Ellie's "Rig, Launch, Commission"

The boat in question, a Catalina 250 water ballast, hull #200, was manufactured in July 1995, although it bore a 1996 model year, and was advertised and sold as trailerable. Eastern Yacht Sales (EYS) in Rhode Island sold the boat as "new", and expressly represented it came complete with all Factory specified equipment (the Factory descriptive literature was incorporated into the bill of sale) as well as certain options. The sale for all practical purposes closed in October, 1998, although at EYS' request, the boat was not "delivered" - i.e. we arrived at EYS to tow back to western Connecticut - until November 4, 1998 which EYS attributed to the Factory's delay in delivering the rudder upgrade. Monitoring the C25/C250 National Association forum for a couple of months before the purchase had alerted us to this Factory upgrade - designed to address excessive weather helm in early C250 hulls - of which EYS claimed to be unaware. This delay of nearly a full month to a date they pronounced the boat ready afforded EYS ample time to prepare the boat for pickup.

The following describes relevant features of the boat as it was actually delivered:

Foresail Furler Specifically listed in bill of sale for extra charge; not delivered with boat. Finally delivered by EYS six (6) months later for owner installation

Foresail Specifically listed in bill of sale; not delivered with boat. Finally, a new one was made and shipped from Factory six (6) months later

Main sheet and misc. running rigging Included in rigging in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. Finally delivered by EYS six (6) months later.

Bilge pump Delivered with 6" square faceplate [in cockpit] completely broken off. Replacement faceplate finally delivered and installed by EYS six (6) months later.

Marine Battery Specifically listed in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. EYS finally reimbursed owner purchase six (6) months later.

Mast lighting plug Delivered with plug so deteriorated all base shielding had fallen off and wire contacts exposed. EYS finally delivered wrong plug six (6) months later; then shipped another and different wrong plug (owner finally purchased correct plug from Catalina Direct)

Mast raising system Specifically listed in Factory rigging specifications [gin pole, mast raising stays, associated tackle]; not delivered with boat rendering it impossible to raise mast outside yard. Factory shipped six (6) months later.

Fiberglass repairs Boat delivered with 8" crack in interior cabin ceiling aft of mast support, gouge in side molding of main hatch, crack in aft berth floor and hole/crack in V berth base. EYS finally authorized repair by local marina six (6) months later.

Sail cover option [main, tiller and winch] Specifically listed in bill of sale for extra charge; only winch covers delivered with boat. Finally EYS shipped main cover six (6) months later -tiller cover never arrived.

Ice chest Specifically listed in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. EYS finally reimbursed for equivalent purchase by owner six (6) months later

Standing rigging One back stay (base), one short stay, and one long stay installed with undersize clevis pins, discovered after EYS works on boat six (6) months later; owner identifies and resolves. The cost here is not an issue; however this, like the other listed items, should have been addressed as part of "Rig, Launch, Commission"

Outboard Motor Clamp Plates, Wiring EYS proposed and sold a Johnson outboard (9.9 hp, electric start, 4-stroke) as suitable and appropriate for this boat, a motor which in fact does not fit the boat's outboard motor clamp plates in the open transom and requires leading ignition and battery cables through the combing. Owner purchased parts (extended plates, cowl) and installed. This, like the other listed items, should have been at least identified as part of "Rig, Launch, Commission"

"Rig, Launch, Commission"
Bill of sail reflects a charge of $900 for this item. It is plain, based on the damaged, missing and uninstalled items that the boat was certainly never recently "launched "- if it was at all - "rigged" or "commissioned" for sale to the owner;; indeed, as delivered it could not be sailed at all (mast could not be stepped; no foresail).

Despite repeated telephone calls and faxes, and finally - five months later, the threat of litigation, it was not until six months after delivery that EYS started to take any significant corrective actions, plainly in response to Catalina's Frank Butler, who personally intervened, for which we thank him. It was impressive to receive - entirely at his initiative - several phone calls and letters from Catalina's President; Marvin in Catalina Parts and Dave in Catalina Customer Service were also extremely responsive and helpful.

At least as impressive was the on-line community that helped sort us sort out how the boat should have been delivered and how to rig the boat on our own. With the exception of EYS installing the broken bilge pump faceplate and simply unrolling the furler, we installed all parts and rigging ourselves, but not without a lot of help from members of the Catalina List [Sailnet] and the C25/250 National Association. While a complete list of contributors would be too long to post, Arlyn Stewart, Mark Melchior, Carl Schroeder, Bill Holcomb and Frank Vaughan deserve particular mention.

For their part, EYS largely claimed that the boat - which apparently sat on their lot for two years before sale - had been delivered to them in this condition by the Factory. However, beyond being irrelevant to several of the items listed above, we noticed that when material arrived directly from the Factory it included some parts delivered to us with the boat, making that assertion suspect. EYS personnel involved included salesman Craig Nann, yardman Tony Platt, and principal Doug Wielhouwer, with whom Frank Butler finally spoke.

We may, in fact, be better owner/sailors for having gained what feels like a microscopic familiarity with virtually every part of the boat as a result of this process, but we feel no new boat owner should have to go through this, let alone pay $900 dollars ("Rig, Launch, Commission") for the privilege.

John & Peggy Day

Foresail Furler	Specifically listed in bill of sale for extra charge; not delivered with boat. Finally delivered by EYS six (6) months later for owner installation
Foresail	Specifically listed in bill of sale; not delivered with boat. Finally, a new one was made and shipped from Factory six (6) months later
Main sheet and misc. running rigging	Included in rigging in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. Finally delivered by EYS six (6) months later.
Bilge pump	Delivered with 6" square faceplate [in cockpit] completely broken off. Replacement faceplate finally delivered and installed by EYS six (6) months later.
Marine Battery	Specifically listed in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. EYS finally reimbursed owner purchase six (6) months later.
Mast lighting plug	Delivered with plug so deteriorated all base shielding had fallen off and wire contacts exposed. EYS finally delivered wrong plug six (6) months later; then shipped another and different wrong plug (owner finally purchased correct plug from Catalina Direct)
Mast raising system	Specifically listed in Factory rigging specifications [gin pole, mast raising stays, associated tackle]; not delivered with boat rendering it impossible to raise mast outside yard. Factory shipped six (6) months later.
Fiberglass repairs	Boat delivered with 8" crack in interior cabin ceiling aft of mast support, gouge in side molding of main hatch, crack in aft berth floor and hole/crack in V berth base. EYS finally authorized repair by local marina six (6) months later.
Sail cover option [main, tiller and winch]	Specifically listed in bill of sale for extra charge; only winch covers delivered with boat. Finally EYS shipped main cover six (6) months later -tiller cover never arrived.
Ice chest	Specifically listed in Factory specifications; not delivered with boat. EYS finally reimbursed for equivalent purchase by owner six (6) months later
Standing rigging	One back stay (base), one short stay, and one long stay installed with undersize clevis pins, discovered after EYS works on boat six (6) months later; owner identifies and resolves. The cost here is not an issue; however this, like the other listed items, should have been addressed as part of "Rig, Launch, Commission"
Outboard Motor Clamp Plates, Wiring	EYS proposed and sold a Johnson outboard (9.9 hp, electric start, 4-stroke) as suitable and appropriate for this boat, a motor which in fact does not fit the boat's outboard motor clamp plates in the open transom and requires leading ignition and battery cables through the combing. Owner purchased parts (extended plates, cowl) and installed. This, like the other listed items, should have been at least identified as part of "Rig, Launch, Commission"
"Rig, Launch, Commission"	Bill of sail reflects a charge of $900 for this item. It is plain, based on the damaged, missing and uninstalled items that the boat was certainly never recently "launched "- if it was at all - "rigged" or "commissioned" for sale to the owner;; indeed, as delivered it could not be sailed at all (mast could not be stepped; no foresail).