Went to pick up the boat... NOOOOO!!!!!
 

I've spent the last couple of weeks begging the dealership to pull my boat out of storage a bit early. I really wanted it home so I could get working on numerous fixes/cleaning/upgrading before the warm weather shows up. I finally received the email stating my boat was one of the last ones in (go figure, I was only out 2 days before Thanksgiving!!!!!) and can easily be one of the first ones out.

So I had them pull it out, went to pick it up. I don't normally tow with the cover on because I never want to stretch or tear it up. It's on it's last leg, and I need to preserve it as much as possible until I find the right replacement. I begin to pull the cover off, and there it is... A SHATTERED WINDOW :mad:!?!?!?!?! Somehow, the side window was broken. They've claimed full responsibility and will make the repair, but now I'm at the mercy of however long it takes them to find a replacement and install it.

I'm interested to see how Taylor Made reacts to a dealer requesting an obsolete part. I'll keep you guys updated, since I know the glass and Taylor Made's customer service has been an issue with many of you.

eeek!

I bet you wanted to do this to them ---> :punch_out:


Well, it is good that they pulled it out NOW then. Because now they can start working on a replacement for it vs finding out the day you are ready to go boating. It is nice they claimed responsiblity for it. My place isnt responsible if rodents get inside and have a field day on your boat kinda thing. They do take steps to prevent it though.

However, if the storage shed where my boat is kept happens to cave in. Then it would be 100% their problem.

Good luck with Taylor Made. I have never dealt with them so I have no idea their customer service or lack there of.

OUCH!! Man, that's rough. At least they're accepting responsibility for it. They could have denied the whole thing, and left it up to you. Keep us all updated!!

Sorry to hear man :( Let us know how the replacement goes incase this happens to one of us in the future...and costs *eek*

Good luck with Taylor Ryan. I didn't have any success with them on either my front windshield or side vent glass & had to go with acrylic until i can find proper replacements.

The side glass may be more promising however. If necessary touch base with a Glass speciality shop and see if they can reproduce it for you since it's flat (no curvature). All they need is to secure the proper type of glass & they can cut it & bevel the edges to fit. I know it can be done up here.

Sounds like the marina is taking it to a local glass shop that will be custom making a new side glass. As long as it matches (the slight solar "tint"), I'm okay with it. They said it will be 2-3 weeks.

I'm going to pick it up while they're waiting on it to be made. I have too many things to do with it before spring, and can't waste all the time sitting there.

In the mean time, I could always duct tape a piece of plastic in place and make it look like an old beater!!! I'm sure the snobby $1M to $7M lakefront home dwellers would love it!!!

Scratch that previous post. I just spoke with the dealership again. They said the local place wouldn't be able to match the slight curve in the side glass. They tried a couple of automotive places that said the curve and greenish tint on boat glass would be too difficult. Taylor told them it's out of production, and wanted to charge an astronomical amount to "refire" the presses. So now they took off that frame and will be sending it to Ocean Dynamics, who is supposed to be the best thing since sliced bread. I guess they told the dealer it won't be any problem. I just hope they hurry!!! I'm starting to think the duct tape and plastic would look better than the missing frame!!!!!

:D


http://www.abulsme.com/images/Photo_...3142327769.jpg


Sounds promising so far man!

mr.kyle
 

Ryan,
Curious how your repair is coming along-especially with Taylor-Made. I am the proud owner of a 2000 Shabah 252 and my frame on the center walk through piece was bent when I bought the boat a few years ago. I have been trying to get a replacement part from Taylor-Made for months and have gotten no satisfaction at all. They tell me it is because all of their winshields had a part number inscribed on the metal frame port side and mine does not have that so they can't locate which of their facilities produced it.

Good Luck.
Kyle

Try getting ahold of Water Bonnet at http://www.waterbonnet.com/

They are a sister company of Taylor Marine. They helped me quite a bit when I was searching for foam screw cover.

HTH

~J

I was going to wait and update this thread once this whole issue was resolved...

My boat is in the water without a side glass still. Originally, the marina I stored the boat at was going to have Ocean Dynamics fabricate a piece of glass. Turned out, their lead time was too long (which probably would have already been here by now), or they were too expensive. So the marina had a local glass company make one. That turned out too thick for the frame because it wasn't true marine glass. Then they had another local guy make it that was "very familiar with boat glass". When they mounted it, the glass cracked. They finally found that the glass is supposed to be somewhat "flexible". I guess Taylor uses this specific type of flexible glass, but it's not commonly known.

The marina eventually found http://www.marineglassspecialties.com and says they are authorized fabricator/supplier for Taylor Made and Water Bonnett. They stated the exact type of glass Taylor uses and will "flex" somewhat to fit the side frame as intended from the factory.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed, but it sounds like my marina was trying to find the easier and cheaper way out. They finally discovered there's no way around this and found the correct manufacturer and type of glass. I'll keep you posted.

I'm also going to be fighting them about the gelcoat chipping they created when removing and re-installing the frame 4 times now. The last piece of glass they put in didn't flex (or wasn't the right curve) so they basically forced it by screwing the frame in. Gee, why would the glass crack?@!? This caused the gelcoat to chip where the screws go in. What a mess!

Ouch!
 

This may sound foolish, and probaly already researched, but I was in the Mariah boat dealer showroom today and was looking at a new 21ft Mariah. It looks very similar , if not identical in hull demensions as my Z212. The windshield from one of these beauties should be able to be easily be put on an earlier model with much less hassle...even if some gelcoat and emron needed to be applied to cover old install. I had some damage repaired on my boat by a great fiberglass car body shop and you cannot see it at all...just a thought. Hope all works out for you.
GW

GW - Yes, the "new" Mariah SX21 is the same mold as the "old" Mariah 212. It does look like an easier fix... but I'm not willing to give up the vent windows the new Mariah doesn't have. Especially since this is the marina's problem to fix, not mine. No, I hardly use the vents, but I like the look of yet another feature Mariah included that no one else did - 'til later.

However, if I were the one to break it, I would definitely give this idea a second look. It would depend on what Marine Glass Specialties could do and the price differences.