Where Credit is Due: January 2012

ShurfloRonstanKeen Footwear

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I want to acknowledge the outstanding warranty support from Shurflo (www.shurflo.com) regarding my 2-year-old Shurflo Extreme Series 5.7 Smart Sensor pump, which failed. Shurflo’s customer service was helpful and had a new pump in my hands in one week. It is a pleasure to encounter manufacturers who stand up to their claims and back up their products.

Mark Lenci
Sunflower, Benetau Oceanis 523
E. Greenwich Bay, R.I.

I bought a large, Ronstan snatch-block (www.ronstan.com) five years ago and used it no more than about two days a year. I noticed a hairline corrosion crack at the hinge of the snap-shackle. So I took it to the Annapolis Boat Show and showed it to the guys in the Ronstan booth, expecting them to dismiss my out-of-warranty claim. Instead, they said some older blocks had exhibited the same problem, and they mailed me a brand new ($200-plus) snatch-block! Any company with that much integrity deserves our continued business.

Peter Aziz
Herringbone, 1980 Cal-39

Beneteau361

Photo courtesy of Matt Kling

I have owned six pairs of Keen boat shoes over the years with no issues. I recently purchased a new pair of Keen sandals (www.keenfootwear.com), and within a few months, the rubber split near a seam. I contacted Keen to see what my options were and got an email right away pointing me to the warranty page on their website. I filled out the online form, uploaded a few photos of the sandal, and within 24 hours, my claim was approved. I was given a code for a $100 credit at the Keen online store. I did not have to produce a receipt or ship the sandals to Keen. Talk about great service! I’m a Keen customer for life!

Matt Kling
Luftig, Beneteau 361
Seattle, Wash.

Darrell Nicholson
Practical Sailor has been independently testing and reporting on sailboats and sailing gear for more than 50 years. Supported entirely by subscribers, Practical Sailor accepts no advertising. Its independent tests are carried out by experienced sailors and marine industry professionals dedicated to providing objective evaluation and reporting about boats, gear, and the skills required to cross oceans. Practical Sailor is edited by Darrell Nicholson, a long-time liveaboard sailor and trans-Pacific cruiser who has been director of Belvoir Media Group's marine division since 2005. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license, has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans, and has skippered everything from pilot boats to day charter cats. His weekly blog Inside Practical Sailor offers an inside look at current research and gear tests at Practical Sailor, while his award-winning column,"Rhumb Lines," tracks boating trends and reflects upon the sailing life. He sails a Sparkman & Stephens-designed Yankee 30 out of St. Petersburg, Florida. You can reach him by email at practicalsailor@belvoir.com.