Stabicraft 1450 owners beware.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (2) Likes(2)   Quote Schampy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Stabicraft 1450 owners beware.
    Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 4:42pm
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I purchased a new Stabicraft 1450 late last year  and have since put about 60 hrs on it up until a couple of weeks ago when I notice a puddle of water under it on a dry driveway after a trip out to Tiri. My worst fears were confirmed when undid the rear bung and watched in horror as gallons of water gush out. The hull had cracked. Right at the back by the last wobble roller. About  5 inches long.
I expected a quick weld up job under warranty after taking the boat to my local Stabicraft dealer. As it turns out the hull was only 3MM thick. Not 4MM. This was a real piss off. 

Stabicraft have quietly updated there website last April as it was a 4mm hull that I thought I was buying. Little did I know the boat had been built way earlier.
There will probably be quite a few of these earlier models floating around with there owners blissfully un-aware there boat has a major design flaw.
They refused to replace the hull, or refund money. Instead The boat is to be de-rigged. Floor and 4mm hull plates to be trucked up from down south and welded in by local engineering firm at Silverdale. New U-Dek to be reapplied and boat re-rigged.
This was the best of two options to fix my boat. The other option was to leave 3mm hull in place and re-weld a new 4mm hull skin over top.
Thats right. A finished thickness of 7mm on a 4.5m boat powered with a 50 hp engine. 
Would certainly trigger a few questions when it comes time to sell.
Im just putting this out there to alert any owners.... or potential buyers to check the thickness of the hull plate. If its 3mm It has potential to fail.... otherwise they would not of upgraded to 4mm. Why the hell they designed it in the first place is mind boggling. These boats are touted as a hardcore Southern ocean adventure machine. Mine failed in the Hauraki Gulf with my son on board.

Also while I'm in winge mode check your trailer coupling if its a DMW trailer.  My coupling could be pulled on and off the tow bar with bugger all effort. The pin that holds the leaver down had the roll pin inserted incorrectly resulting in the pin sliding open while towing and the trailer potentially uncoupling on a bump - Which is exactly what happened to me last summer on the Thames Coast Road.
Thankfully the safety chain kept the boat connected- But my Tailgate and Hardlid on truck were completely destroyed by trailer drawbar when I breaked.
Naturally everyone involved in the manufacturing of trailer did exactly nothing after talking the big game- and Im still out of pocket over $600 for the cost of excess from my insurance company. Plus a new coupling and trailer plug and wiring.
Sincerely hope none of this happens to other owners.... But I suspect it will.



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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Keith C Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 5:06pm
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I assume you have taken legal advice or taken them to task under the consumers guarantee act. I would try for money back or a replacement at the minimum.
I have the Stabimag that they were using at the 2023 Boat Show and that clearly states 4 mm for the 1450 hull in numerous places.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schampy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 5:52pm
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Taking on a big firm like Stabicraft isn't quite as easy as you think. This aint there first rodeo when it comes to disgruntled owners.
When I did talk about Legal action they basically said bring it on.
Its a $46k boat. Thats currently unusable. The cost of a lawyer and the fact I would probably be without a boat for 6 months while I get into a bun fight put me right off.
I had no real option but to get boat re-skinned.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 6:51pm
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Wow, that's a terrible situation. A 7mm hull on a small boat! Man that's going to slow things down. As for the trailer that is inexcusable. PM me some details on the trailer, I may be able to help there via a friend of a friend of a friend sort of thing
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Snappa Geoff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 7:29pm
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After reading this Schampy I have no synpathy for the struggles Stabicraft are having over the last year.  Wot a pack of A-holes. You probably would of been better off buying a Chinese copy at half the cost, at least it would of had the 4mm hullLOLReminds me of a time years ago when Blackdog cat had started, two mates from New Plymouth bought there 4.5 meter models and both of them had the hulls split on them when out at sea. To cut a long story short the firm tried to get out of replacing them or money back as it was west coast and they were to hard on them..I  here they gone bust now? Thanks for posting Schampy I hope This puts a few off buying a new Stabi.. Beer
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 7:42pm
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Dare I say it? If it hadnt been for a tv personality would stabi be a household name in fishing circles?Only been out a couple of times in a 1850 and wasnt impressed with ride,nor owner hence why he sold it after 12 months from new.
"Times up"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote lawabidingpoacher Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 7:42pm
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Maybe a case of watch this space....l
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 7:55pm
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None of this is good. It's the first time I've heard anyone say anything negative about Stabicraft apart from the ride.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote smudge Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 8:37pm
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A mate had a 1450 Stabi, known in this forum as Sand Groper. A great little boat and he has since sold it. He's a big fulla and I'm not slim but it was a great fishing platform especially for stand up styles such as soft baiting and I would have had no problem recommending them, until I read this.
Best gurnard fisherman in my street
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote cirrus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 10:30pm
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This is not good. As they market as a quality brand you have the right to expect quality. No compromise.
Contact consumer affairs.  Your boat was clearly NOT FIT FOR PURPOSE. Under the consumer guarantee act. .
To best of my knowledge the law states they must, repair to your required standard, replace hull ,.or give full refund.  It is for you to choose which option,not theirs to choose.
Also you saw the hull was 4mil alloy on website. To receive 3mm is false advertising . That is also an offence.
Personally i would call consumer affairs for advice Keep all written or recorded  documents . Secondly contact local citizens advice bureau. The always have a lawyer you can run this past,free of charge i think..
Your lives were potentially at risk as result of this hull failure. Not acceptable.

Further you were only going to tiri. Not as if you were rounding cape horn. Why would even a 3mm fail.  Was there a fault in that batch of alloy. Or had a cheaper brand been used.to cut costs as we entered the recession/slowdown. Who knows.
Did trailer come with boat. That didnt seem up to scratch either.

I have had a frewza F14 fisher 4.4 metre pontoon boat since 2012. The hull is 3 mil. Have had zero issues with the hull ,or boat.  the 3 mil has done well with me. Why not on your boat.
Good luck. Push on until this is settled on your terms.

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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Fish Addict Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 11:29pm
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Schampy - a few questions if I may.
You say:
"... They refused to replace the hull, or refund money. Instead The boat is to be de-rigged. Floor and 4mm hull plates to be trucked up from down south and welded in by local engineering firm at Silverdale. New U-Dek to be reapplied and boat re-rigged.
This was the best of two options to fix my boat..."

It is unclear to me whether the cost of de-rigging, new 4mm material, transport, welding, new U-Dek and boat re-rigging is solely at your expense or some split cost arrangement with Stabicraft has been agreed?
As and aside there was a duty of disclosure for Stabicraft to inform you that the boat they sold you was not as currently advertised.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote MB Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 Sep 2024 at 11:32pm
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Another thought. You would have assumed that a boat built by one of the big names in NZ would be faultless and if that wasn't the case, they would be falling over themselves to correct the problem. The market is too small in NZ to get a bad reputation.  

No help to the OP, but I'm feeling lucky that my FC Boat has been faultless in the last 2.5 years of ownership.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote out2sea Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 1:55am
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This doesn't surprise me at all I brought a brand new stabicraft in 2017, at 3 years old the paint was bubbling and there was a hole corroded through the hull.

Only realised when seeing a bunch of other people having the same issue. Despite knowing of at least a dozen other people who had contacted Stabi directly with the same issue. When I contacted them, I was told they had never heard of the issue before and it definately wasn't a warranty issue.

That was the end of any communication from them despite asking advice on how to fix or who I could take it to.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Pcj Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 4:30am
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https://stabicraft.com/the-boats/1450-frontier/#specification-section

Been in touch with your insurance company??They will have the correct advice. CGA seems best option $50 to lodge claim from memory


Tube Thickness3mm (0.118”)
Hull Thickness4mm (0.157”)
"Times up"
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Schampy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 8:32am
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The de-rigging of the boat , re-rigging of the boat and sorting out the new U-Dek  is being done by Gulfland  Marine. They were not the sellers of the boat.  They will be invoicing Stabicraft for there time and materials involved.
They Have also have been Fantastic to deal with..... as none of this is there fault. They are just helping me out as they are my nearest dealer.
The hull components are being fabricated down in Invercargill and trucked up all at Stabicrafts cost.
A local engineering firm in Silverdale will take care of the re-welding process. One of the guys there used to build 1450s when they had a factory in Silverdale. And apparently this job can be done and the boat will still look factory. 
Thats the part Im slightly sceptical about.
You'd think the cost of all this re-fabrication work would of been un-economical for Stabicraft..... The U-Dek alone is a couple of thousand.
But they dug in wouldn't budge- I had to  bend over and take what they were offering..... or yes get lawyered up... at my cost and fight them.
For a new hull? It wasn't worth the fight. 
Funnily enough they sent me photos of another 1450 that has this process done to settle my scepticism about their ability to fix the boat to an exact standard of a new boat. It looked ok... but I could tell straight away they had chopped it to bits. The welds looked way heavier than factory.

If Stabicraft had simply replaced the hull under warranty as its simply not fit for purpose I would of accepted it and moved on and none of this would be written. Because of all this sh-t I thought bugger them! I want  to warn other owners there are potential issues with this boat.
This thing filled with water 20km out to sea with my son on board. 
It pissed my right off that rather even acknowledge the event they went straight into weasel mode and offered me a total ****ter of a idea and weld a 4mm skin over top of my broken 3mm! Has anyone ever herd of this being done? I was totally blown away.
Corrosion between plates, extra weight, destroying re-sale value  were the main reasons "Option 1" was not taken.


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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote cirrus Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 9:24am
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They sent photos of another 1450  that had same process done. So this has happened before.?   In that case could it be a design fault and not a 3mm alloy issue.. Undue stress on hull for some reason. Could the trailer design have put stress on that section of alloy. Did they supply trailer with boat.?Could issue re occur on repairs. Assume full new boat warranty is given on repairs.  Perhaps they should re brand the 1450 as semi submersible . (sarc)
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Alan L Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 9:32am
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One issue with lighter hull plate is the load on spot areas when trailered. Not sure of the config of the trailer, but where possible it is best to support the main weight via the keel. Not all trailers have keel rollers. So you are back to supporting it via the hull on rollers. That puts a high load in a spot area. If the plate is not up to it, it does eventually crack. With keel rollers, the wobbly rollers are just there to keep the boat in place, not supporting the main weight.
Ask me how I know.
But I agree - Stabi's rsponse sucks.
Alan
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote pompey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 9:47am
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Schampy. I have had an issue with Stabicraft over the failure of design on a 2400. They didn't want to know. However, when I told them I had approached  Fairgo and I would be writing to the Marine Safety Council or whoever it is that certifies their boats and is on the safety plate and the similar organisations in the US and Australia, they started to listen. I did write to the NZ marine or maritime safety council with photos and a video of the issue. I am sure Stabicraft were made aware of it and decided to fix the problem and shut me up. I was very aggressive about it, otherwise they couldn't care less. 
Stabicraft have terrible customer service and back up.
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Snappa Geoff Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 10:30am
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The more you read this thread Schampy the worse it gets. If you really want to get this out there put on the facebook pages like NZ fishing community, Id'e say it would help put a slow nail in the coffin, it seems to be were they are heading anyway...
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Post Options Post Options   Likes (0) Likes(0)   Quote Kevin.S Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 Sep 2024 at 10:35am
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So, there is a known design fault on a number of boats currently being used by unknowing owners.  At least two boats have had their hull fail.  Surely this has the potential to cause a serious, possibly even fatal, incident to occur at sea and the company should be issuing a recall on the boats that are out there to retrofit the correct thickness hull. 

A company that's happy to put customers at risk for the sake of profit is not one that I'd be happy doing business with.
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