No longer shore bound...

[leahcim_dahc]

That caught my attention today...if it was a return I can deal with that...if all the stuff is there, and undamaged.

If you look at the yellow caution tape on that flap, originally it ran down the entire length of the box. Instead of being like it was, the original tape is cut and another piece of caution tape is going around the box. Which leads me to believe UPS theoretically could have popped the box and then tried to seal it up.

If it was opened and parts scabbed...it would have been either done at Water Skeeter in California or someone at UPS. Personally, I think it was dropped or ran over and broke open during shipping then sealed back up. Which could account for the unexplained hold over and rescheduled delivery date.


Chad

[leahcim_dahc]

...

Speaking of bladders...here's a quote from the Water Skeeter assembly instructions. You might get a kick out of it just as much as I did.

Step #10

Fully inflate both pontoons.
Caution: DO NOT OVER INFLATE THE PONTOONS!!! THIS WILL VOID THE WARRANTY!!
Inflate the pontoons until firm. Check seams. There is no rule for proper inflation. Use common sense.
Check the pontoons periodically.

I think they might want to reconsider rephrasing as that statement (in red) can be a little misleading. Also...what is the definition of "firm" ask 10 different people what their interpretation of firm is and you'll likely get 10 different answers. What one person may feel to be firm...might very well be rather soft to another.


Chad

[A9]

Hahahaha. So it's basically their discretion as to what they say is too over-inflated when they get a popped pontoon(thus allowing them to void many peoples warranties)

Sounds fishy

[leahcim_dahc]

Hahahaha. So it's basically their discretion as to what they say is too over-inflated when they get a popped pontoon(thus allowing them to void many peoples warranties)

Sounds fishy

That's pretty much my thoughts, as well. Not too many things that can go wrong with a pontoon...either it's gotten caught on a snag and punctured/torn/ripped...or it's over-inflated and popped. You know it won't be warrantied if it's popped from dragging on something or getting poked...nor will it be if it is popped from over-inflation. Sounds like if they so chose to, all they would have to warranty would be the frame and accessories. Of course, if it comes apart from poor craftsmanship...it could still be blamed on over-inflation. But then again...that could be my own little conspiracy theory. Who knows.


Chad

[leahcim_dahc]

Well...that boat didn't last long. After talking to the owner's they decided it would be easier to ship me a new boat, and to return the first. There goes any hope for getting to fish out of it for a while. At least I got to put it together, mount my equipment and get a good idea where I wanted to arrange and store my gear. I got a couple days with it to fabricate a fish finder mount, locate the best spots for rod holders, and fabricate a mount for my transducer. I also was able to see what the best way to load and unload the thing would be.

I am definitely going to invest in a wheel dolly, though. I am not thrilled about dragging it around. It's not heavy...but awkward. Once I get everything mounted and gear stowed...I definitely won't be for throwing it on my back and trudging down an embankment to launch it.

Anyrate, we'll see how long the new one takes to arrive. Can't wait....again. :-D


Chad

[Reel_Nut]

I'm telling ya,
the Colorado from Trout Unlimited.

[A9]

Hopefully Chad this time you'll get a better result...

Good luck, it'll be worth the wait.

[Hal]

Did they give you an opportunity to simply get a refund? I would have went that route, what a mess...

[mallard83]

Both my brother and I have river rated Water Skeeter pontoons that we got from Oregonfishing.com and we had absolutely no trouble with our shipment or boats. We got the boats about 5 years ago and are still using them on the rivers today. I can personally say that Water Skeeter makes one hell of a pontoon boat. The summer before last my brother and I took our most difficult float yet. The float was on the Sauk River from the Whitechuck River down to Darrington fishing for Dolly Varden Trout. This stretch of river is very popular for whitewater rafting trips if that says anything for the difficulty. Both of the boats survived the trip probably better than we did. The only damage my boat received was to the back aluminum cross brace, it got dented when I hit a boulder in the middle of some thick rapids. Even with a noticeable dent the boat still goes together with no problems.

Personally I think that your package was messed up by the handling company not the manufacturer or distributor. I drive trucks for a living delivering heavy construction equipment (i.e. excavators, bulldozers, backhoes and boom lifts). From my experience in the "delivery field" I can say that we are usually trying to get stuff to customers as quick as possible and sometimes stuff happens in the rush. I do think that it is completely rediculous that they (the shipping company) did not inform you of the damage that they most likely caused in their hast. It was probably some wherehouse forklift driver that dropped it and patched back up and called it good because he did not want to get in trouble. Bottom line is whoever is responsible needs to grow a pair, step up and take responsibility.

Like you already stated the most annoying part is not being informed about something that really isn't that big of a deal when you have expectations about when the product should actually arrive and the condition it should be in (i.e. new/unbroken!).

Hope you enjoy it when you finally get it, I know I have.

[leahcim_dahc]

...

I checked out that line of pontoons. While they looked like decent boats, it really didn't the options that the Water Skeeter had...like the standing platform, etc.

...

I did have that option. Tim gave me quite a few options, his concern was making sure I was taken care of. So far, even though it was a mess...Tim has done more than I expected to ensure the issue was/is resolved. Whether it be I get refunded, I get a boat from another manufacturer, or they send out a new one. Either way it will get fixed.

...

I like the boat. So far...it has appeared to be a decent boat. It was just a shame it somehow got damaged. I have received many boxes from shippers that have been rather haggard and never really gave it much thought as to any internal damage. I know shippers are moving as many goods as they possibly can and accidents can happen. Whether it was UPS, the manufacturer...who knows. I wasn't too interested in who was to blame...just how it was going to get fixed.

At first I thought dealing with Oregonfishing.com was going to be a hassle. Really, I thought I pissed them off when I fired off an email to Water Skeeter rattling their cage about the shipment of my first boat. Dan called me back and I thought he was a little angered for my inquiry and maybe Water Skeeter had crawled up his...well, you know.

Prior to receiving the boat, Tim contacted me with regards to issues with the shipment. Once I got it, I emailed him back just to simply let him know it arrived and let him know there were the issues with the missing and damaged parts. Since I have dealt with both Tim (owner of oregonfishing.com) and Patty (owner of Water Skeeter). I must say Tim has bent over backwards to make sure I have been taken care of. During our conversations, I came to the conclusion it might be easier and faster just to get me the missing and damaged parts from the factory. There was nothing wrong with the rest of the boat...just a couple bent and twisted platforms...and a couple missing pieces. Tim decided instead of getting me the parts, they were going to ship a new boat. We both agreed it might be more of a hassle, but as Tim stated, I spent enough money on the boat to have a new one sent and not have one that has had bad parts on it.

Tim has been very good to work with, and was just as angry about the whole experience from day one as I was. He has made sure to keep me well informed and taken care of. Some of the best customer service I have received in quite a while. Which is all I was after from the get go.


Chad

[michaelunbewust]

WELL CHAD, AS A SHIPPING MANAGER, IT WAS A LAZY FORKLIFT DRIVER. AS A FISHERPERSON, YOU GOT SCREWED. AS A POSSIBLE FUTURE BUYER, I LIKE HOW TIM IS HANDLING IT. SORRY ABOUT THE WAIT. IM HITTING POTHOLES TONIGHT AND ALL DAY TOMORROW, THEN, FISHING LAKE WAHSINGTON SUNDAY, INTERESTED?? WE CANT WAIT FOR YOUR BOAT, BUT, WE CAN USE MINE!ha!

MIKE U.

[leahcim_dahc]

Mike-

I have drill this weekend, so I probably won't be able to. Sunday after drill is already spoken for...putting a water heater in. Thanks for asking though. One of these days we'll get to go out again. BTW, how did your Big Brother and Big Sister thing turn out?


Chad

[leahcim_dahc]

*SIGH*...well, after an almost two month long ordeal...I give up. This thread will now officially shift focus and become my "I Hate Water Skeeter" thread.

I was told by Tim at oregonfishing.com to package my boat back up and UPS would pick it up...in the mean time, he would ship a new one out. Great! However, when the new one arrived, it had damage to the standing platform along with manufacturing defects in both platforms, I felt would become a hazard. After a nice lengthy email to Water Skeeter, oregonfishing.com, and the Better Business Bureau discussing my lack of satisfaction with both product and customer service, Tim mailed me new platforms.

The platforms arrived a couple days ago, and I just now got around to installing them. Once I removed them from the box and started to put them on the boat...I realized they are not going to work. Again, the metal was a bit twisted, and the dimensions of the mounts are incorrect. Will not fit, unless I break out a body saw and cut on my new parts.

At this point, I am exhausted...and will "ask" for a full refund. I will also be looking at another manufacturer for my purchase. Right now I have almost $2000 dollars tied up in a piece of crap pontoon that the only water it has seen has been from the rain as it sat out tied down and locked to the bed of my truck.

Right now...I will not recommend anyone do business with Water Skeeter. Piss poor customer service and less than "below average" quality control.

With the mood I am in at this very moment...Water Skeeter would do good to take their site down, and close shop for a few weeks as I feel like making a road trip with the before mentioned pontoon, finding their customer service managers and sales managers, and shoving two green and orange nine foot long pontoons straight up their....well you get the general idea.

Anyrate, sorry for my pissing and moaning. I do feel much better, though...if that counts for anything.

Water Skeeter Pros
1. Looks good on the internet
2. Appears to float well...while on the internet
3. Parts seem to fit well...on the internet
4. Lots of decent accessories...on the internet

Water Skeeter Cons
1. Poor Customer Service
2. Poor Quality Control
3. Overpriced
4. Poor Customer Service
5. Overpriced
6. Couldn't pack their product in a box correctly to save their lives



Chad

[michaelunbewust]

WOW! SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK CHAD. I WAS THINKING ABOUT A PONTOON FOR FISHING THE SAND DUNES AT POTHOLES (WHERE I SPEND ALOT OF TIME IN JUNE-JULY), WATER SKEETER WOULDNT BE MY FIRST CHOICE. I THINK I WILL DO QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH BEFORE I MAKE A PURCHASE. IF YOU WANT TO HIT LAKE WASH. IN MY BOAT, IM GOING THE 24TH AND 25TH. PROBABLY LATER IN THE DAY ON THE 25TH DUE TO X-MAS, AND EARLY EARLY THE 24TH, YOUR WELCOME TO JOIN. A COUPLE OF OTHER WL.COM'ERS MAY JOIN THE "IGNORE THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER THE DAY BEFORE X-MAS" FISHIN EXPEDITION.HA! HOPE YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH WHO YOU DECIDE TO BUY FROM ON YOUR BOAT. KEEP US POSTED.

MIKE U.

[Gisteppo]

For a bit of perspective...

I can produce one of these little rowboats in about a week or so. They row well, fish well, and can be used on slack water, class 1 whitewater, and class 2 whitewater (if the rower is experienced). Mine is below in the very dark picture. I built it as cheaply as possible from stuff I had lying around from other projects. Someone with woodwork or construction experience could produce the same boat. Once I tallyed the price of all the parts, including paint, the total cost of the materials:

$68

I have been using it for 2 years. If I were to build one for someone to fish, I would put better wood in it and do a little fiberglass work. Depending on fit and finish, I could build something competitive to the cats for anywhere between $500 and $1500.



Some other examples:





11' 8" long
50" beam
16" deep
500lb displacement
row, sail, or very small outboard.

E

[leahcim_dahc]

WOW! SORRY ABOUT YOUR LUCK CHAD. I WAS THINKING ABOUT A PONTOON FOR FISHING THE SAND DUNES AT POTHOLES (WHERE I SPEND ALOT OF TIME IN JUNE-JULY), WATER SKEETER WOULDNT BE MY FIRST CHOICE. I THINK I WILL DO QUITE A BIT OF RESEARCH BEFORE I MAKE A PURCHASE. IF YOU WANT TO HIT LAKE WASH. IN MY BOAT, IM GOING THE 24TH AND 25TH. PROBABLY LATER IN THE DAY ON THE 25TH DUE TO X-MAS, AND EARLY EARLY THE 24TH, YOUR WELCOME TO JOIN. A COUPLE OF OTHER WL.COM'ERS MAY JOIN THE "IGNORE THE SIGNIFICANT OTHER THE DAY BEFORE X-MAS" FISHIN EXPEDITION.HA! HOPE YOU HAVE BETTER LUCK WITH WHO YOU DECIDE TO BUY FROM ON YOUR BOAT. KEEP US POSTED.

MIKE U.

Thanks, Mike...don't think I will be able to make it this go around. However, if you want to get out on the water the weekend of the first (29th, 30th, 31st, or the 1st)...I am open the entire weekend.

As a side note, I had a lengthy conversation with Tim at oregonfishing.com the other day. After I had a decent nights sleep and wasn't so torqued off. We discussed the issues I have had with the boat since day one. Supposedly, the Bass Guide is a fairly new model...so there are obvious issues. He insured me, my complaints haven't fallen on deaf ears, and Water Skeeter is doing what they can to fix it. However, I'm still not thrilled with their (Water Skeeter) customer service skills, at all.

All in all, I am keeping the boat...as I pretty much shot myself in the foot, with regards to returning it. I had already started modifying parts on it...so I wouldn't have been surprised at all if they told me to take a flying leap trying to return it after the mods.

Anyrate...more modifications to come, and then mini sea trials....


Chad

[Mike Carey]

ouch. what a tough thread to read. Sorry for your bad experience.

[A9]

All in all, I am keeping the boat...as I pretty much shot myself in the foot, with regards to returning it. I had already started modifying parts on it...so I wouldn't have been surprised at all if they told me to take a flying leap trying to return it after the mods.

Whats the difference between a modified part and a broken part if you returned it? I mean whats the difference to them. Most likely they will just be destroying any broken parts they recieve as defective returns and wouldn't be repackaging them. They wouldn't repackage your modified parts into other boxes either. Modified vs broken parts? Thats what I'm wondering. They should still take it back. I give their customer service a thumbs down....

[leahcim_dahc]

Whats the difference between a modified part and a broken part if you returned it?

It isn't so much about the damaged/defective parts that I had to modify. Returning defective or modified parts in that respect wouldn't have made a difference to me. What I did was make some modifications to the frame itself. I removed, and cut off the original anchor system pulley's and moved them.

Instead of the anchor being in the rear it is now in the front. I figure if the anchor is in the front, I can anchor down in water with a bit of current (river) and the boat would follow the current and still face upstream instead of down stream where I can't see anything coming. Plus, with the anchor in the rear, standing up on the front platform...the rear will raise a few inches, pulling the anchor off the bottom, allowing the boat to drift away from my original spot. Moving it to the front...all that will happen is the front drop a bit, however the anchor "should" stay down and in place.


Chad

[Mike Carey]

In my experience, you don't want to anchor a pontoon boat in anything other than moderate current. You'll start pivoting back and forth. For sue you want to always be ready to cut free if need be.