I am now properly, I think, entered into the 2017 Everglades Challenge Derby that starts October 10th. This is a event for a period of months prior to the actual Challenge which promotes monitored activities in boat, on land and in gym. Each of the three areas of activity are encouraged to achieve proper physical, mental and equipment readiness for a specific Challenge.
Hobie has not delivered my 2017 Adventure Island. I have no boat. They have not told me when I will have it. Hence I am fairly handicapped in this run up event.
My boat was ordered in July if memory serves correctly. Was told delivery should be Sept 15 to October 1. Recent communications with Hobie by my dealer was littered with 'maybes' and 'could-bes' rather then dates. If I order a new car from GM they can tell me most accurately when it will arrive. When ordering an item of any type from Amazon they give me a delivery date seldom off by one day and constantly communicate during the course of purchase and delivery. If I order a pizza...well you get the idea.
I respectfully request my boat please. If not today, can Hobie at least tell me when it is going to be shipped? No? Why the heck not?
I love Hobie products. I bought the first Hobie 16 demo boat with multi-color tequila sail when I was part of a Tempe, AZ boat shop way back when. Hobie boats engender an almost cult following then and now and I have always embraced that feeling for Hobie boats.
I reluctantly understand that engineering, production manufacturing issues can happen. yes, I can accept that.
It is more challenging to understand Hobie's lack of communication with me as a consumer. (yeah. I get it. I am not a customer, I am a consumer. The Dealers are Hobie's customers in their minds). I am simply a consumer. A consumer, incidentally, that feels decidedly disrespected by Hobie management who's products I have always respected.
A minimal, yet informative email communication from Hobie, through their dealers early on, would have dissipated frustration to an acceptable disappointment level. Why Hobie risks allowing such frustration to flare, when its prevention or control through communication is so easy, is curious.
As author of Capt Bones and Miss Lynn's Excellent Adventure and past contributor to boating magazines I thank and applaud Hobie for a great public forum full of insightful information by owners and allowing me to express my disappointment and frustration even while vacuuming up tons of knowledge I will need to pilot my Adventure Island effectively.
I have a Everglades Challenge series of skills to master and the clock is ticking into the future. I love Hobie products and now...I want my boat please.
Thank you,
Capt Bones
aka Wayne Flatt
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