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 Post subject: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:02 am 
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Joined: Wed Mar 12, 2008 7:51 am
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Location: Northern Virginia
No body answers th phone over at FW and one our local people that did warranty work had the check from FW returned NSF for over five grand. Now I need warranty work and don't have a dealer.

Anyone know what's going on?

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    2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
    2006 Sea Ray 340DA
    2006 Sea Ray 320DA
    2005 Maxum 3100 SE


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:12 am 
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I've been waiting for some parts for 4 weeks now. I'm told by the local dealer that FW's is open but they have scaled back on employees so shipments are delayed.

I'm not sure about the warranty department but I'm sure they have scaled back as well.


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 10:23 am 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
Posts: 4989
Location: West Michigan
Genmar is in Chapter 11 after all, these "bumps in the road" are normal under such proceedings. It's NOT business as usual for the company right now.

Some excerpts from Irwin Jacobs' letter to dealers last Tuesday.

Quote:
Genmar chairman Irwin Jacobs said most of the company's factories are now operational, and will be in the foreseeable future, thanks to orders for new boats. "Having stronger predictable order backlogs is allowing us to more confidently firm up our business plan and strategies for exiting the Chapter 11 process and, most importantly, to satisfy as effectively as possible all of the various contingencies," Jacobs said.
Genmar is taking actions to sell several "non-core assets," Jacobs said.


The Letter

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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:15 am 
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268 Vista

Joined: Tue May 16, 2006 9:49 am
Posts: 4989
Location: West Michigan
Some more facts released today.....

Quote:
* Production: Genmar has sufficient orders and has resumed production of its Ranger, Four Winns, Stratos/Champion, Larson/Glastron, FinCraft, Hydra-Sport, Wellcraft and Seaswirl brands.

* Vendor credit/payment terms: Genmar confirmed that credit terms for confirmed orders placed after the June 1 bankruptcy filing are treated as administrative expense claims and are considered first priority unsecured claims.

* Financing: Genmar is continuing discussions with its lenders concerning financing needs to develop the business plan and to implement that plan.

* Retention of investment bankers: Genmar has filed a motion to approve retention of Houlihan Lokey, an investment bank that will be responsible for exploring alternatives for Genmar, including reorganization, refinancing, sales or some combination thereof.

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One of 4 Previous (Sold) Boats:
2000 Four Winns 268 Vista
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Current Boat: 2004 Chaparral 235 ssi cuddy
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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 11:19 am 
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AGE < LOA

Joined: Tue Mar 13, 2007 8:53 pm
Posts: 739
Steve, did Seven Seas get the check returned? I am going to go through my dealer for parts but I was thinking about bringing the boat up the bay and stopping by SS to have a few misc things done where it wasn't worth paying out of pocket the 250 to have them come down. FW has been shutting down for a week or so at a time since spring. That would explain not getting anyone on the phone but certainly not the check!


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:13 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:45 pm
Posts: 2866
Location: Indiana
I've gotten 3 seperate parts orders drop shipped directy to me from FW. I've also gotten a warranty guy and a parts guy on the phone two seperate days, this week, and last.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:19 pm 
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firecadet613 wrote:
I've gotten 3 seperate parts orders drop shipped directy to me from FW. I've also gotten a warranty guy and a parts guy on the phone two seperate days, this week, and last.


No wonder we can't get FW parts shipped or people on the phone.............you have them tied up all the time!! Let us know when we can have a turn! :D


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 1:46 pm 
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Joined: Thu Jul 13, 2006 7:45 pm
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Location: Indiana
FWFord's wrote:
firecadet613 wrote:
I've gotten 3 seperate parts orders drop shipped directy to me from FW. I've also gotten a warranty guy and a parts guy on the phone two seperate days, this week, and last.


No wonder we can't get FW parts shipped or people on the phone.............you have them tied up all the time!! Let us know when we can have a turn! :D


Hey now! Thats what happens when they look up your boat wrong and send out the wrong trailer paint! Maybe I just have all the luck, since I'm on my second FW in just as many years, and they know it won't be my last.

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 3:31 pm 
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Joined: Wed Oct 08, 2008 10:41 am
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Location: Appleton, WI
This is sort of one reason for selling my boat. FW support is terrible for such a big company. I couldn't even get any warranty work done when I have a dealer 1 mile from my house. They just basically ignore you like you don't exsist!! Can't get parts or service and it angers me as I have a very similar job and can't imagine never calling a customer back or dealing with there issue. I wouldn't have a job very long.

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1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)
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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:03 pm 
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Shark
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Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2009 7:05 pm
Posts: 107
Location: Sammamish and Chelan, WA
Dealer in Seattle says they were closed for quote a while and are now just starting to get back to work. I imagine there is a nice backlog of warranty issues and parts to deal with. Along with orders for boats...my dealer just placed an order for 20...


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:32 pm 
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Location: Northern Virginia
I just want my electrical issues resolved under warranty and enjoy using my boat. Right now it is pretty much useless to us since there us no VHF,horn,GPS,nav lights among other things. I am not happy and will certainly be letting others out there thinking of FW as a choice know of my situation. After all, one thing you buy a new boat for is to have that warranty so you aren't paying out the wazoo for repairs, which I am going to have to do now.

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    2008 Four Winns V358 (T 6.2L Merc Bravo III's with DTS and SeaCore)
    2006 Sea Ray 340DA
    2006 Sea Ray 320DA
    2005 Maxum 3100 SE


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 5:52 pm 
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Better Luck wrote:
I just want my electrical issues resolved under warranty and enjoy using my boat. Right now it is pretty much useless to us since there us no VHF,horn,GPS,nav lights among other things. I am not happy and will certainly be letting others out there thinking of FW as a choice know of my situation. After all, one thing you buy a new boat for is to have that warranty so you aren't paying out the wazoo for repairs, which I am going to have to do now.


I would be pissed as well. I can't imagine after paying the money you did for your boat that you are having warranty service issues. I would guess the other boat manufacturers are falling down in this area too but dang I would think that's one thing they that would keep them afloat in the long run. Good luck and better luck!!!


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:37 pm 
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Location: Indiana
Better Luck wrote:
I just want my electrical issues resolved under warranty and enjoy using my boat. Right now it is pretty much useless to us since there us no VHF,horn,GPS,nav lights among other things. I am not happy and will certainly be letting others out there thinking of FW as a choice know of my situation. After all, one thing you buy a new boat for is to have that warranty so you aren't paying out the wazoo for repairs, which I am going to have to do now.


Amen to that, especially with buying a NEW 358!

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2007 358 T-5.7GXi IB
Previous Boats
'08 H240, '08 V318, '04 268, '04 225


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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Tue Aug 18, 2009 7:56 pm 
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Whatever
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Joined: Sun Aug 12, 2007 8:39 am
Posts: 996
Location: Salt Lake, Utah
Better Luck wrote:
I just want my electrical issues resolved under warranty and enjoy using my boat. Right now it is pretty much useless to us since there us no VHF,horn,GPS,nav lights among other things. I am not happy and will certainly be letting others out there thinking of FW as a choice know of my situation. After all, one thing you buy a new boat for is to have that warranty so you aren't paying out the wazoo for repairs, which I am going to have to do now.



I think you would have run into this problem no matter what boat brand you would have gone with. Blame it on the economy.


I have been down the "buy it new for warranty" road before, whether it be, auto, RV, or Boat, they are all manufactured as economically as possible to keep profits in check. New does not mean trouble free! In many cases it means, "Here, be our dept that works all the bugs out!"

If you can not fix yourself, good luck with finding a dealer that will do it and hope the manufacture repays them! We are talking about Four Winns, you will get taken care of, I hope!

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 Post subject: Re: Four Winns Closed?
PostPosted: Wed Aug 19, 2009 11:40 am 
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Nauti Luv

Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:55 am
Posts: 2186
Location: Little Elm - Lake Lewisville TX
powellcrazy wrote:
Better Luck wrote:
I just want my electrical issues resolved under warranty and enjoy using my boat. Right now it is pretty much useless to us since there us no VHF,horn,GPS,nav lights among other things. I am not happy and will certainly be letting others out there thinking of FW as a choice know of my situation. After all, one thing you buy a new boat for is to have that warranty so you aren't paying out the wazoo for repairs, which I am going to have to do now.



I think you would have run into this problem no matter what boat brand you would have gone with. Blame it on the economy.


I have been down the "buy it new for warranty" road before, whether it be, auto, RV, or Boat, they are all manufactured as economically as possible to keep profits in check. New does not mean trouble free! In many cases it means, "Here, be our dept that works all the bugs out!"

If you can not fix yourself, good luck with finding a dealer that will do it and hope the manufacture repays them! We are talking about Four Winns, you will get taken care of, I hope!



I 100% AGREE WITH THIS.

Yes, it leaves a bad taste in your mouth, I certainly agree...reality is though, you feel like you are out in the wind on this, and that sucks. Best of luck.

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4


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