2 hours ago, JeffK said:

This may feel like an unpopular opinion, but I've been on both sides of this and have seen 3 dealerships up close and personal, including my own at one point. 

The dealers don't always get reimbursed for work that is viewed as warranty in the customer's eyes. Dealers will often have to "eat" a lot of the cost and labor associated with warranty work, which is why they have to make money on the sale of the boat. And in order to quickly get you back out on the water, will often do it by purchasing parts in advance to swap out knowing they might get questioned and fought on the claim. Imagine the flip side if the dealer decided to sit on your boat for a week in July just trying to get an authorization approved before they would even touch your boat for fear of not getting reimbursed. If you went out somewhere to find a killer deal, then arrive at a different dealer expecting them to do all the warranty work for you, some of which would likely cost them money to do, you'd view it a little differently. While there are some dealers that have shown themselves to do some shady things, there are also plenty out there just trying to make an honest living in an industry that constantly paints them as criminals.

Everyone want their dealer to have 30 techs just sitting at the shop waiting to turn your new boat in and out for service the same day in the middle of the summer, but also wants to be able to buy it at 3% over invoice. That just isn't a sustainable business model for a seasonal, luxury item that requires stock in the showroom.

For cars, you are correct. They make most of their money on service and warranty claims are much smoother and consistent. Not the case in the marine world.

 

My 24 T220 came with an incorrect manual wedge (vs power) and different surf exhaust and swim platform due to the mix up. It sounds like Malibu is only covering the power wedge and exhaust swap and my dealer says they have to eat the swim platform cost which is absolutely nuts to me they would have to eat that since it was entirely Malibus fault. 

After 10 years of ownership, my hull cleaning got a little lax.  Starting to see some oxidation on the black, so I ordered a chicom DA buffer and some 3m light cutting stuff.

The buffer comes with a bunch of colored pads.  How does one decide which to use?  Up until now it has been all arm power and collinite cleaning paste.

For a non mechanic like me, pulling the engine is one of those things you get to talk about for years.  (This photo was in 2018)

Bought a 2004 Malibu Response LXI and and in the process of restoring it. It did not come with a swim deck or brackets for it. 

Looking for a few things...  

 - What bracket I need to order

 - If anyone has one that would fit, I would consider buying one

 - Looking for dimensions of the deck itself and I could possibly build one

 - Interested in seeing pictures

This is why I love this site...you guys are awesome!  Thanks for all the feedback it's much appreciated!