Waterline Systems

[WCB]

Randy's poor accessibility is a perfect example of why the guy who's the greatest on the shop floor isn't necessarily also the best in the board room or vice-versa.

Please see the Barry Carroll vs. Eric Goetz disparity as well. 

Too funny...I have first hand experience of this. Exactly right.

 

[WCB]

I don’t know what’s going on over there.

It was frustrating having Randy say they offer the kit, directing me to Gordon and then have Gordon send me away.

The fiberglass floors just seem to be the proper method of repair following vermiculite removal. I’m considering going with marine plywood epoxied instead but only because can’t get the kit. 

It appears plywood is okay in lieu of sold glass 

http://j24forum.org/usa/faqs/verm_repair.htm

Question for those who have done these, If Waterline continues to be a no go, would it be reasonable going with G9 or G10 glass epoxy sheet for the floors instead of plywood? 

*Edit that-never mind, I just checked pricing on glass epoxy sheets and seems it gets pricey.

Go with the G10 plates.  They're expensive but it's doable at http://mcmaster.com  You do it once with G10 and you'll never have to do it again.

It can't be Gordon Borges that's working there...it must be a different Gordon right?

 

[SPECTRE]

let me know if you would like to go the G 10 route .  We supply Mc master and many others .   

 

[Herreshoff]

Go with the G10 plates.  They're expensive but it's doable at http://mcmaster.com  You do it once with G10 and you'll never have to do it again.

It can't be Gordon Borges that's working there...it must be a different Gordon right?

I assumed it was a Gordon Borges. I can’t find the old emails to verify. He was cool on the phone but wasn’t really willing to help. He didn’t seemed concerned with throwing away business. Just a measly sump kit I guess.

When I most recently reached out thinking I was trying Gordon again instead I got the response from Henry and he now heads up the parts department. 

I have ordered the sump kit through Henry a couple weeks ago but still have not seen the charge or heard back. He said it would be a week out or so. Previously, when speaking with Gordon he said he would need a few orders at one time to make it worth his time as they needed to makeup the kit. I wasn’t super happy with that and persisted. I am assuming Henry needs to build the kit as well but is willing to do just one. Perhaps that’s why he’s the new parts dept. lead.

For others, the kit was a bit over $1400.00- for full sump and floors kit. It includes Waterline built solid glass floor stringers. Penske foam, fiberglass cloth. Teak & Holly floor.

Still waiting and will update if and when it arrives.

 

[Herreshoff]

let me know if you would like to go the G 10 route .  We supply Mc master and many others .   

Thanks SPECTRE, may be in touch if the Waterline kit doesn’t work out. Feeling optimistic that they will come through but will see.

 

[WCB]

I assumed it was a Gordon Borges. I can’t find the old emails to verify. He was cool on the phone but wasn’t really willing to help. He didn’t seemed concerned with throwing away business. Just a measly sump kit I guess.

When I most recently reached out thinking I was trying Gordon again instead I got the response from Henry and he now heads up the parts department. 

I have ordered the sump kit through Henry a couple weeks ago but still have not seen the charge or heard back. He said it would be a week out or so. Previously, when speaking with Gordon he said he would need a few orders at one time to make it worth his time as they needed to makeup the kit. I wasn’t super happy with that and persisted. I am assuming Henry needs to build the kit as well but is willing to do just one. Perhaps that’s why he’s the new parts dept. lead.

For others, the kit was a bit over $1400.00- for full sump and floors kit. It includes Waterline built solid glass floor stringers. Penske foam, fiberglass cloth. Teak & Holly floor.

Still waiting and will update if and when it arrives.

Gordon Borges left before the year 2000.  It wasn't under the best of circumstances so I can't imagine he's back but I've been wrong once or twice in my life.

Parts are often slow out of there.  They once hired a parts person to manage all of that but I would guess with the recovery from the bankruptcy sale that they'll be slow to rebuild.  Hang in there with them though.  At the end of the day, Randy is an entrepreneur and I'm impressed that when faced with the opportunity to walk away, he came back for more. I hope everybody does their best to support his efforts to support our sailing community.  

 

[Herreshoff]

Gordon Borges left before the year 2000.  It wasn't under the best of circumstances so I can't imagine he's back but I've been wrong once or twice in my life.

Parts are often slow out of there.  They once hired a parts person to manage all of that but I would guess with the recovery from the bankruptcy sale that they'll be slow to rebuild.  Hang in there with them though.  At the end of the day, Randy is an entrepreneur and I'm impressed that when faced with the opportunity to walk away, he came back for more. I hope everybody does their best to support his efforts to support our sailing community.  

Randy has been helpful and responsive. I am absolutely patiently awaiting the parts.

It seems the boat business can be as difficult as it can be lucrative. I’m not sure any of these guys are getting rich. Actually, doubting it. At the end of the day it’s a living. I’m thankful someone’s trying to provide support To J boat owners.

I agree, hopefully many will be supportive and give them a chance to gain new traction.

 

[jackolantern]

It seems the boat business can be as difficult as it can be lucrative.

Then it sounds pretty easy!

 

[Herreshoff]

Well, we’re going on 2 months since ordering the sump kit from Waterline and no charge on the card and no response on a couple emails asking status. Doing this off season was the plan. Optimism waining.

So hoping these guys get it together.

 

[jackolantern]

Hard to stay in business if you're not exchanging money for goods and services!

 

[Savage 17]

They are busy joining performance yacht sales to sell Bravaria products per the email I got this week...

 

[Herreshoff]

Well that’s awesome news. They must be too busy to take care of existing customers.

I sent a couple more emails out last week and copied Randy on them simply asking for an update on the order I placed almost 3 months ago and if they will be able to get it done. At the time of the order the estimate was an optimistic 7 days out. I was stoked.

Now just crickets. It’s just disappointing.

Not sure why they went from attentive to completely silent in 3 months but I can’t see building new business foundations on this kind of customer service. I was trying to be patient but lack of communication is a business killer.

 

[Son of Hans]

Resurrecting an old thread - nothing seems to have changed! I have an Alerion 28 and since Waterline Systems is supposedly still building them, I thought it would be a piece of cake to order up replacements for the covers that were supplied with the boat. Over a period of several months (about a year or so ago) I contacted them three separate times by phone and by email and each time I got an immediate and seemingly helpful response, but each time when I asked what information they needed to give me a price and take an order, I got no response, in spite of follow-up pings. I've given up on them at this point, but I'm curious to know if anyone had any additional insight as to what is going on, as they could be useful for other parts in the future.

 

[SuddenlyBrown]

Resurrecting an old thread - nothing seems to have changed! I have an Alerion 28 and since Waterline Systems is supposedly still building them, I thought it would be a piece of cake to order up replacements for the covers that were supplied with the boat. Over a period of several months (about a year or so ago) I contacted them three separate times by phone and by email and each time I got an immediate and seemingly helpful response, but each time when I asked what information they needed to give me a price and take an order, I got no response, in spite of follow-up pings. I've given up on them at this point, but I'm curious to know if anyone had any additional insight as to what is going on, as they could be useful for other parts in the future.

Here

Alerion Express 28 - Kinder Industries

Alerion Express 28

www.kinderindustries.com

 

[knuckles]

I always check Kinder for covers, especially for boats built in the North East (at some point of the lifecycle).

 

[charis]

I ordered a J-80 stanchion on line from them in September. They took my money. In early December I asked about it and was told it would be months to get here so I canceled my order and asked for a refund. Nothing happened. I followed up and have received an email indicating a refund was being processed, but still haven't seen the money. I'm not holding my breath...

 

[LiquidSun]

I ordered a J-80 stanchion on line from them in September. They took my money. In early December I asked about it and was told it would be months to get here so I canceled my order and asked for a refund. Nothing happened. I followed up and have received an email indicating a refund was being processed, but still haven't seen the money. I'm not holding my breath...

You basically have 90 days to contact your CreditCard company and initiate a chargeback. No harm in calling your credit-card now and trying. Amazing whoever is running that company still has a CC merchant account.

Refunds do take a week or two to show up in your card/ bank after merchant process refund from their end.

 

[WCB]

I ordered some of the J24/J22 hatch tracks in the early Fall and it did take a while for four pieces of plastic to show up but they did, shortly after we hauled the boats for the season and deck covers were on. Not a huge deal...ready for Spring. I was okay with the idea that things are still pretty slow these days with factories behind.

 

[LiquidSun]

You basically have 90 days to contact your CreditCard company and initiate a chargeback. No harm in calling your credit-card now and trying. Amazing whoever is running that company still has a CC merchant account.

I ordered a J-80 stanchion on line from them in September. They took my money. In early December I asked about it and was told it would be months to get here so I canceled my order and asked for a refund. Nothing happened. I followed up and have received an email indicating a refund was being processed, but still haven't seen the money. I'm not holding my breath...

Sorry, I should have read your message more carefully.... Refunds initiated by the merchant do take a week or two for the card/bank to process. When a merchant does a refund, the money is taken out of their account and then goes into bank / credit-card limbo for a week or two.

Also, It is a little more complicated, for the merchant, to issue a refund after 90 days from the charge transaction date.

 

[charis]

Sorry, I should have read your message more carefully.... Refunds initiated by the merchant do take a week or two for the card/bank to process. When a merchant does a refund, the money is taken out of their account and then goes into bank / credit-card limbo for a week or two.

Also, It is a little more complicated, for the merchant, to issue a refund after 90 days from the charge transaction date.

I got my money back, so they aren't crooks...

 

[JdP]

Just spoke to Waterline System. Order a small part a month ago. They still have not shipped it. Very friendly lady (Jennifer) promised to follow up