Ameritex (Lack Of) Customer Service
YYZRC
Member Posts: 5,109 ✭✭✭✭✭
I have held back for almost a month in posting this, but here we go.
When I bought my boat (sight unseen), I knew from the pics and from the survey that the canvas was shot. When the boat arrived at the end of October, I found that the old canvas was literally trashed; I was barely able to get it up before the boat went into storage. Some of the canvas had been repaired over the years, but it didn't matter as I was planning on replacing everything except the camper bows.
Rather than futz around with a local canvas shop - all of which are very busy and take months to get things done - I decided to order complete canvas from Ameritex (Taylor Made). Almost $4000 later, I had a huge box of canvas just waiting for COVID to abate.
Fast forward to mid-May when the marina reopened and my boat splashed. The first thing I did was started installing my new canvas. I did this on my old boat as well (ordered the canvas from Four Winns) so while I'm not a pro, I have a bit of a sense of what's up. The camper fit great (albeit missing one of the bungees; Ameritex sent a replacement). The forward connector "sails", not so much. Despite the fact that there should be virtually no variation between 330s with arch since the geometry of the arch and windshield should be consistent, my side sails are almost 1.5" too short.
I have been back and forth with Darren (PM Winter Boat Covers) who has been working with Ameritex, but this is going nowhere. They've requested multiple pics, descriptions of the issue, etc. which I've provided promptly as for the past month I've had a boat that I can't close up properly nor can I operate on plane without removing the entire forward connector. Darren has offered to pay for the replacement parts, but finding a shop that can make them within a month seems next to impossible.
So, buyer beware. If you expect any sort of support from Ameritex after ordering, good luck. I spent almost $600 on the sail pieces alone and I am going to spend that much again having a shop custom make replacements.
When I bought my boat (sight unseen), I knew from the pics and from the survey that the canvas was shot. When the boat arrived at the end of October, I found that the old canvas was literally trashed; I was barely able to get it up before the boat went into storage. Some of the canvas had been repaired over the years, but it didn't matter as I was planning on replacing everything except the camper bows.
Rather than futz around with a local canvas shop - all of which are very busy and take months to get things done - I decided to order complete canvas from Ameritex (Taylor Made). Almost $4000 later, I had a huge box of canvas just waiting for COVID to abate.
Fast forward to mid-May when the marina reopened and my boat splashed. The first thing I did was started installing my new canvas. I did this on my old boat as well (ordered the canvas from Four Winns) so while I'm not a pro, I have a bit of a sense of what's up. The camper fit great (albeit missing one of the bungees; Ameritex sent a replacement). The forward connector "sails", not so much. Despite the fact that there should be virtually no variation between 330s with arch since the geometry of the arch and windshield should be consistent, my side sails are almost 1.5" too short.
I have been back and forth with Darren (PM Winter Boat Covers) who has been working with Ameritex, but this is going nowhere. They've requested multiple pics, descriptions of the issue, etc. which I've provided promptly as for the past month I've had a boat that I can't close up properly nor can I operate on plane without removing the entire forward connector. Darren has offered to pay for the replacement parts, but finding a shop that can make them within a month seems next to impossible.
So, buyer beware. If you expect any sort of support from Ameritex after ordering, good luck. I spent almost $600 on the sail pieces alone and I am going to spend that much again having a shop custom make replacements.
2008 350 EC on Georgian Bay
Comments
Haley Falin – Customer Service
Taylor Made Plant 113 | A Lippert Components Company
1900 47th Terrace East, Bradenton, FL 34203
Phone (941) 747-1900
Fax (941) 749-5000
Email: afsinfo@taylormadesystems.com
"We appreciate your inquiry, but due to over whelming order volume, backlog and the supply chain logistics, we are temporarily suspending our direct sales at this time. Please check back in the next few weeks. Again, thank you for your interest in Ameritex replacement canvas."
Since the Admiral has a heavy duty sewing machine that can handle leather we're going to order some test supplies from SailRite. She looked at how the windows are sewn in and thinks she can handle it, so we'll try some DIY Strataglass replacement and see how it goes. If it works, money saved. If it doesn't, lesson learned.
My wife is pretty confident she can sew it with her machine. She's been sewing since 4H in elementary school -- so I'm confident in her abilities to measure, etc., it's more so if her machine will hold up to the density of the canvas and glass.
We'll spend less than $50 for the test materials, so it's worth a shot.
Lead time now for the product is about 4 weeks
I would highly suggest to go through Darren as the pricing seemed much better and that way you have a direct contact rather than some random person at Ameritex.