Readers's Mail

Non-compliance, After-sales Service Issues... Was it Better Before?

"I am an avid listener and viewer of all your videos and interviews. I also read your articles with interest. However, I am surprised because it seems to me that you never mention the difficulties that shipyard customers are confronted with when buying new boats. Of course, it’s not very glamorous, but it’s a growing problem that affects many shipyards, large and small. You only need to spend a little time on social media to realize this. Your website should address this issue – non-compliance and after-sales service problems with new boats. Prospective buyers would certainly be interested and would surely appreciate any advice on how to avoid certain potential pitfalls"
Bernard

Readers's Mail

1 / 6

Published 01/08/2025

By Emmanuel van Deth

Subscribers Only

Issue: 203

Published: oct. / nov. 2025

Hello Bernard,

Our experience in sailing dates back to the 1980s for the oldest members of the Multihulls World team, and the verdict is unequivocal: there are far fewer design, structural and after-sales issues today than there used to be. The widespread use of digital tools and user feedback have enabled architects and builders to offer much more sophisticated and reliable multihulls over the years.
However, we cannot stress enough: social media is often a sounding board for the most dissatisfied users – and they do exist! – but it neglects to mention all the happy sailors out there. The latter are more likely to be found at owner gatherings organized by the shipyards...
However, multihull construction remains semi- industrial – producing 20 to 400 catamarans per year is not the same as assembling hundreds of thousands of cars... There is always a period of fine-tuning which lasts a few months after delivery, during which a number of minor problems need to be resolved – calibration of instruments, adjustments to certain parts, eliminating unwanted noise, etc.
Sometimes, some of you are faced with more serious problems such as manufacturing or assembly defects. The quality of after-sales service is sometimes called into question. We are, of course, attentive to any problems that may concern multihull buyers of – whether new or used, for that matter.
Similarly, when we notice obvious defects in new models that we are testing, we inform the manufacturers so that corrections can be made as quickly as possible. However, just as we refuse to publish news items about accidents at sea, we are also careful not to publish articles that would discourage people from sailing and discovering the oceans aboard their multihulls. Our goal is to inspire you, not to put you off or scare you! This is an editorial choice that we stand behind 100%. Would a car enthusiast be satisfied to discover a section called ‘crash of the month’ or ‘worst manufacturer of the week’? In the short term, yes, no doubt, out of a sense of morbid curiosity... but in the long term, no – they would end up turning their attention to other, less anxiety-inducing activities.
However, we do not bury our heads in the sand and deny any of the problems that multihull owners may encounter: we have published an article on the dangers of interactions with orcas in southern Portugal and near Gibraltar and a comprehensive article on the risk of capsizing. And as for your letter... we published it!

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