Getting to be an un-happy nautique owner!

[ClemsonDave]

How do you know he missed a spot? Maybe the surface wasn't prepped correctly. Or, I assume it is a two part resin; maybe it wasn't mixed properly. We just don't know.

[2gofaster]

I've heard complaints from a few people. I noticed a bunch of problems after riding all weekend on a friends 3 year old 500 hour 230. He said he loved the boat but would probably go back to MC based on his experience and list of mostly small issues compared to his prior boat.

I can assure you that wouldn't solve his issues. My ski partner is the only Nautique AND Mastercraft dealer in the world. EVERY mastercraft is a come back for warranty work in the first 30 days. It's gotten better with the Ilmore, but they plan on every single mastercraft that goes out the door to be back.

[ClemsonDave]

Not to mention that gut wrenching CLUNK when the MC goes in and out of gear. Or a wake that mows them down at tournaments.

[knoxnautique]

For my little issues I'm just annoyed by the fact the factor missed so many. I'm just wanting Nautique to review a few of their quality procedures. For a new boat my issues are so simple to test for it hurts! The boat is water tested so turn on the stereo, fill the ballest tanks, look over a checklist of ordered options. There is nothing like waiting months for your new boat, finally getting it on the water, and realizing you need to give up lake time to take it back to the dealer to have it fixed. I bought my first Nautique cause of the quality and hate to see any of that slip. I feel like I pay a premium for these boats so I don't find it unreasonable for CC to stay on top of QC.

[j2nh]

Over the years I've had some issues with my new boats.
Oil leaks on separate boats, both on the drain hose from the pan.
Water leak where the exhaust flange wasn't chalked properly.
12 volt accessory plug wired backwards, almost started a fire.
Loose screws, mystery bolts on the floor.
Thats about it. Oh, decal not properly attached to the hull and discoloring from the inside.
Overall, no complaints and when you have a great dealer the little things don't really mean that much.

I have to say I am surprised at the missed chalking. I have been to the factory and actually got to watch them build my boat. Everyone I saw was totally committed to what they were doing and they had their quality stats in plain view for everyone to see.

I purchase nautiques because they build a great boat that has fit my needs to a tee. My only real complaint these days is the lack of a 196 type boat that does so many things really well.

[gride]

so mastercraft just builds in the price of warranty work into the sale price to account for horrible work?

[2gofaster]

I didn't say horrible work. I said warranty returns. Big difference. A lot of it had to do with the Indmar engine package. 63% of Indmars have warranty return in first year.

[AirTool]

Loose screws, mystery bolts on the floor.

Ditto. I'm saving all mine but I can't remember where I put them. They are in a pill bottle somewhere safe. I'll find them someday.

[AirTool]

Or a wake that mows them down at tournaments.

Finally !!!.....something in this thread worth reading. Too funny.

[brananders]

Interesting thread, here's a rundown of my experience with my 2010 210 which I bought brand new last year. Dealer is 3 hours from my house and 6 hours from my lake but the only Nautique dealer around.
1. Rudder port recall (fixed very quickly but a pain due to the trailering distance and I missed my first weekend so it was very disappointing)
2. The Next weekend, after running great for a day the boat begins stalling I have to limp it back to the dock. Local guy at the lake screws around with it but ultimately can't figure it out, I'm sure my dealer paid him since I wasn't charged. I have to trailer the boat 3 hours to my house and the dealer does come and get it and takes it the 3 hours back to their shop. They fix it up right away, it was a timing problem. I'm not ever using the local guy again. However, I go have to go back to my dealer to get the boat and then back to the lake. This caused me to miss 2 more weekends. This is right after I bought it, I only had 5 hours on it at this point.
3. Boat has been mechanically bullet proof for 95 more hours since but;
4. Ballast impeller burns out after 50 hours (no big deal)
5. Numerous gelcoat cracks, some were fixed last winter and I have more to fix this winter all should be covered by warranty. These worry me, the cracks are quite long and right down the side of the hull.
6. I have the mysterious water in the bow that is a source of many posts on this forum. I can't figure it out.
7. Screws keep backing out of the rub rail.
8. Paint is peeling off one area of the Tower
9. A few small rips in the vinyl (could be my fault)
10. The boat has just over 100 hours.

I've generally been very happy with my dealer. They have been quite good, I don't like the distance but that is the choice I made. I wish they were more accommodating and made house calls but they sell a lot of boats and in this area you have to travel a long distance to the lakes so I understand.

I freakin' love this boat and I liked the price I paid vs the competition. However, it is the first inboard that I've owned so I don't have a lot to compare it against. Has my experience with this boat and the issues I've had been average, better or worse?

[jimmyj]

man you sure can tell who the fanboys are by reading posts. its good stuff.........

the water pump didnt go out, the engine didnt blow up...caulk was not applied to a joint. pretty basic. somethign that should not happen. and i believe i have seen similar threads numerous times, so this is not an isolated incident.

buddies san had wires ran inbetween the backing plate for tower and the fiberglass. obvsiouly wore the wires out. different scenerio, different story, but apprently to some of you, this would be perfectly acceptable. to me, with the superior build quality, this shouldnt happen. one example of many that i have seen on newer Nautiques. his tower also had trash is the welds, and was obvsiouly powerdercoated before assembly. tower leg snapped right off the mount. i dont really know if they build these in house anymore, but if so, thats pretty poor. but to some of you, no bid deal once again; "just have them fix it" which btw, they refused to do........

i love nautiques, always have. but to me, the build quality of the newer boats is not what it once was, least doesnt seem that way, all the while they a 2x more expensive than they were a couple years ago. for what its worth, my 01, has been pretty dang flawless.

either way, good read. nasa, cc, one in the same! ha

[aarond0083]

I freakin' love this boat and I liked the price I paid vs the competition. However, it is the first inboard that I've owned so I don't have a lot to compare it against. Has my experience with this boat and the issues I've had been average, better or worse?

Compared to my experiences, much worse. I've owned three Nautiques, two of which were purchased new and I have not once lost any water time combining all three boats (knock on wood). The only problems I have had were: burnt ballast impellers due to faulty port Jabsco pump, tower light lens cap coming off when trailering, stitching came apart on a cushion. These were all what I consider minor issues that were remedied by shipping me a replacement part. My biggest complaint was the 2009 we ordered coming with the wrong lettering in the decal. I ordered it with Chromax and it came white. The factory shipped me the Chromax set and I put it on myself. Orders from a customer should be checked, rechecked, and checked again.

My dealer is about 75 miles away so at all cost I will fix things myself but some of the issues I am reading about with 2011 and 2012 boats is alarming and unacceptable. I am fully aware boats are made by people and human error can happen. That said these types of problems need to be caught before it's delivered to a customer. Perhaps the water test needs to be more stringent. I'd really like to know if the OP problem was due to faulty material and not a on the guy who caulked it. With multiple instances of this happening I would think this is being addressed.

[DaveP]

Mistakes happen! w/ high end cars, houses, crap even airplanes....but boats are exempt from that cause you paid 80k? Yea I classify that as extreme in my book.

HUH? Sorry, but if the moonroof was not properly installed in a new Audi/BMW/Lincoln etc I'd be upset as well. Why do you think they have QC to begin with? This stuff should be caught BEFORE the customer receives the boat just as an improperly installed moonroof should NEVER happen. Just saying that chyte happens is a horrible response and as consumers, we should expect more.

Obviously my initial call for a new boat was over the top, but somehow I assumed that the top and bottom of the hull were bonded with more than caulk. Learn something new everyday.

[ClemsonDave]

I think the thing we need to remember is that more people are vocal about problems than when something is working the way it should.

Of all the 200s I impersonally know about, the quality is amazing. I had a couple minor things with my 196s, but near perfect with my 200s. I guess it's all about perspective.

[EntiatSkier]

I have an idea!!! Why dont we all stop arguing about this. It was a simple mistake. It shouldn't of happened but it did... We are human!

Do you want them to fire this guy? Thats a good idea! Start firing the employees so the prices go up and we all have something more to complain about!!!!

Honestly, go to a store and buy some caulking for $5. You could maybe get it for $4 if you look in the hardware store discount section of a random magazine!


You came here looking for an answer. Not opinions. The answer has been told to you many times. Put some caulking in the 6" section that is missing it.