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
Darrell Nicholson is editor emeritus of Practical Sailor. He is a longtime liveaboard sailor and has logged tens of thousands of miles in three oceans. A winner of dozens of writing awards in disparate genres, he currently edits Marine Electronics Journal for the National Marine Electronics Association. He holds a U.S. Coast Guard 100-ton Master license and sails his S&S-designed Yankee 30, Opal, out of St. Petersburg, Florida. He can be reached at darrellnicholson.com.