Dear Billy & Sierra, Many thanks for posting this latest comment that will, I hope, help put this situation into some better perspective. I am posting this comment to you both but also for your many TES followers who of course are following here closely. Firstly, I want to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the frustration and inconvenience you have experienced with number of warranty issues of this new Seawind. Even though this was the first boat of a brand new model & design, this level of warranty issues is totally unacceptable for everyone including, and especially, ourselves. I personally test sailed this boat when first launched. The test sail was along 200 miles of unprotected coastal waters in 3 to 4 meter seas and with winds to over 30 knots. This test found a number of issues that needed attention, but none of these were structural issues. The boat sailed beautifully without even the slightest creak both upwind or downwind. I believe these characteristics are in accord with your extensive sailing experiences on Laurie Sue and we have seen your delight in sailing her through your channel, demonstrating good sailing performance and structural integrity. Despite your many frustrations, I was very pleased to know you still believe you have made the right choice with your description of “the best 40ft and under sailing catamaran out there in terms comfort, functionality and sailing ability”. As you know, 1170 Hull 1 was actually built for me personally but you both had waited long enough during covid 19 and I then made the decision to send this boat to you and then take a subsequent boat for myself. As I was involved in much of the testing of this boat to my satisfaction, I then felt this was a right thing to do. Obviously, I don’t think this now and I unreservedly apologize to you both. However, I want to reassure you and your audience of the following important points: • We will continue to provide full & total warranty support to ensure that “Laurie Sue” is as perfect as possible. This includes the deck non-slip which will be repaired to as new condition at a time convenient to you both. • This boat was the first of a brand new design & model. It was developed during an unbelievably difficult Covid time. It does not reflect what any subsequent SW1170 buyer should expect. • We have taken note of every issue and incorporated all the improvements into subsequent 1170s being built. We have re-surfaced the deck mold to ensure that subsequent SW1170’s are built to the same high standard that all Seawinds enjoy. The Seawind 1170, from hull 3 onwards, is being built in our brand new Seawind facility in Izmir, Turkiye and I am personally taking delivery of the first SW1170 from this new production line. I’ve done this to ensure that we can completely test and experience the boat from the new factory. SW1170-03 will be extensively tested over thousands of sailing miles before 1170-04 is delivered. This new boat, along with a new SW1370, will be exhibited in Cannes in September. Lastly, this experience has been of great concern to me and Seawind as a company. We are placing renewed importance on systems design & build quality for every aspect of every boat. We are strengthening our QA and inspection process, a process that starts on commencement of the production and proceeds through to every stage until launch. I give you & everyone out there my full assurance that Seawind will always stand behind its product. We won’t always be 100% perfect, but we will strive to be. With best regards to all Richard Ward - CEO Seawind Catamarans
On boats, problems are inevitable. It is universally understood that issues may arise but the issues raised in this video are quality control issues. Your company faces a significant problem in Vietnam. Whether it's the first hull or the hundredth this is not the issue as you mention, the issue lies with the person or persons responsible for ensuring that each hull is properly equipped and in the promised condition. This is a human error, not a result of new design. It is concerning and disappointing. But glad to know that it’s not being built in Vietnam anymore..
I hope Richard Ward comes through for you guys. It would be nice if he fixed all the scratches caused by warranty workers also. Times like this gives companies an opportunity to demonstrate if they can be trusted and recommended to others. Personally, I would have completely lost my sh!t, if what has happened to you two, happened to me.
There’s been quite a lot of negativity in the comments below and we think many people took what we were trying to say a bit too far. Our sole intent with this video was to let people know a bit of what our realty has been with this new boat and to hopefully inform future new boat owners of what they may want to expect so that they are not caught off guard with the shake down period of a new boat. No new boat is perfect and this is not the automobile industry with BILLIONS invested in manufacturing so it's not really a fair comparison because as good as production boat brands may get they will never be 100%. As many problems as there has been with our boat none of them have been major structural issues or anything that has prevented us from using the boat and going sailing. Seawind has been responsive in fixing the issues and paying for the expenses involved which is a whole lot more than some of the nightmare stories we have heard from most other production brands in the industry. There are a number of reasons why we had so many fit-out and QC issues but at the end of the day we all know (Seawind included) that these are just excuses. Seawind promises to fix our last few remaining warranty items and have begun to plan proper nonskid panel replacements already. Additionally, future Seawind 1170's are being produced in Seawind's new 1170 factory in Turkey and we have high hopes that workmanship and QC will be greatly improved. Lastly, despite these warranty issues, we still love this boat and believe it is the best 40' and under sailing catamaran out there in terms of comfort, functionality, and sailing ability.
Dear Billy & Sierra, Many thanks for posting this latest comment that will, I hope, help put this situation into some better perspective. I am posting this comment to you both but also for your many TES followers who of course are following here closely. Firstly, I want to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the frustration and inconvenience you have experienced with number of warranty issues of this new Seawind. Even though this was the first boat of a brand new model & design, this level of warranty issues is totally unacceptable for everyone including, and especially, ourselves. I personally test sailed this boat when first launched. The test sail was along 200 miles of unprotected coastal waters in 3 to 4 meter seas and with winds to over 30 knots. This test found a number of issues that needed attention, but none of these were structural issues. The boat sailed beautifully without even the slightest creak both upwind or downwind. I believe these characteristics are in accord with your extensive sailing experiences on Laurie Sue and we have seen your delight in sailing her through your channel, demonstrating good sailing performance and structural integrity. Despite your many frustrations, I was very pleased to know you still believe you have made the right choice with your description of “the best 40ft and under sailing catamaran out there in terms comfort, functionality and sailing ability”. As you know, 1170 Hull 1 was actually built for me personally but you both had waited long enough during covid 19 and I then made the decision to send this boat to you and then take a subsequent boat for myself. As I was involved in much of the testing of this boat to my satisfaction, I then felt this was a right thing to do. Obviously, I don’t think this now and I unreservedly apologize to you both. However, I want to reassure you and your audience of the following important points: • We will continue to provide full & total warranty support to ensure that “Laurie Sue” is as perfect as possible. This includes the deck non-slip which will be repaired to as new condition at a time convenient to you both. • This boat was the first of a brand new design & model. It was developed during an unbelievably difficult Covid time. It does not reflect what any subsequent SW1170 buyer should expect. • We have taken note of every issue and incorporated all the improvements into subsequent 1170s being built. We have re-surfaced the deck mold to ensure that subsequent SW1170’s are built to the same high standard that all Seawinds enjoy. The Seawind 1170, from hull 3 onwards, is being built in our brand new Seawind facility in Izmir, Turkiye and I am personally taking delivery of the first SW1170 from this new production line. I’ve done this to ensure that we can completely test and experience the boat from the new factory. SW1170-03 will be extensively tested over thousands of sailing miles before 1170-04 is delivered. This new boat, along with a new SW1370, will be exhibited in Cannes in September. Lastly, this experience has been of great concern to me and Seawind as a company. We are placing renewed importance on systems design & build quality for every aspect of every boat. We are strengthening our QA and inspection process, a process that starts on commencement of the production and proceeds through to every stage until launch. I give you & everyone out there my full assurance that Seawind will always stand behind its product. We won’t always be 100% perfect, but we will strive to be. With best regards to all Richard Ward - CEO Seawind Catamarans
@@SeawindCatamarans Amazing response from the CEO. I have been looking at the 1170 and 1260 with Steve at Finish Line in Stuart and seeing your professionalism and ability to work with the customer really sets Seawind apart!
@@SeawindCatamarans Solid response. I'll be taking a much closer look in Annapolis this fall. 1370 maybe, I just love a bulkhead steering position. Looking through windows is not my fav....
But would the average, none 226K subscribed UA-camr receive the same treatment. I am in the market for an RV and it seems the amount of problems are no different, a large amount of new units are in the shop right after purchase for trivial things that were only due to careless construction.
Just watched latest vid. Never commented last week, kinda surprised it's turned into such a big thing, but that's the internet. However, props to Richard, how many CEOs do you see responding 'publicly' to a UA-cam. Many new boat owners can barely get a phone call response. I considered 'most' of the issues demonstrated minor, like a new house or RV, vs what other brand owners are currently experiencing, many unknown due to not all being content creators. However like most things, a few bad apples puts the whole industry under the microscope of judgment, and unlike the heavily regulated automotive industry (more-so than home building in Au), marine remains pretty much unchecked, self regulated, for now. Atm, even in Australia, 'anyone' can claim to be a boat builder, put one together in their back yard, register it without inspection, wave off purchasers as they head off across an ocean. No regulation. Perhaps that's something reputable boat builders could team up for, campaign for change, to protect their industry. However, rather than trusting 100s of governments/staff internationally to police it, perhaps insurance companies offer discounts, or charge a much higher premium, for boats over a certain size, value, not built by reputable approved builders. Maybe there's other ways 🤷♀ The main thing that stood out for me in this vid was the patches on the non-slip. Be like paint not matched correctly on a new car after being damaged, who'd want to look at that everyday. Should be a complete strip>replace imo. Inconvenient, however maybe Tula could demonstrate another model on their channel while Laurie Sue is out of commission for repairs. Would demonstrate good faith & marketing for Seawind.
I purchased a new Lagoon 400S2 catamaran and had no warranty issues at all. I believe that my dealer was the difference, the first 6 years was a wonderful honeymoon. Everything worked, nothing broke. All my pumps are now 10 years old and still going strong, I have 43,000 nautical miles and have just completed my first major refit.
After watching Sailing Parlay, wonder what the bulkheads are like. No new build has no issues. Getting good tradies who are passionate about their work, not just a job, has also become a big issue
@@Lana_Warwickwhat position exactly do you hold in this company. Everywhere I look its you praising them and making excuses for their shoddy workmanship.
Billy and Sierra y’all stand your ground. Document and take pictures of every single thing from the very smallest to the largest. Little problems if not remedied immediately can lead to bigger issues. I have always found even up to today, if you put off something being repaired that you have paid for, everyone takes advantage of you and a lot will say forget about you and move on to another job or taking someone else’s money on a new job. The boat should have never left the factory with any leaks whatsoever. Be polite always but be firm on getting fixed what should have never been broken in the first place. Keep records, dates and times of calls, conversations, personal meetings, etc. 👍😎🙏🏼😎✌️
I love when Billy is talking and Sierra is just sitting there with her half smile or smirk. All I can think of is I’m Ricky Bobby and I’m not sure what to do with my hands but for her it’s her awesome grin!
Guys, you are both so positive, constructive and admirable!! We have been through a similar journey with our Seawind 1600 Womble (delivered in Miami) which we have been living aboard and ocean sailing for 3 years now. Our warranty work was carried out in various islands across the Pacific and in New Zealand. The most frustrating thing is the loss of time but Seawind have been and continue to be constantly supportive in supplying people (big shout out to Paul here!) or upgraded equipment when needed. However, Womble is now dialled in and is a very robust and reliable blue water cruiser, but it was a year plus journey to hone her into what she is today. I think your video is a really authentic view of the time it takes to bed in a new boat for live-aboard cruisers who intend to use their boats to explore and adventure. New Owners must ensure they are buying a brand that has a proven history of supporting their customers. We have met too many boat owners who have had a really tough time getting warranty work sorted out.
Billy and Sierra, as a three-time Seawind owner and two-time new Seawind buyer we relate and agree with much of what you say. We purchased hull #13 (our first new boat) and hull #64 Seawind 1260. Though you make many great points here’s where we agree with the most: 1. New boat buyers will benefit greatly from your lessons learned - you’re spot on. Cut yourself some slack. Like you, we didn’t have a Tula’s video to help cage our new boat buying expectations. You are doing well and your vid will help many future buyers. 2. Though sometimes not as fast as desired, Seawind backs-up its product and sticks with the warranty process until the job is done. As we talk with other cruisers we find this is not always true of all manufacturers. Our current Seawind 1260 was delivered relatively problem free. We now have 8 months of full- time cruising and the few small warranty issues were tackled quickly and were mostly third-party component issues. I believe this was due to a seasoned and experienced 1260 production team and the fact we did many of the things you suggest of a new boat buyer. Bottom line - I’m so happy that you’re fellow Seawind owners and confident you will soon have these new boat issues behind you. Looking forward to sharing an anchorage!
I found this post both informative and reassuring, at least compared to the other more emotive and presumptuous posts, thank you. We have a 1170 on order and will undertake factory inspections closer to completion, and will check carefully those points raised in the vid.. cheers
@@davidcain3063 New or used has issues, Seawind can't do much about 3rd party products having issues, sourcing good vs great labour, the latter harder to come by, or issues 12 months after bashing swells, but Richard stands by his desire for customer/brand satisfaction, albeit sometimes tougher to provide immediate service, vs a house warranty issue down the road.
You guys were more than thoughtful in how you discussed the warranty issues. I have been blown away after watching other owners of other brands of cats discuss the absolutely atrocious build quality of the boats they spent $750k - well over $1milion on. In many cases the problems are structural and / or of such significance the boats are barely usable and the owners find themselves in years of ugly battles with the builder and warranty folks. It boggles my mind that these companies cannot correctly pay employees, manage employees, train employees well enough to build their boats so that multi-page warranty lists are no longer an issue. A boat builder selling million dollar boats cannot put non-skid properly on - in a clean, controlled environment with materials readily available...but folks here in a dirty, remote boat yard in the Sea of Cortez and others like it around the world can do it properly even though they have never done it before?? WTF. The trauma boat companies put their clients through is endless. A shakedown period should not involve faulty paint and floors (or the other 6 pages of repairs). One might expect a few glitches with third party systems etc. . And I agree with the comment below... to put you in harms way by using the wrong gasket material is quite unbelievable. Maybe if they charged $3mil for the boat they would do it right?
You do not come across as negative or unappreciative. I appreciate the straight talk. Love your videos. Keep up the good work. This one reminds me of houses I’ve owned, equipment I’ve bought for the company that I work for. The best fabricators in the world are not perfect. How they respond to the issues is what matters in the end.
A lifetime boater’s one piece of advice to me was, Never buy a brand new boat, always let somebody else figure out all the flaws. Boats unlike cars are built one at a time and at that pace there is very little chance that the builder can ever get good enough to build it flawless the first time. Love the Channel, give Jetty a hug for me. 💓
Yet still many issues with used, anything, especially when not disclosed by previous owner. However, could strip one down fully, replace every component with new, still problems
Are you joking? Y’all keep referring to these issues as ‘little’. A incorrect gasket material disintegrating and clogging the fuel system is not a little thing. You two are being very gracious and patient. As a two time new boat owner I feel your pain. Good luck in the future 👍
Like any house, RV, etc, there are always going to be post build issues. Whilst inconvenient, inferior gasket material seems minor compared to what other new boat owners are experiencing, and can barely get a phone response from builders, vs Seawind CEO 'publicly" responding to this video. Show me another CEO who's done that.
@@Lana_Warwick Right. Tell that to the poor soul who slams into the fuel dock because his engine/engines stalled due to fuel filter blockage and they can't reverse their engine/engines. Or their engines stall while they are trying to ride out a storm. No big deal.
@@ulhpilot7757 Crash into a dock hard enough to cause damage says more about the skipper. Likewise relying on engines to ride out a storm in a 'Sail' boat. However, please share your awareness of any brand/model, that has no issues.
@@Lana_Warwick Believe it or not sailboats actually have engines. Or you think they sail into their slips under wind power? Did you even watch this video and hear how much danger they were in when they lost engine power?
@@ulhpilot7757 WoW! Thanks for that, I'll be buggered, never knew what that thing in my boat was for. Sooo much danger, I have no idea how they survived it. Ya think maybe because they know how to sail? They were more about why, vs OMG! were gunna die...
Good video. This is really valuable and essential information. The Leak Test is brilliant advice. Should be done at the factory where they can quickly fix problems. (The factory has a lot of stuff in the air. I got a piece of fiberglass in my eye that wasn't removed until Tokyo. Bring wrap around safety googles and wear at least an N95 mask. ) Last year I sailed as crew on a new Seawind 1260. Terrific boat. Almost everyday we fixed something (and broke a few things...) Halfway across the Pacific the owner commented that he figured this three month 7500 nM trip reduced the value of his boat by $50k. Seemed reasonable. By the time we got to Canada we'd sorted out many things. The owners took it to a boatyard for $25K of fixes and upgrades. (There were deck leaks that happened in the factory. All the screws and stanchions were in place, the rub rail looked the same on both sides, but there were numerous leaks in some of these. I can complain about a lot of things, but bottom line, Seawind makes really good boats. ) When I later visited my friends on their boat in Santa Barbara, the boat was in great shape, all the bugs were gone. In addition, because of the Lagoon bulkhead issues, I had carefully noted in Vietnam multiple things that if there was any movement I'd have a baseline to check against. We spent a lot of time in 3 meter seas. Everything structural on the boat was still exactly where it had been in Vietnam. Structurally sound, amazingly well engineered and built. So I now disagree with the owner (and I'm sure he'd now agree with me.) I'd happily pay an additional $50k or more, for that boat with 10,000 nM on it, over a brand new one. Possible rule of thumb? A year old boat with 'new boat issues resolved' is probably worth +10% over a brand new one, even if it now has 10,000 nM under the keels. And I'll go on. I think if I got a brand new boat I would triple check all the rigging. Figure out the chafe points (there will always be chaffing.) Make sure I had two spares for the longest strongest lines. I'd run all lines completely through the clutches (and then replace any that were not Spinlock.) I'd run messenger lines through all the wiring and rigging -- especially the reefs that run through the boom. Leave them in place but out of the way. Messenger lines need to be more than double the length of the run. This way you can pull almost all the line back to where you''ll pull the line/wire from, tie on (use lots of electrical tape and lube.) When you pull the line/cable through the messenger line will still be in place so you don't have to pull a new one through. (Instead of 'Messenger' lines they should be called 'Shuttle' lines.) ( A label maker would also be great. Another young couple made a video on installing a NMEA 2000 network. They labeled everything. On my boat I've got wires, hoses, messenger lines everywhere. Mostly I'm working alone. I can't see if something moves when I tug on the other end. Labels would really help. Also notes. Put some notes in place. Laminate them write them with paint markers in the place... ) Mid ocean, I had to figure out how to re run a parted 3rd reef through the boom -- I don't think many could. (I'm who gets called when the 'real guys' can't figure something out.) I brought on board a lot of paracord. I wish I had a 50' fish tape. I was also on top of the dodger in >30 knot winds tying the temporary 3rd reef at the end of the boom. (Wasn't dangerous, but I knew what I was doing. No matter how tight the main is, that boom is either a nudge or a violent kick.) More information on chaffing, and messenger lines might've avoided this, or made it easier. & Keep your gelcoat. Insist they fix it. Flexiteak is nice, but is incredibly heavy and heats up a lot in the sun.
I watch your channel because you are always fresh and honest and your living life style is true. It is nice to see how each of you have assumed your roles. Keep doing what you’re doing.
I never understood how people have to apologize for making videos complaining about the quality of their boat. The amount of money you guys paid for that new boat, everything should be perfect. The gelcoat problem is mind-blowing to me. That is going to be such a bigger problem in the future. In any case, stop apologizing and saying how lucky you are to be in that situation. You guys probably worked your asses off to get to that point and you deserve it.
"everything should be perfect" Is that how life is for you with everything you purchase. I'm sure Seawind will sort it all out, unlike other builders who don't even return hone calls
@@Lana_Warwick Almost everything I purchase I expect to be perfect. I just bought a car, I expect it to be perfect, I just bought a hot water heater, I expect it to be perfect, I just bought a new laptop, I expect it to be perfect. I honestly don't understand your comment.
@@Phil-nv8wo I don't understand your comment, you illiterately said "Almost", which is Reality vs "Expectations". Not everything we purchase is "Perfect", sometimes we have to return it, or contact the manufacture direct. Some respond with satisfaction, others don't, being the point of my post
You both are humble hard-working individuals. You both have so much integrity. I really appreciate that you not painting a all rainbows and sunshine Instagram viewpoint. That is why I have a lot of respect for both of you you are very real individuals dealing with real life issues. Even though You bought a beautiful boat, there are still issues with said boat I just like how you're honest and upfront about everything❤ I think it makes you both and your lifestyle and is sailing the world you still are down to earth people. I'm so happy that the warranty work is moving forward when you make such a large purchase you need to have that work guaranteed and I don't think you are being ungrateful or anything like that I think that you're being open about things and that is so important especially in this world we're living in you both have worked so hard to get to this place in life and it is so exciting and fun to watch you both in your videos. Thank you for always making awesome beautiful shows and including us and what you're doing
Well done for producing this video in such a considered and nuanced way. Boats can be very simple to build but that is a rarity these days and when you consider there is a plethora of systems and ‘leisure’ facilities competing for space and attention. You can only achieve a quality build if you have quality people building it - rectifying the foul ups afterwards does not produce quality. However, what is important is the vendors response to sorting it all out. We know some who are quite frankly fraudulent.
Well said! Disappointing how similar comments only get a few likes, vs toxic ones getting hundreds. "if you have quality people building it" finding tradies passionate about their craft is a challenge for every business owner
@@Corey-pd3mi Why? It's great marketing, no such thing as negative marketing. Unlike toxic side of internet, most people are realists that nothing is perfect in life, there are issues with new or used, it's how the supplier responds that makes the difference
Honestly is not only the best policy but in your case adds credibility. Remembering your keel was laid during COVID and if it were a motorhome, fifth wheel, or travel trailer your list would be twice as long and wait time, five times, if you're lucky. I went from boating to RVing. I went from a "Break Out Another Thousand" to a "Repairs Vary". Your warranty is soo much better than the RV industry's "Prove we did it", and when you send pictures, they say "it doesn't prove anything". You are very lucky.
You are so positive and realistic and this would be something that new boat owners should know going in to the purchase. We went through stuff on our new cat (different manufacturer).
I really appreciate your frankness. Your perspective, as well as other channels, brings me to the conclusion that building it myself is a better option. The time it takes waiting for a new build from a company is about the same amount of time it would take me to build my own. You have given some very useful info and I want to say thank you !
that was a great video you guys! Thank you. I’m old and retired now now. I’m probably never have a boat again unfortunately. But I was very fortunate that most of my life. I did have a boat. However, all those boats I bought were old boats and they had a lot of trouble too, but you didn’t have the factory to go ask for help. you just got out the toolbox and went and fixed it, and paid for the repairs. Thanks again for the wonderful video. I’d love to meet you guys sometime. Take care.
For what things cost . Everything should be good to go so don’t feel bad they should fix them . And it’s great that they are . Keep up the good work Lv you guys . Jeff from Michigan
I know your intent isn’t to blast the manufacturer, and I totally understand how it probably feels from the manufacturer’s perspective, having this many issues on a boat that gets a lot of public attention. That being said, I’d have a hard time not being pretty PO’d. You’re the second channel that I’ve run into lately that recently took position of a new sailing cat that is having a ton of warranty issues. Makes me not really ever want to buy a new boat, I have less issues fixing a used 25 year old, low end boat that was ridden hard and put up wet.
Thanks for sharing. Knowing you were hull #1 of a new design, I think you are right to expect some issues. Seawind does a great job of supporting their customers. We were really lucky with our 1160, delivered 7 years ago. We had zero warranty issues to deal with, so I know once Seawind gets the production issues ironed out on the 1170, future hulls will be solid as well. Keep up the good attitude and enjoy your adventures.
As a builder walk thrus are critical prior to taking possession of the product but thank god you guys are so talented in doing a lot of the issues yourself which will relax a lot of the frustrations and allow you to still have fun and live a somewhat normal boating life! ❤❤❤ jetty !!
Yes, but then a few months down the track you become aware the shower membrane hasn't been applied properly, or at all. Just one example. QC was done right through, incl their first trip after receiving it.
WOW!!!!!!!!! You guys are way to forgiving. How much did you spend on your boat???? I don't know....but I could imagine. You say you're not worried about structural problems, but there are a ton of problems already. Flooring & deck gel coat delamination is not a small problem IMHO, sorry. You'll keep saying the boat -Seawell, or Sea-something is well respected- quality Cat....I wouldn't be sure of that at all. When you're out in the middle of the ocean when a storm hits, that boat is your home & your lifeline!!! Good Luck & fair sailing.
i think you guys did a great job of shedding honest light on the challenges of a new boat purchase, and at the same time, promoting seawind as a reputable company…i can see how this may also make purchasing a pre owned late model seawind a very attractive option… i am very impressed by the experience i’ve personally had aboard a friend’s 1000xl…it is a much more simple boat than yours with its open bridge deck design…it’s a very comfortable settee area with canvas top , dodger, and side panels … just to make an observation about cruising performance…it appears that this boat is more weight sensitive than a typical cruising cat, and when outfitted for long distance cruising, the performance is considerably less than what was expected…we’ve gotten her to 10 knots in ideal conditions, which isn’t bad considering , but this seems to be its limit…i also wonder if this boat is designed to handle the heavier flex over time…seawind does not promote this model as a long distance, open water cruising yacht, and perhaps this is why…
Thanks guys. Love your honesty and patience. It’s amazing how your viewers bash big boat and RV manufacturer’s quality control…come on…they are putting together a whole “house” of stuff….appliances, sinks, pumps, electronics , etc, etc and then drive it down a bumpy road or sail down a 6’ wave and expect nothing to fail??? How can anyone control that, you just got to get out there and use it, experience it and then deal with the problems. You guys are perfect examples of how to DEAL with it. Congrats 💪💪
We bought a new Cat during Covid. Our Boat Manufacturer, St. Francis, was amazing. They are a boutique builder in South Africa, but they followed up on everything without question. We really only had a few issues. We had a leak with our Generator and the CEO sent an email to the Generator Manufacturer, who tried to blow us off fixing it under warranty telling them that if they treated their customers like that, they would have to rethink future business relationships. They had a guy out right away. We were impressed. Also, they sprayed water on the windows and hatches prior to her leaving the yard to look for leaks. You may be able to fix those wood imperfections with a stain pen from Home Depot, but try in an unobtrusive place first. You have a beautiful boat.
Hi again, I totally get it. Brand new land based new homes go through similar trials and refits and must be nit-picked to death sometimes in order to get customer satisfaction. You'd be surprised the things that professional contractors miss, or buger up, and everything is put on a punch list for them to fix. New boats are no different, unfortunately. Great video, and be safe always from the Philippines.
Great video ! as Far as Refrigerators go the Main reason they Won't cool quickly is Heat / Lack of Ventilation. You CANNOT expect a Refrigerator to Work if You stick it in a Hole without Ventilation / air flow across the Condenser. ( The part in the back that looks like a radiator ) it turns the hot gas from the compressor into a cool liquid to feed the metering device to provide cooling. This is the Number one reason for failure of a Refrigerator to cool. Thier is an Easy way to see if this is your problem. Take the Refrigerator out of the hole and plug it in while it's in open air. if all works well. you know it's a Ventilation issue. Air must enter the Condenser---the cooler the air the better. ideally 80 degrees or Less. Maximum 104 degrees Entering condenser & Heat Must leave that area. Air Flow - Cool air in - Hot air out and away. if You are going to Use the Boat in Extremely Hot Weather You May want to think about Pulling cool air from Below the Water Line to Ventilate the Refrigerator compartment.
Myself ,easily said then done i would have sent the boat 🚢 back, and when it is 💯 %done and dusted i would accept the boat back, like when we bought our first home we would visit the site often, anything not looking good we would point it out, then when we moved in we get a snag list of things that need looking at, worth it in the long term, we only had three minor issues. GOOD LUCK to you both and God bless you 🙏 both. Safe travels 🙏 💕. FROM IRELAND 🇮🇪 ♥️. 😢 😮 😢 .
I have a cousin who purchased a new boat last year. He is going through the same processes. I suspect manufacturers are still coming off the COVID times, where you couldn't get help, or the help you could was substandard...and that went for all the component suppliers, etc...but that mess should be working its' way out of the supply chain by now. You two are smart and very aware when it comes to issues...a LOT of people are not on top of things. We purchased a new RV last year, a 40 Ft fifth wheel Toy hauler. We have been doing the RV thing for 40 years, this is our 7th unit. We bought from a dealer where I have a close friend in the Senior service Technician. Once the deposit was paid he took it into Pre Delivery Inspection and it spent over a week there as he went through every system and fixed everything that was wrong. I knew when we hooked up to it it was right, and it has been flawless since. Billy and Sierra are right...the Pre Delivery inspection is a HUGE issue with any of these big purchases. Take the time, whatever it takes
Hi Guys, Don't feel bad for bringing this up - it's important for people to know what will happen when they get a new boat. No one wants to talk about it really. We have a 1260 that was built during Covid, which we think led to most of the issues we experienced. The biggest things (other than replacing all the fixtures that were damaged during shipping when the boat froze), was a faulty electric winch/motor, the fact that the windows weren't completly installed before shipping and significant gel coat cracking. Most of it was repaired under warranty. Seawind and our Broker were fantastic to work with, but it did take like a year to get everything done. Sadly, the gel coat cracking continues in various places, although we did get a lot of it repaired under warranty. Like you guys, when we bought the new boat, we certainly didn't expect to have so much work to do after receiving it. Thanks for being open about your experience.
I love your videos and how positive you are in spite of all the issues you have encountered. Having spent a good number of my working years in construction where QA&QC was incredibly important I am starting to suspect is sadly missing with Sea Wind. I have heard of other Sea Wind owners of new boats encountering similar problems. Very unfortunate this has happened to you❤️❤️
You are too forgiving. It's not like It was a cheap purchase. The odd problem can occur, but the number of problems that are happening with Seawind in particular is astounding. This is clearly a Quality Control issue. And your not the only one (see Sailing Ruby Rose II). Seriously Seawind, simply not good enough. I was looking at purchasing a 1600 Passagemaker new about 2 years ago, I was at the point of contacting Seawind to arrange a factory Visit, but I had some financial delays (still sorting that out now). Now I'm thankful for the delays on my end at the time. I'm also now looking at another boat entirely, at least in part due to the issues Seawind are clearly having at the moment, but I will say that the QC Seawind are currently experiencing are not the only reason for my change of heart. Some of my ideas of what my ideal boat is have changed somewhat. Guys, all the best with your new boat. Hope everything is sorted soon and you can start actually enjoying your new boat soon. All the best with your future sailing and thanks for the update.
SRR would whinge if the only issue was a finger print on a window when they took delivery. QC was done, CEO Richard even took it for a run, was supposed to be his boat. It was then checked again after it came off the ship, & run up the coast. You can only check what you can see & hear, until there's a problem, which everything has at some point.
Some of the issues with manufacturing today is we have lost the connection to traditional tried and true practices and materials. A good example is your flooring, the laminate and adhesive is probably not the same as it was just a year or two ago, it’s being sourced from different places all the time. Another great example is electronics where components, programming and communication protocols are changing every 6 months. At the rate your going the deck will never ever look homogenous, consider having them prep the whole deck and paint it and use Awlgrip or some such nonskid. With all these ”minor” problems are you sure you have no potential structural issues. Cheers and good luck with all this.
Can give staff the best of any product to install/apply, but if their not passionate about what their doing... That's the tradition that's been lost imo. Easy to get good staff, Hard to get great staff
You both do amazing work fixing up boats. You know the only way to fix the gel coat problem is to completely sand the top down and redo it. If you let them get by with patch after patch, you will be sanding it and fixing on your own after the warranty is out. I hope you get it all worked out.
SO, Yup, I got a new boat . . . . . . by following you and living your issues vicariously ! ! Did not cost me money only time to watch your videos . . . and like & subscribe . . . . . OH & I do like my Tula's thermos I got some time ago from your store. Take care, rh
Thank you for bringing realism to new boat buying. We are building, but diy, and even as we go, we find stuff that wasn't done well by the boat building school that got the boat to 80% done.
Im sure you have seen Travel Sketch who have been on the hard for 450 days getting warranty work done on their new leopard. You have every right to point out every flaw for warranty as you bought a new boat that is supposed to be ready to go.
Hey guys, love your channel ....from what I see it doesn't matter which manufacturer you go with, THERE WILL BE ISSUES. Your suggestion of "Go to the factory" is the best way to reduce, "Not overcome" all problems and the best way to deal with this. After all these are hand made products, and with so many individual systems, and hand made work, there is bound to be a plethora of issues. Many of these are STILL only going to be found in time, while you are testing out the boat in real life conditions. Don't forget, you have all the wonderful life experiences to offset the problems.
Hi guys, its Gino and Carolyn on Dolce, a 2023 Seawind 1260. Sorry to hear of all your problems. Our experience has been very different, we’ve had almost no warranty issues (knock on wood). A big part of your problem we believe may be that you have one of the very first hulls of this new model. Its basically a prototype and you’re the beta testers. From speaking to owners of early 1260s, they were also plagued with warranty issues. I’m not convinced flying to Vietnam with the expense and huge carbon output is the best solution. People would be much better off buying a model from a company with a good track record (we think Seawind is good), a hull number at least above 10, and then inspect thoroughly before you sign off on the delivery. Just our two cents. Good luck with the repairs and we look forward to seeing you out there.
Jets are going to fly with or without you would not being adding any carbon output you may even being adding more with the traveling involved for repairs.
@@56Spookdog interesting logic. Are you saying we should all fly more? This is known in economics as the “Tragedy of the Commons.” An individual’s actions may have no affect, but if many do the same thing it has an enormous impact.
I am not a sailor but do travel with an Off Road Travel trailer. Like you I expected it to be for the most part ready to roll. Well I have since learned that was not really the case. Things break, it was a new model and some of the details turned out to not be a good idea but can be changes. We have done a lot of camping but have lost many camping trips due to delays from supplier or service centers. At the time I purchased it it was the only travel trailer that ticked off all of the boxes for my wife and therefor me also. Even today it is still the best model for our use. Buying a used rig if available has many good points and hopefully the first owners have worked out the bugs already.
You may have been Hull#1 but I think your within your right to be frustrated because most of the things you touched on are not design issues but things that are used on every Seawind. I also didn't see this as an attack on Seawind but quite the opposite. I have an 1170 heading my way but I did make a conscious decision not to be one of the early builds on a new model. Raising the issues you find will only make my boat better and allow me to ask better questions👍👍. I also think your idea to try and go over your boat at the factory is a good one. I have also noted on another youtube channel they had the factory to do a live stream walk through before sending because they couldn't get there. It might not pickup on everything but a good second option I thought.
Totally agree with the factory time - just like a home remodel (same thing really) you need to be there, be involved and work through everything - it's part of the experience and you get out what you put in :)
"you get out what you put in" They put in money? That they sacrificed time to earn. And now you think the boat yard should get both their money and their time? I have a bridge you might be interested in.
Clever video! Share the problems that many new boats have in a positive way, while keeping the pressure on Seawind to sort through these issues. I think you nailed it 👏
Great video. My fiancé and I are highly considering a Seawind and glad to hear about their responsiveness. A little disappointing on the dissimilar materials though and gelcoat.
Well - what I heard from production boats - you are still one of the lucky ones. Seawind responses, others brands do not or they decline everything. Want to remind to the beginning of "Cheeky Monkey" - If I remember correctly, their warranty journey was more than 6 month in the delivery harbor. "Checking in the factory" - sorry that I'm sarcastically laughing. Most firms will not accept you inside a mile around their yard.
I've done epoxy floors for over 20 years now.. what they are telling you is absolutely the truth.. its bad bonding. The worse part is that none of the patches will ever match..
Same experience. They told us that a boat was for fun and we did not need to stress all the time😮. We kept the boat 12 years and we spent the same amount as the purchase price in reparing, improving in order to make sure the defaults would not come back. You cannot imagine all what we had to do and spend to keep the boat fit. For instance, from the beginning the cupboards kept opening even though carefully closed before on sea. Solution from the builder : he knew the lockers were weak and… he sent us a whole box of them so that we could replace them from time to time… but… by keeping the boat carefully maintained, after 12 years, we were able to sell it at the same price we bought it. The broker said it was as new. We had to struggle all the time to get and keep it like that. I was completely disgusted and each time we went on board, i was expecting a problem to occur… last but not least, i know australians who bought a uge oyster yacht, i let you imagine the price…, they leave england direction spain for their first trip. On the way, the toilets were not properly connected and the bathroom was full with what you can guess. And that is a boat that undergoes all imaginable quality controls before leaving the yard…
I watched another youtuber take delivery of a new power boat and they struggled with some quality issues from the factory and damage from transportation. They had to go through and note everything that needed to be fixed. Luckily, the dealer did all of the work onsite.
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. My question is, which manufacturer have the least warranty issue. Going too make you think twice before purchasing.
I had the same issues when buying a new power boat, QC is terrible nowadays even on big brand name boats. I dont understand this because it cost them SO MUCH MORE to fix out in the wild than right there at the factory, also if you are identifying the same issue over and over you can fix your production method to not have the issue in the first place. The only thing i can think of is they hope ppl dont find the issue or just live w most of them. Seriously a $550k-1.4 million dollar boat should AT LEAST not have leaking windows, yet i see video after video of that now a days.
This is normal from what I have seen. The fact that the warranty work is getting done and on a good schedule for you is Amazing. It is expected to have to keep on it to get things done, as you have to remember that their focus is getting new boats out, and that means things move slower.
You have to keep in mind that as no1 boat, it's a prototype. From paper to full-scale boat. There are always going to be a few problems Some may be seawinds fault, some not. Seawind is not responsible for items manufactured by other companies. They are the meat in the sandwich. They go to their supplier to attempt to resolve the problem. They have to wait. If seawind made errors in installing then you can blame seawind. The delay could be seawind is waiting for the supplier to reply to them.
Awesome Video 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Diplomatic and tactful 👍 am seeing more and more videos like this. Warranty work taking a year or two before completed. Manufacturers ought to be ashamed but people keep buying their boats....????? What to do.....??????
Well I'm disappointed to see the problems but not unexpected from what I see every day. The new boats are built to a cost and shortcuts are common place. Most owners are unaware of the problems and don't actually find them in the warranty period. There's one thing to have cosmetic issues but structural failure is very dangerous. Good luck and whatever you do fix it properly and test it. Do not set off on a long passage unless you're hammered that boat many times close to rescue. Btw that was my career, rescue now boat management / maintenance. Good luck!
225,000 subscribers,, you’ll definitely get everything covered….with this happening to a lot of others, regardless of the manufacturer, i highly doubt they will get the same warranty, customer service… subs talk…this video alone, will apply the pressure for them to respond faster, and do it right, sooner rather than later…good job, wish we all were in your position, sub wise
same with new Motorhomes and even houses. Apparently it all very difficult to do quality checks.. which in the end is very expensive for manufacture and customer. Its great to have good customer service but at some stage its just to much. we have an 8 year old motorhome and we are still fixing things. luckily the manufacturer honers their warranties but still very annoying to lose your home 3 month because the walls have the wrong foam chemistry and need to be replaced. Yes still very happy with the MH like you with your boat.
Seawind sounds like much better experience than other manufacturers I've heard about who are more accustomed to the charter market and buyers of fleets of boats. They expect the fleet owner to deal with 90% of this stuff so the infrequent solo buyer is unimportant to them.
It seems like warranty issues are more prevalent today then in years past. I've owned a few new "quality" boats in my past and the most recent purchase in 2019 had a lot of gelcoat issues. Spent frustrated days dealing with scheduling. When they did finally do the work it was just ok workmanship and caused additional cosmetic damage. I finally gave up dealing with them and did the follow up repairs myself !
I do see a lot more issues with Seawind. I think they truly need another sea trial before giving to customer. I also see even small things like cleaning out water tanks properly before adding water and running system. The HH44 doesn't have nearly as many issues as I am seeing because they do more sea trials and do not skimp on things like rubber gaskets. Sure Things will act up with equipment but I must say Seawind needs a better quality inspector person and team. I also now see why you want to buy a new boat with serial numbers higher than 10 so all the items are fixed and done right. Seawind will get there but they are behind the top ones like Balance and HH.
Happens to all of them… Neel has major issues, there was a delivery-mileage Catana hauled out for a full bottom job, a Kinetic was in appalling state in Grenada. Don’t even get me started on the Lagoon 450s, or other mass produced models…
Being where they are & having their own basin is a huge plus for HH. Seawind being where they are is a bit of a negative for getting some things. Then there is the huge price jump from a seawind to a HH ! Non of Tusals or RRs issues are serious unlike some other Brands that start with a "L" !
@@PN_48 Look at which brands are cutting corners. I do not think Seawind are cutting corners on purpose they just need better quality control but yes some are in it only for profit.
I’d have Seawind sand off the non-skid and make them put in a lightweight, attractive decking. The gelcoat problems will keep getting worse, the fixes won’t look good. I’d also suggest getting some compensation to help pay to replace the decking when it needs to be replaced in 6-8 years. My two cents.
You guys are being WAAAY to generous and kind to Seawind. Kudos for some of your points, such as going to the factory at least once for a pre-acceptance inspection. But having owned and operated many boats, including new, this boat ranks pretty low on my shoddy construction meter! Unfortunately, many of the issues you are having reflect directly on the factory, both in design, materials selection, fabrication/installation, and quality control. That Gelcoat issue is huge and indicative of multiple failure points in initial mold prep and Gelcoat application. It will never be fixed short of sanding/grinding it back, fairing it all out, and unfortunately probably final finish with an epoxy paint final coat. The fact that the factory specified and/or allowed the use of a completely inappropriate gasket material speaks volumes about what’s going on (or NOT going on!) in their design/engineering/QC divisions. Lastly, the flooring, like the Gelcoat is a huge failure in product (adhesives) selection and materials compatibility assurance. Sorry guys… love your videos. We’re huge fans of you kids. I realize you’re still trying to get warranty work done, so I get your reluctance to be too critical of the builder. But Seawind delivered you a shit sandwich. And when boat builders do this, they need to be called out on it.
If you consider these easily rectifiable minor issues a "shit sandwich", what do you consider other brands with much worse issues, owners having difficulty getting a phone or email response, some so fed-up are rectifying the issues themselves, out of their own pockets, because it's a self regulated industry. Many times it's the result of lazy staff right through the chain, hard to get great staff. At least Seawind are responding, including publicly to this video, show me another that does that.
@@Lana_Warwick My comments were entirely accurate in the clear context they were made. I did not discuss customer service whatsoever or whether the factory was working with them. And yes, many manufacturers leave much to be desired when it comes to customer support. Many (most) leave all warranty work to their dealers which can be a real hodgepodge of skills and knowledge. However, the fact remains that contrary to your comment, several of these issues are NOT minor, NOR “easily rectified” especially the gelcoat. The only lasting fix is extensive and will diminish the value of their boat. The flooring delamination issue is likewise not a small fix, and the entire flooring surface is unfortunately suspect and will be prone to future problems unless replaced. Yeah - not easily rectified. The kids are being quite patient and kind - probably reflective of the response they’ve had from the factory. That is admirable, and I respect the fact that the builder has actually responded here. I do feel bad for Billy and Sierra, and know how sad and frustrated they must be over the issues they’re having to deal with. I like how Seawind structurally builds their boats. I am not a fan of several design elements - but those are merely my personal preferences for sailing catamarans. (I actually was on a 1600 last week.) And obviously after watching the kids here, Sailing Ruby Rose, and being an active sailing forum participant for many years, really feel like the factory has some significant QA issues to work through. This will be tricky as they and other builders abandon the far east asian factories and tool up to try their fortunes in Türkiye. I wish them well.
@@joesmythe8232 My reply was only in response to, "You guys are being WAAAY to generous and kind to Seawind." Without paragraphs, the rest of your writing is WAAAY too hard on the eye's to read. It's a prototype, first build for all concerned, teething issues are a given, Tula are aware of this. Management can only trust staff & contractors are following correct procedures, can't stand next to them supervising all day. Seawind CEO, not just anyone, has acknowledge the issues 'publicly', on YT, show me another CEO who's done that. It's not a house they can simply send a tradie around to, it needs to be coordinated, suitable location, sufficient time allowance. If you have a spare magic wand I'm sure we'd all like a turn with it.
El año pasado compré un Aventura 44 ... y ahora mismo luego de cruzar el océano Atlántico ... me encuentro en Montevideo Uruguay ... viviendo en el catamarán... hasta ahora ningún problema a la vista... solo mantenimiento y limpieza regular
In fairness, while Seawind is a great brand, HH is in another league. Also, the Wynns were at the factory for final testing, sea trials, and acceptance.
To be honest, I thought Seawind was a bit more reputable. After seeing your and Nick and Terysa's troubles, it's obvious that they could use some perfectionists at their factories. If I was in charge of getting first hulls out, especially to youtubers, I'd make sure that _everything_ was in perfect condition and well tested before sending it out. Don't they realize that first hulls are the boats that prospective customers see at boat shows? At least they seem to be good with the warranty. Maybe in a few hulls they'll get it right, and hopefully this is more of a "Reality of a first hull" than a new boat.
Ruby Rose is hull #6or7 from a brand new production line built while the pandemic was still a thing! They like Tulsa are having many niggling problems part of their issue is where they are. Getting specific parts is an issue, several of RRs problems could have been solved in less than an hour with access to a big hardware or chandlers store! The Wynn's are having a better time of it because their boat was in a basin for a couple of weeks and the builder ran all of the systems in the water for a time.
@@jackdbur Ruby Rose is hull #2, many of the issues here and on RR2 appear to be new model rather than new boat issues. Production line not dialled in and fixing issues that looked good on paper, but not so good in reality. The fact that Seawind is being helpful in the warranty work speaks volumes, they understand that their boats are on display to the world and are putting effort into fixing the issues. Unlike some of the issues popping up with some of the other manufacturers. I would still buy a new Seawind (finances aside!), but I have no intention of looking at leopards or lagoons based on some of the pain I’ve seen their new owners go through dealing with their manufacturers.
"I'd make sure that everything was in perfect condition" Who said they didn't? CEO Richard even took it for a run, it was supposed to be his own boat. It was inspected & tested after it came off the ship, like anything, issues are discovered later.
@@Rodrifuuu How does that change what you wrote? You expect things to be "in perfect condition". Perhaps your like those SRR tossers, they would have whinged if the only issue was a finger print on a window when they took delivery
I wonder how accommodating and timely the boat manufacturer would be if you weren’t a UA-cam channel with over 200 thousand subscribers. It’s good that you are in that fortunate position.
Well, we haven’t bought a new boat, but we did buy a brand-new C-Class motorhome. It stayed at the dealer for warranty work for 6 months out of the first year and I’m not joking. Had a black tank that leaked from day one and it could not be changed out without cutting a section of the coach. Mfg. flew an engineer down to where it sat and it just went on and on. Had to also drive up to factory in Indiana to have the hole fiberglass nose replaced that is over the top of the cab. Said it had defects and gelcoat defects. That’s just two of the major things but there were a lot of others. That being said we hung in there got everything fixed over time and loved her. No one should have to go thru the things that new owners do for boats and rv’s. That’s why you buy new! I probably lost 5 years off my life from all of it. But boy you sure hear the stories. Hang in there. Hopefully everything will all be taken care of soon and it will just be stories to tell.
It's very disappointing to hear of these issues on a new boat. It certainly doesn't make a person gung ho to buy a new SeaWind. I'm glad you're getting a good response from the manufacture. Though I do think just who you are and your following really helps you in getting them to respond. I wonder just how well they'd respond to a normal buyer who does not have 225k people watching them on a weekly basis.
Love you guys and you are being way nicer to the manufacturer than most would be. You took delivery of a new boat and yes some minor items are expected but they let a boat out with failed GelCoat....what's wrong underneath?? The whole world now knows about it, you boats value was diminished the day they said come get it, you have not received what you contracted for or is expected in a new delivery. Get a professionals guidance quickly and put them on notice.
A friend's Catamaran, no manufacturers name mentioned, had delaminating bulkhead issues, the boat was two years old with a three year warranty. The original back a forth emails were sent seven months before the three year expiration but by the time they initiated repairs just after the three year expiration we were informed that the boat was out of warranty - Suffice to say a lawyers letter or three solved the problem - Go figure
I admire and respect your desire not to bash on Seawind and to not come across as overly critical. However, the lack of QC on the company’s part is reprehensible. Many of the problems you faced are completely unacceptable and are far beyond just an occasional and isolated issue. The cumulative issues are a sign that the company does not care enough to do it right the first time. You both have much more patience than most people.
They can't bash them because they still need Seawind to agree to fix that gel coat. When their boat is out of warranty I believe they'll let us know their true feelings on that company.
LoL! Your a nut job yea? QC was done, CEO Richard even took it for a run, was supposed to be his boat. It was then checked again after it came off the ship, & run up the coast. You can only check what you can see & hear, until there's a problem, which everything has at some point
@@Lana_Warwick I won’t resort to name calling as you did. I’ll just say that you’re clearly just making excuses for the company at this point. QC begins way before a check out sail. All of the listed issues that they clearly identified and showed us are examples of nothing less than shoddy workmanship.
@@sar4x474 Right... which indicates that you believe all the issues where "clearly identified", but ignored, prior to handover. Which clearly makes you??
@@Lana_Warwick I never said any such thing. You should do better. My point is that QC is not merely a function of completing the build and then inspecting it. It should be an element of every part of the build process.
We could all agree on the class of these two! Many of us have tagged along for many years. Living the dream vicariously with such lovable ambassadors. That being said, this boat is GARBAGE! I admire their tenacity and desire to be positive and keep pushing forward however, I’d get out of that LEMON before it’s too late!! Heave to and come about 🫶🏻
I have enjoyed watching your channel for years and your patience is quite admirable, but persistence in following up is absolutely necessary after spending a lot of money on a brand new boat. The quote I heard years ago, "everything on your boat is broken, you just don't know it yet," seems to ring true all too much....even on brand new boats. We continue to deal with warranty issues on our almost three year old power boat, but we are fortunate to have purchased from a very reputable dealer with an excellent service department. We are able to get good service locally here on the Chesapeake, but it was problematic when we were in Florida and the Bahamas this past winter. Unfortunately, boats are not like cars where you can find dealers conveniently located that are familiar with the product and provide appropriate service as you seem to be experiencing. This was actually one of our considerations when we were ready for a boat upgrade as we had experienced breakdowns in remote locations away from our normal cruising grounds and with the current shortage of marine service technicians, if you aren't a regular customer you may get moved to the bottom of the priority list. Best of luck with the getting everything resolved in a timely manner.
Dear Billy & Sierra,
Many thanks for posting this latest comment that will, I hope, help put this situation into some better perspective.
I am posting this comment to you both but also for your many TES followers who of course are following here closely. Firstly, I want to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the frustration and inconvenience you have experienced with number of warranty issues of this new Seawind. Even though this was the first boat of a brand new model & design, this level of warranty issues is totally unacceptable for everyone including, and especially, ourselves.
I personally test sailed this boat when first launched. The test sail was along 200 miles of unprotected coastal waters in 3 to 4 meter seas and with winds to over 30 knots. This test found a number of issues that needed attention, but none of these were structural issues. The boat sailed beautifully without even the slightest creak both upwind or downwind.
I believe these characteristics are in accord with your extensive sailing experiences on Laurie Sue and we have seen your delight in sailing her through your channel, demonstrating good sailing performance and structural integrity. Despite your many frustrations, I was very pleased to know you still believe you have made the right choice with your description of “the best 40ft and under sailing catamaran out there in terms comfort, functionality and sailing ability”.
As you know, 1170 Hull 1 was actually built for me personally but you both had waited long enough during covid 19 and I then made the decision to send this boat to you and then take a subsequent boat for myself. As I was involved in much of the testing of this boat to my satisfaction, I then felt this was a right thing to do. Obviously, I don’t think this now and I unreservedly apologize to you both.
However, I want to reassure you and your audience of the following important points:
• We will continue to provide full & total warranty support to ensure that “Laurie Sue” is as perfect as possible. This includes the deck non-slip which will be repaired to as new condition at a time convenient to you both.
• This boat was the first of a brand new design & model. It was developed during an unbelievably difficult Covid time. It does not reflect what any subsequent SW1170 buyer should expect.
• We have taken note of every issue and incorporated all the improvements into subsequent 1170s being built. We have re-surfaced the deck mold to ensure that subsequent SW1170’s are built to the same high standard that all Seawinds enjoy.
The Seawind 1170, from hull 3 onwards, is being built in our brand new Seawind facility in Izmir, Turkiye and I am personally taking delivery of the first SW1170 from this new production line. I’ve done this to ensure that we can completely test and experience the boat from the new factory. SW1170-03 will be extensively tested over thousands of sailing miles before 1170-04 is delivered. This new boat, along with a new SW1370, will be exhibited in Cannes in September.
Lastly, this experience has been of great concern to me and Seawind as a company. We are placing renewed importance on systems design & build quality for every aspect of every boat. We are strengthening our QA and inspection process, a process that starts on commencement of the production and proceeds through to every stage until launch.
I give you & everyone out there my full assurance that Seawind will always stand behind its product. We won’t always be 100% perfect, but we will strive to be.
With best regards to all
Richard Ward - CEO
Seawind Catamarans
Do you plan to post or provide updates on the condition and findings of the SW1170-03?
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
On boats, problems are inevitable. It is universally understood that issues may arise but the issues raised in this video are quality control issues. Your company faces a significant problem in Vietnam. Whether it's the first hull or the hundredth this is not the issue as you mention, the issue lies with the person or persons responsible for ensuring that each hull is properly equipped and in the promised condition. This is a human error, not a result of new design. It is concerning and disappointing. But glad to know that it’s not being built in Vietnam anymore..
I hope Richard Ward comes through for you guys. It would be nice if he fixed all the scratches caused by warranty workers also. Times like this gives companies an opportunity to demonstrate if they can be trusted and recommended to others. Personally, I would have completely lost my sh!t, if what has happened to you two, happened to me.
There’s been quite a lot of negativity in the comments below and we think many people took what we were trying to say a bit too far. Our sole intent with this video was to let people know a bit of what our realty has been with this new boat and to hopefully inform future new boat owners of what they may want to expect so that they are not caught off guard with the shake down period of a new boat.
No new boat is perfect and this is not the automobile industry with BILLIONS invested in manufacturing so it's not really a fair comparison because as good as production boat brands may get they will never be 100%. As many problems as there has been with our boat none of them have been major structural issues or anything that has prevented us from using the boat and going sailing. Seawind has been responsive in fixing the issues and paying for the expenses involved which is a whole lot more than some of the nightmare stories we have heard from most other production brands in the industry.
There are a number of reasons why we had so many fit-out and QC issues but at the end of the day we all know (Seawind included) that these are just excuses. Seawind promises to fix our last few remaining warranty items and have begun to plan proper nonskid panel replacements already. Additionally, future Seawind 1170's are being produced in Seawind's new 1170 factory in Turkey and we have high hopes that workmanship and QC will be greatly improved. Lastly, despite these warranty issues, we still love this boat and believe it is the best 40' and under sailing catamaran out there in terms of comfort, functionality, and sailing ability.
Dear Billy & Sierra,
Many thanks for posting this latest comment that will, I hope, help put this situation into some better perspective.
I am posting this comment to you both but also for your many TES followers who of course are following here closely. Firstly, I want to publicly acknowledge and apologize for the frustration and inconvenience you have experienced with number of warranty issues of this new Seawind. Even though this was the first boat of a brand new model & design, this level of warranty issues is totally unacceptable for everyone including, and especially, ourselves.
I personally test sailed this boat when first launched. The test sail was along 200 miles of unprotected coastal waters in 3 to 4 meter seas and with winds to over 30 knots. This test found a number of issues that needed attention, but none of these were structural issues. The boat sailed beautifully without even the slightest creak both upwind or downwind.
I believe these characteristics are in accord with your extensive sailing experiences on Laurie Sue and we have seen your delight in sailing her through your channel, demonstrating good sailing performance and structural integrity. Despite your many frustrations, I was very pleased to know you still believe you have made the right choice with your description of “the best 40ft and under sailing catamaran out there in terms comfort, functionality and sailing ability”.
As you know, 1170 Hull 1 was actually built for me personally but you both had waited long enough during covid 19 and I then made the decision to send this boat to you and then take a subsequent boat for myself. As I was involved in much of the testing of this boat to my satisfaction, I then felt this was a right thing to do. Obviously, I don’t think this now and I unreservedly apologize to you both.
However, I want to reassure you and your audience of the following important points:
• We will continue to provide full & total warranty support to ensure that “Laurie Sue” is as perfect as possible. This includes the deck non-slip which will be repaired to as new condition at a time convenient to you both.
• This boat was the first of a brand new design & model. It was developed during an unbelievably difficult Covid time. It does not reflect what any subsequent SW1170 buyer should expect.
• We have taken note of every issue and incorporated all the improvements into subsequent 1170s being built. We have re-surfaced the deck mold to ensure that subsequent SW1170’s are built to the same high standard that all Seawinds enjoy.
The Seawind 1170, from hull 3 onwards, is being built in our brand new Seawind facility in Izmir, Turkiye and I am personally taking delivery of the first SW1170 from this new production line. I’ve done this to ensure that we can completely test and experience the boat from the new factory. SW1170-03 will be extensively tested over thousands of sailing miles before 1170-04 is delivered. This new boat, along with a new SW1370, will be exhibited in Cannes in September.
Lastly, this experience has been of great concern to me and Seawind as a company. We are placing renewed importance on systems design & build quality for every aspect of every boat. We are strengthening our QA and inspection process, a process that starts on commencement of the production and proceeds through to every stage until launch.
I give you & everyone out there my full assurance that Seawind will always stand behind its product. We won’t always be 100% perfect, but we will strive to be.
With best regards to all
Richard Ward - CEO
Seawind Catamarans
@@SeawindCatamarans Amazing response from the CEO. I have been looking at the 1170 and 1260 with Steve at Finish Line in Stuart and seeing your professionalism and ability to work with the customer really sets Seawind apart!
@@SeawindCatamarans Solid response. I'll be taking a much closer look in Annapolis this fall. 1370 maybe, I just love a bulkhead steering position. Looking through windows is not my fav....
But would the average, none 226K subscribed UA-camr receive the same treatment. I am in the market for an RV and it seems the amount of problems are no different, a large amount of new units are in the shop right after purchase for trivial things that were only due to careless construction.
Just watched latest vid. Never commented last week, kinda surprised it's turned into such a big thing, but that's the internet.
However, props to Richard, how many CEOs do you see responding 'publicly' to a UA-cam. Many new boat owners can barely get a phone call response.
I considered 'most' of the issues demonstrated minor, like a new house or RV, vs what other brand owners are currently experiencing, many unknown due to not all being content creators.
However like most things, a few bad apples puts the whole industry under the microscope of judgment, and unlike the heavily regulated automotive industry (more-so than home building in Au), marine remains pretty much unchecked, self regulated, for now.
Atm, even in Australia, 'anyone' can claim to be a boat builder, put one together in their back yard, register it without inspection, wave off purchasers as they head off across an ocean. No regulation.
Perhaps that's something reputable boat builders could team up for, campaign for change, to protect their industry.
However, rather than trusting 100s of governments/staff internationally to police it, perhaps insurance companies offer discounts, or charge a much higher premium, for boats over a certain size, value, not built by reputable approved builders. Maybe there's other ways 🤷♀
The main thing that stood out for me in this vid was the patches on the non-slip. Be like paint not matched correctly on a new car after being damaged, who'd want to look at that everyday.
Should be a complete strip>replace imo. Inconvenient, however maybe Tula could demonstrate another model on their channel while Laurie Sue is out of commission for repairs. Would demonstrate good faith & marketing for Seawind.
I purchased a new Lagoon 400S2 catamaran and had no warranty issues at all.
I believe that my dealer was the difference, the first 6 years was a wonderful honeymoon.
Everything worked, nothing broke.
All my pumps are now 10 years old and still going strong, I have 43,000 nautical miles and have just completed my first major refit.
purch price?
Well, that is some positive news on a depressing subject, I am glad to hear it.
Same with me with a 42
After watching Sailing Parlay, wonder what the bulkheads are like. No new build has no issues. Getting good tradies who are passionate about their work, not just a job, has also become a big issue
@@Lana_Warwickwhat position exactly do you hold in this company. Everywhere I look its you praising them and making excuses for their shoddy workmanship.
Billy and Sierra y’all stand your ground. Document and take pictures of every single thing from the very smallest to the largest. Little problems if not remedied immediately can lead to bigger issues. I have always found even up to today, if you put off something being repaired that you have paid for, everyone takes advantage of you and a lot will say forget about you and move on to another job or taking someone else’s money on a new job. The boat should have never left the factory with any leaks whatsoever. Be polite always but be firm on getting fixed what should have never been broken in the first place. Keep records, dates and times of calls, conversations, personal meetings, etc. 👍😎🙏🏼😎✌️
I love when Billy is talking and Sierra is just sitting there with her half smile or smirk. All I can think of is I’m Ricky Bobby and I’m not sure what to do with my hands but for her it’s her awesome grin!
Ruby Rose 2 had had a bad time with their SeaWind too and they were at the factory the whole time.
Guys, you are both so positive, constructive and admirable!! We have been through a similar journey with our Seawind 1600 Womble (delivered in Miami) which we have been living aboard and ocean sailing for 3 years now. Our warranty work was carried out in various islands across the Pacific and in New Zealand. The most frustrating thing is the loss of time but Seawind have been and continue to be constantly supportive in supplying people (big shout out to Paul here!) or upgraded equipment when needed. However, Womble is now dialled in and is a very robust and reliable blue water cruiser, but it was a year plus journey to hone her into what she is today. I think your video is a really authentic view of the time it takes to bed in a new boat for live-aboard cruisers who intend to use their boats to explore and adventure. New Owners must ensure they are buying a brand that has a proven history of supporting their customers. We have met too many boat owners who have had a really tough time getting warranty work sorted out.
Well said. Everything has issues, it's how the supplier responds, which Seawind has & will, unlike others who don't respond to calls or emails
Billy and Sierra, as a three-time Seawind owner and two-time new Seawind buyer we relate and agree with much of what you say. We purchased hull #13 (our first new boat) and hull #64 Seawind 1260.
Though you make many great points here’s where we agree with the most:
1. New boat buyers will benefit greatly from your lessons learned - you’re spot on. Cut yourself some slack. Like you, we didn’t have a Tula’s video to help cage our new boat buying expectations. You are doing well and your vid will help many future buyers.
2. Though sometimes not as fast as desired, Seawind backs-up its product and sticks with the warranty process until the job is done. As we talk with other cruisers we find this is not always true of all manufacturers.
Our current Seawind 1260 was delivered relatively problem free. We now have 8 months of full- time cruising and the few small warranty issues were tackled quickly and were mostly third-party component issues. I believe this was due to a seasoned and experienced 1260 production team and the fact we did many of the things you suggest of a new boat buyer.
Bottom line - I’m so happy that you’re fellow Seawind owners and confident you will soon have these new boat issues behind you. Looking forward to sharing an anchorage!
I found this post both informative and reassuring, at least compared to the other more emotive and presumptuous posts, thank you. We have a 1170 on order and will undertake factory inspections closer to completion, and will check carefully those points raised in the vid.. cheers
Well said
@@davidcain3063 New or used has issues, Seawind can't do much about 3rd party products having issues, sourcing good vs great labour, the latter harder to come by, or issues 12 months after bashing swells, but Richard stands by his desire for customer/brand satisfaction, albeit sometimes tougher to provide immediate service, vs a house warranty issue down the road.
You guys were more than thoughtful in how you discussed the warranty issues. I have been blown away after watching other owners of other brands of cats discuss the absolutely atrocious build quality of the boats they spent $750k - well over $1milion on. In many cases the problems are structural and / or of such significance the boats are barely usable and the owners find themselves in years of ugly battles with the builder and warranty folks. It boggles my mind that these companies cannot correctly pay employees, manage employees, train employees well enough to build their boats so that multi-page warranty lists are no longer an issue. A boat builder selling million dollar boats cannot put non-skid properly on - in a clean, controlled environment with materials readily available...but folks here in a dirty, remote boat yard in the Sea of Cortez and others like it around the world can do it properly even though they have never done it before?? WTF. The trauma boat companies put their clients through is endless. A shakedown period should not involve faulty paint and floors (or the other 6 pages of repairs). One might expect a few glitches with third party systems etc. . And I agree with the comment below... to put you in harms way by using the wrong gasket material is quite unbelievable. Maybe if they charged $3mil for the boat they would do it right?
You do not come across as negative or unappreciative. I appreciate the straight talk. Love your videos. Keep up the good work.
This one reminds me of houses I’ve owned, equipment I’ve bought for the company that I work for. The best fabricators in the world are not perfect. How they respond to the issues is what matters in the end.
Exactly! Not surprising this comment only has 7 likes, vs the negative toxic ones with a few hundred 👍
A lifetime boater’s one piece of advice to me was, Never buy a brand new boat, always let somebody else figure out all the flaws. Boats unlike cars are built one at a time and at that pace there is very little chance that the builder can ever get good enough to build it flawless the first time. Love the Channel, give Jetty a hug for me. 💓
Yet still many issues with used, anything, especially when not disclosed by previous owner. However, could strip one down fully, replace every component with new, still problems
Are you joking? Y’all keep referring to these issues as ‘little’. A incorrect gasket material disintegrating and clogging the fuel system is not a little thing. You two are being very gracious and patient. As a two time new boat owner I feel your pain. Good luck in the future 👍
Like any house, RV, etc, there are always going to be post build issues. Whilst inconvenient, inferior gasket material seems minor compared to what other new boat owners are experiencing, and can barely get a phone response from builders, vs Seawind CEO 'publicly" responding to this video.
Show me another CEO who's done that.
@@Lana_Warwick Right. Tell that to the poor soul who slams into the fuel dock because his engine/engines stalled due to fuel filter blockage and they can't reverse their engine/engines. Or their engines stall while they are trying to ride out a storm. No big deal.
@@ulhpilot7757 Crash into a dock hard enough to cause damage says more about the skipper. Likewise relying on engines to ride out a storm in a 'Sail' boat.
However, please share your awareness of any brand/model, that has no issues.
@@Lana_Warwick Believe it or not sailboats actually have engines. Or you think they sail into their slips under wind power? Did you even watch this video and hear how much danger they were in when they lost engine power?
@@ulhpilot7757 WoW! Thanks for that, I'll be buggered, never knew what that thing in my boat was for.
Sooo much danger, I have no idea how they survived it. Ya think maybe because they know how to sail?
They were more about why, vs OMG! were gunna die...
You guys are being much kinder than I could have been. Brutal.
Good video. This is really valuable and essential information. The Leak Test is brilliant advice. Should be done at the factory where they can quickly fix problems. (The factory has a lot of stuff in the air. I got a piece of fiberglass in my eye that wasn't removed until Tokyo. Bring wrap around safety googles and wear at least an N95 mask. )
Last year I sailed as crew on a new Seawind 1260. Terrific boat. Almost everyday we fixed something (and broke a few things...) Halfway across the Pacific the owner commented that he figured this three month 7500 nM trip reduced the value of his boat by $50k. Seemed reasonable.
By the time we got to Canada we'd sorted out many things. The owners took it to a boatyard for $25K of fixes and upgrades. (There were deck leaks that happened in the factory. All the screws and stanchions were in place, the rub rail looked the same on both sides, but there were numerous leaks in some of these. I can complain about a lot of things, but bottom line, Seawind makes really good boats. )
When I later visited my friends on their boat in Santa Barbara, the boat was in great shape, all the bugs were gone. In addition, because of the Lagoon bulkhead issues, I had carefully noted in Vietnam multiple things that if there was any movement I'd have a baseline to check against. We spent a lot of time in 3 meter seas. Everything structural on the boat was still exactly where it had been in Vietnam. Structurally sound, amazingly well engineered and built.
So I now disagree with the owner (and I'm sure he'd now agree with me.) I'd happily pay an additional $50k or more, for that boat with 10,000 nM on it, over a brand new one. Possible rule of thumb? A year old boat with 'new boat issues resolved' is probably worth +10% over a brand new one, even if it now has 10,000 nM under the keels.
And I'll go on. I think if I got a brand new boat I would triple check all the rigging. Figure out the chafe points (there will always be chaffing.) Make sure I had two spares for the longest strongest lines. I'd run all lines completely through the clutches (and then replace any that were not Spinlock.) I'd run messenger lines through all the wiring and rigging -- especially the reefs that run through the boom. Leave them in place but out of the way. Messenger lines need to be more than double the length of the run. This way you can pull almost all the line back to where you''ll pull the line/wire from, tie on (use lots of electrical tape and lube.) When you pull the line/cable through the messenger line will still be in place so you don't have to pull a new one through. (Instead of 'Messenger' lines they should be called 'Shuttle' lines.) ( A label maker would also be great. Another young couple made a video on installing a NMEA 2000 network. They labeled everything. On my boat I've got wires, hoses, messenger lines everywhere. Mostly I'm working alone. I can't see if something moves when I tug on the other end. Labels would really help.
Also notes. Put some notes in place. Laminate them write them with paint markers in the place... )
Mid ocean, I had to figure out how to re run a parted 3rd reef through the boom -- I don't think many could. (I'm who gets called when the 'real guys' can't figure something out.) I brought on board a lot of paracord. I wish I had a 50' fish tape. I was also on top of the dodger in >30 knot winds tying the temporary 3rd reef at the end of the boom. (Wasn't dangerous, but I knew what I was doing. No matter how tight the main is, that boom is either a nudge or a violent kick.) More information on chaffing, and messenger lines might've avoided this, or made it easier.
& Keep your gelcoat. Insist they fix it. Flexiteak is nice, but is incredibly heavy and heats up a lot in the sun.
I watch your channel because you are always fresh and honest and your living life style is true. It is nice to see how each of you have assumed your roles. Keep doing what you’re doing.
The small stuff adds up!! This was not negative at all it is just reality.
You just save a lot people from a ton of grief.
How?
I never understood how people have to apologize for making videos complaining about the quality of their boat. The amount of money you guys paid for that new boat, everything should be perfect. The gelcoat problem is mind-blowing to me. That is going to be such a bigger problem in the future. In any case, stop apologizing and saying how lucky you are to be in that situation. You guys probably worked your asses off to get to that point and you deserve it.
That gel coat will always be an issue
"everything should be perfect" Is that how life is for you with everything you purchase. I'm sure Seawind will sort it all out, unlike other builders who don't even return hone calls
@@Lana_Warwick
Almost everything I purchase I expect to be perfect. I just bought a car, I expect it to be perfect, I just bought a hot water heater, I expect it to be perfect, I just bought a new laptop, I expect it to be perfect. I honestly don't understand your comment.
@@Phil-nv8wo I don't understand your comment, you illiterately said "Almost", which is Reality vs "Expectations". Not everything we purchase is "Perfect", sometimes we have to return it, or contact the manufacture direct. Some respond with satisfaction, others don't, being the point of my post
You both are humble hard-working individuals. You both have so much integrity. I really appreciate that you not painting a all rainbows and sunshine Instagram viewpoint. That is why I have a lot of respect for both of you you are very real individuals dealing with real life issues. Even though You bought a beautiful boat, there are still issues with said boat I just like how you're honest and upfront about everything❤ I think it makes you both and your lifestyle and is sailing the world you still are down to earth people. I'm so happy that the warranty work is moving forward when you make such a large purchase you need to have that work guaranteed and I don't think you are being ungrateful or anything like that I think that you're being open about things and that is so important especially in this world we're living in you both have worked so hard to get to this place in life and it is so exciting and fun to watch you both in your videos. Thank you for always making awesome beautiful shows and including us and what you're doing
Well done for producing this video in such a considered and nuanced way. Boats can be very simple to build but that is a rarity these days and when you consider there is a plethora of systems and ‘leisure’ facilities competing for space and attention. You can only achieve a quality build if you have quality people building it - rectifying the foul ups afterwards does not produce quality. However, what is important is the vendors response to sorting it all out. We know some who are quite frankly fraudulent.
Well said! Disappointing how similar comments only get a few likes, vs toxic ones getting hundreds. "if you have quality people building it" finding tradies passionate about their craft is a challenge for every business owner
Seawind is fortunate to have you both as customers. I admire the respect you've shown! Love your videos!
I’m guessing Seawind are regretting such visible customers, including Ruby Rose
@@Corey-pd3mi Why? It's great marketing, no such thing as negative marketing. Unlike toxic side of internet, most people are realists that nothing is perfect in life, there are issues with new or used, it's how the supplier responds that makes the difference
⛵⛵TRUTH IS NEVER NEGATIVE...you're calling as it is...good...bad...or other. Rock on!
Honestly is not only the best policy but in your case adds credibility. Remembering your keel was laid during COVID and if it were a motorhome, fifth wheel, or travel trailer your list would be twice as long and wait time, five times, if you're lucky. I went from boating to RVing. I went from a "Break Out Another Thousand" to a "Repairs Vary".
Your warranty is soo much better than the RV industry's "Prove we did it", and when you send pictures, they say "it doesn't prove anything".
You are very lucky.
You are so positive and realistic and this would be something that new boat owners should know going in to the purchase. We went through stuff on our new cat (different manufacturer).
I really appreciate your frankness. Your perspective, as well as other channels, brings me to the conclusion that building it myself is a better option. The time it takes waiting for a new build from a company is about the same amount of time it would take me to build my own. You have given some very useful info and I want to say thank you !
That's your take from this? Wow. It seems such a challenge and high chance of failure. But it is done, good on you.
that was a great video you guys! Thank you. I’m old and retired now now. I’m probably never have a boat again unfortunately. But I was very fortunate that most of my life. I did have a boat. However, all those boats I bought were old boats and they had a lot of trouble too, but you didn’t have the factory to go ask for help. you just got out the toolbox and went and fixed it, and paid for the repairs. Thanks again for the wonderful video. I’d love to meet you guys sometime. Take care.
For what things cost . Everything should be good to go so don’t feel bad they should fix them . And it’s great that they are . Keep up the good work Lv you guys . Jeff from Michigan
I know your intent isn’t to blast the manufacturer, and I totally understand how it probably feels from the manufacturer’s perspective, having this many issues on a boat that gets a lot of public attention. That being said, I’d have a hard time not being pretty PO’d. You’re the second channel that I’ve run into lately that recently took position of a new sailing cat that is having a ton of warranty issues. Makes me not really ever want to buy a new boat, I have less issues fixing a used 25 year old, low end boat that was ridden hard and put up wet.
Thanks for sharing. Knowing you were hull #1 of a new design, I think you are right to expect some issues. Seawind does a great job of supporting their customers. We were really lucky with our 1160, delivered 7 years ago. We had zero warranty issues to deal with, so I know once Seawind gets the production issues ironed out on the 1170, future hulls will be solid as well. Keep up the good attitude and enjoy your adventures.
As a builder walk thrus are critical prior to taking possession of the product but thank god you guys are so talented in doing a lot of the issues yourself which will relax a lot of the frustrations and allow you to still have fun and live a somewhat normal boating life! ❤❤❤ jetty !!
Yes, but then a few months down the track you become aware the shower membrane hasn't been applied properly, or at all. Just one example.
QC was done right through, incl their first trip after receiving it.
WOW!!!!!!!!! You guys are way to forgiving. How much did you spend on your boat???? I don't know....but I could imagine. You say you're not worried about structural problems, but there are a ton of problems already. Flooring & deck gel coat delamination is not a small problem IMHO, sorry. You'll keep saying the boat -Seawell, or Sea-something is well respected- quality Cat....I wouldn't be sure of that at all. When you're out in the middle of the ocean when a storm hits, that boat is your home & your lifeline!!! Good Luck & fair sailing.
i think you guys did a great job of shedding honest light on the challenges of a new boat purchase, and at the same time, promoting seawind as a reputable company…i can see how this may also make purchasing a pre owned late model seawind a very attractive option…
i am very impressed by the experience i’ve personally had aboard a friend’s 1000xl…it is a much more simple boat than yours with its open bridge deck design…it’s a very comfortable settee area with canvas top , dodger, and side panels …
just to make an observation about cruising performance…it appears that this boat is more weight sensitive than a typical cruising cat, and when outfitted for long distance cruising, the performance is considerably less than what was expected…we’ve gotten her to 10 knots in ideal conditions, which isn’t bad considering , but this seems to be its limit…i also wonder if this boat is designed to handle the heavier flex over time…seawind does not promote this model as a long distance, open water cruising yacht, and perhaps this is why…
Thanks guys. Love your honesty and patience. It’s amazing how your viewers bash big boat and RV manufacturer’s quality control…come on…they are putting together a whole “house” of stuff….appliances, sinks, pumps, electronics , etc, etc and then drive it down a bumpy road or sail down a 6’ wave and expect nothing to fail??? How can anyone control that, you just got to get out there and use it, experience it and then deal with the problems. You guys are perfect examples of how to DEAL with it. Congrats 💪💪
We bought a new Cat during Covid. Our Boat Manufacturer, St. Francis, was amazing. They are a boutique builder in South Africa, but they followed up on everything without question. We really only had a few issues. We had a leak with our Generator and the CEO sent an email to the Generator Manufacturer, who tried to blow us off fixing it under warranty telling them that if they treated their customers like that, they would have to rethink future business relationships. They had a guy out right away. We were impressed. Also, they sprayed water on the windows and hatches prior to her leaving the yard to look for leaks.
You may be able to fix those wood imperfections with a stain pen from Home Depot, but try in an unobtrusive place first. You have a beautiful boat.
You get what you pay for
Hi again, I totally get it. Brand new land based new homes go through similar trials and refits and must be nit-picked to death sometimes in order to get customer satisfaction. You'd be surprised the things that professional contractors miss, or buger up, and everything is put on a punch list for them to fix. New boats are no different, unfortunately. Great video, and be safe always from the Philippines.
Great video !
as Far as Refrigerators go the Main reason they Won't cool quickly is Heat / Lack of Ventilation.
You CANNOT expect a Refrigerator to Work if You stick it in a Hole without Ventilation / air flow across the Condenser. ( The part in the back that looks like a radiator ) it turns the hot gas from the compressor into a cool liquid to feed the metering device to provide cooling.
This is the Number one reason for failure of a Refrigerator to cool.
Thier is an Easy way to see if this is your problem. Take the Refrigerator out of the hole and plug it in while it's in open air. if all works well. you know it's a Ventilation issue.
Air must enter the Condenser---the cooler the air the better. ideally 80 degrees or Less. Maximum 104 degrees Entering condenser & Heat Must leave that area. Air Flow - Cool air in - Hot air out and away.
if You are going to Use the Boat in Extremely Hot Weather You May want to think about Pulling cool air from Below the Water Line to Ventilate the Refrigerator compartment.
I hope the two of you can fully appreciate what an incredible job YOU do on your boat resurrection/restorations. I see it !
You guys are very patient. I feel for you having to deal with such a multitude of issues. Hang in there.
Myself ,easily said then done i would have sent the boat 🚢 back, and when it is 💯 %done and dusted i would accept the boat back, like when we bought our first home we would visit the site often, anything not looking good we would point it out, then when we moved in we get a snag list of things that need looking at, worth it in the long term, we only had three minor issues. GOOD LUCK to you both and God bless you 🙏 both. Safe travels 🙏 💕. FROM IRELAND 🇮🇪 ♥️. 😢 😮 😢 .
I have a cousin who purchased a new boat last year. He is going through the same processes. I suspect manufacturers are still coming off the COVID times, where you couldn't get help, or the help you could was substandard...and that went for all the component suppliers, etc...but that mess should be working its' way out of the supply chain by now.
You two are smart and very aware when it comes to issues...a LOT of people are not on top of things.
We purchased a new RV last year, a 40 Ft fifth wheel Toy hauler. We have been doing the RV thing for 40 years, this is our 7th unit.
We bought from a dealer where I have a close friend in the Senior service Technician. Once the deposit was paid he took it into Pre Delivery Inspection and it spent over a week there as he went through every system and fixed everything that was wrong. I knew when we hooked up to it it was right, and it has been flawless since. Billy and Sierra are right...the Pre Delivery inspection is a HUGE issue with any of these big purchases. Take the time, whatever it takes
Hi Guys, Don't feel bad for bringing this up - it's important for people to know what will happen when they get a new boat. No one wants to talk about it really. We have a 1260 that was built during Covid, which we think led to most of the issues we experienced. The biggest things (other than replacing all the fixtures that were damaged during shipping when the boat froze), was a faulty electric winch/motor, the fact that the windows weren't completly installed before shipping and significant gel coat cracking. Most of it was repaired under warranty. Seawind and our Broker were fantastic to work with, but it did take like a year to get everything done. Sadly, the gel coat cracking continues in various places, although we did get a lot of it repaired under warranty. Like you guys, when we bought the new boat, we certainly didn't expect to have so much work to do after receiving it. Thanks for being open about your experience.
Curious if you've advised Seawind of the continual gel coat cracking?
I love your videos and how positive you are in spite of all the issues you have encountered. Having spent a good number of my working years in construction where QA&QC was incredibly important I am starting to suspect is sadly missing with Sea Wind. I have heard of other Sea Wind owners of new boats encountering similar problems. Very unfortunate this has happened to you❤️❤️
You are too forgiving. It's not like It was a cheap purchase. The odd problem can occur, but the number of problems that are happening with Seawind in particular is astounding. This is clearly a Quality Control issue. And your not the only one (see Sailing Ruby Rose II). Seriously Seawind, simply not good enough.
I was looking at purchasing a 1600 Passagemaker new about 2 years ago, I was at the point of contacting Seawind to arrange a factory Visit, but I had some financial delays (still sorting that out now). Now I'm thankful for the delays on my end at the time. I'm also now looking at another boat entirely, at least in part due to the issues Seawind are clearly having at the moment, but I will say that the QC Seawind are currently experiencing are not the only reason for my change of heart. Some of my ideas of what my ideal boat is have changed somewhat.
Guys, all the best with your new boat. Hope everything is sorted soon and you can start actually enjoying your new boat soon. All the best with your future sailing and thanks for the update.
SRR would whinge if the only issue was a finger print on a window when they took delivery.
QC was done, CEO Richard even took it for a run, was supposed to be his boat. It was then checked again after it came off the ship, & run up the coast. You can only check what you can see & hear, until there's a problem, which everything has at some point.
You're so patient.
Some of the issues with manufacturing today is we have lost the connection to traditional tried and true practices and materials. A good example is your flooring, the laminate and adhesive is probably not the same as it was just a year or two ago, it’s being sourced from different places all the time. Another great example is electronics where components, programming and communication protocols are changing every 6 months.
At the rate your going the deck will never ever look homogenous, consider having them prep the whole deck and paint it and use Awlgrip or some such nonskid. With all these ”minor” problems are you sure you have no potential structural issues. Cheers and good luck with all this.
Can give staff the best of any product to install/apply, but if their not passionate about what their doing... That's the tradition that's been lost imo.
Easy to get good staff, Hard to get great staff
The Gel Coat issue is very concerning. Recall all of the Blister Hulls in the late 60s and 70s so hope it gets resolved
You both do amazing work fixing up boats. You know the only way to fix the gel coat problem is to completely sand the top down and redo it. If you let them get by with patch after patch, you will be sanding it and fixing on your own after the warranty is out. I hope you get it all worked out.
SO, Yup, I got a new boat . . . . . . by following you and living your issues vicariously ! ! Did not cost me money only time to watch your videos . . . and like & subscribe . . . . . OH & I do like my Tula's thermos I got some time ago from your store. Take care, rh
Thank you for bringing realism to new boat buying. We are building, but diy, and even as we go, we find stuff that wasn't done well by the boat building school that got the boat to 80% done.
Great video! Very fair, honest and informative.
Im sure you have seen Travel Sketch who have been on the hard for 450 days getting warranty work done on their new leopard. You have every right to point out every flaw for warranty as you bought a new boat that is supposed to be ready to go.
How was it not "ready to go"?
Hey guys, love your channel ....from what I see it doesn't matter which manufacturer you go with, THERE WILL BE ISSUES. Your suggestion of "Go to the factory" is the best way to reduce, "Not overcome" all problems and the best way to deal with this. After all these are hand made products, and with so many individual systems, and hand made work, there is bound to be a plethora of issues. Many of these are STILL only going to be found in time, while you are testing out the boat in real life conditions. Don't forget, you have all the wonderful life experiences to offset the problems.
You are very patient.
Hi guys, its Gino and Carolyn on Dolce, a 2023 Seawind 1260. Sorry to hear of all your problems. Our experience has been very different, we’ve had almost no warranty issues (knock on wood).
A big part of your problem we believe may be that you have one of the very first hulls of this new model. Its basically a prototype and you’re the beta testers.
From speaking to owners of early 1260s, they were also plagued with warranty issues.
I’m not convinced flying to Vietnam with the expense and huge carbon output is the best solution. People would be much better off buying a model from a company with a good track record (we think Seawind is good), a hull number at least above 10, and then inspect thoroughly before you sign off on the delivery. Just our two cents. Good luck with the repairs and we look forward to seeing you out there.
Jets are going to fly with or without you would not being adding any carbon output you may even being adding more with the traveling involved for repairs.
You are kidding right?
Odd they forgot to mention that very key point. Doesn't explain many of these problems like gel coat, but it does usually include teething issues.
Terrible take. “You’re the beta testers” more like guinea pigs paying full price
@@56Spookdog interesting logic. Are you saying we should all fly more? This is known in economics as the “Tragedy of the Commons.” An individual’s actions may have no affect, but if many do the same thing it has an enormous impact.
I am not a sailor but do travel with an Off Road Travel trailer. Like you I expected it to be for the most part ready to roll. Well I have since learned that was not really the case. Things break, it was a new model and some of the details turned out to not be a good idea but can be changes. We have done a lot of camping but have lost many camping trips due to delays from supplier or service centers. At the time I purchased it it was the only travel trailer that ticked off all of the boxes for my wife and therefor me also. Even today it is still the best model for our use. Buying a used rig if available has many good points and hopefully the first owners have worked out the bugs already.
You may have been Hull#1 but I think your within your right to be frustrated because most of the things you touched on are not design issues but things that are used on every Seawind. I also didn't see this as an attack on Seawind but quite the opposite. I have an 1170 heading my way but I did make a conscious decision not to be one of the early builds on a new model. Raising the issues you find will only make my boat better and allow me to ask better questions👍👍. I also think your idea to try and go over your boat at the factory is a good one. I have also noted on another youtube channel they had the factory to do a live stream walk through before sending because they couldn't get there. It might not pickup on everything but a good second option I thought.
Totally agree with the factory time - just like a home remodel (same thing really) you need to be there, be involved and work through everything - it's part of the experience and you get out what you put in :)
"you get out what you put in"
They put in money? That they sacrificed time to earn. And now you think the boat yard should get both their money and their time? I have a bridge you might be interested in.
Clever video! Share the problems that many new boats have in a positive way, while keeping the pressure on Seawind to sort through these issues. I think you nailed it 👏
Great video. My fiancé and I are highly considering a Seawind and glad to hear about their responsiveness. A little disappointing on the dissimilar materials though and gelcoat.
Great comments. I still think you guys have more patience than I
Love watching you guys , I look forward to watching all of the episodes
Thanks for the update on purchasing a new boat! Gonna downsize my new order to a ROW boat😂
Well - what I heard from production boats - you are still one of the lucky ones. Seawind responses, others brands do not or they decline everything.
Want to remind to the beginning of "Cheeky Monkey" - If I remember correctly, their warranty journey was more than 6 month in the delivery harbor.
"Checking in the factory" - sorry that I'm sarcastically laughing. Most firms will not accept you inside a mile around their yard.
I've done epoxy floors for over 20 years now.. what they are telling you is absolutely the truth.. its bad bonding. The worse part is that none of the patches will ever match..
That beautiful factory nonskid is gone, never to return.
Thats a biggie, dont let them off at all!
@wstadlock definitely a big bill! They need to remove it all and start from scratch
Same experience. They told us that a boat was for fun and we did not need to stress all the time😮. We kept the boat 12 years and we spent the same amount as the purchase price in reparing, improving in order to make sure the defaults would not come back. You cannot imagine all what we had to do and spend to keep the boat fit. For instance, from the beginning the cupboards kept opening even though carefully closed before on sea. Solution from the builder : he knew the lockers were weak and… he sent us a whole box of them so that we could replace them from time to time… but… by keeping the boat carefully maintained, after 12 years, we were able to sell it at the same price we bought it. The broker said it was as new. We had to struggle all the time to get and keep it like that. I was completely disgusted and each time we went on board, i was expecting a problem to occur… last but not least, i know australians who bought a uge oyster yacht, i let you imagine the price…, they leave england direction spain for their first trip. On the way, the toilets were not properly connected and the bathroom was full with what you can guess. And that is a boat that undergoes all imaginable quality controls before leaving the yard…
Thanks for the info about how manufacturers warranty new boats!
I watched another youtuber take delivery of a new power boat and they struggled with some quality issues from the factory and damage from transportation. They had to go through and note everything that needed to be fixed. Luckily, the dealer did all of the work onsite.
Wow! Thank you for sharing your experience and insight. My question is, which manufacturer have the least warranty issue. Going too make you think twice before purchasing.
I had the same issues when buying a new power boat, QC is terrible nowadays even on big brand name boats.
I dont understand this because it cost them SO MUCH MORE to fix out in the wild than right there at the factory, also if you are identifying the same issue over and over you can fix your production method to not have the issue in the first place.
The only thing i can think of is they hope ppl dont find the issue or just live w most of them.
Seriously a $550k-1.4 million dollar boat should AT LEAST not have leaking windows, yet i see video after video of that now a days.
This is normal from what I have seen. The fact that the warranty work is getting done and on a good schedule for you is Amazing. It is expected to have to keep on it to get things done, as you have to remember that their focus is getting new boats out, and that means things move slower.
You have to keep in mind that as no1 boat, it's a prototype. From paper to full-scale boat.
There are always going to be a few problems
Some may be seawinds fault, some not.
Seawind is not responsible for items manufactured by other companies.
They are the meat in the sandwich. They go to their supplier to attempt to resolve the problem. They have to wait. If seawind made errors in installing then you can blame seawind.
The delay could be seawind is waiting for the supplier to reply to them.
Well said! disappointing comments like this get few likes, while the bashing ones get hundreds
Awesome Video 5 Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Diplomatic and tactful 👍 am seeing more and more videos like this. Warranty work taking a year or two before completed. Manufacturers ought to be ashamed but people keep buying their boats....????? What to do.....??????
Well I'm disappointed to see the problems but not unexpected from what I see every day. The new boats are built to a cost and shortcuts are common place. Most owners are unaware of the problems and don't actually find them in the warranty period.
There's one thing to have cosmetic issues but structural failure is very dangerous. Good luck and whatever you do fix it properly and test it. Do not set off on a long passage unless you're hammered that boat many times close to rescue. Btw that was my career, rescue now boat management / maintenance. Good luck!
225,000 subscribers,, you’ll definitely get everything covered….with this happening to a lot of others, regardless of the manufacturer, i highly doubt they will get the same warranty, customer service… subs talk…this video alone, will apply the pressure for them to respond faster, and do it right, sooner rather than later…good job, wish we all were in your position, sub wise
same with new Motorhomes and even houses. Apparently it all very difficult to do quality checks.. which in the end is very expensive for manufacture and customer. Its great to have good customer service but at some stage its just to much. we have an 8 year old motorhome and we are still fixing things. luckily the manufacturer honers their warranties but still very annoying to lose your home 3 month because the walls have the wrong foam chemistry and need to be replaced. Yes still very happy with the MH like you with your boat.
Wow that’s really sad for y’all to have to go through all this on a brand new boat! Good luck 🍀
Seawind sounds like much better experience than other manufacturers I've heard about who are more accustomed to the charter market and buyers of fleets of boats. They expect the fleet owner to deal with 90% of this stuff so the infrequent solo buyer is unimportant to them.
It seems like warranty issues are more prevalent today then in years past. I've owned a few new "quality" boats in my past and the most recent purchase in 2019 had a lot of gelcoat issues. Spent frustrated days dealing with scheduling. When they did finally do the work it was just ok workmanship and caused additional cosmetic damage. I finally gave up dealing with them and did the follow up repairs myself !
Yup got to go see what you are buying. Live and learn
I do see a lot more issues with Seawind. I think they truly need another sea trial before giving to customer. I also see even small things like cleaning out water tanks properly before adding water and running system. The HH44 doesn't have nearly as many issues as I am seeing because they do more sea trials and do not skimp on things like rubber gaskets. Sure Things will act up with equipment but I must say Seawind needs a better quality inspector person and team. I also now see why you want to buy a new boat with serial numbers higher than 10 so all the items are fixed and done right. Seawind will get there but they are behind the top ones like Balance and HH.
Happens to all of them… Neel has major issues, there was a delivery-mileage Catana hauled out for a full bottom job, a Kinetic was in appalling state in Grenada. Don’t even get me started on the Lagoon 450s, or other mass produced models…
Being where they are & having their own basin is a huge plus for HH. Seawind being where they are is a bit of a negative for getting some things. Then there is the huge price jump from a seawind to a HH ! Non of Tusals or RRs issues are serious unlike some other Brands that start with a "L" !
@@jackdbur Simple things like cleaning out water tanks of micro particles from sanding and not gluing tiles down right. That is quality control.
@@PN_48 Look at which brands are cutting corners. I do not think Seawind are cutting corners on purpose they just need better quality control but yes some are in it only for profit.
I’d have Seawind sand off the non-skid and make them put in a lightweight, attractive decking. The gelcoat problems will keep getting worse, the fixes won’t look good. I’d also suggest getting some compensation to help pay to replace the decking when it needs to be replaced in 6-8 years. My two cents.
You’re lucky have you seen the leopard and the Neel issues. There’s several channels documenting these problems.
You guys are being WAAAY to generous and kind to Seawind. Kudos for some of your points, such as going to the factory at least once for a pre-acceptance inspection. But having owned and operated many boats, including new, this boat ranks pretty low on my shoddy construction meter! Unfortunately, many of the issues you are having reflect directly on the factory, both in design, materials selection, fabrication/installation, and quality control. That Gelcoat issue is huge and indicative of multiple failure points in initial mold prep and Gelcoat application. It will never be fixed short of sanding/grinding it back, fairing it all out, and unfortunately probably final finish with an epoxy paint final coat. The fact that the factory specified and/or allowed the use of a completely inappropriate gasket material speaks volumes about what’s going on (or NOT going on!) in their design/engineering/QC divisions. Lastly, the flooring, like the Gelcoat is a huge failure in product (adhesives) selection and materials compatibility assurance. Sorry guys… love your videos. We’re huge fans of you kids. I realize you’re still trying to get warranty work done, so I get your reluctance to be too critical of the builder. But Seawind delivered you a shit sandwich. And when boat builders do this, they need to be called out on it.
If you consider these easily rectifiable minor issues a "shit sandwich", what do you consider other brands with much worse issues, owners having difficulty getting a phone or email response, some so fed-up are rectifying the issues themselves, out of their own pockets, because it's a self regulated industry.
Many times it's the result of lazy staff right through the chain, hard to get great staff. At least Seawind are responding, including publicly to this video, show me another that does that.
@@Lana_Warwick My comments were entirely accurate in the clear context they were made. I did not discuss customer service whatsoever or whether the factory was working with them. And yes, many manufacturers leave much to be desired when it comes to customer support. Many (most) leave all warranty work to their dealers which can be a real hodgepodge of skills and knowledge. However, the fact remains that contrary to your comment, several of these issues are NOT minor, NOR “easily rectified” especially the gelcoat. The only lasting fix is extensive and will diminish the value of their boat. The flooring delamination issue is likewise not a small fix, and the entire flooring surface is unfortunately suspect and will be prone to future problems unless replaced. Yeah - not easily rectified. The kids are being quite patient and kind - probably reflective of the response they’ve had from the factory. That is admirable, and I respect the fact that the builder has actually responded here. I do feel bad for Billy and Sierra, and know how sad and frustrated they must be over the issues they’re having to deal with. I like how Seawind structurally builds their boats. I am not a fan of several design elements - but those are merely my personal preferences for sailing catamarans. (I actually was on a 1600 last week.) And obviously after watching the kids here, Sailing Ruby Rose, and being an active sailing forum participant for many years, really feel like the factory has some significant QA issues to work through. This will be tricky as they and other builders abandon the far east asian factories and tool up to try their fortunes in Türkiye. I wish them well.
@@joesmythe8232 My reply was only in response to, "You guys are being WAAAY to generous and kind to Seawind."
Without paragraphs, the rest of your writing is WAAAY too hard on the eye's to read.
It's a prototype, first build for all concerned, teething issues are a given, Tula are aware of this.
Management can only trust staff & contractors are following correct procedures, can't stand next to them supervising all day.
Seawind CEO, not just anyone, has acknowledge the issues 'publicly', on YT, show me another CEO who's done that.
It's not a house they can simply send a tradie around to, it needs to be coordinated, suitable location, sufficient time allowance.
If you have a spare magic wand I'm sure we'd all like a turn with it.
El año pasado compré un Aventura 44 ... y ahora mismo luego de cruzar el océano Atlántico ... me encuentro en Montevideo Uruguay ... viviendo en el catamarán... hasta ahora ningún problema a la vista... solo mantenimiento y limpieza regular
😊😊😊😊 strong work you guys!
It seems as if the folks on Ruby Rose 2 are experiencing the same issues, yet sailing with the Wynns seem a lot happier. Maybe a Seawind issue.
In fairness, while Seawind is a great brand, HH is in another league. Also, the Wynns were at the factory for final testing, sea trials, and acceptance.
@@xpatsteve Ruby rose lived at the factory and went on a long shake down sail with the test team.
So much for good quality
Sorry you're going through this. Glad when you can sail away.
To be honest, I thought Seawind was a bit more reputable. After seeing your and Nick and Terysa's troubles, it's obvious that they could use some perfectionists at their factories. If I was in charge of getting first hulls out, especially to youtubers, I'd make sure that _everything_ was in perfect condition and well tested before sending it out. Don't they realize that first hulls are the boats that prospective customers see at boat shows?
At least they seem to be good with the warranty. Maybe in a few hulls they'll get it right, and hopefully this is more of a "Reality of a first hull" than a new boat.
Ruby Rose is hull #6or7 from a brand new production line built while the pandemic was still a thing! They like Tulsa are having many niggling problems part of their issue is where they are. Getting specific parts is an issue, several of RRs problems could have been solved in less than an hour with access to a big hardware or chandlers store! The Wynn's are having a better time of it because their boat was in a basin for a couple of weeks and the builder ran all of the systems in the water for a time.
@@jackdbur Ruby Rose is hull #2, many of the issues here and on RR2 appear to be new model rather than new boat issues. Production line not dialled in and fixing issues that looked good on paper, but not so good in reality. The fact that Seawind is being helpful in the warranty work speaks volumes, they understand that their boats are on display to the world and are putting effort into fixing the issues. Unlike some of the issues popping up with some of the other manufacturers. I would still buy a new Seawind (finances aside!), but I have no intention of looking at leopards or lagoons based on some of the pain I’ve seen their new owners go through dealing with their manufacturers.
"I'd make sure that everything was in perfect condition" Who said they didn't? CEO Richard even took it for a run, it was supposed to be his own boat. It was inspected & tested after it came off the ship, like anything, issues are discovered later.
@@Lana_Warwick Why are you writing this as if I had written it after the response Tula put in their video?
@@Rodrifuuu How does that change what you wrote? You expect things to be "in perfect condition".
Perhaps your like those SRR tossers, they would have whinged if the only issue was a finger print on a window when they took delivery
Would you be able to use Just Catamarans in Fort Lauderdale, FL? That is wonderful!
I wonder how accommodating and timely the boat manufacturer would be if you weren’t a UA-cam channel with over 200 thousand subscribers. It’s good that you are in that fortunate position.
Not hard to search forums to answer your Q from non content creators. At least Seawind respond, unlike others.
Well, we haven’t bought a new boat, but we did buy a brand-new C-Class motorhome. It stayed at the dealer for warranty work for 6 months out of the first year and I’m not joking. Had a black tank that leaked from day one and it could not be changed out without cutting a section of the coach. Mfg. flew an engineer down to where it sat and it just went on and on. Had to also drive up to factory in Indiana to have the hole fiberglass nose replaced that is over the top of the cab. Said it had defects and gelcoat defects. That’s just two of the major things but there were a lot of others. That being said we hung in there got everything fixed over time and loved her. No one should have to go thru the things that new owners do for boats and rv’s. That’s why you buy new! I probably lost 5 years off my life from all of it. But boy you sure hear the stories. Hang in there. Hopefully everything will all be taken care of soon and it will just be stories to tell.
It's very disappointing to hear of these issues on a new boat. It certainly doesn't make a person gung ho to buy a new SeaWind. I'm glad you're getting a good response from the manufacture. Though I do think just who you are and your following really helps you in getting them to respond. I wonder just how well they'd respond to a normal buyer who does not have 225k people watching them on a weekly basis.
Love you guys and you are being way nicer to the manufacturer than most would be. You took delivery of a new boat and yes some minor items are expected but they let a boat out with failed GelCoat....what's wrong underneath?? The whole world now knows about it, you boats value was diminished the day they said come get it, you have not received what you contracted for or is expected in a new delivery. Get a professionals guidance quickly and put them on notice.
Yap, I’m sticking with my 20 yrs old boat even if people said why invest in this and that 😊 great episode!
A friend's Catamaran, no manufacturers name mentioned, had delaminating bulkhead issues, the boat was two years old with a three year warranty. The original back a forth emails were sent seven months before the three year expiration but by the time they initiated repairs just after the three year expiration we were informed that the boat was out of warranty - Suffice to say a lawyers letter or three solved the problem - Go figure
Lagoon then 😅
@@graemeday4195 HaHa! couldn't possibly say.
What is the warranty period for the boat?
I admire and respect your desire not to bash on Seawind and to not come across as overly critical. However, the lack of QC on the company’s part is reprehensible. Many of the problems you faced are completely unacceptable and are far beyond just an occasional and isolated issue. The cumulative issues are a sign that the company does not care enough to do it right the first time. You both have much more patience than most people.
They can't bash them because they still need Seawind to agree to fix that gel coat. When their boat is out of warranty I believe they'll let us know their true feelings on that company.
LoL! Your a nut job yea? QC was done, CEO Richard even took it for a run, was supposed to be his boat. It was then checked again after it came off the ship, & run up the coast. You can only check what you can see & hear, until there's a problem, which everything has at some point
@@Lana_Warwick I won’t resort to name calling as you did. I’ll just say that you’re clearly just making excuses for the company at this point. QC begins way before a check out sail. All of the listed issues that they clearly identified and showed us are examples of nothing less than shoddy workmanship.
@@sar4x474 Right... which indicates that you believe all the issues where "clearly identified", but ignored, prior to handover.
Which clearly makes you??
@@Lana_Warwick I never said any such thing. You should do better. My point is that QC is not merely a function of completing the build and then inspecting it. It should be an element of every part of the build process.
I’m astonished that you are so tolerant of the Gelcoat issue, to me that’s completely unacceptable.
Expect the gelcoat issue to get a lot worse over time. I would be losing my mind.
Insanity. I have a 39-year-old fishing boat with original gelcoat and nonskid in better condition. Wtf!!!!
I'm sure it will get sorted. Did you see Seawinds response?
We could all agree on the class of these two! Many of us have tagged along for many years. Living the dream vicariously with such lovable ambassadors.
That being said, this boat is GARBAGE!
I admire their tenacity and desire to be positive and keep pushing forward however, I’d get out of that LEMON before it’s too late!!
Heave to and come about 🫶🏻
I have enjoyed watching your channel for years and your patience is quite admirable, but persistence in following up is absolutely necessary after spending a lot of money on a brand new boat. The quote I heard years ago, "everything on your boat is broken, you just don't know it yet," seems to ring true all too much....even on brand new boats. We continue to deal with warranty issues on our almost three year old power boat, but we are fortunate to have purchased from a very reputable dealer with an excellent service department. We are able to get good service locally here on the Chesapeake, but it was problematic when we were in Florida and the Bahamas this past winter. Unfortunately, boats are not like cars where you can find dealers conveniently located that are familiar with the product and provide appropriate service as you seem to be experiencing. This was actually one of our considerations when we were ready for a boat upgrade as we had experienced breakdowns in remote locations away from our normal cruising grounds and with the current shortage of marine service technicians, if you aren't a regular customer you may get moved to the bottom of the priority list. Best of luck with the getting everything resolved in a timely manner.