Where Credit is Due: February 2012

West Marine/Navico RepsRaymarineGarhauer MarineTaylor MadeWeems & Plath

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Lowrance GlobalMap 7600CHD

One of the problems we all face with electronics these days is the fact that a newly purchased unit can be close to obsolete before we open the box. I purchased a Lowrance GlobalMap 7600CHD with the intention of installing it after a refit of my Alberg 35 sloop. Needless to say, the project took 10 times longer than expected. So, in order to get my plotter close to current technology, I needed to replace the LGC-2000 antenna with a LGC-4000, and add a NMEA-2000 network.

The cable issues were a giant can of worms. As I was in West Marine (www.westmarine.com) looking for clues to my wiring puzzle, salesperson Dave Butts came to my rescue. When searching old catalogs turned into a dead end, he called West Coast Navico/Lowrance rep Steve Hamber (www.lowrance.com). Steve sent me the necessary cables free of charge, plus we exchanged emails and calls until it was clear to me how the connections should be made.

Both Dave and Steve went the extra mile. It is great to find folks willing to do more than ring a cash register.

Bob Edgley
Boreas, Alberg 35
Oakland, Calif.

I want to report a good experience with Raymarine customer service rep Jim Rose. Raymarine (www.raymarine.com) recently purchased TackTick (www.tacktick.com), and I recently bought a T061 TackTick electronic compass. Neither of us initially seemed very familiar with the product.

I needed a specific mounting bracket, but there apparently was no part number for it, so Raymarine could not find it. After many emails back and forth—and a moderate level of frustration—Jim solved the problem. Yesterday, the part arrived at my house, with no charge. Thank you, Jim, for your persistence. Raymarine seems to be a company that wants to do things right.

Pete Thorn
Charisma, Pearson 30; Sweet Little Sixteen, Tanzer 16
Chapel Hill, N.C.

When a surprise wave on a calm day hit the inside of my kayak, which was mounted on Garhauer davits, one of the davits deformed. I sent a picture to Garhauer, and less than a week later, a new davit was on my doorstep. I’ll recommend Garhauer as a reliable supplier to all my boating friends.

Gillian Groves
Staff Commodore,
Hurricane Gulch Yacht Club
Tegwin, Hunter Legend 40
Torrance, Calif.

I purchased a Taylor Made Anchor Shade two years ago and stored it in the basement, securely I thought. It apparently fell 7 feet (I blame our cats), and the knob that secures the raised pole cracked. I contacted Taylor Made (www.taylormadeproducts.com) and was connected with Jennifer, who sent a new lower pole and knob right away. There was no charge, not even for shipping. This is service beyond the call of duty. Thank you Taylor Made, and especially Jennifer.

William P. Hitchner
Via email

The boat I purchased three years ago came with an electronic Weems & Plath barometer, which worked fine. Not too long ago the display started fading, and batteries needed replacement after which I got a display but could not set the various parameters. I contacted Weems & Plath (www.weems-plath.com). They said that this model had been discontinued but that as long as there was no corrosion from leaking batteries, they would replace the unit at no cost with their latest model. I sent the barometer to W & P. No corrosion was found, and, sure enough, a few weeks later, I received, at no cost to me, a new barometer that works flawlessly.

I find this sort of customer service more than answers the call of duty. I am extremely pleased with this kind of commitment to product and client. I am glad I had purchased years ago other Weems & Plath products as a gift to my son when he graduated from the maritime academy.

Hellmuth Starnitzky
Ocean Echo, Hallberg-Rassy 45
San Francisco, Calif.

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.