Your marine ice makers manufacturers talk about how while many of the more than 63,000 boats damaged as a result of 2017 hurricanes will be repaired and have more years of life on the water, some used boat buyers in 2018 could end up with storm-damaged lemons. The nation’s largest advocacy, services and safety group for recreational boaters, Boat Owners Association of The United States (BoatUS), cautions used boat buyers that some boats affected by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma are beginning to hit the market, and that getting a prepurchase survey (called a Condition and Value survey) is very important.

“It’s not that you don’t want to buy a boat that’s been repaired, but you should have full knowledge of the repairs and know they were done correctly. It’s a transparency issue that will help you negotiate a fair price,” said BoatUS Consumer Affairs Director Charles Fort. The boating group offers eight tips to help you spot a boat that might have been badly damaged in a storm:

1. Trace the history. When a car is totaled, the title is branded as salvaged or rebuilt, and buyers know up front that there was major damage at some point in the car’s history. But only a few states brand salvaged boats – Florida and Texas do not – and some states don’t require titles for boats. Anyone wishing to obscure a boat’s history need only cross state lines to avoid detection, which can be a tipoff. Look for recent gaps in the boat’s ownership, which may mean that it was at an auction or in a repair yard for a long time.

2. Look for recent hull repairs. Especially on older boats, matching gelcoat is very difficult. Mismatched colors around a repaired area are often a giveaway and may signal nothing more than filler under the gelcoat, rather than a proper fiberglass repair.

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3. Look for new repairs or sealant at the hull-to-deck joint. Boats that bang against a dock during a storm often suffer damage there.

4. Evidence of sinking. Check for consistent corrosion on interior hardware, such as rust on all hinges and drawer pulls. You might be able to spot an interior waterline inside a locker or an area hidden behind an interior structure.

5. Corrosion in the electrical system. Corrosion on electrical items, such as lamps, connectors and behind breaker panels might mean the boat sank recently. Does the boat have all new electronics? Why?

6. Look for evidence of major interior repairs. Fresh paint or gelcoat work on the inside of the hull and engine room is usually obvious. All new cushions and curtains may be a tipoff, too.

7. Look for fresh paint on the engine. It may be covering exterior rust as well as interior damage.

8. Ask the seller: In some states, a seller isn’t required to disclose if a boat was badly damaged unless you ask. If the seller hems and haws, keep looking. 

Boating season is very short in New England, and recreational boaters want to spend as much time on the water as possible during the summer months. 

New boats will usually include a warranty from the manufacturer. Additionally, there is usually an implied warranty included in a sale by a marine dealer who regularly sells boats or other vessels. 

The consumer should give the manufacturer or dealer prompt notice of any problems that might come up. It is recommended that the boat owner keep a written record of the dates that problems occurred, the nature of the problems, and the conversations that they have with the manufacturer or dealer about the problems. 

Although each case is different, possible remedies can include canceling the sale and seeking a refund. Consumers may also be able to recover damages for the loss of use of their boat. And, federal law provides that the manufacturer or dealer might be responsible to pay the consumer’s attorney’s fees.

So don’t forget these helpful reminders when trying to determine if your boat is a lemon. 1) Always trace the history;  2) look for fresh paint on the engine; and 3) ask the seller.

Commissioned By George Washington, “Old Ironsides” Still Sailing on 220th Birthday

The USS Constitution, or “Old Ironsides,” proved today that it is still just as seaworthy as it was when first commissioned 220 years ago. On Friday morning, the warship left Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston and sailed to Fort Independence at Castle Island where it was met by the Concord Independent Battery and 101st Field Artillery Regiment from the Massachusetts National Guard. 

Upon arrival, the USS Constitution gave a 21-gun salute, which was returned by National Guard. While passing the Coast Guard station — where it was originally built — the USS Constitution gave 17 volleys of cannon fire.

The historic ship’s trip to Fort Independence and back to Boston is part of the Unites States Navy’s 242nd birthday and the Constitution‘s 220th birthday celebrations. 

The USS Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship afloat in the world. It was commissioned and named by President George Washington and set sail for the first time in 1797. Known as “Old Ironsides” for its numerous victories during the War of 1812 between the United States and the United Kingdom, the three-masted heavy frigate is a wooden warship with sides nearly two feet thick.

It was one of the first ships of the newly-created United States Navy, the successor of the Continental Navy. It was personally named by President George Washington and President John Adams, who attended its inaugural launch in 1797. 

Not only does it have all of that history, but “Old Ironsides” has a very unique distinction from other U.S. naval ships. The USS Constitution is the only remaining ship in the Navy’s fleet that has actually sunk an enemy ship. Of course, that was back in the War of 1812 — but it just adds to how impressive this two-century-old ship really is!

White oak was used for the new planks and keel, keeping with its original construction. The ship is still operated by the U.S. Navy, along with the Naval History & Heritage Command Detachment Boston, but was retired from active duty in 1855 and has been stationed at Charlestown Navy Yard in Boston since 1934. It undergoes repairs roughly every 20 years.

Visitors will also have the chance to make birthday cards for the USS Constitution, as well as make paracord bracelets for military care packages. A cannon salute will take place at 12:15 p.m. precisely to mark the first launching of “Old Ironsides” in 1797.

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