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 Boat Builder Money Down 
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Post Boat Builder Money Down
What is standard procedure for having a boat built. 1/2 down on everything or something else. beginning to believe I got took.


Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:05 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
A lot of guys do a case by case basis, but MOST will have you put a down payment on it prior to the build.


Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:21 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down


Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:26 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Most I've seen take an initial deposit, then you pay when they finish. Anything more than that doesn't seem normal, but that's gonna be between you and the builder.

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Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:43 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
I've had several boats made. a handshake was all it took. If I had to put money down, that mfer better drop everything and spit that boat out. If he is real boat builder, he won't need a deposit.

just my opinion. some boat builders may work different from the ones I deal with.


Sat Jul 14, 2018 12:54 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Sure wished I had posted this earlier. I paid a shade over $16K and it was supposed to be ready in 6 weeks. Working on 3 months now and last few calls were not returned.


Sat Jul 14, 2018 1:00 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
if it makes you feel better, that is common. especially with alum welders, they are a independent bunch. just stay in touch with him so he gets it done but find the sweet spot or he'll spit out some junk and then you'll have to kill him or sell it and start over.

best of luck with it!


Sat Jul 14, 2018 1:15 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
I usually get a 3500 deposit on just a boat, if its loaded out I ask for a bigger deposit, I've had some that went up to a 6500 deposit. That's covers some of the costs to build. I'm not sinking a ton of my own money in a build for someone not to come get it and then I'm stuck with it until someone wants it. Someone puts a deposit down let's me know they are serious and coming to get it. I've built boats for people I've never even spoke to and was done all over text. I've wrote out contracts for some when a deposit is taken, whatever makes the customer comfortable. Mine is small time tho compared to some builders on here. Even gatortrax had a deposit when I bought a couple boats from them.

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Sat Jul 14, 2018 1:49 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
2k down on my last 2 boats


Sat Jul 14, 2018 4:58 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Never had a boat built but in my experience never rush the person. I had my airboat redone last summer l. The guy did ask for a deposit. Told two weeks to have the stringers done, new front deck, and gel coat inside and out two turned into five. I sent him a WTF text and he just half a$$ed the whole damn thing


Wed Jul 18, 2018 7:20 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Been a while since I shopped or had a boat built, but from my experience and what I have seen on here...

Deposit amount around material cost seems to be fairly normal. Balance on completion.

Wait times vary and is not at all uncommon to miss the deadline a little, but that doesn't make it right, and you need to stay on it. Communication from the builder is key in that situation so you know what is going on.


Little unclear how much you have already paid. You say 3 payments and you say 16k. Are you paying 16k for the boat, or have you already paid him 16k, don't have the boat, it is 6 weeks overdue, and he is not returning your calls? If the latter, sounds like you have a problem. I imagine not what you want to hear, but if that is the case, doesn't sound good.

At this point, I would be pushing the point with him pretty hard.

Also, think it might be time to post up a few more details including builders name. Could be some folks know him and can reassure you not to worry, or know him and can tell you that you need to worry and be doing everything including legal action to get after him. You could also prevent him from taking someone else for a ride....

I don't know you or your personality, but if you have "bugged" him to death with multiple calls a day (and even multiple calls in the same hour) and constant texting, then he may be backing off on talking to you some. If you have just "checked in" every week and two and are in this situation that is another story. Doesn't really resolve the money part though, and that is the part that concerns me if you have already given him 16k. He should have never asked for that much money and if he did, seems like he is having money troubles.

All of that should have been worked out prior to starting the build though. You should have had a specific build plan, a specific payment schedule, and a specific delivery date all in writing or the very least in an email.

Either way, good luck and keep us posted.


Wed Jul 18, 2018 8:01 pm
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Thu Jul 19, 2018 6:44 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Who’s building it?


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Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:05 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?url=ht ... are_type=t

Quick search found this...

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Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:21 am
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Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:21 am
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Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:21 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Aren't they in Center, TX?

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Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:05 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
When I had my boat built I think Lennis wanted an initial deposit to cover the cost of the aluminum which is not unreasonable so that the builder doesn't have to put up his own money until completion. He didn't ask for a deposit untilwe met and he gave me a quote. I do feel like laying a deposit down is a gesture of good faith on the buyer's behalf. Hell, to get a deer mounted now most professional full time taxidermists are going to require a deposit, possibly half. They too have been burned too many times.

I knew what I was dealing with because he had been building for 30 years and wasn't going anywhere. We got together and he drew on paper and took notes everything I wanted and how I wanted it. He told me up front I had about 4 people in front of me so it would be about XX amount of weeks before he would start. Well he was pretty much spot on. He got the flu in the middle of building mine so that set him back about a week.

He called me when he was starting on mine to let me know. From there; he called me a couple times to ask questions and that was it.

Before he started he gave me a quote on paper. When I picked it up the price was the quote. End of story.

I guess some people just have to fuck up doing business the easy way. Getting that boat built was about as easy as it could get. All the pressure was really on me to design and tell him how I wanted everything.

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Thu Jul 19, 2018 1:46 pm
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Thu Jul 19, 2018 2:48 pm
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Thu Jul 19, 2018 3:26 pm
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 7:29 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Just had a good conversation with my builder and looks like all is good. Boat is supposed to be ready next week. This should be a pretty unusual boat with more extras than almost any I have heard of. Since I do not Duck Hunt this should be a 4 Wheel Drive Fishing boat on steroids.


Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:31 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
What all extras?

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Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:45 pm
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 12:56 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Will be a nice setup, but unfortunately, not that unusual lol. Its actually a fairly normal build for some of the custom builders. You ought to enjoy it.

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Fri Jul 20, 2018 1:51 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Seems to be a good price for 16k unless that isn’t the full price. I’m guessing its not


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Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:48 pm
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Fri Jul 20, 2018 2:56 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
I am very happy with my boat.

That said---If I have another boat built, I will put $1000 down and pay for materials directly, that way I know exactly what is delivered and when. Labor payments will be made based on percentage of completion.


Sun Jul 29, 2018 8:23 am
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Got my Boat today and it was not perfect but very close. I am happy. I am pleased to report he had a pretty good sized shop and really seemed to know his business.











Thu Aug 02, 2018 7:56 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
What was not perfect?


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Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:31 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Got the wrong Troll Motor and left off two Cup Holders. Right now that is all I can find that was not exactly correct.


Thu Aug 02, 2018 8:45 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Very nice a quick question did they paint the bottom? I just bought a new Gator Trax and no paint on bottom??? The dealer said none of them do on mud boats?? and i love the seats where do you get them?


Fri Aug 03, 2018 2:16 am
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Fri Aug 03, 2018 4:57 pm
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Post Re: Boat Builder Money Down
Thank you for the information.


Mon Aug 06, 2018 3:40 am
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