Farr 36, Customer Service? Options

[Stinky from USC]

Having sailed on the Farr 36 in three regattas now, I thought I was getting a sense for the boat. Having put in a little time on the helm I realized that the rudder loaded up and became very difficult to steer. It was only at KWRW when we were beside Boys that I noticed their helmsen driving with one hand. After the race I mentioned this to the owner Markus Fiala and he told me some very disturbing news.

Farr designed the 36 to carry a wheel or a tiller, with unique rudders for each. It seems that somewhere in the manufacturing at DK, the wheel configuration rudder was installed. Well this led to Tazo sailing in 5 regattas with a rudder that physically exhausts reasonably fit drivers after one race. This oversight was one thing, but what was really shocking follows.

Farr International had planned to install the proper rudder in KW before Fast Track launched the boat, without Markus' knowledge, and it wasn't until Markus was contacted because the rudder was held up in customs that he found out.

To further cloud the issue, the tiller that was originally installed on the boat was a prototype that was sent to Carroll Marine as a sample, and was clearly accompanied with the instructions to not install it. The rep for the tiller manufacturer came by Tazo on Monday evening, and recognized the tiller as a prototype, and immediately replaced it, and told Markus immediately.

It seems shocking that sailors who pay top dollar for well designed boats, get such lousy service. As the end of the week neared, Markus telephoned Bruce Farr to express these sentiments, and it sounded like Bruce was similarly shocked by these goings on, and very much interested in not involving lawyers in future conversations.