Where Credit is Due: June 2011

Precision Boat Works South Pacific AustraliaGrocoNeil Pryde

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Where Credit is Due: June 2011

288

In 2001, I purchased a used 1996 Precision 23. This was a move up for us since we were dinghy sailors. I had lots of questions about the cruising boat, so I emailed Precision Boat Works (www.precisionboatworks.com), hoping for the best, and Marketing Manager Bart Bleil came to my aid. Over the years, he has answered my many questions within 24 hours by either email or phone. He helped me with the purchase of a genoa that would fit my older boat along with parts for the aging boat.

On vacation in Florida years ago, I stopped by the factory and was given a personal tour. They even custom-cut new hatch boards for me while I waited. This is great customer service on a continuing basis, something many manufacturers sadly don’t do any more. Precision supports their products!

Walt Wyatt
Seaduced, Precision 23
Cincinnati, Ohio

About seven years ago, I bought a windlass for my Hunter 340 from South Pacific Australia (www.southpacific.com.au). After two years, I noticed that the chrome coating was starting to peel off. It became worse, so after seven years, I contacted the company and asked for their advice. Without any hesitation, they wrote me the next day and asked for my home address so they could send me replacements for the damaged parts. No charge. In a week, I had new upper part for the windlass! That’s taking responsibility!

Rami Gazit
Sea-U, Hunter 340
Herzelia, Israel

 

I have a Groco SV-750 full-flow flanged seacock that had one side with a stripped bolt and threaded connection. I emailed Groco (www.groco.net) and received instructions on how to repair it, or if I could not repair it, they offered to fix it at no charge. They added that the seacock design was no longer available, but that they’d be willing to exchange it for one they had.

I asked if they would send me the brass bolt since I couldn’t get a compatible metal locally. I was sent two bolts, two machine screws, and the maintenance, parts and assembly information at no charge. After cleaning the thread connection, the new machine screw went in and held quite nicely. My thanks to John Cly at Groco for his assistance!

C. Henry Depew
Tallahassee, Fla.

 

Where Credit is Due: June 2011

288

Hauling out a new Beneteau 37 last fall after its maiden season and not having time to drop the furled mainsail myself, I left it up to the yard to drop and bag the sail. Not expecting any issues, I didn’t open the bag until the weather broke in March. Upon opening the mainsail bag, I found a number of dark, gritty dirt splotches, which after being cleaned revealed some small abrasions and two small holes. The guys who dropped it had no recollection of any issues.

I contacted manufacturer Neil Pryde Sails (www.neilprydesails.com) to assess DIY options. Neil Pryde’s (Stratford, Conn.) Jim Gregory asked to have a look and within days, he patched the sail and sent it back free of charge! It was totally unexpected and much appreciated service.

Dan Gilligan
A’ile – Muir, Beneteau 37
Erie, Penn.

 

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.