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Conference unifix::sailing

Title:SAILING
Notice:Please read Note 2.* before participating in this conference
Moderator:UNIFIX::BERENS
Created:Wed Jul 01 1992
Last Modified:Mon Jun 02 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:2299
Total number of notes:20724

559.0. "Swift Sailing bankrupt" by AKOV04::KALINOWSKI () Fri May 15 1987 12:26

    
       After two weeks of getting a busy signal from Swift Sailing/
    Smallcraft in Harwichport, I made a journey to the store to find
    out they went bankrupt. Whether I'll ever see my parts or money
    again remains to be seen according to the attorneys.
    
       If any of you have unsettled claims with Mr Radthe and company,
    you may call 849-1136 which is number of the attorneys. Ask for
    Steve Shamban.
    
    john

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559.1another victim?NETMAN::CARTERFri Mar 18 1988 14:4214
    I see I'm not the only one who ever ran into major problems with
    the crew at "Not so" Swift Sailing, Inc.  My problem occurred,
    presumably a lot earlier than yours.  I had called the Better Business
    Bureau and they alleged they had no complaints with Art Radtke and
    company.  Memorial Day of 86 I went to visit to find out where my
    overdue boat was.  I couldn't talk with Art-he was on the Fugawi
    race, but I did talk with another customer who was there to tell
    Art about the court date which was scheduled to settle HIS dispute.
    That customer declined to make a complaint to the BBB.  I did. 
    I would be interested to hear if the BBB gave (not so) Swift Sailing
    a clean bill of health.  Bottom line, I guess I'm lucky, I ultimately
    got my boat and all its parts.
    

559.2Small craft is healthy againAKOV11::KALINOWSKIThu Mar 24 1988 18:3336
    I guess I never finished my tale of woe. the lawyer mentioned above
    laughed at me cause I was not one of banks owed money. I called
    Hobie Cat and they took care of me with 2 weeks, shipping my spare
    parts to another dealer. They just added my loses to their suit
    since they were owed money for several catamarans. They sure impressed
    me with their sincerity. They have class.
    
     the other problem i had was that they never gave me my trailer
    title. I made it though the year with my old plate (same make trailer),
    but had real trouble getting any help from Shoreline (highlander)
    trailer Corp. Luckily, one of the employees at SmallCraft who got
    burned for some wages remembers my name and sent me a title from
    a new boat and will request a different title for the trailer they 
    now have. 
    
       Last week I went to registar my new trailer along with a car
    and my new 4x4. I had her date the bill of sales for November of
    last year. This zipperhead at the registary (i.e. Mass dept of Taxation)
    says I should have registared the trailer Immediately after I bought
    it and called Boston since I had to pay a find and interest. We
    are talking about $1.36 on a $300 trailer. I couldn't beleive this
    bozo would waste a long distance phone call on a small amount like
    this, but he did ( I mean I just handed the clown $800 of taxes
    on the new 4x4). 
    
    Oh well, at least It's all over.
    
    
    john
    
      I hear that Art lost his house in court. The reasons for the money
    problems were not the boat business, but a bad condo deal. So the
    moral of the story is to keep an ear to the ground concerning the
    dealers and builders health prior to pluncking down your money.
    

559.3Small Craft is under NEW managementAKOV11::KALINOWSKITue Apr 03 1990 13:4128
    
    
         Since I cast the first stones, I figure I should update the 
    Swift Sailing story.
    
         Art Radke lot his shirt, and the company was bought out by a
    couple of college kids who used to work there all summer renting out
    Catamarans. Dave Nolan masterminded most of this. The kids got burned
    for a couple of weeks wages. Dave then bought the business and focused
    on the smaller vessels instead of the 40+ foot Hunters SmallCraft use
    to sell. They also have 9 locations on the Cape where they take people
    out for rides on Catamarans.
    
         Small Craft is now very much alive and doing well. I have bought
    a new boat and lots of gear from these guys, and they are probably the
    best Hobie dealer in New England. They not only discount prices on
    accessories and spare parts (unheard of for Hobies), but they are 
    honest, and tell you what you need to know instead of pushing things
    at you.
    
         They are about to open a second location in Cohasset Ma. 
    Because of the change in ownership, the store has greatly improved.
    It should no longer be scratch off on one's dealer list.
    
       john
           
    
         john