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Started enjoying my new boat last Friday on Lake Mead with my gal when I noticed it hesitated for a second or two when I shifted into forward. In the next hour or two, it would work fine on occassion, then start to take even longer to engage. When I got to "10 elephants" before it would go into gear, I decided it was time to put her back on the trailer. Neutral and reverse would function without hesitation. I was able to get my gal onto the dock but was having a heck of a time trying to put her on the trailer that she backed down into the water. After getting hit by a gust of wind and going from reverse to forward, I was helpless as forward would not kick in and I drifted straight back into a sandy berm near the shore. I quickly turned off the engine and jumped out and with help pushed off and was able to restart and get into forward and ultimately got her trailered up. Had minor paint scrapes off the bottom of the grey drive, and a few dimples and rough burrs on the duo props. Hate to think what would have happend if I hadn't shut her off so quickly.
Took her back to my marine mechanic which is also where I store my boat. I have known this mechanic for about 20 years and he has clients coming to him from three states due to his knowledge and honesty. Since there is not a Four Winns service provider in my area, they have graciously allowed him to cover any warranty work since day one without any problems whatsoever. He works around the clock on Friday into Saturday trying to get me back on the lake, even swapping parts from an identical brand new outdrive he has in his shop that has never been in the water. Upon determing that my outdrive will become a problem that will be a major recall in 6 months, I give up and head back to Huntington Beach on Sunday. NOW FOR THE REALLY BAD NEWS. Call Volvo Penta Of America first thing Monday morning, and they say my mechanic is not "Volvo Certified" and they will not allow him to service my drive. They say I can go to a dealer in Incline Village (500 mies away -12 hour tow) or Arizona ( only about a 3 hour tow), but regardless, they aren't responsible for getting me there as the contract states its my responsibility. I tell them after 27 hours, I don't feel like wasting the rest of the summer on the trailer. Well, after two days of "dealing" with them, and I should add that the only person that would talk to me or call me back was an assistant named "Margaret" who was reading emails from a Mr. Leon Baylor who never did respond to my request to talk to me personally. At this point, I contact Four Winns in Michigan.
NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS. If there was ever a Four Winns God or Angel, his name would be Bill Krueger in warranties. He immediately stepped up to the plate and is shipping me a brand new outdrive directly to my mechanic as I speak. After speaking to Mr. Baylor himelf and getting nowhere, he decided my summer was worth more than waiting 6 weeks and arguing with VP over a 27 hour old drive they wanted to argue contract with. I always want to do things by the book, too, but how many of us would buy a new boat if you knew the drive would go out before you got your first spot on your new carpet? It is people like Bill Krueger that has me on my third Four Winns and when I'm ready for a new Vista, I won't be shopping other manufacturers, just different models of Four Winns. Four Winns has shown me that they are more than just selling you a boat. Bill is not alone in warranties, over the years I have also dealt with a Mr. Ralph Hoskins, cut from the same cloth as Bill. If Volvo Penta of America had folks like Bill Krueger and Ralph working for them instead of "Leon Baylors", you probably wouldn't be able to google their name and find dozens of lawsuits associated with them.
_________________  2011 Four Winns H260 Frenzy $ea Note
VP 8.1GXi/DP EVC 420HP
2007 Silverado 1500 CrewCab 4x4Previous:
2002 Four Winns H200
5.0GXI 270HP
Last edited by scotchwater on Thu Aug 04, 2011 12:28 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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