on the carpet asking “is this really what we sell?” “Who let this out the door and thought we should take it to a show?” I hope some manufacturers read these comments and set a goal of taking a boat to next year’s show and inviting you to do a follow up video. They should pay you and say “thank you for showing where we can improve our product “
Well done thank you for sharing. this information is eye opening for so many of us who are looking to purchase a new boat. Thank you for your efforts and advice. Cheers to you and your next adventure
My Brother, Great Information video...this will help buyers know what to look for before buying. Manufacturers will have to step up on quality to justify those crazy prices. Peace from the Keys!
In January of 24 I attended the Cleveland boat show @ the IX center. I was amazed by how many brand new boats had quality issues! There's a reason why a hand built boat like a Terria,or Fountain costs are huge compared with mass produced vessels like Fourwinds & Searay You get what you pay for..
Same story with RV’s! New ones are crap. I bought a new one 3 yrs ago and could not use it for the last two summers because it was at the shop under repair from poor quality.
Wood is perfect for boat building it’s soft enough to flex and bend without cracking yet firm enough to hold its shape. I know rot is an issue with wood but that’s why your supposed to keep the water outside the boat!
Great Video! Would LOVE to see a full quality check on a ranger 27ob and the closest comparable version from cutwater. That would get an enormous amount of views!! Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! We did a walk through of the ranger 27 ob. We didnt get into a DEEP inspection of it but we can tell you that the Fluid Motion Marine group build awesome boats. We love the 27!🤙
I have a 2004 Bayliner 185 sterndrive that I bought new back in the day for 15k. I was 26 years old and it was all I could afford back then. Although it’s a Bayliner, and it’s not without its faults, it still has better build quality and better attention to detail than what I’m seeing here. Glad I still own it and it looks and runs as good as the day I bought it.
Great video. This is incredibly helpful to new boat owners. I’m in the marine industry(we manufacture components, not boats) and QC is always at the top of our list. There are some companies dedicated to doing things the right way and others who are run by accountants and that’s when you get what you see here. In my experience, you should seek out a company who are boaters themselves. They understand the need for quality design, components and processes. Excellent video. 10/10
Definitely disappointed in my 2022 Skeeter ZX200 Bass boat. I have had more quality issues with this boat in two years than I had with my 2001 model in twenty years. I have found that poor quality has always seemed to be expected in the marine industry and now it’s gotten much , much worse Great video thank you for showing this!
Thank you so much for watching! Seems like every style boat and almost every range of brand seems to have these issues! Sorry to hear youre going through that! 🛥️🌊🤙
my 2022 ranger 519 was in the shop for 4 months the first year due to gel and glass issues (27 flaws). it is almost 2 years old now, and I am still waiting on some parts to correct matters. I now see the carpet coming loose on the doors but will fix that myself. luckily I have a good dealership to help me
I bought a 2023 boat from a very reputable manufacturer and had multiple issues. Vapors in the bilge area (it's an outboard!) due to an improperly installed venting valve - somebody didn't pressure test the fuel system yet signed off on it, I lost all hydraulic steering when I came to realize that the hydraulic lines were finger tightened and they were spewing fluid everywhere - apparently nobody checked but it was also signed off, I lost all power steering when I blew an 80 amp fuse - which basically means something went to ground (that is a gremlin and cannot reproduce or resolve). I won't mention the boat manufacturer but it's one know for longevity and quality. For $140K I expected better.
Man, I’m so sorry to hear that! I appreciate you not wanting to blast the company. We felt bad putting these companies on blast but enough is enough. If you notice we also didn’t mention the dealer. I’m sure they’re aware of all these things too. It’s crazy to think that something that costs as much as a house can come with so many defects. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse! Thanks for commenting! 🛥️🤙🌊
@@bigguydiy2184 well they did get it sorted for me - rightfully it should have never happened in the 1st place - but they did right to fix it - my local dealer was outstanding. If they didn't I would gladly have outed them and if anyone from their customer service team is reading / watching - you know who you are - your local dealer make things right. They are the hero here.
@@perfectfitboating I noticed a few vendors eyeballing you two. 👀 I liked, commented, subscribed, shared and clicked the notification bell in support. 😂😂. All the things. I’m glad I found your channel. You have some great content. 🫶🏼✌🏼
Holy cow I just noticed the massive typo in my initial comment. Apple puts as much effort into AutoCorrect on the iPhone as some of these boat builders do to finishing their products with quality work. 😂✌🏼
Great video!! I was Regal's first quality improvement engineer in the 80's. The VP of manufacturing had just returned from a tour of Toyota Motors in Japan and hired me , then three more QIE's. The company invested heavily early on to build a quality product. Definitely room for quality improvement on the boats at your boat show! Scott Reynolds
Thank you so much for the comment Scott. I would like your expertise on a question that would help clarify some things. When dealers buy these boats to resell, are they buying these boats ready to sell at a basic standard model? Do the dealers “finish” the boats at the dealer? I’m referring to the things in this video. Basically what I’m asking is, is this a dealer or manufacturer issue in your opinion and are they supposed to come this way from the manufacturer?
@@perfectfitboating Based on what you identified in your video, in my opinion, these are manufacturing-engineering issues. If a boat is engineered properly, it is designed in such a way for the dealer or customer to make installations and modifications and still maintain the desired level of quality and product safety.
New subscriber… great video. I was also at the show disappointed with most manufacturers quality. Thought the best fit to finish boats were Edgewater, Grady, and Robalo would love to see more one these 3 manufacturers and larger size 28-33’.
Thank you buddy! Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time. We went with the intention of filming mid to lower tier boats. “Affordable”. Then ran into all these issues. If we would’ve stayed an extra day, we could’ve seen those too. Someone in the comments that was at the show pointed out even Grady had exposed wood in the console and didn’t even have gel coat on it. 😳 would’ve liked to have seen that! Thank you for subbing we really appreciate that!🛥️🌊🤙
Most people don’t know what to look for when purchasing a boat. That is why the dealers can get away with delivering such poor quality finish. Also that is why there is such a big price difference between entry level boats and high-end boats.
Don’t let the price fool you. I see crap work on newer model $million dollar boats ALL THE TIME! And don’t even get me started on Volvo 😱- embarrassing actually. My 1990 Regal 360 was made really well, much better than anything from the past 20 years - mind you there are some ‘Friday afternoon’ factory issues but they are very minor. In fact my original Norcold fridge just died - every replacement one is total trash starting at $1600?
To be honest, was at Marine Max in St Pete yesterday, they need new boat builders overall, im having such a time trying to figure out a boat I love. The Saxdor cabins are terrible for the cost, Axopar cabins are also bad for the cost. I have about 500k to 600k and cant figure out what I love.
Yeah, you're not alone. I think a lot of people are finding the same thing. Maybe look at used? Check out the solara, ranger and cutwater lines. They make great boats that are built very well.
I had a friend of mine that was a boat dealer and he invited me to the annual dealer show in Chicago (this was back in the 90's) and it was eye opening. That boat you are paying $100K for - the dealer is getting it for $60K. Talk about a mark up.
As soon as I see a boat battery near or in the bilge I walk away. And I have seen some larger boats from decent manufactures with batteries in the bilge area or on a shelf just above the bilge. If you have ever been on a boat taking on water 20 miles off the beach in the winter the last thing you want is your batteries to go under first.
Pretty much all the junk you found in the manufactures products are well known by seasoned boater as the ones to stay away from. However some things you pointed out are worse than I’ve ever scene. Good job pointing it out.
I helped a buddy with an electrical issue on a 45 Lagoon. Lagoon is high on quality control BUT additional electronics were added after purchase. NEVER ASSUME ADDITIONS WERE DONE WELL! It took me a week to find the dead short. Contractor left a wire out of the bundle. A 6 pack cooler caught it and created hell
I don’t cut anyone slack when I am paying $100 grand plus. I looked at many boats to go out in the gulf to the rigs and these boats aren’t worth the money. I went with a seadoo Explorer Pro 230 hp engine dressed as a fish pro. Yes, it’s small. But it’s built for big water and under $30,000. I feel safer and the quality is higher. I now go to the rigs and the weather is mostly no problem.
Yamaha has weak transom mounting area for the jet pump,this patch was Not done at factory,was done by techs as emergency repair bulletin , I agree for the huge price Yamaha gets these days is piss poor rush job not grinding down pas gel😮
My father built Sea Star, Mach 1 and Envision Boats for 37 years. I installed interiors and also did bonding and gunneling ( Putting the deck and hull together). We had 3 inspections during building and before they went on the truck. Obviously all that has went out the door! It's a shame. Intrepid Boats out of Clearwater Florida build one of the best in the business. Thanks Brian Felt
In 2018 I was moving from a 21' Carolina Skiff to a bay boat. Don't need to get into what I had to repair on the skiff, at least the guy that I sold it to, got a good boat! I spent 6-8 months looking at different manufactures of 24' bay boats and kept going back to one brand due to quality and hardware. Says something when you go to a sales lot looking at saltwater bay boats, look at a new boat that has never been in the water and the hardware is rusting from sitting on the lot. I just purchased my third Sportsman 247 Masters bay boat since 2018. Even prior to purchasing this new one, I looked at a couple other "premium" manufactures 24' bay boats, quality was very questionable, they were still $40k-$50k higher with less accessories, lower grade electronics and with the same Yamaha 300 engine.
Wow Chris. We’ve read comments like this all through this post. It’s a buyers worst nightmare to have a new boat and have to fix it. You have to be careful with even the “premium” manufacturers! 🛥️🌊🤙
@@perfectfitboating - That's why my new boat is another Sportsman, my previous two Sportsman boats had some of the best quality I have found while looking at boats and all Gemlux hardware which is very important in the saltwater environment. People get so excited over the shiny new boat and overlook issues. Known fact with most things, if the quality is crap where it can be seen, usually much worse where it can't be seen?
@@jerrypauling7809 - Mine was a DLX2180, wasn't too bad. The only thing I miss about it, 7" draft with 2 men and loaded for fishing. I could get in skinny water with that boat. If I got it stuck on a shoal, it was light enough to hop out and push it.
I was a rigger for 10 years till I moved into a different industry. I still bleed boats and attend several boat shows in New England. I was a tad OCD when I rigged the boats which included installation of Outboard engines, gauges, wiring, fishfinders, chartplotter, radar, etc. I am looking for a new boat, but the riggin I am seeing the last 7 years or so has just gotton worse and worse to a point where I may be better off buying a 20 year old boat and doing rotissory restoration and I'll still come out ahead by thousands of dollars saved compared to what the manufactures are charging now for the bad quality of work. Now, I am looking at boats under 24ft that are not custom made, but massed produced.
@@perfectfitboating Yes, rigging is very time consuming and I still help friends out with their boats trying to make them better in order to have a better boating experience.
To me, that's called job security. Personally, I work on every boat 38ft and under available on the East coast. Boat manufacturers are delivering "10 year" boats. "The next 10 years, it'll be in and out a shop until you buy another one." Quality control is non-existent in today's market
Have to confess thought your videos were just pushing new boats. Glad to see your views are more then that. We own a 2002 Silverton 35/351 with twin 6bts. Picked it up for 70k in 16. We have been slowly turning it into our dream. Maybe i missed it in some of your other videos. But when you restore your boat as to were you get you parts from and cost. We are trying to find someone that can build a t-top frame for a reasonable price, maybe wrong but 10k seems quite step for just a frame.
Fred, thank you so much for your comment. We love boats. New and used. But, I’m also a realist. A new boat for a regular guy and his family just doesn’t make much sense. Used seems to be the best way to go about getting the bast bang for your buck just like in your case! I think alot of people think boats are like cars. Drive it off the lot and forget about it. On a boat, you can just pull over when things go wrong! lol As far as a top goes, 10k sounds STEEEEP. Just for reference, t tops are being built around here for less than 2k. That’s a plain Jane t top but it’s ways away from 10k! 🤙🌊🛥️
I agree with you 100 percent. You have always found small issues with even top tier boats. They are hand built. You did highlight the differences in low tier boats and upper mid tier boat brands. I personally won’t buy anything less than Cobia/Robalo (there are other capable competitors) and up. Those boats were pretty bottom of the barrel.
This has been going on for years even with the big name brands. What amazes me is how this younger generation of sleazy salesman blatantly lye to to customers about quality, and even though the customer is looking right at plywood or bad wiring they believe the saleskid that was selling video games and the mall last week.
Bingo! We didn’t want to blast anyone or any dealer. But the truth is, if we found it, they KNOW about it. And, they’re selling it to people just as it is! Shameful! 🤙🌊🛥️
I’m 46. Owned over 25 boats. Been on a boat since I was In My mothers belly on my grandfathers boat at his home in key largo. The boating industry is crashing in several ways. In quality and the sales do to prices eliminating the middle class. Gone are the days where a middle class family can go buy a 25-30 ft boat. Now ? All the middle class can buy is poor quality 17-23 ft jet boats. I say redo your old boat and keep boating. Let these thieves eat their new,crap boats. This is a GREAT video guys.
Spot on. That’s exactly what we did with our Grady! The middle class is being eliminated! Thank you for commenting!🤙🌊🛥️
About 6 years ago, Miami, brand new 39’ SeaVee. We went to check a issue with the audio…We ended up discovering the cables of the bilge pump in the stern all loose, some with zip tide, screws half installed, main switch cables loose, and returning to the audio problem…2 jl amplifiers burned due to lack of ground. Under the console, all the hardware was loose, causing failures on the screen, autopilot, etc, in short, something very difficult to believe in a brand new boat!
Sorry to hear that man. And crazy to hear that a big name like them sold you what you received. Sad. 🌊🤙🛥️
I bought a 20yr old Grady that's built better than most new boats. Tin coated copper, fully heat shrunk connectors and 316 stainless throughout. Plus the factory STILL gives me a few small parts here and there at NO CHARGE! GW customer service is second to none!
@peterraguseo2874 refreshing to hear that Peter! Thanks for sharing! 🌊🤙🛥️
Best boat show video In years, most RUclipsrs overlook the real staff. Thank you!
Glad you enjoyed it! And thank you for watching! We just want to bring you the truth. 🌊🛥️🤙
@@perfectfitboating When you look at POS's boats You are getting a POS boat!!! There not Bertram's or Pursuit's?
Go through these comments if you have a chance and you’ll find people at this show who went through Grady’s and other big names with similar issues.
What a shame! These Manufacturers are well known names, yet they sell crap like that. You are doing all potential buyer a justice by showing all the defects. You advocate for the buyer and not the Mega corporations that pawn this garbage at unbelievable prices. Someone psyched on buying a new boat would never look for the defects you highlighted. Thank You.
Thank you so much for that. I hope potential buyers can learn from videos like this one. But you're right, someone psyched on buying a new boat or a new anything for that matter, overlooks A LOT of things. Something has to change.🤙
It’s a universal issue - millenials are building them…. Their approach to work shows!
Where is your brain today? These are exhibits at a boat show.... Simply put, exhibits are made of plain wood and cheap glue...Helloooo! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@@nordwind8689 hahahaha. Right! You show mockups to customers willing to pay hundreds of thaousanda of dollars!
According to your “logic” the arms industry exhibition should only be displaying himarses made out of plywood…. 🤡
@@nordwind8689 My brain is right where it's supposed to be. If you want to support false advertising, you go right ahead.
I recently looked at a 140k boat and the caulking look like a child had applied it. I struggled but I finally got my head out of my ass and decided to just rebuild rather than buy new crap. Great video you are doing a great service for boaters
Thank you so much for that! We hope this video helps future boaters in there purchasing process! Thanks for watching! 🤙🌊🛥️
This seems to be the way my dad gave me shit for getting a older boat but for the half the cost of a newer boat n the repairs they need I can have a boat refurbished n ready to go
I child DID APPLY IT. Workers today don't know a screw drive from a spatula. Its the norm now.
I was in the boating industry for 30 years and everything at a boat show is ready for sale. The boating industry is sinking to the level of the RV industry regarding lack of quality control...but you don't take your RV offshore, at least not on purpose.
That’s what I was try to convey here in the comments. These boats are ready to go from factory. Some rvs should be hooked up to these boats and taken out to the ocean to see who sinks first. 🌊🛥️🤙
Very good point. I have been doing repairs myself to a 2012 open range residential 416 RLS fifth wheel trailer. Never seen such cheap short cuts!
I take my RV offshore all the time.
I also do a lot of meth.
Disclaimer: Hi everyone! We want to be clear and transparent with all of our viewers. The idea to make a video showing you all the defects on these boats came to us AFTER we were filming multiple boats for the future videos which you will see on our channel. We did not go to the boat show with the intention of finding and filming things wrong with boats. Nor is it our intention to show these boats in a bad light. We are simply showing you what is being showcased to you, the consumer so you can make an informed opinion and perhaps an informed decision when purchasing a boat. Thank you for watching and please let us know your thoughts here in the comments! 🌊🛥️🤙
Edit: Since this video has been posted almost 24hrs ago, we’ve had two people reach out to us from the manufacturers/dealer. One confirmed and one alleged employee. Both attacking me personally and not addressing the issues we pointed out in this video. I will be making a follow up video and I’m bringing receipts to show all of you what these people truly think of us boaters. I said I’d show you guys the truth and I always will.
If anyone else that represents these dealers or manufacturers has something to say, don’t delete your comments. Write them here. WE. ALL. HAVE. QUESTIONS!
Same thing happened to the RV industry. Quality went way down, prices went up.
@Ctothelow Someone just commented that exact thing 2 mins ago. Every industry is cutting corners it seems. Thank you so much for watching! 🛥️🌊🤙
A lot of companies don’t want to pay their employees a livable wage, so due to that the employees don’t give 2 fucks and are only there for a paycheck. They don’t go the extra mile. In the other hand the more money they pay the employees the more the boats will cost.
Fiberglass is laminated on gelcoat everyday in molds, just follow the data sheet window.
Fiberglass is laminated on UNWAXED gel coat in molds every day. This was not that. The gel coat in the video was already fully cured.
Don't buy a new tracker pontoon. I worked on the assembly line and watched people put in screws with a hammer. And that wasnt the worst!
Holy crap! 😳
Johnny Morris hiring anyone of the street without any experience
Well, the threads are only needed to back the screws out!🤭
Good gracious.
@@57Jimmy You must of been hired by Johnny Morris.
As previous regional manager for one of the largest manufacturing companies in the world (not boats) I will tell you they find any way they can to save money. You don't think it cost a lot but when you add it up for hundreds or thousands of boats, the cost cuts equal millions. They ship stuff and expect the dealers to go over it and complete anything that was missed. It is sad this is what manufacturing in the US has come too. It's very hard to find good quality anymore without having something custom built. If it's off an assembly line, it's cheap!!!
That’s really eye opening! They’re saving millions and we get stuck with sub par quality. It’s hard to find good quality but when you do, you sure are paying for it. Thank you so much for commenting and sharing! 🤙🌊🛥️
I see it allot in the plumbing world also but its one thing if its an appliance or fixture. On a boat costing somtimes 100k to 200k and up thats pretty bad
Home Appliance industry is notorious for setting the product for failure at the same time bragging efficiency and green when it only ends up in the landfill early🤦
Bc its all about increasing profits. Im curious what the ceo, executives, and board members make every year. Im sure its a number most people can't even fathom making.
@@Tom_TahmasIt's not how much they make, it's about how big their bonuses are.
If all the channels were as honest as you, we wouldn’t be in this situation in the first place.
Thank you for the comment. We appreciate that. More than that, if consumers were more educated we’d really be in a better situation. Hopefully this video helps. Thanks for watching! 🌊🛥️🤙
@@perfectfitboating keep it up sir
I worked at a boat dealership that would steal parts off of customers boats dry docked in the back to put on the new boats. When the customers took there boats out from storage they would then have to come back to the dealership and spend thousands upon thousands of dollars to get there boats "fixed." I've never witnessed so much fraud in my life.
Holy Sh*t!😳 that’s wild!
Thats some third world stuff!
Post the name of the dealership please
Great video. You probably burned some bridges but I’m glad you took your time to expose these issues. Any reputable manufacturer would welcome your feedback and not crank up the music.
That’s true, but the way we see it is, we’d rather not work with people that work this way. These people all know about boats. Probably more than we do. If we found these issues then they KNOW about these issues and they’re trying to get people to buy them. 🛥️🌊🤙
@@perfectfitboating much respect, gained a sub just from this comment 😎
thank you buddy! we appreciate that!
I was at the same show( 8/25/24 ) and when I gave a quick glimpse to the Robalo dual console R207, I was amazed that there were sharp screws exposed, which is a potential accident waiting to happen or simply could ripped your life jackets. Mind you this boat was priced at $67k. Went to the direct competitor, the Cobia Dual console 220, the bow compartments wouldn't even lock, meaning if you put ice in them it would melt immediately. Went to the upscale Grady White dual console Freedom 215, priced at a "discount price" of $117k, when put my head inside the console, I could see also exposed screws and also I could clearly see that the console was build out of plywood, which it wasn't even painted with gelcoat all the way. Also beware that the "boat show price" could mean that's just the same price they got if you would've gone to the dealership, or in the case of Beachline Marine, even higher than their listed price.
Brother, I believe you! We didn’t get to see those boats because we just didn’t have the time. If we would’ve stayed another day I bet we would’ve seen a lot more! I can’t believe that about Grady! 😳. And still have plywood? Insane! Thanks for commenting! 🌊🛥️🤙
Robalo and Cobia used to be one and the same. I worked for Cobia/Robalo in Sanford Florida before they moved to Tennessee.
Crazy how some of this gets by and sold at these prices. Glad to see you showing the truth on these.
@@The_guy90 it really is. And it’s getting worse. By far the worst we’ve seen. Thank you for watching and commenting! 🤙🌊🛥️
Because most people who buy boats this big probably can’t check the air in their car tires.
I was a desk clerk near Fisherman's Landing San Diego. "THE 2 DAYS YOU ARE HAPPY WITH A BOAT IS 1ST DAY YOU BUY, 2ND DAY YOU SELL'' IS a phrase I heard about 10 times.
I think that phrase holds true if you know nothing about boats and you are not mechanically minded. When you have to pay someone to maintain and fix your boat it is going to be a money pit. If, on the other hand, you have the knowledge and enjoy working on your boats, then it becomes a rewarding and reasonably economical past time.
Wow this was a real eye opener! Everybody on RUclips doing "boat tests" just tell you about how great the boat is because they need something to review next week 😂
These boat tests are also paid for. We don’t get paid to get on these boats lol🤙🌊🛥️
This is the kind of video I really appreciate. Thank you for educating the public. As someone with in depth knowledge of boats it is good you are helping people see past the shiny gel coat. The vast majority of consumers have no clue and most boat consumption is purely emotional buys but am certain your video will help someone.
Thank you so much for that. I don’t know everything but we’ve gone learning over the years and we try to share as much info as we can. It’s hard for people to see past the shiny gel coat. 🛥️🌊🤙
My brother! All I have to say is BRAVO! ❤
Thank you my bro! Pretty wild they're putting these boats out like this.🤙❤️
Congratulations on the video ! You are the only channel that i have contacted that has taken the challenge to " look beyond '' the frills , bells and whistles of the boat manufacturers .
Some customers seem to accept poor quality of new boats , but the same customers wouldn't accept that quality in a new car !
Some of the builders are having hulls built in Mexico now , shipping up the hulls and finishing them in the US .
once again , thanks for the great work !
Thank you so much for that. We’ve been doing shows since last year. Each time I dive a little deeper into what makes one boat better than the other. Most people as you said are too distracted with the shiny gel coat and fluffy seats to even think about what may lie beneath.
It’s a tough situation we put ourselves into because we don’t want to come off as virtuous. We just want to show the truth and help our boating community. It’s what are channel is all about. Thank you so much for commenting we appreciate it! 🌊🛥️🤙
Sadly, the exact same thing is happening in the car industry
I love how not only does he point out flaws but what something is done right he acknowledges it and gives proper credit for both positive and negative
Thank you bud! I do my best to be fair. 🛥️🌊🤙
Thanks for sharing, I built the Miami Vice Scarab's and then went to work for Apache Power Boats, the good Ole days are gone. The shrink wrap today is total garbage. Lousy quality, It's in every industry today, boats, cars/trucks, airplanes, new Boeing's are falling apart in the sky and look at their Starliner, they launched 2 people aboard a space craft full leaks. We are witnessing the complete collapse of society. Thank again for doing the video. Blessings
Thank you buddy! I love those old apaches! Bad ass boats! 🌊🤙🛥️
@@perfectfitboatingGreat video, Yes the old Apache's were very High Quality, loved thunder boat row, it was a lot of fun.
Fort Apache used to be the center of the universe.
Good times.
Fast boats,
Hot women,
Snowed every night.....lol
The Boat industry, the RV industry, even Boeing Aircraft & Aerospace industries are all horrible quality.
The answer is putting Corporate officers & board members in Jail !!
Amen! Something needs to change! 🌊🤙🛥️
It because its all about the god almighty dollar and making the owners, executives, and shareholders rich. This is Reagan's legacy. Corporations before customers.
No the answer is stop settling/ buying shit products. It's not law to have good industry standards, only safety standards are fines and jail and bad silicon jobs aren't covered in a safety standard
@@Porkpickle I agree we have to stop buying bad products but loose fill hoses and vent lines are safety standards that weren’t followed on many of these boats. It’s not just about bad caulking.🤙
Perhaps if consumers put in a little effort to educate themselves before purchasing low-quality products, there would be less cost-cutting and poor craftsmanship. If the public stops demanding subpar goods, companies will have no choice but to improve or go out of business. It's all about supply and demand.
Bought a brand new 2024 Sea Ray Sundancer 320 and it’s been in the shop for salt!! water and fresh water leaks and many other problems all summer. Been at the dealership for over a month. Some are well known problems that they refuse to correct. Thanks for exposing the shoddy manufacturing.
I’m sorry to hear about that Gary! Something has to change! Thank you for commenting and we hope you get that sorted out! 🌊🤙🛥️
Very sad to hear. Should not happen on a Sea Ray. I also boat on a current model 320 (OB) and have been disappointed with the quality in the current generation Sea Rays. They did a great job on the cosmetics, though - one of the best looking cruisers in its class.
I'm glad I went with an older 580 Sundancer from 2008. The quality is light years better than today's boats being produced.
I was on the fence about getting a new or used boat and this video is priceless. So sad that the manufacturers are loosing quality as the prices keep going up.
I’m glad the video could help! Used might be the way to go. You still have to check for all of these things, but more than likely the previous owner has already dealt with issues like these. Thank you for watching! 🤙🌊🛥️
As a Quality Inspector for 20+ years I love your video. Also as a boat owner you are on point. People pay good money more then cars for boats and the standard should be the same. Would you but a car or truck that had scratches and dents... no... Great video and thank u
Thank you so much for commenting. The people want the standard which is the bare minimum. It shouldn’t be so hard to get that. We gotta change something! Thank you so much for commenting! 🤙🛥️🌊
Back in 2001 I was at the New England boat show and due to my Quality Control career I brought a flashlight and an extendable inspection mirror. I only looked at boats I was interested in and that's the 21' W/A types. Grady White was the worse with exposed wire strands, no service loops jumbled wire harnesses. I could flex the hull with a medium push of my hand! I ended up getting a Sea Pro which had excellent wiring, fit & finish. However over the years I would find all kinds of crap in the bilge from butts to candy wrappers and even a pair of pliers! That's why I always check the bilge around the bilge pump float switch before and after every trip! Great work!
That’s the way to do it! I’ve found all types of stuff too! Seapro is actually one of the better boats we’ve seen at the shows. Even at this one. We go over one in the next video! Thanks for sharing! 🤙🌊🛥️
This is so true. I made the mistake of buying an RV years ago. I paid $60,000 for a class C with a Triton V10 engine. Then I spent the next three years replacing all the cheap components and repairing the horrible build quality. I finally got rid of it because it was more trouble than it was worth. The pain was greater than the pleasure. Very similar to my experience with women. Everything in America is falling apart because the value of the currency is losing its value. Dah.
Sorry to hear that Randy! It does seem like everything’s falling apart. And from the comments, we’re all tired of it. 🛥️🌊🤙
It’s not because of the value of currency. It’s women as you correctly noticed! And lack of motivation for men
Boats have been built like crap for as long as I can remember. I've owned and worked on boats since the mid 90's. You're going to be disappointed in any brand if you look hard enough. I've seen MTI's and Fountain's arrive with defects in the glass/gel, electrical issues, mechanical issues, if a human touched it there's a good chance it's f'd up in some way. The manufacturers get these boats out as quickly as possible. Dealers aren't touching these boats until they are sold and being prepped for delivery. The boats they take to shows are not prepped for delivery. They're sent through detail to look as shiny as possible. The issues you are seeing are not uncommon. When you are shopping for a boat you really should be shopping for the best dealer that sells the brand you are interested in, because that's going to determine the quality you receiving on delivery after they've addressed the issues from the factory.
That’s great advice! Thanks for watching! 🤙🌊🛥️
Idk sailboats had some decent quality albeit some brands were just always shit but even then they mainly stuck to we built this many a year not we have to hit this number it’s what they can make n this shows with number of boats they made it tends to be low like my sailboat from 1978-83 only 115 total were made 23 a year even if we add up all the other models still wouldn’t crack 1000 boats annually vs bayliner trying to pump out 20000 a year
I used to work in Cape Hatteras. I was born in 81 & grew up on the water. Around the mid/late 90s is when quality started going down hill even on the best manufacturers. If you press them they’ll claim they had no choice bc everyone else was doing it & that they’d go out of business. They got away with it for the most part for another 10 years until they went too far. Whats sad is until the late 90s you could buy a nice entry level boat & have it for a long time with little to no issues. The biggest problem you’d have is the small amount of people you could have onboard.
Dealers can only address a few things. My dealer fixed a mfg fault because of a recall and was reimbursed. Don’t expect many fixes from the dealer during that one-year warranty period.
woah bring more stuff like this man, i wanna see the crazyness
Yes sir! Got a follow up response video coming next week! 🛥️🤙🌊
@@perfectfitboating where can I find the follow up video, can you share link
The QC in all production boats went out the widow in 2022 some more than others. They keep me busy,but I hate seeing customers getting screwed. I have 40yrs experience in custom Sportfish building and I still don't think I've seen it all sad to say.
All the loose debris can clog up the bilge pumps.
Most builders suck , the bigger boats also .
I am a yacht diesel tech, I can write a book on sloppy builders.
Captian’s and owners know it takes two seasons to correct the builders hack work .
One 70 foot boat we found 6 water leaks.
This guy is right on.
You’re right, most builders suck. Thanks for watching brother! 🌊🛥️🤙
You are correct, quality workmanship is becoming a thing of the past. It is one thing to build to a price point but having zero pride in your work or the lack of quality checks is out of control.
It’s the sad truth. And the only way to get acceptable workmanship is to pay top dollar that most regular people just can’t afford. And even with those “quality” boats, we still have to thoroughly check them.
How about the people selling them KNOWING these issues? SMH
Millenials at “work”!!!
Man you really hate millennials 🤣
@@perfectfitboating I hate every slacker who risks other people’s life just because he is lazy… millenials - the most!
Great investigating video. Please do one of these for the RV industry. Thx
If consumers apply the same standard of cars on the boats, I think most of the manufacturers will go out of business.
We agree! Or, they change and do it right! 🛥️🌊🤙
Have you seen fiberglass cars?
@neiltitmus9744 There have been a few.
but cars are getting worse every year too, no matter which brand. it has to look nice, with a lot of electrical bullshit. after 3 years nothing works as it should. my daughters boyfriends skoda has as much problems as my daughters 25 year old audi, but the old car, we can fix by ourself, the new one you dont know what is happening there. everything is computer based.
I work for boston whaler boats,,and I can assure you every boat Is treated the same way, whether it's a show boat or not...safety and quality is absolutely paramount....jump aboard one and take a look.. Or even take a look at a used one...lol.... I definitely enjoyed your video...We have boats headed to tampa soon!!!!
@lesfaust9634 awesome! Boston whaler makes a sweet boat for sure. But you definitely pay for the name!
Edit: re read your comment and wanted to say that boat manufacturers should be doing exactly what you just did. “Hey, come see ours. Let us know what you think” that’s called confidence in what you are providing.
Every salesman SHOULD feel that way about the product they’re selling. We’ll see you in Tampa for sure! Hopefully you have some of the smaller and more budget friendly boats our viewers can relate to! 🌊🛥️🤙
@perfectfitboating You get what you pay for, bud.
Sometimes you pay and still get crap. Some of the comments have some scary stories of more expensive boats too.
every boat @ BW is not treated the same way...dissapointed Whaler owner!
@@lesfaust9634 Boston whaler is great boat but prices are outrageous 2024 28 outrage with twin 300 asking 280k it is a bit much ridiculous
You guys are the best. Every manufacturer going to put a lock on every hatches in after this boat show. They are going to install a face recognition cameras at the gate and look out for you guys. Keep up the good work. Thanks for doing this.
Thank you so much for the kind words! Man, we thought about that! Maybe they won’t let us on their boats anymore haha but if they’re smart, and believe in their products they’d invite us to show what they’re there to show case! The consumer deserves better! 🛥️🤙🌊
@@Luna-The-Pitbull loll. 😂😂 I think so. Loll
I don’t think too many people know what a good standard is for a boat. I’m glad that you’re setting one for people now this is crazy how bad some of the stuff is on these boats. These boats look like they’re starting to be built like campers nowadays.
Thank you so much for that! We just want to help people get educated. Thanks for watching! 🤙🛥️🌊
The fact most are now using cheap rivets on hatches instead of stainless nuts and bolts is insane.
It’s nuts! (No pun intended) they have to do better!🛥️🤙🌊
Rivets are fine when done correctly and better for things that flex airplanes have been done this ware for years and for this reason. They flex so any thing that flexes rivets are the superior choice
@@Malibus_Most_Wanted they're fine with metal. This is fiberglass. It doesn't hold over time.
This is absolutely the best review on new boats that I've seen yet. I really hope this video goes viral and every new boat shopper gets a chance to view it. Instead of slamming any particular vendor, it shows you what you should be looking for and where you should look. Thank you so much for doing this!
Raymond, we aren’t the type of people to call out or talk bad about people or places. And as you may have noticed, we didn’t say a thing about the dealers. But the manufacturers need to do better and the people need to know what to look for and demand. I hope this video helps! Thanks so much for commenting! 🌊🛥️🤙
@@perfectfitboating I totally agree. You were doing a "how to" video on what to look for and I think that was great. I also think that the issues that you found indicate a lack of training in the labor force... i.e. too much work and not enough professionals to fill the professional roles. I do boat restorations and my restorations are 10 times better than what you showed. And, I'm no professional. So, your conclusion is spot on. We need to let these manufacturers know that these things are important to us shoppers and, as a group, they need to step up their game. Again, great video and thank you for sharing it.
@raymondbrown940 thanks Raymond. We restored our Grady. And still restoring it little by little. That’s how I’m able to point out all these things and I’m nowhere near a pro! Things have to change! 🌊🛥️🤙
Interesting video, I purchased my first freshwater boat 4 years ago knowing nothing about boats. It was a Tracker and made like you would expect for a mass produced boat. I did improvements and repairs on the boat, learning lots about boats. This year I purchased a Vexus and am amazed by the quality and attention to detail by the people that make Vexus boats. Yes they are expensive boats, but now I know what quality looks like. You are correct lots of manufactures are cutting corners and not ensuring quality when shipping a final product, you did a great job showing that in the video.
@@LitwinFishing thank you buddy! Glad to hear you had a great experience with Vexus! 🌊🤙🛥️
Dollar goes where it's treated the best. I own a 2013 regal 28 express. My dad bought the same boat in 2022 and it was a pile of crap for 3x what I paid for my used one. Workmanship was worse and materials were much worse. Really sad to see. But if people are buying them boat companies will keep cutting corners until sales decline because of it. These videos will help keep the market honest
Sorry to hear that Robert. Hopefully this video helps many out there. 🌊🤙🛥️
The issues you pointed out are the quality items that are visible. I can’t imagine the issues you would find under the deck with dry laminate on stringers, voids, and just overall sloppy work.
That’s my main concern too!
Really appreciate the insight. Trying to justify the price of a new boat. It's a crime, there's no other explanation. First time viewer, well done!
Thanks for watching! It really is a crime! Something has to change and I think it’s us the buyer that has to get educated. 🛥️🌊🤙
Bought a ski nautique 1993 for my first boat this season after reading how well they are made. Interior still looks new and its 31 years old. Boat sat for 4 years and the old ford 351w runs like a champ still.
That’s amazing! They don’t make them like they used to! 🌊🤙🛥️
I have never seen a channel exposed this companies for what they are it's really absurd the amount of money they ask for a boat. I'm definitely subscribing to this channel !!my respect man !!
Thank you brotha we appreciate you! 🛥️🤙🌊
Great video and you are 100% correct on that WE the consumer must stop accepting this. Its a rampant issue across all industries including RV which are even worse,cars, and new home construction.
We built new and would not ever do it again and happy to have sold that home for an older one. We try to buy things that are older and have lasted the test of time and fix properly as needed.
Imagine the stuff they took shortcuts on or improperly constructed that you can't access or see.
That’s what I worry about too. If the parts we could see are this neglected, imagine the parts we can’t! Youre absolutely right! 🤙🌊🛥️
My wife and I are currently sitting in our 1983 53 foot Spencer Ketch anchored of Langley on Whidbey Island Washington. It has carried us to Alaska , Haida Gwaii and back. She has sailed to the Sea of Cortez ,Hawaii Alaska and Vancouver . She has weathered hurricanes in her life and always carried her owners safely home .
I know all her warts and blemishes by heart. She just passed her recent survey with no deficiencies.
The faults you are showing me on these new boats make me realize I would never go near a newer boat.
We bought her from her second owner Both previous owners cared for her and loved her at a level I strive to keep up too. We paid $100,000 for her and she is our key to the world.
Thank you so much for that comment! I’m glad to hear you’ve had great success with your boat! By the sound if it, you own a sea worthy tank that has really given you two the key to the world as you say. I hope she gives you plenty more years at sea! 🛥️🤙🌊
@@perfectfitboating Thanks . Your review of the boats was enlightening. You have taken up where David Pasco has left off.
Good work on both your parts. Hopefully you save people money and heartache.
The entire world is like this not just boats
You’re not wrong.
@@kayb4995 that’s for damn sure!
Great video - you just earned my subscription.
It saddens me how little quality there is in boat manufacturing in this country. As the owner of three boats and a life-long boater (up to and including offshore transoceanic racing) I know that every make/model will have issues, even when brand new. Every boat will have maintenance issues over its lifetime, and people should have no illusion about it! However, to see such poor quality and so many built-in points of failure in a new boat it makes me question whether buying a new boat is worth it... probably far better to get an older boat with a lot of the bugs already worked out, or at least old enough that points of failure are already known.
Wayne, thank you so much for subbing. It meals a lot to us. We did exactly as you state. Our channel was started with the resto of an 85 Grady and we’ve gone through the whole thing. Probably the best way to ensure things being done right. 🌊🛥️🤙
This is by far the best most informative boat show video I've seen. Thanks so much for a true real evaluation of new boats. Most of the boat show videos only tell you how great the boats are without any real evaluation. Outstanding Job you 2. Thanks!
Thank you so much for the kind words. This is the worst we’ve seen. In our other videos we point stuff out too but this was an accumulation of all the things we saw in one day and it was just too much. Love the pup in your profile pic! Thanks for watching! 🌊🛥️🤙
Great video! An experienced boater is more familiar with what constitutes quality but…. a new boater wouldn’t be able to see the nuances that you showed and explained. If you’re new to boating you should ask someone with years of experience to steer you to a quality boat that’s within your budget. I’d recommend you buy a better quality used boat than a brand new POS as shown in your video. Thank you for being candid and shame on those manufacturers for taking short cuts.
Thanks for the comment. Your advice is spot on! 🤙🛥️🌊
@@perfectfitboating you should offer your services to “new” boaters to help them choose an appropriate boat for their intended usage. If they have a bad experience with their first boat it very well might be their last boat. We all use our boats for different purposes with many straddling multiple uses. New boaters wouldn’t know what works for their use.
@user-zk7ws3xl9w thank you for that. In the follow up video, I’m going to have a new boat buyers check list that they can download off our site for free. Hopefully that helps a ton. I’m also thinking of getting my surveyors license for those that really need someone to check out the boats they’re buying! 🛥️🌊🤙
@@perfectfitboating I’m sure the better built boats would pay you to be spotlighted or advertised and there’s nothing wrong with promoting a quality product! I’ve been boating my entire life up and down the east coast and have owned many boats. Some of my earlier boats were not of great quality but i learned real fast what constitutes a quality boat.
Insane to even think about buying a new boat when you can find 100s of used ones hardly ever in the water and really cheap.
Used is the way to go! 🌊🤙🛥️
Yes! I believe lot of people just like to show the boat off in the driveway but after few years of making them payments and just sitting there then it’s time to sell!
People buy new stuff because new stuff is way easier to finance.. these people don't have cash, they have credit.
@@jonathantaylor6926 Not really, you don't know the actual history or hours of used crap, people are shady especially those that need to offload a burden.
@@jonathantaylor6926 Bingo! They want to look rich and not be wealthy with their net worth.
Just want to personally thank you for the pe-boat inspection tutorial, what an eye opener!
You’re very welcome! We only hope it can help others! Thanks for watching and commenting! 🛥️🤙🌊
Iv gotta say respect to you & the lady for making these videos,most RUclipsrs do these videos making every boat out to be the best ever,your exposing things we normally wouldn’t see or no,I’m looking to by a boat over the winter (UK) ready for 2015 & it’s nice to no these things as I’ll now be looking out for it,and I’m shocked there still using wood,wood vs water don’t go together,I’m shocked,making boats out of cheap materials & charge the earth for it,like they do with homes
We’re glad the video is able to help. We’re just trying to show the truth. Hopefully people wise up when purchasing. Thanks for commenting! 🛥️🤙🌊
My 2021 Eastern Rosborough 246 was delivered with faults in nearly every installed system. Back to the factory in NH 3-4 times left boat unsafe for use.
Wow I’m sorry to hear that.
Thanks guys another great and informative post.
Another thing thst really bothers me and is very dangerous are improperly installed cleats all cleats, bow spirits, anchor winches etc must be through bolted and have poper sized backer plates Aldo those through bolting must be stainless steel and have either lock washers or self locking nuts of some sort.
I have seen on more than one occasion cleats ripped of boats extremely dangerous.
Correct me if I'm wrong but all boats are expected to be built to exacting coast guard standards periodically inspected by safety inspectors.
If this is not being performed this is a huge product liability issue for manufacturing, and potentially the agency thst is charged with making sure these standards are being adhered too.
Sorry for the rant but I like you am amazed by the shoddy workmanship and the total disregard for public safety.
Keep these great posts coming you are fast becoming my favorite utube channel.
Thanks Dave! Don’t apologize for the rant! We’re all tired of the crap being put by these companies. I’m going to read up on the coast guard standards and get educated myself. Then I’m going to compare to what’s being done on these boats! 🌊🛥️🤙
This video is great. I hope every new boater looks at this video so they know what to look for when buying a new boat. Keep doing these types of videos so the new consumer can protect them selfs from crazy boats.
Thank you bud! We definitely will! Thanks for watching! 🤙🛥️🌊
Exposed battery connections in the bilge of a gas boat? Boom!
No bueno 😬
This is true for almost every manufactured items since the pandemic. Its because the inspector is not doing their jobs in every aspect of the manufacturing process from the company building fasteners all the way to the final customer not knowing what they are looking at. Its true for car's to house's and camp trailers to shoes. So many sub par items that being built with sub par materials pushes profit for the company's doing the customer dirty with a smile knowing that customer will be getting further in the hole with every repair in the in house repair facility. Thanks for bringing it up in the boats and showing the best reason for finding something from when Americans had pride in their work.
Thank you so much for watching! 🛥️🤙🌊
Woww, Im not a boat owner yet, maybe someday, but your video sure shows a person like me what to look for. Thank you so much for pointing out the obvious hazards that could cause a disaster once the boat leaves the dock!
My pleasure! Thanks for watching!🌊🛥️🤙
Thank you for helping thousands of new boaters. This helps us in what to look for before we make such a huge investment. I did notice a lot are missing gaskets on the components too 🤦🏻♂️
You are very welcome! That’s what we’re trying to do with this video! 🤙🌊🛥️
In the 90’s I worked in the UK for Fairline Boats we knew what quality meant, but these days the quality of boats generally is poor, from small to the big 80’ers are mass manufactured where possible and craftsmanship has gone out of the window. US manufacturers are lower quality than European manufacturers in general.
More or less, but it depends when and where the boats were made in Europe. So Bavaria for example had some good and some crappy boats depending on who was the owner of Bavaria and where they were made. But in general european boats are better made than american.
Please do a video on bass boats.
I agree 100%! I do the same thing when I'm at boat shows, RV shows, and open houses. Quality is non-existent.
Thank you! I appreciate it. All you did was show the poor quality that was brought to the shows and presented as their best 🤦🏻♂️
I would hope that one or more manufacturers would see the videos and have some people on the carpet asking “is this really what we sell?” “Who let this out the door and thought we should take it to a show?”
I hope some manufacturers read these comments and set a goal of taking a boat to next year’s show and inviting you to do a follow up video.
They should pay you and say “thank you for showing where we can improve our product “
Competence crisis. Vastly lowered standards of factory labor hiring and even quality control is what's going on and it's in all industries. 😢
That’s a fact! It’s going on everywhere! 🛥️🤙🌊
And it’s all being done on purpose for the great reset agenda.
Dei
Well done thank you for sharing. this information is eye opening for so many of us who are looking to purchase a new boat. Thank you for your efforts and advice. Cheers to you and your next adventure
Thank you steva! ♥️
My Brother, Great Information video...this will help buyers know what to look for before buying. Manufacturers will have to step up on quality to justify those crazy prices. Peace from the Keys!
My bro! I hope this video helps a lot of people. With these prices, they’ll have no choice but to step up! 🌊🤙🛥️
In January of 24 I attended the Cleveland boat show @ the IX center. I was amazed by how many brand new boats had quality issues! There's a reason why a hand built boat like a Terria,or Fountain costs are huge compared with mass produced vessels like Fourwinds & Searay You get what you pay for..
Same story with RV’s! New ones are crap.
I bought a new one 3 yrs ago and could not use it for the last two summers because it was at the shop under repair from poor quality.
Sorry to hear that!
Great job on honest review of quality and workmanship, I see this in everything since before COVID ,and going down hill
Thank you Ray! I see the same thing. And it doesn’t look good! 🛥️🤙🌊
Wood is perfect for boat building it’s soft enough to flex and bend without cracking yet firm enough to hold its shape. I know rot is an issue with wood but that’s why your supposed to keep the water outside the boat!
I agree. And like we said in the video, we used wood in our boat. Wood works great. The problem is they don’t encapsulate it correctly!
Great Video! Would LOVE to see a full quality check on a ranger 27ob and the closest comparable version from cutwater. That would get an enormous amount of views!! Keep up the great work!
Thank you so much! We did a walk through of the ranger 27 ob. We didnt get into a DEEP inspection of it but we can tell you that the Fluid Motion Marine group build awesome boats. We love the 27!🤙
I have a 2004 Bayliner 185 sterndrive that I bought new back in the day for 15k. I was 26 years old and it was all I could afford back then. Although it’s a Bayliner, and it’s not without its faults, it still has better build quality and better attention to detail than what I’m seeing here. Glad I still own it and it looks and runs as good as the day I bought it.
Awesome to hear! Quality is lost! Stick with your boat just like we’re sticking with our old Grady. 🌊🛥️🤙
Great video. This is incredibly helpful to new boat owners. I’m in the marine industry(we manufacture components, not boats) and QC is always at the top of our list. There are some companies dedicated to doing things the right way and others who are run by accountants and that’s when you get what you see here. In my experience, you should seek out a company who are boaters themselves. They understand the need for quality design, components and processes. Excellent video. 10/10
Well said! Thank you so much for watching and commenting! 🛥️🌊🤙
Definitely disappointed in my 2022 Skeeter ZX200 Bass boat. I have had more quality issues with this boat in two years than I had with my 2001 model in twenty years.
I have found that poor quality has always seemed to be expected in the marine industry and now it’s gotten much , much worse
Great video thank you for showing this!
Thank you so much for watching! Seems like every style boat and almost every range of brand seems to have these issues! Sorry to hear youre going through that! 🛥️🌊🤙
my 2022 ranger 519 was in the shop for 4 months the first year due to gel and glass issues (27 flaws). it is almost 2 years old now, and I am still waiting on some parts to correct matters. I now see the carpet coming loose on the doors but will fix that myself. luckily I have a good dealership to help me
Sorry to hear that. A good dealer is a godsend. Unfortunately most aren’t so willing to help! 🛥️🌊🤙
Bass Pro shops took over the build need I say more.
I bought a 2023 boat from a very reputable manufacturer and had multiple issues. Vapors in the bilge area (it's an outboard!) due to an improperly installed venting valve - somebody didn't pressure test the fuel system yet signed off on it, I lost all hydraulic steering when I came to realize that the hydraulic lines were finger tightened and they were spewing fluid everywhere - apparently nobody checked but it was also signed off, I lost all power steering when I blew an 80 amp fuse - which basically means something went to ground (that is a gremlin and cannot reproduce or resolve). I won't mention the boat manufacturer but it's one know for longevity and quality. For $140K I expected better.
Man, I’m so sorry to hear that! I appreciate you not wanting to blast the company. We felt bad putting these companies on blast but enough is enough. If you notice we also didn’t mention the dealer. I’m sure they’re aware of all these things too.
It’s crazy to think that something that costs as much as a house can come with so many defects. You’re lucky it wasn’t worse! Thanks for commenting! 🛥️🤙🌊
I would have mentioned the boat because so other future buyers can be aware on what to look for if looking at that boat line.
@@bigguydiy2184 well they did get it sorted for me - rightfully it should have never happened in the 1st place - but they did right to fix it - my local dealer was outstanding. If they didn't I would gladly have outed them and if anyone from their customer service team is reading / watching - you know who you are - your local dealer make things right. They are the hero here.
Glad to hear there are dealers with integrity. Happy you got all that sorted out!
Thank you for bringing us the truth and being transparent. Showing less experienced potential boat buyers what to look for.
Youre welcome and we really are happy that we can help the community. I hope this video reaches everyone looking to buy a boat. 🌊🤙🛥️
@@perfectfitboating I noticed a few vendors eyeballing you two. 👀 I liked, commented, subscribed, shared and clicked the notification bell in support. 😂😂. All the things. I’m glad I found your channel. You have some great content. 🫶🏼✌🏼
wow thank you so much! we greatly appreciate that and we are glad you found us! it really does help the channel!🤙
Holy cow I just noticed the massive typo in my initial comment. Apple puts as much effort into AutoCorrect on the iPhone as some of these boat builders do to finishing their products with quality work. 😂✌🏼
🤣it’s all good! I was able to decipher! 🤙🌊🛥️
Great video!! I was Regal's first quality improvement engineer in the 80's. The VP of manufacturing had just returned from a tour of Toyota Motors in Japan and hired me , then three more QIE's. The company invested heavily early on to build a quality product. Definitely room for quality improvement on the boats at your boat show!
Scott Reynolds
Thank you so much for the comment Scott. I would like your expertise on a question that would help clarify some things. When dealers buy these boats to resell, are they buying these boats ready to sell at a basic standard model? Do the dealers “finish” the boats at the dealer? I’m referring to the things in this video. Basically what I’m asking is, is this a dealer or manufacturer issue in your opinion and are they supposed to come this way from the manufacturer?
@@perfectfitboating Based on what you identified in your video, in my opinion, these are manufacturing-engineering issues. If a boat is engineered properly, it is designed in such a way for the dealer or customer to make installations and modifications and still maintain the desired level of quality and product safety.
Thank you Scott! I really appreciate that! 🌊🛥️🤙
New subscriber… great video. I was also at the show disappointed with most manufacturers quality. Thought the best fit to finish boats were Edgewater, Grady, and Robalo would love to see more one these 3 manufacturers and larger size 28-33’.
Thank you buddy! Unfortunately we didn’t have enough time. We went with the intention of filming mid to lower tier boats. “Affordable”. Then ran into all these issues. If we would’ve stayed an extra day, we could’ve seen those too. Someone in the comments that was at the show pointed out even Grady had exposed wood in the console and didn’t even have gel coat on it. 😳 would’ve liked to have seen that! Thank you for subbing we really appreciate that!🛥️🌊🤙
Yo the open rod holder that drips directly onto the batteries is WILD
Yeah man just crappy design. 🛥️🤙🌊
Most people don’t know what to look for when purchasing a boat. That is why the dealers can get away with delivering such poor quality finish.
Also that is why there is such a big price difference between entry level boats and high-end boats.
You’re absolutely right! 🛥️🤙🌊
Don’t let the price fool you. I see crap work on newer model $million dollar boats ALL THE TIME! And don’t even get me started on Volvo 😱- embarrassing actually.
My 1990 Regal 360 was made really well, much better than anything from the past 20 years - mind you there are some ‘Friday afternoon’ factory issues but they are very minor. In fact my original Norcold fridge just died - every replacement one is total trash starting at $1600?
To be honest, was at Marine Max in St Pete yesterday, they need new boat builders overall, im having such a time trying to figure out a boat I love. The Saxdor cabins are terrible for the cost, Axopar cabins are also bad for the cost. I have about 500k to 600k and cant figure out what I love.
Yeah, you're not alone. I think a lot of people are finding the same thing. Maybe look at used? Check out the solara, ranger and cutwater lines. They make great boats that are built very well.
I had a friend of mine that was a boat dealer and he invited me to the annual dealer show in Chicago (this was back in the 90's) and it was eye opening. That boat you are paying $100K for - the dealer is getting it for $60K. Talk about a mark up.
😳
As soon as I see a boat battery near or in the bilge I walk away. And I have seen some larger boats from decent manufactures with batteries in the bilge area or on a shelf just above the bilge. If you have ever been on a boat taking on water 20 miles off the beach in the winter the last thing you want is your batteries to go under first.
This is the best RUclips video on boats I have ever seen. I hope you end up going to Fort Lauderdale boat show.
Thanks Samuel. We never miss that show. I’ll be there every day it’s open. 🛥️🤙🌊
Pretty much all the junk you found in the manufactures products are well known by seasoned boater as the ones to stay away from. However some things you pointed out are worse than I’ve ever scene. Good job pointing it out.
Thank you for commenting brother. This is the worst we’ve seen and we’ve been to a ton of shows! Thanks for watching! 🛥️🌊🤙
I helped a buddy with an electrical issue on a 45 Lagoon. Lagoon is high on quality control BUT additional electronics were added after purchase. NEVER ASSUME ADDITIONS WERE DONE WELL! It took me a week to find the dead short. Contractor left a wire out of the bundle. A 6 pack cooler caught it and created hell
It’s even the sub contractors that work is crap. Unbelievable.
Great video. Nice to see someone giving honest opinions. I just subscribed to your channel for that very reason. Thank You
Thanks John! I appreciate that! 🤙🛥️🌊
I don’t cut anyone slack when I am paying $100 grand plus. I looked at many boats to go out in the gulf to the rigs and these boats aren’t worth the money. I went with a seadoo Explorer Pro 230 hp engine dressed as a fish pro. Yes, it’s small. But it’s built for big water and under $30,000. I feel safer and the quality is higher. I now go to the rigs and the weather is mostly no problem.
No one should it’s unacceptable.
Keywest boats boast about no wood in the structure, that hole is the drain into bilge, no problem.
Problem is 40 k for a 17ft boat
That’s correct, the hole just drains to the bilge. A simple plastic thru hull would be nice though. Price is a little wild for a 17’ too! 🛥️🌊🤙
A new base 1720cc 2025 is $30,000 with a Suzuki.
I don't know anyone that would buy a Keywest and put a Susucky on it
I get 37k base price Yamaha 90, then add tax
@@wstadlock I have a new 2025 1720cc sitting on the lot right now for $33k and a Yamaha 90hp.
Yamaha has weak transom mounting area for the jet pump,this patch was Not done at factory,was done by techs as emergency repair bulletin , I agree for the huge price Yamaha gets these days is piss poor rush job not grinding down pas gel😮
Wow didn’t know that! Good info thanks! 🤙🌊🛥️
Customers need people like you!!!
We appreciate that thank you! Hopefully this video helps as many people that need it!🛥️🤙🌊
My father built Sea Star, Mach 1 and Envision Boats for 37 years. I installed interiors and also did bonding and gunneling ( Putting the deck and hull together). We had 3 inspections during building and before they went on the truck. Obviously all that has went out the door! It's a shame. Intrepid Boats out of Clearwater Florida build one of the best in the business. Thanks Brian Felt
We love those intrepids. They’re awesome boats! As they say, they don’t make them like they used to.🤙🛥️🌊
In 2018 I was moving from a 21' Carolina Skiff to a bay boat. Don't need to get into what I had to repair on the skiff, at least the guy that I sold it to, got a good boat! I spent 6-8 months looking at different manufactures of 24' bay boats and kept going back to one brand due to quality and hardware. Says something when you go to a sales lot looking at saltwater bay boats, look at a new boat that has never been in the water and the hardware is rusting from sitting on the lot. I just purchased my third Sportsman 247 Masters bay boat since 2018. Even prior to purchasing this new one, I looked at a couple other "premium" manufactures 24' bay boats, quality was very questionable, they were still $40k-$50k higher with less accessories, lower grade electronics and with the same Yamaha 300 engine.
Wow Chris. We’ve read comments like this all through this post. It’s a buyers worst nightmare to have a new boat and have to fix it. You have to be careful with even the “premium” manufacturers! 🛥️🌊🤙
@@perfectfitboating - That's why my new boat is another Sportsman, my previous two Sportsman boats had some of the best quality I have found while looking at boats and all Gemlux hardware which is very important in the saltwater environment. People get so excited over the shiny new boat and overlook issues. Known fact with most things, if the quality is crap where it can be seen, usually much worse where it can't be seen?
Exactly! Imagine where you CANT see!😳
Brother bought a Carolina years ago and we called it the pounder, beat you to death even on a good day..
@@jerrypauling7809 - Mine was a DLX2180, wasn't too bad. The only thing I miss about it, 7" draft with 2 men and loaded for fishing. I could get in skinny water with that boat. If I got it stuck on a shoal, it was light enough to hop out and push it.
I was a rigger for 10 years till I moved into a different industry. I still bleed boats and attend several boat shows in New England. I was a tad OCD when I rigged the boats which included installation of Outboard engines, gauges, wiring, fishfinders, chartplotter, radar, etc. I am looking for a new boat, but the riggin I am seeing the last 7 years or so has just gotton worse and worse to a point where I may be better off buying a 20 year old boat and doing rotissory restoration and I'll still come out ahead by thousands of dollars saved compared to what the manufactures are charging now for the bad quality of work. Now, I am looking at boats under 24ft that are not custom made, but massed produced.
And you’re 100% correct. The problem is most people can’t do it themselves. We did an 85 Grady but it takes a lot of work and time. 🛥️🤙🌊
@@perfectfitboating Yes, rigging is very time consuming and I still help friends out with their boats trying to make them better in order to have a better boating experience.
Good on you for helping your friends. Chasing electrical ghosts can be frustrating for anyone!
To me, that's called job security. Personally, I work on every boat 38ft and under available on the East coast. Boat manufacturers are delivering "10 year" boats. "The next 10 years, it'll be in and out a shop until you buy another one."
Quality control is non-existent in today's market
Well, we need people like you to fix them. Sucks it’s that way but everything seems to be made to turn and burn.🛥️🤙🌊
Have to confess thought your videos were just pushing new boats. Glad to see your views are more then that. We own a 2002 Silverton 35/351 with twin 6bts. Picked it up for 70k in 16. We have been slowly turning it into our dream. Maybe i missed it in some of your other videos. But when you restore your boat as to were you get you parts from and cost. We are trying to find someone that can build a t-top frame for a reasonable price, maybe wrong but 10k seems quite step for just a frame.
Fred, thank you so much for your comment. We love boats. New and used. But, I’m also a realist. A new boat for a regular guy and his family just doesn’t make much sense. Used seems to be the best way to go about getting the bast bang for your buck just like in your case! I think alot of people think boats are like cars. Drive it off the lot and forget about it. On a boat, you can just pull over when things go wrong! lol
As far as a top goes, 10k sounds STEEEEP. Just for reference, t tops are being built around here for less than 2k. That’s a plain Jane t top but it’s ways away from 10k! 🤙🌊🛥️
I agree with you 100 percent. You have always found small issues with even top tier boats. They are hand built. You did highlight the differences in low tier boats and upper mid tier boat brands. I personally won’t buy anything less than Cobia/Robalo (there are other capable competitors) and up. Those boats were pretty bottom of the barrel.
This has been going on for years even with the big name brands. What amazes me is how this younger generation of sleazy salesman blatantly lye to to customers about quality, and even though the customer is looking right at plywood or bad wiring they believe the saleskid that was selling video games and the mall last week.
Bingo! We didn’t want to blast anyone or any dealer. But the truth is, if we found it, they KNOW about it. And, they’re selling it to people just as it is! Shameful! 🤙🌊🛥️