Where Credit Is Due: January 2014

GarhauerSeco SouthAllied Tool Co.

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semi-custom steel cutter Garhauer

Photo courtesy of Howard Peer

I have a 6-year-old Garhauer traveller (www.garhauer.com). The sheaves came loose and lost their bearings. At the recent Annapolis boat show, I asked the Garhauer Marine reps how to get replacement bearings. They had me send the carriers back, and they replaced the sheaves for free. Also, I mentioned I was looking for some odd-size, stainless-steel dinghy clamps, and they offered to fabricate them. They charged me the standard (very fair) price rather than custom price. Wow!

Howard Peer
Chouette, Brewer semi-custom cutter
Lewisporte, Newfoundland, Canada

Recently, while getting off my boat, the lifeline gate came off in my hand, and I accidently dropped it in the water. I was able to retrieve the gate, but the modified nut holding it in place was gone. I contacted Ed at Seco South (www.secosouth.com). After sending him my lame drawing of the gate, he asked me to send the lifeline with the detached gate. Within days, I had a new lifeline with new hardware to put back on the boat. Seco South charged me a nominal fee, which was mostly for shipping. Thanks for a job well done and for standing behind something that was years out of warranty. It was wonderful to deal with such fine people and such a fine company.

Jody Miller
Sail La Vie, Island Packet 445

About a dozen years ago, I purchased an Allied 159-piece Cabinet Tool Set. They have been my go-to basic boat tools ever since and have stood up quite well. I recently called Allied Tool Co. (www.alliedtools.com) of Sylmar, Calif., to ask whether I could purchase a few replacement pieces for tools that had gone missing from the now-discontinued set. The young woman who responded to my inquiry noted that my tools were long out of warranty but said she would investigate the availability of the missing tools. After a brief wait, she told me that not only were the tools available but that the company would replace them for me at no charge.

I just received these tools, after waiting about a week, and they fit perfectly in my tool cabinet. I consider this to be exemplary customer service from a company that not only stands by its products but wants to ensure its customers ultimate satisfaction.

Alan Asarnow
Rosebud, Beneteau Oceanis 37
Stamford, Conn.

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.