posted 11-08-2004 02:26 PM ET (US)
Last year while fishing off shore NC, I noticed a crack in the port, small rear aluminum hard top support (piece is about 9in long) just aft of the passenger podium seat.I didn't think it was a big deal at the time, but while driving home in 2-3ft sea the whole hardtop began to become unstable. I then noticed that the screws holding the 2 front supports and the two rear supports had almost completely vibrated out. They were not through bolted nor was there a baking plate as I would have expected in a Whaler.
Fearing a major loss of my hardtop (vhf, gps antennae lights ect.) I quickly stopped and tryed to re-screw the screws. The tower had some tork to it and the seas made it problematic so I couldn't do it at sea. Using my extra moring lines I lashed the hard top down on either side to the forward and center line cleats on either side and slowly made my way back home.
I found a great tower place in Wanceese, NC (opposite direction from Manteo)and about 10 miles from Oregon inlet. They replaced the screws and bolted all the supports with heavy duty washers and cut off and replaced the broken support. Cost was an unbelievable $100 cheap. End of Story right? No..........
About 3 months later the same support cracked again in the same place. Brought it to the same place and they cut off the old piece and welded on a new one.
At this point I wrote Whaler a nasty letter as a Warranty claim and to my supprise they descriped to me where the tower had cracked and offered to add additional supports front and back at no charge to me.
Work is all done now and I have made two fishing runs with no events.
You whaler owners that have 2 hard top supports on the bow and stern and not the new 4 forward and aft beware.
All that and I am still happy with my Conquest 23.