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Protect your Investment with Boats & Yachts Warranty

You can protect yourself from costly repairs on both new and pre-owned boats with a Boats & Yachts Warranty Marine Extended Warranty Plan . It's an easy way to limit out-of-pocket expenses due to mechanical breakdown.

Why do I need a Boats & Yachts Warranty?

Your boat is likely to be one of the largest investments you'll make in your life, so why leave it without mechanical breakdown protection? Every year 1,000’s of owners are left unprotected when their boat or yacht manufacturer's warranty expires leaving them vulnerable to huge repair bills. Modern boats are complex and expensive to fix if they go wrong, the high labour charges alone can be crippling.

Protection Throughout Europe & Montenegro

We give you complete protection if your boat or yacht breaks down anywhere throughout Europe & Montenegro. No other warranty company covers more of your craft. Boats & Yachts Warranty can provide a used boat warranty for brokerage boats or private boats as well as new boat warranty .

Make Sure you're Protected - Used Boats & New Boats

Most new boats and yachts are backed with a hull and engine warranty for 1 or 2 years; our extended Warranty Plans will prolong the coverage of your engine and systems for up to 20 years. Pre-owned boats, on the other hand, are generally sold "as is". Our extended Warranty Plans add a layer of protection to your purchase and lets you buy a pre-owned boat with peace of mind.

Although boating is fun, it takes place in an environment that is hard on your craft. A salty atmosphere, rough seas, heavy engine loads and pressures etc. can all take their toll on your craft, the engines, and its components. This makes our Warranty Plans an essential investment.

Don't let a costly repair spoil your boating fun, make sure you're covered today.

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Boat Warranty – The Complete Guide to getting a boat warranty (Extended Service Contract)

What is a boat warranty, what is covered with an extended service contract, how much does an extended service contract cost, how can i get an extended service contract, how do i file a claim and get reimbursed, what is not covered in an extended service contract, are there any restrictions to get an extended service contract, how and who performs repairs under an extended service contract, is your boat extended service contract transferable, tip: do regular maintenance.

Buying and owning a boat is a great and fun experience, but it is often not cheap to maintain it. I have been a boat owner for over 20 years, and I still get overwhelmed with repairs. Or sometimes accidents just happen. Once my boat and engines hit a 3-year term or start racking up hours, I’m always facing maintenance repairs.

I was always skeptical about getting a boat warranty thinking it was too costly or that I didn’t need one. But when I finally got a boat warranty, it changed the way I thought about warranty, how it protected my investment, and how I save money in the long run. Keep in mind, even new boats typically only have hull and engine warranties for 1 or 2 years.

To help educate boat owners on boat warranties, this article will cover the basics on boat warranties, what is a boat warranty versus an extended protection plan, the different kinds of boat warranties, and how to easily obtain a boat warranty in a matter of minutes.

We all use the word “warranty” in conversations, but an extended boat warranty is technically referred to as extended service contracts or extended protection plan . The technical difference in this terminology is that a “warranty” is a guarantee provided by a manufacturer for a new boat and typically cannot be extended or purchased. The warranty is included with the sale of the boat, engine, or product.

When you are purchasing a warranty to protect your used boat, you are really purchasing an extended service contract to cover your boat and engine.

Another important note, these extended service contracts are not insurance. An extended service contract will not cover damage caused by a hurricane or weather, accidents, or even operator error.

Both terminology “warranty” and “extended service contract” are extremely similar, just think of extended service contracts being protective coverage not by a manufacture, but by a separate company.

The coverage of your service contract really depends on the company you purchase your service contract through. It is important to understand that not all the coverage is created equal. Every contract has coverage limits and exclusions, and it is important to understand what those are prior to purchasing. Extended Service Contracts can be purchased to protect you after your manufacturer’s warranty expires or for those customers purchasing a used boat where no warranty exists.

BoatzonProtect offers three packages for consumers to choose from.

• Complete Boat – thorough boat and engine coverage
• Complete Boat & Cabin – thorough boat, engine, and cabin coverage
• Engine Protection – Engine Only Coverage

For comprehensive coverage details, you can review the specifications here .

In the past, boat or engine extended service pricing has been a bit of mystery or not published on websites. However, we are going to give you some inside knowledge and examples on pricing. Pricing is often determined by the purchase price of a boat and or the engine horsepower. Note, most carriers do not offer coverage for boats over 20 years old. Below are some sample rates with protecting your boat with an extended service contract with BoatzonProtect.

• Complete Coverage for a boat with a purchase price of $50,000 = ~$984
• Complete Coverage for a boat with a purchase price of $75,000 = ~$1,020
• Complete Coverage for a boat with a purchase price of $100,000 = ~$1,228
• Complete Coverage for a boat with a purchase price of $200,000 = ~$1,621
• Engine only coverage for a 115hp engine = ~$824
• Engine only coverage for a 250hp engine = ~$1,088
• Engine only coverage for a 300hp engine = $~1,289

There are a handful of companies that you can get a boat warranty or extended service contract with. Boatzon is the only company that will provide you with real, live rates online and same day activation. A pet peeve of mine is trying to obtain a service and having to fill out a form to be contacted. With Boatzon, you can enter in your information, a few details of your boat, see quotes online, and pay for your boat warranty online. If you have your serial number(s) for your engine and your boat hull identification number (HIN) handy, your boat warranty policy can be active the same day.

Step 1: Visit https://www.Boatzon.com/boat-warranty-quote

Step 2: Enter your personal information and boat information.

Step 3: See your real-time boat or engine warranty quotes.

Step 4: Pay for your desired policy terms. You can choose to pay in full, or monthly payments.

Step 5: Enter your engine serial number(s) and hull identification number to activate your policy.

Step 6: And your boat is protected!

Boatzon makes filing a claim very easy, and it is the first service to offer a nearly 100% online claim process. Below are the steps to submit a claim:

• Navigate to https://protect.boatzon.com and login.
• Upload your estimated from a certified shop or provider.
• Upload your claim photos. An example might be photos of your engine repair needs.
• Enter your bank account information to get paid or reimbursed.

It is easy to submit a claim and get paid or reimbursed. We put some tips below to help document your claim.

• Save and include all documentation and receipts.
• Capture and save photos of damages.
• Record and save serial numbers from damaged parts.
• Record and save conversations with technicians for the work performed.

You need to fully understand what is not typically covered in a boat extended service contract. It is important to note that boat warranties or extended service contracts are not boat insurance . Below are examples and instances where you may not be covered or protected.

• Normal wear and tear
• Boating Accidents
• Improper use or negligence of boat storage or operation
• Typically, warranties do not cover aftermarket parts or customizations, or non-factory repair work on the boat.

It is important to read and review the terms of your extended service contract for your boat or engine, so you fully understand what is covered in the event of a claim. An important tip, some providers require proof of regular boat or engine maintenance.

The biggest restriction on obtaining a boat warranty or extended service contact is the age of the boat or engine. If the boat or engine is over 20 years old, it is going to be very tough or impossible to obtain a service contract. Furthermore, if you find a warranty provider to protect a boat or engine over 20 years old, please review the terms of your contract carefully. The other factor is the purchase price of the boat. If your boat is a 60ft Viking Sportfisherman worth 5 million dollars, and extended service contract provider is not going to be for you.

Boatzon gives you the ability to use any dealer or certified mechanic for your boat or engine repairs.

This is a common question asked, an extended service contract can add resale value to a boat or engine. Because the extended service contract applies to the boat or engine itself and not the original owner, a boat extended service contract is transferable in most cases. However, please read your terms on the extended service contract to be assured that your policy is transferable.

Lastly, just because you get a boat warranty or extended service contract it doesn’t mean you should slack on general maintenance of your boat and engine. Regular maintenance helps prevent small issues from becoming larger problems and increase repair costs.

Additional Links & Information

• Link to view quotes and obtain an extended protection plan for your boat. Visit https://www.Boatzon.com/boat-warranty-quote
• Boatzon Protection Introduction Video

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What to Look for in a Boat Warranty

• By Pete McDonald
• Updated: October 19, 2015

When buying a boat, boaters often neglect to check out the manufacturer’s warranty. A good warranty from a reputable builder can help determine the quality of relationship you’ll have on the dealer level, should something go wrong. It can be the key difference between making boat ownership a hassle or a joy.

So look close at boat warranties. The choice between two boats of equal quality may come down to the better warranty. Also, be sure to get a dealer to provide your boat’s warranty information in writing before you write the check. Here’s what to look for in a boat manufacturer’s warranty program, based on the warranty program offered by Sea Ray boats.

What’s covered? Find out what is covered via the manufacturer and what has independent warranty coverage. Big components such as the hull and deck can have limited-lifetime coverage and many companies offer separate coverage for issues like blistering.

For Sea Ray, the Sport Boats lineup has five-year bow-to-stern component coverage. Larger boats in the lineup have three years of bow-to-stern component coverage.

What’s not covered? Some components, like the engines, will have separate warranty coverage. Parts that have their own limited warranties are specifically excluded from Sea Ray’s coverage, for instance. When components are covered separately, make sure the dealer honors the warranty. With a company like Sea Ray, which exclusively uses Mercury engines, the dealer will be able to handle both.

What has lifetime coverage? When you purchase the boat, are any parts of it covered for the duration of your ownership? A company like Sea Ray offers a Limited Lifetime Structural Hull and Deck Warranty.

Is it transferable? If you sell your boat, what parts of the warranty are transferable? If it’s within the warranty period, the original owner can transfer the remaining warranty on the boat. With Sea Ray, the Limited Lifetime Structural Hull and Deck Warranty is capped at 10 years from the date the boat was placed into service by the initial owner.

Is the warranty pro-rated? Check to see what is pro-rated in your coverage. Pro-rated means that the full amount of coverage diminishes over a set period of time until the warranty runs out. Some of that is due to normal wear and tear of the boat. With Sea Ray, the hull blister warranty is pro-rated on a five-year schedule.

How is labor covered? Does your boat’s warranty cover local labor rate on the dealership level or work off a predetermined pay rate? With Sea Ray, most items on a boat are covered by “flat rate” guidelines that indicate how much the company will reimburse a dealer for repairs. The dealer’s labor rate is established by an algorithm that takes into account the dealer shop rate and Customer Satisfaction Index (CSI) performance. The closer the reimbursement rate to your dealer’s actual rate, the less you will have to pay — if at all.

• More: dealer-experience , how to buy a boat , How-To , What to Look For

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Industry Leading Factory Backed Lifetime Structural + 10-year Bow-to-Stern Warranty

When buying a new Bennington, our customers receive an industry-leading lifetime structural + 10-year bow-to-stern warranty, giving you and your family the protection and assurance you deserve. Here at Bennington, we provide you with the finest built pontoon boats in the marketplace and want you, our valued customer, to know that we stand behind that commitment with the industry's strongest warranty protection. Under the lifetime structural + 10-year bow-to-stern warranty, we cover 100% materials, parts, and labor with no pro-rating, no third-party hand-offs, no warranty transfer fee, and no "read between the lines" statements to leave you second-guessing.

• Lifetime Structural Warranty: As an owner of a new Bennington, you receive a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the structure, pontoons, gates, channels, motor mount & rotomold seat frames. If anything goes wrong, we will fix it. Season after season, your Bennington will be ready.
• Lifetime Deck Warranty : As an owner of a new Bennington, you receive a Limited Lifetime Warranty on the 7-ply, pressure-treated, marine-grade decking. Since they fasten the rails & deck directly through the understructure, Bennington decks flex less & will provide you with a lifetime of enjoyment.
• 10-Year Bow-to-Stern Warranty* : As the original owner of a new Bennington, the first ten years are covered directly by Bennington. All materials and workmanship are covered by us, including flooring, electronics, and upholstery. No hassles, no worries, no hand-offs—It's Simple. Your dealer will register the warranty for you upon delivery of your new boat. The engine manufacturer's stated warranty covers your engine.
• Transferable Warranty : Bennington warranties are transferable through your local Bennington dealer, adding to the resale value of your boat. The warranty period begins on the original owner's new boat purchase date. Suppose the boat is sold during its warranty period. In that case, the standard warranty coverage will carry over to the new owner for the remainder of the original 10-year warranty—once the warranty is transferred through an authorized Bennington dealer.*
• No Hand-Off To Suppliers : Bennington doesn't hand off warranty responsibilities to its suppliers. When it comes to warranty claims, your Bennington dealer will take care of it directly with Bennington. After all, no one cares more about your satisfaction than Bennington does. 
• No Pro-Rating: Bennington boats carry the same valuable warranty, whether it's the first day or the last day of the warranty period. Bennington does not use a declining scale of coverage in its warranty, also known as pro-rating.
• Partnership With Our Dealers: Bennington dealers receive 100% of the retail shop labor rate for warranty repairs. This ensures that your warranty work is a priority & completed quickly with your satisfaction in mind.
• Excellence In Customer Satisfaction : Bennington has earned the Customer Service Index (CSI) award for "Excellence in Customer Satisfaction," an industry-leading 23 times-every year since its inception. Given by the National Marine Manufacturer Association, the CSI Award recognizes manufacturers who receive exceptional satisfaction scores for the boat, engine, & dealer experience.

* Download warranty for specific details.

If you have any questions you may contact your local Bennington dealer or send us an email.

Bennington has earned the Customer Service Index (CSI) award for “Excellence in Customer Satisfaction” an industry leading 23 times every year since its inception. Given by the National Marine Manufacturer Association, the CSI Award recognizes manufacturers who receive exceptional satisfaction scores for boat, engine, & dealer experience."

Marine Warranties

Safeguard your investment, marine warranties center, seasafe group.

Although boating is fun for you, it takes place in an environment that is hard on your boat. Salt, high RPMs, rough water, etc. can all take their toll on boat, engines, and components. This makes a pre-sale inspection of a pre-owned boat and extended warranty coverage on both new and pre-owned boats excellent investments.

A marine warranty is an easy way to limit out-of-pocket costs due to mechanical failure of major systems, i.e. engine, electrical, steering, etc.

New Boat Warranties Most new boats are backed by hull and engine warranties for 1- or 2-years; extended warranties will prolong the coverage of engine and systems for a specified number of years.

Pre-Owned Boat Warranties (Extended Warranties) Pre-owned boats, on the other hand, are generally sold “as is.” An extended warranty adds a layer of protection to your purchase and lets you buy a pre-owned boat with new boat peace of mind. This is especially true if you’re a first time buyer and don’t really know what to look for in a pre-owned boat. When choosing a warranty program, look for one backed by a quality insurance company and designed just for boats.

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New Boat Warranties: How To Work Them in Your Favor

The warranty for a new boat is a lot different than a new car. in most cases a boats rudder and gelcoat arent covered. and when seeking repairs for work that is covered, a buyer often gets caught between a tight-fisted builder and an indifferent dealer. we asked builders, dealers and owners how to ensure that the fine print doesnt turn your love affair into a nightmare..

New construction methods and better raw materials have improved the general quality of boats. A byproduct, at least for some companies, is broader warranty coverage, extended warranty periods, and more aggressive factory support. But as would be expected in any industry, we hear the occasional horror story. To learn more about how new boat buyers are faring with their grand purchases, last fall we asked owners of new boats to complete a brief questionnaire concerning their warranties.

Eighty-eight percent of owners who responded said they ultimately received satisfaction regarding the disposition of warranty claims.

This jibes with what all of the manufacturers interviewed told us, who said Theres always that ten percent who will never be happy. And every manufacturers representative had at least one boat he wished the company hadnt sold.

Claims ranged from major problems with refrigeration units, blistering and failure of autopilots to minor leaks and fading of gelcoat. The most common complaint was the time required to resolve claims because dealers were not responsive or there was foot-dragging by the builder.

What Can Go Wrong: Two Case Histories The process of resolving a warranty claim can be anything from a straightforward, satisfying experience between a manufacturer and boat owner to a nightmare generating acrimony on all sides.

As an example, a boat buyer who lives in Colorado and sails on Rocky Mountain lakes ordered a Seaward 23 from Pollards Landing in Michigan, who had been representing the manufacturer for several years. The manufacturer, which is located in the southeast, has produced nearly 3,000 boats during the past 25 years.

After ordering the boat, the buyer forwarded a two-page letter to the dealer specifying the equipment and options to be installed, receipt of which was acknowledged in writing by the dealer. A copy was sent to the manufacturer. The purchase order indicated three coats of Sikkens (teak oil) on all teak surfaces, and specified that certain gear should be provided by specific manufacturers.

During the final stages of the construction process the buyer visited the factory to inspect the boat. The owner noted that interior bulkheads had been varnished sloppily, but, according to the builder, he requested only some minor repairs and returned home. The buyer made arrangements to have the boat transported; it was delivered two weeks after his trip to the factory.

The shouting began a month later.

In a two-page letter to the manufacturer, the buyer enumerated a laundry list of complaints, including the fact that the interior teak had been covered with three coats of varnish that had not been ordered and, worse, had been sloppily applied. He claimed to have spent 80 hours stripping the varnish and included a bill for $2,711.95 to cover the cost of materials and his labor, calculated at $18.63 per hour.

He also noted that the mast had been damaged during transport; substitutions had been made in boat equipment; and the surface of the hull-keel joint was abraded, so he provided an estimate for fairing at a nearby boatyard.

He followed that letter with a complaint to the Better Business Bureau in the cities of both the manufacturer and the dealer.

Months later, the dealer, builder and customer are still trying to resolve the matter, but in a decidedly chilly atmosphere. Could the breakdown in communications and ensuing conflict have been avoided?

Perhaps. After reviewing voluminous correspondence from all parties, it appeared that each party to the transaction may have erred.

The first line of the manufacturers warranty reads in bold capitalized type: IN THE EVENT YOU HAVE A WARRANTY CLAIM WITH YOUR BOAT, FIRST CONTACT YOUR DEALER.

Had the buyer worked with the dealer, rather than jumping in to perform his own work and forwarding bills for it, perhaps a speedier and more amicable settlement could have been reached. But the sailing season often is short. A recurring theme we heard was the buyers desire to get back on the water quickly, unwilling to wait for the dealer-builder to make a decision concerning the validity of their claim.

Playing by the rules doesn’t always result in a satisfactory conclusion, however, as one unhappy Beneteau owner discovered.

Six months after taking delivery of a new 1994 Oceanis 351 he found significant bubbling on the keel which, he said, was immediately brought to the attention of the dealer. The hull was repaired and repainted.

At the time of the second haulout a year later he discovered that the bubbling had continued, and had expanded over the entire surface of the keel. On the advice of the dealer, who thought the work would be covered by the builders warranty, the keel was refinished at a cost to the owner of $1,200. Both expected the owner to be reimbursed.

He said that the following year several large bubbles were noticed in the fiberglass rudder. They were ground out and repaired at a cost of $323. Several fiberglass voids in the cockpit were repaired by the dealer, but more voids have become apparent and need to be repaired.

When two years passed and the owners claims had not been paid, he wrote directly to Beneteau, only to learn that the companys warranty specifically excludes the keel and rudder (as is the case with most manufacturers!). Apparently the dealer was unaware of the exclusion, or chose not to be the bearer of bad news.

Beneteaus explanation: The manufacturers of the keel coatings do not offer extended warranties on their products, a fact that apparently escaped the attention of the dealer who authorized the repair.

Beneteaus Joe Foss said that the problem with the rudder was attributable to a manufacturing defect. On older boats, the stainless steel rudder shaft was encased in a glass-skinned, foam-filled rudder; the seal where the metal stock enters the fiberglass rudder may fail under extended use in heavy winds and seas, allowing water to invade the core. Beneteau estimates that 3% to 4% of the rudders required a repair. The company now builds rudders with carbon fiber rudder stocks and vacuum bags the rudder during layout to prevent the problem.

After a lengthy delay, the owners $323 fiberglass repair costs were reimbursed by Beneteau, and the company assumed responsibility for repairs to the newly discovered voids.

The owner laments, I had a bad dealer, whose relationship with Beneteau has since been terminated, and got bad advice, but the company is finally responding.

Parties to the Sale During the course of our research, we talked with eight major production boatbuilders: Hunter, Tartan, Sabre, MacGregor, Catalina, Pacific Seacraft and TPI Composites, Inc. We learned that their factories are all operating at or near full capacity, some with order backlogs extending into mid-2000. We also received comments from dozens of owners of boats built by these companies, and the dealers who represent them.

All of the manufacturers provided us with copies of their warranties; some also provided copies of their dealer procedure manual.

For any transaction, the parties are a builder, transportation company, dealer and the buyer.

(J Boats is something of an exception in that the company contracts with TPI Composites to build their products and to handle warranty issues, so J Boats is not directly in the warranty loop. Though Jim Johnstone of J Boats has responsibility for handling service issues within his company, claim resolution is the direct responsibility of Rich Moody, customer service manager at TPI.)

Successful builders factor into their manufacturing costs a reserve for repairs so that there is a fund from which to pay warranty claims.

However, dealers, despite having an implied post-sales responsibility to assist in solving warranty issues, don’t include a reserve for hard costs. Their 15%-20% commissions cover overhead, salesman fees and marketing costs, but not warranty claims. Many good dealers, however, do pay for small items without involving the factory.

In addition to the implied responsibility a dealer assumes when establishing a dealership, their responsibilities are clearly defined in agreements between them and the factory, though, as Sabres Bentley Collins said, its a team deal done in concert with Sabre.

The Beneteau owners manual, for example, includes a section that states your dealer is responsible for providing customer support and parts after you take delivery, and any warranty service under the terms of the limited warranty.

The J Boats dealer agreement contains a similar provision and further states that failure to perform may be a cause for termination of the relationship.

Technically, the warranty process begins when a completed boat leaves a factorys doors and is entrusted to the custody of a transport company. Depending upon the manufacturer, ownership of a new boat may remain with the company until the boat is delivered and accepted by a dealer, who is then obligated to pay for it; or it becomes the dealers property when it is loaded onto a truck.

Therein lies the first opportunity for a warranty claim as the boat may be damaged enroute to the dealer.

Prior to accepting delivery, the first step a dealer is required to take is a careful inspection of both exterior and interior. Builders guidelines also stipulate that dealers are responsible for assuring that hatch seals installed before the boat left the factory are still intact and that parts and equipment have not been stolen or vandalized. Dealers are responsible for double checking shipping documents to confirm that the parts listed in the manifest are actually aboard. One pre-delivery checklist we saw includes inspection of gelcoat, spars, woodwork, floorboards and cleanliness.

Once a dealer accepts the boat, the transport company is no longer liable for damage that may have occurred in transit or for missing parts.

Following delivery, dealers are then expected to follow another checklist during the commissioning process. Beneteaus checklist, for example, is three pages long and has a punch list of 87 items.

Warranty Basics The warranties we reviewed are remarkably similar (see accompanying chart) and are divided into three sections: the General Limited Warranty; a Structural Limited Warranty; and a Limited Warranty covering underwater deterioration or osmotic blistering. Some extend beyond the first purchaser to a second owner if properly registered at the time ownership is transferred, a real advantage when buying a used boat.

The General Limited Warranty provides coverage for the entire vessel and covers hull, deck and cabinetry, exclusive of parts provided by other manufacturers. One warranty that is representative of the industry states: The manufacturer warrants that the vessel will be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of twelve months from the delivery to you by an authorized dealer.

The Structural Warranty states that The stringer systems, structural bulkheads and composite laminates will be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of 60 months.

The Extended Warranty against osmotic blistering warrants That gelcoat surfaces of the vessel below the waterline will not blister when the vessel is properly used for a period of 120 months from delivery.

The most dramatic difference between companies is that Catalina and Pacific Seacraft reduce the amount theyll pay for a specific repair in successive years of the warranty. For blisters, Catalina reduces its contribution to the cost of repair by 20% in the second year and 10% more in each succeeding year so that in the last year of the warranty it pays only 50% of the total cost.

Beneteaus warranty was an exception. It does not contain a specific section covering blisters, nor do the words osmotic blistering appear in the document. Joe Foss, Beneteaus service manager, told us that blister coverage is implied in the General Warranty.

MacGregor Yachts has the simplest warranty we read; it is only 52 words in length and states that the company will repair or replace any sailboat part or sailboat equipment manufactured by MacGregor which is proven to MacGregors satisfaction to be defective…

Though all of the companies have a staff person at the factory who coordinates warranty work, all expect the dealer to be their prime contact. Some authorize dealers to personally solve problems costing less than $200 to $250, for which the builder will reimburse them.

Beyond that limit, claims must be pre-approved by the manufacturer, which provides dealers with a clearly stated procedure to follow.

Most builders say they attempt to process claims within 24 hours of receipt. But when major claims for structural work are at issue-amounts in excess of about $1,000-rest assured that a senior officer of the company will be involved in its resolution. And it could take longer.

If you own a boat produced by Catalina, don’t be surprised to find yourself on the receiving end of a telephone call from Frank Butler, president of the company, as Tod Herrick learned when he filed a warranty claim for his 1994 Catalina.

My first problem occurred when I was 100 miles from home on a Chesapeake vacation and the freshwater pump failed. The water tank hadnt been cleaned of fiberglass shavings at the factory and the dust eventually burned out the motor, he told PS.

Unable to find a replacement part while on his journey, it was eventually replaced by the dealer in Annapolis after Herrick and his family spent several dry days in sweltering July temperatures.

Then, when we hauled the boat that fall I discovered orange peeling on the bottom, and thats when the difficulties occurred, he continued.

The dealers service manager said, Cant be. Thats a new boat, and refused to travel an hour to inspect the boat. He blamed the paint.

Herrick filed a warranty claim and started a paper trail; he was surprised when Butler called out of the blue.

He became involved in the process, reviewed photos we provided and eventually authorized a $3,600 payment for the repair. I was satisfied with the outcome, but it took too long, he said.

Exclusions As with insurance contracts, the most important section of a warranty is often the list of excluded items. In our survey, we found that most companies have the same exclusions. Typical exclusions are for gelcoat (because of its natural porosity and tendency to fade), wood surfaces, upholstery, and parts not manufactured by the builder. As it turns out, this last category can include a lot of stuff such as engine, winches, cleats, portlights, etc.

In all warranties, one of the most severe exclusions are the costs of transporting the boat to the dealer or to the factory, if necessary, and for haulouts, launching or storage while processing a claim under the warranty.

We expect owners to have warranty repairs made at the time of annual haulouts, Butler told us, a sentiment echoed by most other builders. What builders are trying to avoid is the cost of an extra haulout.

Most manufacturers include in their warranty registration packet a list of suppliers of the boats gear (electronics, engine and winches, for example) with toll-free telephone numbers of service facilities. If there is a problem with any of this gear most warranty procedures still direct you to the dealer first, but you may be asked to resolve the problem with the supplier directly.

However, resolving problems with suppliers are often more complicated, as we learned from Bentley Collins of Sabre Yachts.

In a Sabre you might have a Yanmar engine coupled to a shaft supplied by Essex Machine Works driving a propeller made by Michigan Wheel. The shaft passes through a dripless seal made by PSS. So, theres vibration in the running gear, whos responsible?

When the bilge pump fails during the warranty period we secure a replacement and often supervise and pay for its installation, though were technically not responsible for that, Beneteaus Joe Foss said.

What Builders and Dealers Say Builders and dealers agree that problems fall into three major areas:

1. Owners who don’t read or fully comprehend their warranties or who don’t follow established procedures. This, say the builders, too often results in them facing unapproved repair bills that are substantially higher than necessary.

Our biggest problem is with owners who discover problems, pay retail prices to have them repaired, and then send us the bill, expecting full payment, said Tim Jackett of Tartan Yachts. When we and our dealer are involved in the process we can typically negotiate yard labor rates that are lower than the customer will pay.

TPIs Rich Moody said, The reason for our procedure is that, since we built the boat, we typically know how to diagnose a problem better than a boatyard, and can develop a solution. I can walk into our shop, talk to the person responsible for the failure, and come up with a remedy. A boatyard not familiar with the repairs can make a simple solution more complicated.

A warranty issue involving Bob Knott, a homicide investigator and new owner of a Hunter 380, illustrates Moodys point.

Before we took delivery of our boat we discovered that the floorboards (a total of 15 pieces) didnt fit the boat properly and the grooves were not in straight lines, he said. They looked like an improperly completed jigsaw puzzle.

The dealers suggestion was to remove the boards, recut some so they fit, and build new sections. Hunters response was to fly up the person who has built their floors for the last 18 years. He removed board #1, which was off 1/4 inch, and reinstalled the other 14 and the fit is perfect. While he was at it, he spent two days repairing other items I had on my punch list, Knott said.

Catalinas warranty specifically stipulates that repairs will be based on Catalinas standard hourly warranty labor rate, which varies by region but is less than retail rates charged consumers.

Thats why it is important to work with the dealer to resolve the problem, Butler said.

2. Lack of a nationwide network of service providers. Unlike automakers, most boatbuilders have a limited number of dealers. Many owners are located miles from their dealer and are at a major disadvantage when warranty work arises.

In that type of situation, we send our technician to the boat, Catalinas Butler said.

An owner isolated from his dealer said, Don Kohlmann (president of Pacific Seacraft) flew to Texas with a new boom for my boat.

My refrigerator was repaired ten times and still didnt perform properly. Hunter finally flew a technician out from Florida who completely replaced the system, the owner of a Hunter 410 related.

Karl Schmitt in Missouri,who purchased a MacGregor 26 in 1990, told us: Shortly after buying the boat I discovered what I thought were blisters in the cockpit, he said. When I popped them I discovered there was water under the gelcoat and the gelcoat and fiberglass had not bonded.

Subsequently, he found a series of long cracks and crazing in other areas of the cockpit. Since he had been orphaned when his dealer relocated to Florida, he filed the claim with MacGregor; after a lengthy delay he was instructed to secure an estimate for repairs from a local yard.

We had photos of what appeared to be gelcoat crazing; a minor problem, Roger MacGregor said of his companys action.

Unhappy with MacGregors position, the disgruntled owner eventually paid for a survey that indicated the boat suffered severe structural damage and was irrepairable. Schmitt feared for the ultimate resale value of the boat.

We knew the surveyor was nuts, MacGregor said. But we didnt have a yard in the area competent to effect the repair.

Eventually, Schmitt threatened legal action unless the company provided him with a new boat. MacGregor yielded and the damaged boat was returned to the factory.

We made a mistake, MacGregor admitted. He was more right about the problem than I thought, but we couldnt tell that from the photos and didnt have a local repair facility we felt was competent.

Schmitt is still sailing the replacement, and says Im totally satisfied with the boat and the company.

MacGregor said, We repaired the boat in a day, resold it, and its new owner is totally satisfied.

3. Dealers who don’t provide the post sales service to which a buyer is entitled. Owners agree. When we asked members of several owners associations to identify the biggest failure in the warranty system, the resounding reply was that dealers tend to shrug off problems.

The fact is, there are some good dealers and some bad and knowing the difference before buying isn’t easy.

When a dealership owns its own yard and has a service staff, however, at least it has the ability to perform repairs (whether he does or not is another matter). But if the dealer has to negotiate with independent contractors, the situation can become more complex.

When asked for advice on how to choose a reputable dealer, Bentley Collins said, My advice is to get referrals from other owners and to contact the builder directly.

Conclusions Based on the results of our survey, and from manufacturers comments, you have a one in 10 chance of having an unsatisfactory experience attempting to resolve warranty problems. Here are some tips to improve your odds:

Do not perform work yourself or have an unauthorized yard perform the work and then expect the builder to reimburse you. If your schedule doesn’t allow you to wait for the builder to take action, be prepared to accept the consequences.

Because its easy to obtain copies of a builders warranty, read the paperwork before a boat purchase or loan arrangement is consummated.

If you assume financial responsibility for the boat when the dealer accepts it, request an opportunity to review the checklist with him before completing the purchase. Better yet, withhold some percentage of the purchase price until commissioning is completed, youve inspected all of the systems and done a sea trial with the dealer.

Follow the same procedure with the commissioning checklist and review every item with the dealer before accepting delivery.

Determine in advance what procedures have been established to effect repairs. For example, will the dealer perform the work or will it be subcontracted?

For the builders part, we think the industry certainly could improve its customer satisfaction ratings by changing elements of its warranties.

Most troubling are the exclusions of parts not manufactured by the builder. Beneteaus refusal to accept responsibiliy for keel coatings seems to us ludicrous. If paint isn’t covered, does that mean that the resin and fibers used to make the hull are excluded, too? Of course not! It seems to us that a buyer should reasonably expect that the builder is responsible for any and all basic materials used in construction, including keel coatings.

And what of hardware such as cleats or mast fittings?

When an electric window on our Chevy failed, the local dealer replaced the motor under warranty and sent us out the door two hours later. We werent required to deal with whomever manufactured or sold the motor to General Motors.

We think its the builders responsibility to make it right for his customer. If he has to put out money to do this, then he should seek reimbursement from the supplier. After all, a yacht is a luxury item, costing far more than most cars. Buyers neither expect nor want to be burdened with the job of haggling with the builders vendors for replacement parts covered under warranty. How about adding a sentence that reads: The manufacturer warrants that it will bear the expense of replacing and installing any equipment that fails, provided that the equipment was installed by the manufacturer during the boats construction and is still under its warranty period.

When warranty work is necessary below the waterline that is related to safety or necessary for operation, we don’t think it should be delayed until the time of a regular annual haulout, unless that suits the owner. Because a summer cruise or race may be of paramount importance to an owner, a key to keeping him happy is enabling him to keep commitments.

On the other hand, postponing non-critical below-the-waterline work seems reasonable.

Other problems should be repaired as they occur.

Lastly, because hull blistering is such a concern, and so costly to repair, we prefer specific language in the warranty that covers the condition to general statements about freedom from defects.

When all of the parties to the purchase agreement-builder, dealer and purchaser-accept responsibility for their roles in the sale and purchase of a yacht, problems are few.

When they don’t, everyone loses-customers remain unsatisfied, reputations are damaged, and the only winners are the attorneys.

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Warranty FAQs

8 months ago

, by boAt Support

A warranty can help ensure your peace of mind. To help you solve your biggest problems quickly, we’ve put together a collection of the most common Warranty FAQs.

How to claim a warranty/register a complaint?

Step 1: Go to "www.support.boat-lifestyle.com"

Step 2: Click on "Claim your warranty"

Step 3: Fill out the form and check for service center availability. In this section, you can claim a warranty by filling out a form. Also, you can check for the nearest service center

Product Group : Enter your product category (Example: Wired earphones/Bluetooth earphones)

Product : Select the model of the product (Example: boAt Rockerz 500 Red).

Pin code : Enter the pin code that is serviceable at your location. If the pin code is not serviceable, try to enter an alternate address.

Step 4: If the service center is not available near your location, another form "Complaint Registration" will appear on the screen. Fill out this form and then you will be eligible for door-to-door replacement.

How to check the warranty status?

Step 1: Go to " https://support.boat-lifestyle.com/ "

Step 2: Click on "Track your Warranty Ticket".

Step 3: Enter Your registered mobile number and ticket number and then click on "Track". Your warranty status will appear on the screen

How can I get my invoice?

To get your invoice of the purchase please follow these steps:

1. Boat website: Visit the seller website www.boat-lifestyle.com -> Login to your account (If you don’t have an account, please create one using the same email ID which was used to place the order)

-> Click on “My account” section in the top right corner of the webpage

-> Click on “Manage your order”

-> Click “Download” in the Invoice column against the order for which you need the invoice.

-> Login into Amazon

-> Go to ‘Returns & Orders’

-> Click Invoice (drop-down) - Invoice 1 or P-slip/Warranty 1

3. Flipkart:

-> Login into Flipkart

-> Go to your order

-> Select Order

-> Download Invoice

4. Snapdeal:

-> Login into Snapdeal

-> Get Invoice.

5. Paytm: Paytm sends an email to the customer (Invoice Copy) Or Kindly contact the seller in order to get the Invoice

6. Myntra: Myntra sends an email to the customer (Invoice copy) Or Kindly contact the seller in order to get the invoice.

7. Nykaa: Visit the seller website www.nykaa.com

-> Login to your account

-> Hover over your profile name in the top right corner and click on “My Orders”

-> Select the respective order and click on “Download Invoice”.

8. Paytm: Visit the seller website www.paytmmall.com -> Login to your account -> Click on “My Orders”

-> Click on the order for which you need the invoice

->Click on the Invoice option on the order details page

9. Tata Cliq: Visit the seller's website www.tatacliq.com

-> Visit “My Orders” in the “My account” section

-> You will find the Download/ Request invoice option on the order details page. Any Offline Store: Please contact the respective seller to get the invoice for the product.

Why have I not received my product after issuing the warranty replacement?

Usually, after issuing the replacement product, it takes around 0-5 business days to deliver the shipment to your doorstep.

If the replacement product has not been picked even after 5 business days then kindly email your query at [email protected] for all the warranty and service-related issues or call Customer Service on 022-6918-1920 for further assistance.

The Turnaround time (TAT) for picking up the faulty product unit is between 0-3 business days right from creating the AWB (Airway Bill) of our courier partners.

If this issue persists and exceeds the TAT then please email your query at [email protected] for all the warranty and service-related issues or call Customer Service 022-6918-1920 for further assistance.

Do you have any queries for Bulk Sales?

Drop your query at [email protected] and the concerned person will get back to you at the earliest possible.

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