Walker Bay Genesis 10' structural failure

[revere]

Same problem with both wheel wells cracking and leaking on my WB. Spoke to factory rep who just quit. No chance of getting any warranty repairs due to being out of warranty period. I never lifted the dink up on the davits with the engine
mounted. I only used the lifting eyes supplied by WB. Just looks like a poor design. I glued it back together for now.
Folding transum nice idea but it always leaks.
I do like some of the other features but I wouldn't buy a WB again. I would look for the same features on a another brand.

[skipgundlach]

What did you use for the patch? Any special prep?

If it hadn't been that WB is so slow to respond, and once Ivan DID write, it had a rather long lead time, I'd have bitten the bullet and made the parts' transfers.

Since that opportunity is now gone (I'm on the road for a month, and then expect to head out for the Bahamas until November or so), I'll wait for a good opportunity to take it to a beach with some aggressive bottom cleaner, some acetone (for purifying the well), and my EternaBond tape, applying it to the INSIDE, so that pressure actually improves the seal.

However, if there is a structural issue (I think that Ivan and I are no longer at adversarial levels, so I'll ask him about the structural issue), I might be tempted to do whatever it was you did.

Thanks for filling in. I believe, based on the number of folks here and, because someone saw this and started up some Facebook discussions, using my pictures for illustration, the number of respondents there, that this is actually a common issue.

Ivan's solution (free hull, my shipping and labor) included some form of reinforcement for the hinge areas. IF (at this point it's a strong 'if' due to the nuisance and cost of swapping literally everything OTHER than the plastic hull itself) I get the replacement, I'll put up pix of the reinforcements.

For latecomers, please add your stories as the one above did. This is not over yet...

Thanks.

L8R

Skip

[Jmcdan5655]

Wow, I am having the same problem currently. Leaking at the same place. Yep second owner so “out of warranty” offer has been to buy new dinghy for a great price of which I have yet to be given... no offer of hull replacement for reduced cost. I’ve been in contact with Ivan and nice and cordial so far, hope it stays that way as it should.
No way all these are caused by exactly the same thing... some lifted without motor some were... it’s purely a bad design. Wonder what the failure rate is currently. I’m guessing those that haven’t cracked eventually will. I asked for a repair solution and was told there is one but we don’t like to give it out as it’s unsafe... or something like that. I’ll take a shot with some JB plastic epoxy repair and see if that holds for a little while.

[c.spots]

The Walker Bay Genesis dinghy clearly has a serious design/ construction flaw. I tried several recommended glues, none of which worked. I also bought a plastic welder and it worked for a while. But I couldn’t access both sides of the crack.
After years of frustratingly trying to deal with Ivan and others, Sean got involved. Unfortunately he no longer works there.
I was in the Pacific, and New Zealand making things more difficult - no dealers to do any repairs.
His plan, which was great for them, was to sell me a whole new unit at a huge discount ( their cost?) and I also pay the shipping across the Pacific to the Marshall Islands. Not cheap, but I had a brand new dinghy, upgraded model (I had to change many parts of my chaps).
The new dinghy now has cracks in exactly the same places. Outboard is 9.9, within their limits, and is always removed for passages, but the dinghy is hoisted every night (it has never had excess weight because of water). However, the weight of the outboard is supported by the same structure as the lifting points. So the weight of the dinghy is not directly straining the failed point.
I kept the automatic electric bilge pump which I installed on my first one. Nice to have after a tropical storm too.

Although I very much like the handling of the Walker Bay Genesis dinghy, I strongly recommend avoiding the company. Unless you reside where the dealer is located?
1. I was assured when I bought the replacement dinghy, that the flaw had been fixed. (It has been there since 2007, at least.) They obviously lied. They haven’t answered my recent question if it has finally been fixed now.
2. Their warranty for a well known, blatant flaw has been trying to avoid dealing with you. Classic Stonewalling brought to a fine art.

[Alterboy 65]

Does anyone have the Corporate Address & Telephone Numbers for Walker Bay . Not the Laredo TX one. The Yakima Washington one .
We have the same problem and the same frustrations .



Thank you for any help



Alterboy

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Alterboy 65

Does anyone have the Corporate Address & Telephone Numbers for Walker Bay . Not the Laredo TX one. The Yakima Washington one .
We have the same problem and the same frustrations .



Thank you for any help



Alterboy

They are actually in Vancouver BC, and, at least on the times I tried, with two different phones, the main number and fax number either didn't connect at all (no ring, even) or got the message that that number was not in service.

The 800 number leads to Mexico, where their service department is located (and maybe manufacturing, but I'm not at all sure of that).

I *eventually* got relatively straightforward comms with Ivan, the service/warranty manager, but it was a some-months, many-mails process.

Their offer of a hull included that it would have reinforced transom areas, apparently to cope with the now-standard problem.

As to an earlier poster, the way to get to the underside is to remove the wheel assembly, which has metric hex head machine screws holding it in, I think I recall; we'll have to take ours to shore to invert it to get to ours, which is now leaking profusely if that arch is below the water line. Then I'll use some EternaBond, an RV product for fixing aging seams (no leaks), on the INSIDE so that pressure helps rather than hinders the seal.

[Alterboy 65]

Again , Does anyone have any phone numbers or Address s or names that work for Walker Bay . I would really appreciate it ...
AB THANKS

Alterboy .

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by skipgundlach

As to an earlier poster, the way to get to the underside is to remove the wheel assembly, which has metric hex head machine screws holding it in, I think I recall; we'll have to take ours to shore to invert it to get to ours, which is now leaking profusely if that arch is below the water line. Then I'll use some EternaBond, an RV product for fixing aging seams (no leaks), on the INSIDE so that pressure helps rather than hinders the seal.

Quoting myself, as it was a month ago and probably escaped some folks' attention:

We took it to a beach a couple of days ago, for general cleaning, including the bottom, which had some remnants of critters and grunge from the in-the-water cleaning I'd done of it.

The wheel wells are held in place with 3 metric hex bolts; they came out with out a fuss, and none were loose.

After cleaning out the hard-shells, including some intact bivalves , I blew away the remaining water in the transom-end of the well (it was facing slightly down to that point) and then dried it and followed that with an acetone wipe following a capful or so over the nuts used to hold that particular transom hinge in place.

The crack, from the inside (the one which leaked, WAAAY further up in the thread), was very small, which was encouraging. Fortunately for me, the EternaBond roll is wide enough to completely cover, and slightly overlap, that area. So I cut myself a 1/2" strip off the end of the roll, eventually succeeded in peeling off the plastic layer exposing the sticky stuff (it's sticky enough that it doesn't want to let go of the typical clear plastic stuff used on such tapes), and pressed it home with a spatula and my fingers.

The adhesive side is squishy enough that it's a good gap filler, and by pushing as hard as I did, I could see some slight spooge in the crack when I righted the dinghy. Before that, however, reattachment of the wheel caddy was uneventful.

I laugh at myself to say that I was so focused on the particular job that I forgot to bring the replacement splash guards/trim tabs I'd ordered; you have to remove the wheel caddy to get to the nylock nuts in order to replace them.

So, as it's very straightforward, likely I'll remove them, again, in the water, and make those replacements.

Belt and suspenders kind of guy that I am, I also put a strip over the crack on the inside and shoved it home with a small spatula.

In the couple of days since, I have had not a drop of water come through. If it continues to be watertight, since, despite my being able to replace the hull with a free one, the shipping is over $300, and my dinghy repair friend who'd help me with the exchange of every lick of hardware and the tubes would not be free, I'll just use it as it is. The repair isn't ugly, and as it's the ultimate in flexibility, and therefore not likely leak due to boat flex, it's not anything I'll worry about.

Stay tuned to this channel (click your notifications segment below if it's not already ticked) for a followup; we're towing it, with a 6HP, all over the Bahamas for the next couple of months. I expect that if a leak will result, it will do so before we get back. Either way, I'll let you know.

L8R

Skip

[Alterboy 65]

BOYCOTT WALKER BAY

ITs time to warn everyone AGAIN about the POOR TO NONEXIStANT customer service WALKER BAY is providing for owners of their GENESIS dingy from 2009 thru about 2014 . These dingys have a design flaw in the lifting harness that cracks the transom . Try to find Walker Bays Corporate headquarters on the net. YOU CANT . It in mexico but you cannot find the exact address.

BOYCOTT WALKER BAY until they either fix or replace all the dingys out there that leak at full cost to THEM .
If you have had a problem [ see thread ] email complaints to mmartinez@walkerbay.com AND rmedina@walkerbay.com . If you would like to see my extensive emails with them and their artistry at absolving themselves from the problem just ask .

I won a court claim against them for $7000 but they avoid it by being somewhere in Mexico yet they continue to sell in the US .

[GordMay]

Where's Waldo?

According to some sources:
Walker Bay is headquartered in Yakima, Washington, United States

According to Bloomberg Walker Bay Boats is located:
2250 Huntington Drive Fairfield, CA 94533 United States
PHONE: 1-604-682-5699

According to the Northwest Marine Trade Association:
Phone: (888) 315-1410
Physical Address
1215 san Dario Ave. Laredo, TX 78040
Mailing Address
3555 Bay Street, Union Gap, WA 98903

According to Walker Bay’s website:
Warranty Processing Department
5914 San Bernardo Av, Suite 4-697, Laredo, Tx, 78041

[skipgundlach]

Originally Posted by Alterboy 65

BOYCOTT WALKER BAY

ITs time to warn everyone AGAIN about the POOR TO NONEXIStANT customer service WALKER BAY is providing for owners of their GENESIS dingy from 2009 thru about 2014 . These dingys have a design flaw in the lifting harness that cracks the transom . Try to find Walker Bays Corporate headquarters on the net. YOU CANT . It in mexico but you cannot find the exact address.

BOYCOTT WALKER BAY until they either fix or replace all the dingys out there that leak at full cost to THEM .
If you have had a problem [ see thread ] email complaints to mmartinez@walkerbay.com AND rmedina@walkerbay.com . If you would like to see my extensive emails with them and their artistry at absolving themselves from the problem just ask .

I won a court claim against them for $7000 but they avoid it by being somewhere in Mexico yet they continue to sell in the US .

This is a very old thread, and my last to it was right above yours.

What did you do/sue-about to generate a $7K judgment (presumed solo, unresponded, default judgment)?

However, as to a follow-up to my last:
The repair on the previously leaking crack worked a treat. Get a small strip (4' is available if I remember correctly) of EternaBond and follow my modus shown in that reply.

No leak there, but the other crack has now widened, and leaking; we're about to do the same treatment for it. We also have some transom leaking; I presume there's a bladder in the hinge which has failed; if I can find it, I'll do the same on that.

Walker Bay's service has been lousy forever, and I had the opportunity to meet the then-muckety-muck at a boat show, and developed a correspondence with Chris Carroll. There's another Carroll there now but mine moved on not long after, due to being upset with the service folks dragging their feet, shipping me a new dinghy (I had to put the old one - in this case a tubes issue) in the same box and they picked it up to take away).

I don't know if my involvement (via cc) of him (and, later, as this dragged on, the president) caused my solution, but getting every possible known honcho involved can't hurt.

As to Mexico, the last I looked the company was in Vancouver BC, but the service department was in Mx...

However, currently, it appears that they may have been bought, as contact info I find now is in TX. But the corporate website is silent about physical address (I can't find anywhere to snailmail anything, e.g.).

OTOH, one of the other pages I explored had marketing@walkerbay.com; it may be that trying every type of title would get you further into the works than just the service folks in Mx...

However, good luck on getting a boycott via this medium, which is pretty small. You MIGHT get larger coverage by starting a new thread...

Oh, and PS I see that they've modified (I don't know how long ago, but all the complaints on our type failure likely drove that change) the housing for the wheel wells; likely our particular failure won't happen on those, as it's substantially wider and more robust...

[walkerbayboats]

Hi Skip,
This is Valentina from Walker Bay. I am the new Marketing Manager. This quarter, we've had a ton of changes throughout our company. We have restructured and hired new employees in our customer service, marketing, and warranty department. Every new employee is a strong addition to the team and is eager to help every customer. We apologize for the difficulties you had previously. Although the Genesis has since been discontinued, our team is here to help you with any other future inquiries. You can take my email marketing2@walkerbay.com as a point of contact should any other issues arise.

Originally Posted by skipgundlach

Good morning...

The dinghy in question is a warranty replacement for a previous dink with multiple issues other than this one.

However, at the outset, I want to say that my, and several close cruising buddies, and a dinghy repair specialist I know all agree that trying to deal with Walker Bay warranty issues is about as close to a black hole as you can get.

It took having met the marketing manager at a boat show, and extensive correspondence later as the issues with the original dink arose, and his (finally) upset at the runaround and time lapses seen in an attempt at resolution of our several issues, to eventually having him declare the warranty/service department incompetent, firing the head of that department, and shipping me a replacement dink (the one with the current problem). Unfortunately for me, while the last name is the same, his replacement is not intimately familiar with me and our circumstance, and has not offered any intervention of any sort.

I've attached pix of the failure points, which are (if you're not familiar with them) the tops of the wheel wells, and (maybe coincidental, or maybe specific to the issue) immediately under the only two hinges in their folding transom (which we've never used, but is a nice feature for those needing to collapse and stow the dink aboard under way).

The port one leaked, which caused me to look more closely. It continues to leak, more so over time, but the failure does not appear to have increased notably in the several months I've been watching it.

So, to the point:

Has anyone here succeeded in actually TALKING (vs email or web-based interaction) to anyone at WB? My calls, on two different phones, either never connected, or got a 'not in service at this time' message to both the main and fax numbers. I have no internal numbers (direct lines to anyone), only the ones shown on their website.

And, has anyone with one of these had such a failure, and if so, what was the treatment? WB wants to sell me a new hull at a boat buck, plus shipping, but...

WB's warranty department lays the failure to the installation of St. Croix lift points (STC has been bought out and that product is no longer available) which were installed in the selling dealer's showroom; this installation viewable here: Pictures: Flying Pig 2011-2012 Refit/Last Minute Stuff/New Dinghies Under Warranty/Walker Bay/2 - New Dinghy/Lifting System Replacement

I demurred the suggested installation of those at the time, and instead bought a lifting strap system. I refuse to believe that those could have in any way influenced the failure. However, given that they (the starboard side is cracked but not leaking) are directly under the hinges, and the transom is the lift point when we put it aside (see thread on that subject here: Lifting dinghy out for the night - Page 3 - Cruisers & Sailing Forums ), I expect, instead, that it's the lifting by the transom which is the cause of that failure.

In any event, so far, at least, they are stonewalling, saying that the installation of the lift points, which - not coincidentally, to my mind - were not only featured at their dealer, but structurally identical to the solution posed by the marketing manager at the above mentioned show, are the cause of the failure, and since I installed them (not an 'authorized' modification done by an authorized person), the warranty was denied.

We love the dinghy for all the various special differences it has, but are not the least bit fond of their warranty or service.

Has anyone dealt successfully with warranty or service, and has anyone had this failure addressed by WB?

Thanks.

L8R

Skip