Bentley 2007 Pontoon Problems

I bought a 2007 200 cruiser three months ago. The product and quality that Bentley talk about is not representive in this boat. The brackets on the changing room will brake because they can not support the downward pressure from the struts. The bracket will move and eventually brake. Under the boat looking from the front you will see to aluminium strips that go across the boat to protect the wiring. They will come lose and bang against the deck because they only have three small rivets holding them. The wires will corrode at the connection the made. The reason for this is because when they joined the wires the just crimped them and did not shrink tape them to protect them. The will corrode. If you go to the front of the boat the wiring that goes to the navigation and flood light facing the boat left side. If you open the cover that covers the wires you will see and example of what I mean. The have already started to corroded on me in just four weeks and broke off. What will happen in years to come with the rest of the wires.The aluminium corners are corroding the coating is coming off. This took about two week. The company that manufacture the product is aware of the problem. Under the main counsel water comes trough the boot and the wiring gets wet. The bolts that hold the navigation lights are rusted. all these problems in just two months. Quote from Bentley (Bentley Pontoon Boats are manufactured to the highest standards utilizing high quality materials. We recognize that you have many choices when choosing a party boat. Bentley Boats are the best value) All these problems are well documented by me. Bentley has agreed to make repairs. For a new boat thats just three month, and used just on weekend ,is far from the quality you and Bentley talks about. The point of this artical is to try and keep someone else from becoming a victim of all these problems. This is suppose to be a new Boat for family enjoyment , not aggravation for the family. Again buyer beware.

 

Pademarco,

Sorry for your bad experience so far. While it's good that Bentley will honor their warranty and make repairs, you're correct; that many problems should never happen so quickly. You're paying for the boat; you want it on the water with you aboard, not in the repair shop.

Keep documenting every smallest detail, and let them (dealer and factory) know that you are. Keep your cool; yelling and/or cursing lets them say the real problem is your rudeness. Stating your position firmly but in a calm manner makes it more powerful and forces them to respond to your statement and your evidence, not to your anger.

If the time ever comes when they decide they've done enough but you're not satisfied, it doesn't hurt to ask, "Should you and I continue this discussion, or would the person you report to prefer that we get my attorney involved?"

Good luck, and thanks for making this public for the benefit of other boat customers.

 

UPDATE on my 2007 Bentley 200 Cruiser , Since the last posting the paint work on the boat is starting to blister in certain areas and I ran out of fuel because the fuel tank has a bow at the top which is causing the fuel gage to read a 1/4 tank when it is actually EMPTY. More of the stainless steel screws and bolts are starting to show sign of rusting. The boat manufacture and the dealer have all agreed to make all the repairs need after the season. After this is over I guess or hope that I will have a New Rebuilt Bentley Pontoon 2007 200 Cruiser?.My Question to all concern , did I buy a New, Used or an experimental Bentley Pontoon 200 Cruiser from them. My receipt says NEW. Are there any more web sights I can post this information on. This was a disastrous purchase by me and its made in the USA. (1650 Two Notch Rd, Lexington, SC 29073).This was a new boat straight from the Bentley factory. Just a reminder that this is a 2007 Bentley 200 Cruiser. The Boat was bought from a Northern New Jersey dealer, Lake Hopatcong Marine. I will let you know if the kept there word concerning making things right or its all smoke?. Need more info and pictures contact me at pademarco@optonline.net or 973-546-2677 ask for Pete

 

Check this JD Powers Rating On Bentley Pontoons

http://powerboat.about.com/od/boat_tests/a/07_JDPowerBotII.htm

 

Pete, I work for Bentley and i'm a little confused as to why you would go through all this, when you state that your dealer and Bentley said they would take care of your issues after the season. All our boats are hand built and yes we dont like it, but sometimes we make mistakes. But we do correct them as we will on your boat. Also, about the corner pieces, I know the manufacture of them has already sent you their new product 2 weeks ago as you requested. But yet you still bringing it up! hum?
Just Wondering.. Chris

 

Peter, I dont think you understand all you know about JD Powers! Do you know it is very expensive to get them to do a report on your company? We would rather pass on the saving to our customers. After the BIG MONEY boys pay for there report, do you think they will give them a bad report?
FYI, Chris

 

Chris, put yourself in my place I buy a NEW boat in good faith put in the water. from day one problems. Noise from the bottom, navigation lights not working, Next week the changing room brackets brakes, next week, the rear deck bracket brakes and I notice that bolts are starting to rusting. I run out of gas with with my grandchildren and wife in the middle of the bay. Stuck out there for over an hour waiting for help. The reason for that in the gas tank has bow downward which makes the gas tank sending unit read 1/4 tank when its empty. The paint work in certain areas is starting to blister. Water comes through the boot at the drivers console because it to short. I have been in business for over thirty nine years .I am ASE Certified Mater Technician in the Automotive field and yes I do make mistakes., But not like the type of problem I have encounter with your product. This was supposed to be a NEW BOAT, Not a project for me every week end. If I wanted this aggravation I would have bought a used boat.It gotten to the point after running out of gas, to get my grandchildren to go for a boat ride in a challenge. This summer was suppose to joyfully with having bought a new boat. I am 66 years old and I can not recall in all the years buying a New product with so may defects from the firs day of use. The amount I paid for your product has become irrelevant. what is relevant is what is has done to my summer with all these problems. The dealer is about 125 miles from my summer home. If I were to return the boat for repairs I would be returning it every week, because every week its something new. I took the boat out of the water and repaired the shields and some of the wireing myself. As far as the corners, I was the one who found the problem when I locate the manufacture of the corners. I was told by Dale and My dealer there was not problems and it was from the salt water and that you never had a problem. Every thing going wrong with this boat again and again I was told I am the only one. When I went back to the dealer were I bought the boat I lift the rear deck and guess what the bracket was ready to brake. The wire are exposited. If you wish to talk to me I can Be reached at 973-546-2677

 

JD Powers rating

http://powerboat.about.com/od/boat_tests/a/07_JDPowerBotII.htm

 

Peter, Have you ever had a house built? I would guess.. Yes. Did you have a punch list that the builder had to repair? again i would guess yes. I bet you paid ten or twenty times more for your house than your boat, (which moves around on water) and yet you still had issues with it. I'm not tring to compair our boat to a house, but you get the point. We are the 3rd largest aluminum boat builder and put out more than 25 each day, we couldnt have got here without taken care of our customers.. just like we will you.

 

I guess we have a different view point on this matter, and you have a right to that point, but I hope as a consumer that you never buy a new product that was supposed to be a fun thing for you and your family and turns out to be other then that. I would like to see the reaction from your small children ages 3 to 9 years and wife in the middle of the bay because of a defect gas tank. But I guess I am over reacting. This boat must have been put together on a bad day at your plant. Again thanks for your interest in this matter Pete

 

update pictures of gas tank and paint problems

In all fairness to Bentley they have agreed to make all the needed repairs to the boat I bought from them. The purpose of my article is to inform other consumers and Bentley of the problems with this boat. Hopefully the action I have taken will influence Bentley to make all the need changes to there boats so others will not have the same experience. As consumers all we expect from the manufacture of a product is to give us a quality product ,that we can enjoy and not regret the day we made the decision to chose them. Any manufacture of a product can write great thing about themselves, what's important is what the consumer that buys there product has to says about them and there product. When the boat is returned to the dealer after the season I will update on how the repairs have gone. May be next year JD powers will have a different out come.

 

Far removed from your situation but I have reason to believe from my experience that some companied do, and know they do, put faulty products in to the market.

Their budget is so formulated that they estimate how many customers will in fact claim on their warranty and not let it slide because:
1. The client realises if they have to return it for warranty repairs they have to do without it, they have just paid for it and want to use it.
2. Most warranty contracts don't include freight and it would cost too much to return it to the manufacturer.
3. When they do ring up to make a claim and you get put through to the claims department, after you are on hold for eternity they make you feel like you're the only one that has ever made a complaint and there must be something wrong with you because the product fell apart.

Of course they are happy to fix your boat because you are probably within their budget but there are lots out there for the afore mentioned reason don't claim, maybe first time boat owners who think that this is normal wear and tear on a boat.

You are right to alert people to this problem, quality should come before the sale not after it.

Poida

 

Poida, We at Bentley never denide Mr. Demarco from his claims from the very first time. He stated in his first email that we agreed to fix his boat. Some of this has already been taken care of. He agreed to have the repairs done in the off season. Again, WE TAKE CARE OF OUR CUSTOMERS! Always have, Always will. Its getting to the point where his action are slander and we are looking into it. We are sorry that he had any problems with our product, But we have to have the opportunity to correct them. Chris

 

Poida,You are correct, they all deal in percentages .Every problem with this boat that I have complained about , I am told we never hand any problems like that with our boats. It does make you think that there's something wrong with you. You are also right, returning the boat for repairs when the boating season is about four months, who would want to that. I decided to research my problems went back to the dealer I bought the boat from and I look at a boat in there inventory and indeed found the same problems with that boat that was for sale. The condition of the brackets, the wiring, gas tank and the shields under the boat, the boot in the drives console were all designed the same as mine, which leads me to believe the buyer of that boat will indeed have the same problems. Some of the bolts under the boat were also showing signs of rust if you looked closely and the boat was never in the water. When I pointed out all of this to the selling dealer his replay was, I see what you mean. Those bolts and screws under the boat are suppose to be stainless steel and stainless steel in not supposed to rust. I wish I saw the JD Power report before I bought. Thanks for your interest and input Pete

 

Chris, For the record The boat was never returned for any repair to your company or the dealer. Any repair done to my boat were done by me so it could be used and made safe to use. I repaired the shields because there were falling off, I repaired some of the wire so I could drive at night because there were no navigation lights. I think your involvement in this matter is creating more of a problem the solving it. Does Dale or you company have any knowledge of your involvement in this matter and are you speaking for your company. What Plant do you say you work in ,I would like to know. My problems are well documented so whose blowing smoke. I have given you all my information I would like to speak to you in person. If you forgot my number it is 973-546-2677 GET YOU FACTS RIGHT.