LESSONS LEARNED WHILE CRUISING Jamie & Behan Gifford
that performed beautifully – for two
months. Somehow the pump head
leaked water into the motor housing.
When Bad Things Happen
We contacted the manufacturer
who, after a few questions, had a
to Good Gear
replacement pump shipped out the
same day. Clearly the pump shouldn’t
have failed, but the manufacturer fixed
the problem quickly and with no hassle
It’s boat show time in Seattle. working you can only avoid the issue and no cost to us.
Thoughts of many mariners turn to the so long before the holding tank is full. Herring – a loser company: Five
acres of gear waiting to be discovered In this case, the problem was because months ago, we purchased a new
at Qwest Field Event Center. In all our daughter ate prunes intended to wind generator with expectations
the years that we went, not once did help her regularity and she apparently that it would work. After months
we find a million dollars on the way consumed some pits as well. When the of waiting for backorders just to get
to the show despite being hopeful. pits were “passed” they jammed the the unit, we installed it and found
Consequently, we stuck to a budget pump impeller; oh, the cruel irony of that it looked nice but produced no
and spent time comparing products to that day in paradise! electricity. Technical support then
arrive at what we thought were good Still, other to-do list items emerge required that the device be uninstalled
decisions. Sometime during the last 18 from gear that should work but doesn’t. to do a “bench test,” which it failed.
months of cruising we learned that even The support given by the manufacturer They determined that we needed a
top quality equipment can fail when it or their reps is what makes that item an replacement electronic component (not
shouldn’t. Then the true measure of asset or liability onboard regardless of so simple being in Mexico) but have
an item’s quality is in how well the how good it is supposed to be. Based on since stopped responding to our email.
manufacturer and its representatives a few of our experiences, we’ve come With zero amps of electricity made and
support it. up with a “quality” ranking system. an uncertain prospect of when we may
As we geared up to go cruising, get the replacement parts, this device is
friends and family often envisioned Useful Websites worth less than a bucket of bait fish.
this to mean we were off on a really
Cruisers Forum:
To be fair, people and companies
long vacation. “No,” we would
www.cruisersforum.com
have bad days, so a company shouldn’t
joke, “it’ll be a lot of maintenance in rate a herring based on one experience.
exotic locations.” This cliché could be
SSCA Forum: www.ssca.org/phpBB3
The good news for consumers is that
considered overused except for it being
Southbound Net: groups.yahoo.com/
there are numerous ways to learn
so true. Our to-do list has taken on a
group/southbound_group
how well a company stands behind its
personality of its own. Some days it’s products.
all worked up and mean; other days
Pacific Puddle Jump: groups.yahoo.
Boat shows are a great forum for
it takes on a demure disposition. But
com/group/pacificpuddlejump
evaluating product and company
it never goes away. Due to this simple information. The volume of vendors
reality we’ve learned the following: Navagear: www.navagear.com participating means there is the potential
1) Men do learn to read product
Panbo: www.panbo.com
to quiz the product manufacturer and
manuals. 2) Getting frustrated with multiple representatives of the product
the item you’re working on may Blue Whale – the heavyweight of as well. There are also opinions to be
produce unfavorable results; such as, quality companies: When we bought mined from the show speakers and
when I dropped the outboard choke Totem, most of the seacocks were original experienced cruiser participants (such
mechanism overboard while removing/ to when she was built in 1982. They as the Seven Seas Cruising Association,
cleaning the carburetor for the 3
rd
time worked fine but were an older style that which typically has a booth staffed
that day. 3) When really frustrated we weren’t as comfortable with. A call by members; they also produce an
about something not working, get in to the manufacturer resulted in hugely equipment survey), and fellow boaters
the dinghy and row 100 yards away helpful information on inspecting and that can offer great sources of firsthand
before expressing yourself. maintaining this particular style of opinions and experience.
The to-do list is usually filled with seacock. Any company that supports a Internet forums where cruisers
items that need preventive maintenance 27 year old product like that is a great congregate are another resource.
for overcoming normal wear and tear. company. There are years of archives to search
Fail to clean and lubricate your anchor Dolphin – a company that handles by keyword, and often very engaged
windlass as directed by the manufacturer its customers with skill and grace: Before current or past cruisers who are eager
and it will return the favor of failing departing Puget Sound, we installed a to answer questions. A few we’ve
you. When the macerator pump stops new variable speed, fresh water pump found useful are Cruisers Forum and
48° No r t h , Ja N u a r y 2010 Pa g e 72
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