BUYERS BEWARE!!!
Ive actually really wanted to write a positive review and held off since July 2025 to allow Boat Specialist to resolve all the issues Ive had with them. But today, after 6 months I'm at the end of my patience and since some of you are praising James Doer, then some of you know who manages the Service Department.
I bought a brand new 2025 Ranger Tug R23 or at least I thought I did, but since there was crap in the holding tank when I received it, Im starting to think it was used.
I paid for a Radar to be installed before it was delivered. When the boat was delivered to me in the Marina, immediately I discovered the radar I paid to have installed did not work. The water pump didn't work. I got 1 key when it should be 2. The holding tank had crap in it. The solar system charger didn't work. The outboard motor sat in the water in full lift and there was no bottom paint to protect it even when I paid for bottom paint to be applied to the boat. The excuse for that was the Buyer needed to ask for it...How would a Bulyer know the outboard motor wouldnt come out the water fully? The Service Dept agreed to trailer the boat back to fix the Radar and fix the water pump and all issues Ive identified and advised it can be done when the boat comes back in for the 20 hr breaking in service, which I agreed would be a good time. When it finally was picked up for service and returned 1 month later, the boat was returned but did not have the bottom paint on the outboard that I had agreed to pay additionally for. Before the boat was taken off their trailer, I spoke to James Doer who promised he would trailer it back to do the bottom paint as it should had been done before it was returned to me. So again he advised I can use my boat and then later he'll work out a time to trailer it back to finish the bottom paint that they had forgotten to have done. Few weeks later, Boat Specialist trailers my boat back to their shop to do the bottom paint on the motor and I also paid to have some service done on my Bow Thrusters and Windless Anchor... 3 weeks later my boat was returned from BS and put back into the water and as their delivery guy pushed us off from the dock, we discovered the Bow Thruster didnt work! It was supposed to be fixed, but again BS does NOT verify that repairs were actually completed. Again James Doer said he'll send a tech out in a few weeks to repair it. Yet again, I've been patient with Boat Specialist. I waited for the tech to come out and they did repair the Bow Thruster several weeks later. Just as I thought every issue had been resolved, there's more.
What's the problem now? I just learned the 20 hr break-in service that was supposed to have been done the first time Boat Specialist trailered my boat back to fix the Radar and other issues was never done! My boat is at its 50 hr service alert and I now discovered Boat Specialist never did the 20 hr break-in.
Is it fair from the multiple instances where this Service Department failed to complete work that they were suppose to do for me to say that the people managing it has FAILED and do not give a rip for our boats in their shop? I have asked that Boat Specialist do the right thing, but as he claimed that theres no written record that I asked for the 20 hr service to be done, he has decided to not recall that we spoke on the phone that I wanted the 20 hr break-in service...today he just conveniently forgot that request was made because he forgot to have it done months ago and returned my boat anyways.
If the Service Department's performance is any measure of how Boat Specialist ensures their product is quality and their service is aimed to satisfy customers, then they have failed at least me... If I am that one unlucky person to have the WORST experience dealing with them... I whole heartedly hope you will not be the next. Or perhaps I am one of many... BUYER BEWARE!!!! GOOD LUCK.
I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND. Dont let the charm and smiles fool you. read more
