Problems with MaterCraft Dealer

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

For obvious legal reasons, I can’t tell you not to buy a boat from California Skier in Lake Elsinore California, but what I can do is tell you the problems I am having with them and you can make your own decision if you would want to buy a boat from them. I know this is a little long, but if you are thinking about purchasing a boat from them, you might want to read this.

I bought a 2002 MasterCraft X-Star in February of 2002 from California Skier in Lake Elsinore Ca. This boat is awesome. I do love the boat and the MasterCraft quality. The problems I am having are coming from the service department. I took my boat in for service a few months after I bought it to get the first oil change done and to fix small stress fractures around the boat that usually pop up from time to time on a new boat. Don’t worry; this is normal in all new boats. But, a few problems arose.

Problem #1
Upon completion of the repairs, 3 months later, California’s Skiers service department tried to give me back a boat the had acquired over $2000 dollars in damage to the gel coat because of the incompetence of the gel coat repair guy they were using to fix the stress fractures. They actually thought I wouldn’t say anything about the damage. Maybe because I am pretty young. They were wrong. After about 6 months of phone calls to MasterCraft headquarters, they approved another MasterCraft dealer to fix all of the damage the boat acquired at California Skier. (Thanks a ton MasterCraft in Tennessee) Needless to say, California Skier is being mailed the bill from their headquarters in Tennessee. I’m actually really glad about that.

Now you could imagine what kind of relationship I now have with California Skier. I really doubt if they are ever going to help me with my boat if I ever have problems down the road. And what do you know; I have a problem with my boat cover so I thought I would give them a call.

Problem #2
So I just got off of the phone with service at California Skier in Lake Elsinore Ca. (notice I keep saying their name) and asked if my cover is under warranty because a small puddle of water accumulated in the middle of the cover and it rotted and stretched out. They don’t want to help me. I was told that the cover is no longer under warranty and there was nothing they could do for me. I ended up calling the manufacturer of the cover and I was told that there wouldn’t be any problems replacing the cover.

So, in conclusion, I hope none of you will never have any problems like this with your boat. I know I never will again because I’ll never go back to California Skier. I might have to drive a little farther up north to get my boat worked on by a dealer but it is well worth it. So, I can’t tell you not to buy a boat from California Skier but I think you have enough information so you can make your own decision. By the way, I LOVE MASTERCRAFT boats and there are many other MasterCraft dealers in California I’m sure you can find.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 11:28 am Post subject:

Was this a new boat or are you the second owner?

Nor*Cal · Ladies Man Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 9479 City: Sac

Our dealer gouged our boat during the demo. We specified what gelcoat guy we wanted to do the work. In Sacramento Morrison Marine is by far the best fiberglass and gel coat repair shop. Dealer didn't mess around and paid for the bill.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

Brand new boat I ordered through California Skier. I ordered it through California Skier exactly the way I wanted it and they put it together for me.

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 2:44 pm Post subject:

So, I'm assuming they installed the tower also? And there were stress cracks?

Personally, I'd be a bit more concerned. I've had my tower on for three years I guess - no stress cracks. Also, none on the rest of the boat.

Regardless of that, really sounds like a dealer to only buy from and not go for maintenance. That's too bad those kind of dealers are out there.

Sounds good the manufacturer stepped upu though.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

Leggester, Ya I had one stress crack right where the tower was installed. Also I had a total of about three around the edge of the boat where the two halves of the boat come together durring the manufacturing prossess. There was also some webing under two of the seats where there are "stress points" Does that sound strange. What kind of boat are you the owner of?

Swass · Guest

Hell yeah, that sounds strange! Stress cracks are NOT normal on all new boats.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

Hu.......makes you wonder!?!?!?!

Leggester · Posted: Apr 04, 2003 3:34 pm Post subject:

x-star, Currently a Searay. I've had Evinrude, Nauti, Four Winns, Ebbtide boats also.

On the Ebbtide, there were stress cracks where the hand rails were installed - guess what, they didn't counter bore the holes.

You can get hulls that just flex more than others when taken out of the mold and a quick cosmetic patch to the gel coat fixes them. They should NOT re-appear though. If they do, you have a lemon hull in my opinion. That means the hull is not performing as required.

Same would go for the seat mounts - unless they are bucket seats and you let folks sit onthe backs of them.

Mullet Man · Outlaw Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Posts: 132 City: SoCal

Same thing happened to my firend. He bought a 2002 X-9. Hassled with California Skier for 9 months. After 3 attempts to fix the paint MX finally stepped in and said they would replace the boat. My firend was not happy with the X-9 and said he would like a 2002 X-7 instead. California Skier actually charged him a couple grand to step down to the lower model of boat. They are a bunch of used car salesmen there. Sleezy!

nick e[V]ans · Posted: Apr 07, 2003 3:29 am Post subject:

thats gotta suck dude. some people have no idea how to run a business or please customers, they also have no idea that customers do talk to mates, who may also share a common interest, so as they will soon find, they will lose business out of it.
nick

Cruel World · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 55 City: Waterford, MI

X-Star,

I would call MasterCraft about the stress cracks. I bought a 2002 X-Star new in May of 2002. Put 100 hours on it with 0 stress cracks. Even if they are fixed, they may come back and may be a sign of a bigger issue.

Grouch · Posted: Apr 07, 2003 9:49 am Post subject:

I had similiar problems withthe original dealer where I purchased my Moomba from in SoCal.

Needless to say that they are no longer the dealer and my boat got sent back to the skiers choice factory to get fixed.

Thanks Skiers Choice, no thanks dealer.

swally28 · Outlaw Joined: 12 Jan 2003 Posts: 117 City: West Point, MS

I had the same problem with my x star. My tennesse dealer is very poor in service work and customer service. Mastercraft is a good boat but the dealer burned me and I will never go back to mastercraft as long as they have sorry dealerships.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

I think is is good that we are all coming together to let everyone know which dealers suck. Just to straighten out the issue with the stress cracks, they are in the gel coat and it sometimes happens where the screws are put in to hold the two halves of the boat together. It's just cosmetic. I did talk to the warrenty department at MasterCraft and they said it wasn't normal for it to happen a lot but a little as the boat is being used for the first time. They told me if it ever happens again, to call them and we can look at other options so I wont have to worry about it anymore. We will see when I get the boat back. I'll keep you guys informed if I find out any new information.

X-Star · Soul Rider Joined: 01 Apr 2003 Posts: 253

And Cruel World, they are very hard to spot. You have to look real hard to see them. I just wanted to get them taken care of while they had the boat. California Skier told me it would only take about a week. I guess 3 months is a week for them. Also, look under your passenger seat right by the door you have for your storage. That is where they will first start to pop up if you are going to get any. I guess it's a trouble spot with our boats. I guess in my post I should have specified they are only in the gel coat.

Cruel World · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 55 City: Waterford, MI

X-Star, I haven't noticed any there, but I'll take a closer look when I can, it snowed again last night!! Arg..

OttoNP · Addict Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 848 City: MI

Cruel World,

That snow storm really sucked, it was just starting to get nice, my friend up in Waterford was still without power Sunday. We got our boat up and running last week, hoping to be out this weekend on Loon or Oakland lake...

Nick
________
Baby mac

Cruel World · Criminal Joined: 13 Jan 2003 Posts: 55 City: Waterford, MI

OttoNP, I pulled out the boat a couple of weeks ago getting ready and then the weather went south. Hopefully we will be out soon, I might not be out much this season since my Wife is prego, but I'm sure I'll sneak out and get beaten to death when I get back since she loves wakeboarding as much as me.

Got lucky with the storms, didn't completely lose power but it has been on and off. Cable and phone have been out for 5 days though. All the trees missed my house and more importantly my boat. What a mess, looks like a tornado ran through the neighborhood.

I'll see you out there. You guys should try Maceday/Lotus. Especially the Lotus side, usually a lot better than Loon and Oakland.