A Cautionary Tale

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
It is terrible treatment and the specific names of the businesses you did deal with should be widely published so that none of our members or our friends ever use them.
My personal belief is that no matter who you are you should get what you pay for and if you don't it is the responsibility of the yard to make it right.
kind regards,

[SurferShane]

If it happened over here I would be more than happy to put you in contact with solicitors and barristers who specialise in tort and maritime law. Unless punitive damages are awarded, which is highly unlikely in this case, the general rule in torts is that damages are only commensurate with restoring the “victim” to the status they would have been in had not it been for the actions of the tortfeasor. Simply speaking, even if you did have a spill you are not obliged to pay for the cleanup of the entire yard.

[aquarian]

Sorry Godwits. I am a displaced Floridian, and I feel bad that you had such an experience there.

[night0wl]

Originally Posted by maytrix

Welcome to America! Where many people will try to screw you each chance they get.

Sorry to hear of your troubles. It's unfortunate that not all boat yards are reputable and honest.

Got me thinking - is there any kind of site where marina's and boat services (be it surveyors or any other boat service) are reviewed? Would be nice to have a place where any service related to boating could be reviewed so others could be warned of issues.

As mentioned, please please join activecaptian then find this marina and write a scathing review. I would also write reviews on whatever service sits are out there like yellow pages, google reviews, yelp, tripadvisor even! Make sure what you post is FACTUAL and accurate...try to leave the opinion/editorial out of it till the end of your review. I'd also post your experience on other sailing forums too.

Eventually, google will do its thing and their negative behavior will reflect in their online reputation and kill their business until they take steps to rectify. Everyong googles.

[Bash]

Originally Posted by speciald@ocens.

The name - AAA Boats and Tires - should have been warning enough.

Really. That and the "No Cash, No Splash" sign would warn knowledgeable boaters that patronage of such an establishment would be an exercise in false economy. But I can certainly see how rookie cruisers unfamiliar with Florida's rough-and-tumble boating industry could be taken in by the lure of discounted dry-storage rates in a tire yard.

My guess would be that the employee who ultimately folded and stowed the sails was being paid minimum wage. His training was probably as minimal as was his incentive to recognize problems with the boat. The bottom line here is that you get what you pay for.

[Butler]

Welcome you guys. I am sorry you have had such a bad experiance and as Gord has said hope you are now able to enjoy the boat.

Sometimes we just have to learn the hard ($$$) way and I don't understand the point of making somebody feel worse by pointing up what they now know about how they handle their business here in the good ol USA, a country/culture they apparently knew little of.

Boatman61 certainly got it right and added to the value of this cautionary tale by setting up a signpost for other folks who may be unfamiliar with our ways good and bad.

[capn_billl]

One thing he did point out that was made clear to me the hard way. Once you sign the dotted line the seller will take no responsibility even if the boat burns to the waterline while you are signing the paper.