Why I will buy my next boat from C and O marine (and you should too!)

In this world of instant global communication, when something or someone doesn’t stand behind their product or are not willing to help, it hits the net fast. But when a dealer or company does right, it sometimes never is heard about. I want you all to hear about this.

Spring 2008, I bought a beautiful used ChampioN 203 with a 250 Yamaha from C and O marine in White Bluff. I live in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, which is 1350 miles from C and O. This is my 3rd Champion. My second Champion was consignment boat that was also on the C and O lot.

While I won’t go into all the details , I will give you a synopsis of the events .Once the boat was home and fishing season began, I had some issues with the engine. I know that this is what happens when you purchase a piece of used equipment , so I had no problem having the engine repaired, but it was a very difficult diagnosis and this thing left me stranded on Lake of the Woods several times during the process of figuring out the problem. Yes, I was getting frustrated. By now it is the end of July and I have another grand into the engine!

During a Large tournament, the “Kenora Bass International”, here’s the link is case you want to check it out http://www.kbifishing.com , the engine was acting up again, and Yamaha had a factory tech there to help any anglers in need. He was able to finally fix the problem! Yeah Baby! Now we’re rockin’.

So here we are on day two of the tournament, with the engine fixed the night before, life is good, we’re out fishing….and the auto bilge comes on…weird, but maybe some backsplash right? Nope! Through out the day it is coming on more and more…..so at the end of the day with the boat on the trailer I crawl underneath and what do I see ….a 6” split in the hull at the corner of the pad !!!! Oh *&#@!! I’m not a happy camper.

This is where the fine folks at C and O marine come in. Right after the tournament, I’m on the phone to C and O and I’m pissed. I spoke with the general manager and after we both calmed down a bit, he had me take some photos and forward to him. He has me take the boat to a local glass shop for inspection and hopefully repair. The glass shop didn’t want to touch it and said it was a HUGE job.

OK it’s now near the end of August...I call C and O again, and speak with the general manager again….He tells me we need to get the boat back to Tennessee, I have heard of the great reputation of C and O’s glass shop so I am all for it! Now the boat needs to get the 1350 miles back to Tenn. Well C and O comes through again and in November, the Champ is back at their shop. I asked if I could send a laundry list of things down to be looked at while they had it and the answer was “ of course” The boat repair was completed by mid December . They even fixed a flat Tire and a broken wheel stud!

Now the boat needs to get back to Canada ….no rush though because it is -30 degrees here with 3 feet of snow on the ground. The conditions in white bluff were much nicer.

As mid March rolls around it’s still -25 degrees, snow still on the ground but I’m gettin’ the itch ….so I call down to C and O and everything’s ready, the laundry list stuff is done, the repair is done my new butt seat is in the boat, she’s ready to go!

C and O does it again and helps her get back to Canada! So now the boat is sitting in my driveway waiting for the snow to melt and the lakes to open. I am completely impressed with the workmanship of the repair.

It would have been easy for C and O marine to wash their hands of this way back in August. It was a used boat and I am 1300 miles away in another country. This is OUTSTANDING customer service!!!

To Todd, Carol, Joe and all the other fine folks at C and O a giant thank you from a very happy customer. Your integrity, honesty and willingness to help is what makes you the best dealership’s in the country. I am proud to be a C and O marine customer. Also thanks to Champion boats for standing behind their workmanship.

I have heard many times that when buying a boat, the dealership is just as important as the brand, and I think this may even be more important in today’s tough economic situation. I am disappointed that C and O is no longer a Champion dealer because this means my next boat most likely will be a different brand.

I am posting this on the boat brands that C and O carries as well as the Champion board

Man…when will this ice melt!!!

That's a great story!

And exactly why I make the drive to buy there myself. I actually made the 3 hour trek this morning. I was there at 7:40 and David was already on the phone while Carol was getting all the computers cranked up. http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

Good report!
Way to go C & O.
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http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif agree completly. similar deal on my last boat. thats why a got the 294 EVO

I would have no problem buying from them! http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif

My experience with them was:

I found my recent boat (2007 Champ 183) last fall from an individual down in Ga.
We were to meet in Chatanooga Tn.
Before going down to buy it, knowing C&O has very good knowledge of Champion setups, I contacted C&O to ask a few questions about the setup on it.
They answered every question I had, and to boot! They offered to set up an appointment with a dealer they knew that was close to where I was going to get the boat.
They said that this dealer would check it out before I bought it,
just to make sure I wasn't buying something bad from the get-go!

Not too many (probably none!) boat dealers would help out someone that is not giving them any business, & just called to ask some questions about a boat they are planning on buying from someone else.

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Bill, awesome story - glad you're fired up!!

It's official. . . you're now a raving C&O fanatic like many of us! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

now you know why all my boats are C&O boats !!!!!! http://www.bassboatcentral.com/boardstuff2/beers.gif

I have bought 3 boats from C&O, for the above reasons and then some. I'll continue to do so..Heck we have 7 boats purchased from them within a 50 mile radius...that should tell folks something http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/USA1.gif