WARNING: Poor craftsmanship; appalling customer service…read more
New ownership (Julian acquired this business roughly a year ago) is not reflective of the legacy reviews in my opinion. Julian ranks as one of the more defensive and combative operators I've seen.
Our goal was to remove a fiberglass T-top from our Sea Hunt to swap it with a foldaway version to circumnavigate short bridges in St. Pete. After discovering Manatee Marine on the Fishmaster site, I called and spoke frankly to the shop owner, Julian, expressing why we'd remove an expensive top and replace it with a canvas folding version. He assured me his shop was reputable and expedient given our desire to complete the project before Memorial Day. He did deliver on his timing, and I tipped him $200 for doing so as he finished the work in a few days. Unfortunately, now realize why it was so fast.
When I arrived to pick up the boat, I inquired how it top folds, to which the shop admitted they did not test it! That's the beginning of the downward spiral. I am no boat expert, but if someone spends $3,500, wouldn't you test the functionality?
The shop attendant and I continued to fold the top, and to my surprise the front of the tower hit the bow, leaving the height clearance unimproved. I immediately called Julian to address the issue who was offsite that day and his reaction was "What are YOU going to do"? Appalled at his answer, I said "that's why I'm calling you", and he advocated this was now my problem since I picked out the top. I left without the boat, and he said he'd call me back on Monday. I picked up the boat regardless the following week since we wanted to spend time with the family for the long Holiday weekend cruising around, and Julian was less than accommodating, offering no solutions, apology, or a modicum of remorse.
After arriving home, I noticed the following damage:
*Jagged cuts on the powder coating, leaving sharp edges, and damage from accidental grinding wheel contact
*Unfilled holes left in the helm
*Wires cut in the helm -- left bare
*No sound out of the speakers
*Both port side base legs not properly attached, and loose. The top is unsecure and sways.
*Mister hoses sliced and left uncapped (depress the button on the console and water fills the helm)
*Spreader light attachment bolts left uncut (kids running around a boat -- unsafe)
*Tear in the new canvas top
*Snapped the navigation light on the former fiberglass top
And to add insult and inconvenience to injury, my boat (detailed a week before arriving at Julian's shop) was covered in grease, debris, and dirt.
For contrast, Pro Marine washed our boat after a simple oil change.
I texted the shop multiple photos May 27th and never received a response, and then disputed the charges on my credit card three weeks later (I have done this less than 5 times out of thousands of transactions in my lifetime) and received a threatening call from Julian a few days later calling me a scammer and that I don't want to pay my bills.
No Julian, you deceived me, blamed the customer for your substandard production, and now left us stuck holding the bag and paying other qualified service providers to clean up your mess, leaving us in a shoddier and more expensive situation prior to your work. We must pay to fix the damage YOUR SHOP caused and start all over with a new fabricator.
The company who fixed the stereo wiring stated the inferior workmanship ranked as one of the worst they have witnessed. DO NOT BRING YOUR BOAT HERE.
