Defect Recalls
Federal law requires marine manufacturers to notify owners when boats or engines contain defects that “create a substantial risk of personal injury” or when they don’t meet manufacturing regulations.
Manufacturers are responsible for correcting defects discovered within 10 years from the time the boat or engine was built. Boats over 10 years old are not covered by recall regulations.
To be sure that you are notified of any recalls or consumer alerts, be sure to send in your warranty cards when you buy new or register with the manufacturer when you buy a used boat or engine. Although manufacturers try to maintain first purchaser lists, estimates are that in some cases fewer than 10% of owners are notified when their boats are involved in a recall.
BoatU.S. established the National Recall Alert Registry at www.boatus.com/recall to allow owners to maintain their information for free in a secure, centralized location that manufacturers can access in the event of a recall. Registration can also be made by phone, 703-461-2856.
If your boat or engine is recalled, follow the manufacturer’s instructions, especially if you are warned against using the boat until it’s repaired. Defects that become the subject of recalls usually involve safety hazards that could endanger you or your passengers.
Most of the time, dealers perform recall repairs, but sometimes the repairs are relatively simple and you may receive a do-it-yourself kit. Keep in mind, however, that all recall repairs must be performed at the manufacturer’s “sole cost and expense.” This means you should not have to pay for recall repairs or pay for incidental expenses, like haul-out fees, related to the recall.
Recreational boat recall information may be accessed by calling the Coast Guard’s InfoLine, 800-368-5647 or by visiting the Coast Guard’s website, www.uscgboating.org. Consumers can also use these resources to report possible defects. New recalls are also posted at www.boatus.com/recall.
When water gets trapped under the outermost gel coat surface, a once-smooth hull develops raised areas called osmotic blisters or sometimes “boat pox.”
Blisters can be as small as a pencil eraser or as large as a quarter. They pose no structural threat unless they go so deeply they penetrate the multi-layer laminate of fiberglass cloth and resin of your boat’s hull. Blisters involving only the gel coat surface may be unsightly, but they don’t make your boat unsafe. Even so, it’s best to make repairs before the damages go deeper into the hull.
Repairs aren’t cheap, usually $125 to $200 per foot of boat length, especially if high tech equipment is used.
Some new boat warranties cover blister damages. If not, check with the builder to see if they have an informal goodwill policy for handling complaints. Some builders provide about 50% of repair costs when blisters occur in the first season. Compensation, if available, drops by about 10% per year after that. You will probably need to obtain two or three repair estimates.
