Millions of Americans use boats for recreation, travel, freight transport, sports, and business. Boats are also essential for military activities, rescue operations, and monitoring of water bodies. Even so, boats develop defects just like vehicles.
Unfortunately, some boat defects are persistent and prove difficult to fix. A boat with an engine defect can stall when least expected, endangering passengers. In addition, it forces you to incur unplanned expenses such as towing charges.
Luckily, California lemon laws apply to many consumer goods, including boats. If a manufacturer sells you a defective water vessel, boat, or recreational water with a significant safety hazard, you may be eligible for a refund or replacement.
If you’re looking for a solution for your lemon boat, consult an experienced lemon law attorney on how you can get a refund or replacement.
California lemon law covers all watercraft sold by a manufacturer or dealership with a valid warranty. It also includes boats that do not have motors.
The lemon law covers the following watercraft if sold with a warranty:
A ‘’lemon’’ boat or watercraft has a persistent fault that diminishes its value. It could be a leak, poor floatation, engine defect, or faulty navigation. A boat is considered a lemon if it has chronic defects that have proved difficult to fix after several attempts.
If you have a lemon boat or watercraft, California lemon law requires the manufacturer to refund you its buying price plus repairs or replace the vessel. However, you need to prove to a judge or an arbitrator that your vessel is protected under the lemon law and it is indeed a lemon.
Here’s what you need to prove that your boat is lemon:
You must also prove that you gave the manufacturer a reasonable opportunity to fix the defect. California lemon law has defined a ‘’reasonable number’’ of repair attempts that a boat manufacturer, authorized agent, or certified boat facility has before a consumer can initiate a claim.
Considering you have the burden of proof as a consumer, it is crucial to keep all essential records related to the boat and your interaction with the manufacturer.
If you’re not sure whether your boat is a lemon, an experienced attorney can evaluate the merits of your case and determine whether you may be eligible for a refund or replacement.
Besides constrained use and value, owning a lemon boat is a safety hazard. For instance, if the navigation or communication system breaks down, you can become stranded in open water, endangering your life.
Fortunately, you can file a lemon law claim to get rid of the defective boat.
Here are the steps for filing a lemon law boat claim:
You must take your boat to an authorized dealership or its agent for repairs to protect your rights under California lemon law. In addition, you should give the manufacturer a ‘’reasonable number’’ of repair attempts to fix the boat or watercraft.
Like all legal matters, the success of a lemon law claim improves with the availability of supporting evidence.
Compile the following records to back your claim:
After gathering the necessary documentation, it may be time to engage a lemon law attorney. You’ll need the attorney’s help to file a successful lemon law claim. The attorney will also advise you on how to improve your case and create a winning strategy.
More importantly, most lemon law attorneys work on a contingency basis, which means they get paid after winning the case. California lemon law also requires manufacturers to pay for the legal fee once the consumer wins the case.
The manufacturer will table a proposal if they agree with your claim. The attorney can negotiate for a higher settlement amount or better terms. Lastly, an attorney can litigate the matter in court if the manufacturer refuses to settle or offers an insufficient amount.
If you own a boat with a persistent defect, you can’t rely on it to run your business. If it has a fuel system defect, it may fail to ignite when you have an urgent delivery to make, leading to a loss of revenue and customer trust.
With that in mind, consider working with an experienced lemon law attorney who’ll aggressively fight for your rights.
Lemonaw123 lead attorney Valerie G. Campbell has handled over 500 lemon cases with a 99% success rate, which gives us a competitive edge in handling your case.
Contact us online or call us at 657.529.5239 for a free case review.
Valerie G. Fernandez Campbell, known as The Lemon Law Lady, has dedicated her entire legal career to the specialized field of Lemon Law, a journey that began immediately after her
graduation from UCLA School of Law.
With a 99% success rate and a policy of no fees unless you win, her practice stands as a testament to her expertise in California’s Lemon Law, her commitment to her clients, and her unwavering dedication to justice and consumer rights.
This page has been written, edited, and reviewed by a team of legal writers following our comprehensive editorial guidelines. This page was approved by attorney Valerie G. Fernandez Campbell, personally handled over 500 lemon law cases and settlements.
