The bottom line is the pump installation is poorly located. Unfortunately during the build the manufactures question is not how can we install this pump, battery, hot water heater, shower sump pump, transducer, water tank, fuel tank, oil filter or raw water pump........so that the boat owner or service technician can get at it to repair or replace it? The question the manufacture asks is where will this fit ?
As a service technician I worked on several different brands. I found that the manufactures idea of the best place to install equipment is the easiest and cheapest. It didn't matter Bayliner, SeaRay, Cobalt, Carver,...... It didn't matter what manufacturer. A job that the manufacture says should take 30 minutes could take 4 hours because the idiot that installed the part stripped the heads of the screws or installed it off center, cut the wires to short, hose is run wrong. another variable is the 150 lbs technician can get to it and the 200 lbs technician can't. So the manufacture pays warranty rate based on the 150lbs. Prerequisite for working on our boats (technician weight 150 LBS).
I have repaired, moved, replaced and installed a number of items in my little C26. Fluid Motion (Cutwater) has been called many many foul descriptive words in the heat of the moment. I will be honest every single boat manufacturer that I have had the pleasure of working on the manufacture as been called the same foul descriptive words at some point or time.
I'm not trying to make excuses for the install of the pump, or say your not correct in your disappointment. I fully agree Fluid Motion could and should do a better job in the placement of equipment during the build.
Ranger Tug and Cutwater (Fluid Motion) portrays the company as Customer Service Oriented. The company "had"a following of owners that "had" such a good experience with the purchase, delivery, service, and enjoyment of their boat that they would never purchase another brand. Others not so much. I would say the majority have positive feed back. I wonder why they don't welcome negative feed back? Send surveys out to their owners asking how can we do better? Give us ideas of what we did wrong. What or where would be a better place to install a component. What issues are you experiencing and how do you think it could be resolved ? I don't see this with Fluid Motion. The dealer net work is so small and many dealers are not true service centers so there dealer feed back is marginal. Most of the Ranger and Cutwater owners that I have met are DIY owners with a lot of good feed back. Where does that go? In the case of Claus and Thyrsa the feed back is "
Andrew Custis":2vzriqez said:
In regards to access, the pump is right under the step and not in a difficult location. The hoses have quick disconnects and four screws to remove if you are replacing the pump. This task is about a 30 minute job with the right tools.
As easy as that sounds there are some variables that can change that easy fix to a couple hours. Been there done that on almost every easy fix !!!
Jabsco corporate office is in England many of there fluid moving products are made in England. They have a division called Xylem Most of the Jabsco pumps in the recreational marine industry are made in the Xylem division in China and Mexico. That doesn't mean it is not made to the same standards as a pump made in United States, Germany, England ,Japan...... . Most pump failures are not caused from poor quality manufacturing. If they do fail because of that it usually happens soon after being put into service. Most pump failures are do to install and application.
I'm sure that the service technicians working at Fluid motion agree that many of the install locations and access is poorly done. By repetition the job gets easier but still PIA. I saw a portion of a stern thruster relay replacement ( removal and installation of stern thruster done at the Rendezvous SWF by Kevin. Many of us have done it. He did it quicker than most but he still did not look like he was enjoying it or had the attitude is an easy job and what a good job we did maintaining access to this thruster! Just my opinion!
