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Post by hookedup on Apr 17, 2021 19:32:53 GMT -5
I didn't have the right screwdriver so I couldn't check every screw. However, those I could check were fine. Have you contacted Sailfish? Do they have any plan to assist owners of older 245DCs?
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Post by greenmachine on Apr 18, 2021 10:31:14 GMT -5
The dealer has forwarded my photos and matter to Sailfish. That was a week ago. I have not heard anything yet. I am more than willing to bring the boat back to the factory if that’s what it takes. I’m dreading have to do this repair myself if it comes to that. The tower structure will need to be removed to allow access to extract the broken screws. I think the screws are not thru- bolted. I believe they screw into a steel plate that is laminated into the fiberglass. Only problem is that this damage will likely occur again due to the flex of the existing tower. A good remedy would be if Sailfish could just weld in the additional crossbar brace on my tower like on the newer models. I think the powder coating is difficult to remove and may make that a challenge though. In the meantime, check out this video of her coming through the Ocean City Inlet!
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Post by fishnfool on Apr 18, 2021 17:33:40 GMT -5
Nice you made it on the ZipZap video during the WMO.
If you're here in MD and you are looking for a quality shop to do the repair, call Rob at Compsite Yachts - they are a custom builder. I wouldn't leave that repair to some dealer to farm out to God knows who.
There are also some very good custom aluminum fabricators that do ttops, towers etc. that are relatively local to you in OC that might have some ideas. In fact that would probably be my first stop.
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Post by footy3 on Apr 19, 2021 7:20:05 GMT -5
The dealer has forwarded my photos and matter to Sailfish. That was a week ago. I have not heard anything yet. I am more than willing to bring the boat back to the factory if that’s what it takes. I’m dreading have to do this repair myself if it comes to that. The tower structure will need to be removed to allow access to extract the broken screws. I think the screws are not thru- bolted. I believe they screw into a steel plate that is laminated into the fiberglass. Only problem is that this damage will likely occur again due to the flex of the existing tower. A good remedy would be if Sailfish could just weld in the additional crossbar brace on my tower like on the newer models. I think the powder coating is difficult to remove and may make that a challenge though. In the meantime, check out this video of her coming through the Ocean City Inlet! I think you are correct about the steel plate being laminated into the fiberglass. Before I bought mine, April 2018, I was originally looking at a used 2017 model from a dealer in Florida. He told me he had major problems with the 2017 because they used "big washers" not a backing plate and had problems with the bolts pulling through the fiberglass. The design change was to use a steel plate molded into the superstructure which was then drilled and tapped.... I'm following this closely, please keep us posted.
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Post by fishnfool on Apr 19, 2021 8:46:46 GMT -5
Bk fabrication in Preston MD
Pirate Fabrications in Willards, MD
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Post by tiger on Apr 22, 2021 20:26:19 GMT -5
These are super small issues but I completely understand your attitude. My SF was my first NEW boat and I had no idea there would be a punch list, JUST LIKE BUYING A NEW HOUSE. These issues are 100% the fault of hourly workers and rather than bring attention to their mistake, they just moved on. QC missed it and that is another issue. SF might need to beef up the QC dept. You have a 1 year bumper to bumper warranty though so USE IT! Make sure you are 100% happy before that year is up. They will fix everything, most likely at the dealership. If you are not happy with any solution, do not accept it. Again, your issues are insignigicant. Keep that in mind.
It might require them pulling the insert. If so, so be it.
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Post by tiger on Apr 22, 2021 20:42:41 GMT -5
The dealer has forwarded my photos and matter to Sailfish. That was a week ago. I have not heard anything yet. I am more than willing to bring the boat back to the factory if that’s what it takes. I’m dreading have to do this repair myself if it comes to that. The tower structure will need to be removed to allow access to extract the broken screws. I think the screws are not thru- bolted. I believe they screw into a steel plate that is laminated into the fiberglass. Only problem is that this damage will likely occur again due to the flex of the existing tower. A good remedy would be if Sailfish could just weld in the additional crossbar brace on my tower like on the newer models. I think the powder coating is difficult to remove and may make that a challenge though. In the meantime, check out this video of her coming through the Ocean City Inlet! Wow, ya’ll are flying. We don’t do that with ours. We baby it. Never goes airborn.
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Post by hookedup on Apr 23, 2021 6:53:59 GMT -5
X2 tiger. I had a hull crack on another boat. You could see through the crack, but no water...lucky as I found it on a winter trip offshore. Son-in-law took it airborne fairly regularly. He doesn't get to drive the Sailfish.
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Post by DMBekus on May 3, 2021 9:00:27 GMT -5
I have only had my 2021 245 dc out 2X and noticed the top flexes a lot, commenting to my son about it on 1st time out. I will keep a eye on the connections
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Post by hookedup on May 3, 2021 11:50:36 GMT -5
Yes, mine flexes a lot too, but no problems that I'm aware of. With the 24" radar, outriggers and 8 foot antenna added it does move a bit but I checked it and all is well. You should have the extra support across the front and any other improvements so you may be less likely to have a problem anyway.
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Post by greenmachine on May 3, 2021 11:56:47 GMT -5
That is discouraging to hear seeing how the 2021 has the extra pipe welded in at the front parallel to the pipe tucked into the hardtop. Older models like mine do not have that piece. I figured that addition would stiffen the structure. Good idea to back out the mounting screws now and then. I was unaware that three of my bolts had sheared until I backed them out. Nothing but sealant was holding broken screw in place. It allowed the top to shift just enough that I cannot get access to drill and extract the broken screws.
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Post by Maysport on May 4, 2021 17:43:35 GMT -5
Nothing but sealant was holding broken screw in place. It allowed the top to shift just enough that I cannot get access to drill and extract the broken screws. I suppose there isn't a way to tell if the original screws were put in with the leg under pressure or perhaps unloaded with the weight on top, so it put extra stress on the screws even when the boat isn't moving? Can you use a come-along or ratchet strap to slightly pull the foot back over the screws for access?
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Post by greenmachine on May 21, 2021 19:29:00 GMT -5
Sailfish agreed with my request for them to take a look at the boat rather than have the dealer try to mess with it. I dropped off the boat earlier this week at the plant in Georgia. My son and I were treated to a fantastic tour of the facility and even met the president of the company! Aaron from customer service was very attentive and planned to address two other minor warranty items I brought to his attention. He even planned to replace a slightly bent hinge on the center floor storage hatch that we had bent years ago by closing the hatch on a thick dock line. I left feeling great about the company, our boat and our visit. I hope to buy a larger Sailfish in the future. Planning on taking the boat to Destin Florida before returning home to Virginia.
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Post by hookedup on May 22, 2021 7:14:23 GMT -5
Sailfish agreed with my request for them to take a look at the boat rather than have the dealer try to mess with it. I dropped off the boat earlier this week at the plant in Georgia. My son and I were treated to a fantastic tour of the facility and even met the president of the company! Aaron from customer service was very attentive and planned to address two other minor warranty items I brought to his attention. He even planned to replace a slightly bent hinge on the center floor storage hatch that we had bent years ago by closing the hatch on a thick dock line. I left feeling great about the company, our boat and our visit. I hope to buy a larger Sailfish in the future. Planning on taking the boat to Destin Florida before returning home to Virginia. Glad you and the boat were treated so well. Any information about what the problem was and fix is will be appreciated.
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Post by DMBekus on May 23, 2021 16:58:41 GMT -5
I have had my 2021 245 DC out 4 times and the boat is great. Ran out and back to the ocean in stuff at 30 MPH that many boats of similar size would not do comfortably. As to the topic, basically a good boat, but like most boats, some issues. I do almost all my own work (including pulling and rebuilding the motor on my 2200 regal) and so far, easily have 60 hours of fixing, adding, upgrading and improving various issues on the 245 DC. I intend to make a Youtube video about it, another month or 2......
Also filled the tank for the 1st time, I get 2.7ish MPH crusing, which I think is pretty good for the size and wieght, but still set me back $310.00
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