For all you Northfork Outdoors / Dave Scadden Owners Wanted to get your guys thoughts on NFO's Customer service and Warranty Repairs.
Have you ever tried sending him your Scadden to have it warrantied repaired ? .. Say example you get a hole or leak in one of the toons.
I know I can Patch & Aquelseal somthing like that but just for peace of mind say you want to ship him your toon to have it professionally repaired by the MFG. have you guys run into any issues getting NFO to do repairs?
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No, but I am sure if you could ship it or take it to him, they would fix it. I do talk to one that had his boat fly off his roof and broke the end cap and road rash, they did fix it.
Zak had problem with the oars (which by the way, Dave doesn't make the oars) and they replaced them no problem.
They are super busy and there are only a few on hand to keep the cost down. I am sure they can fix it, but it might take awhile.
Aquaseal is the quickest and easiest fix. Oh and F.Y.I. Straight Aquaseal is the strongest form. The accelerators and the new UV quick fix are not as strong.
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Right On that's good to hear, I don't have any problems as of now just trying to get some info for further down the road.
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Leaks are tough. They are busy so they really don't have time to look for leaks. If you know where it is and mark it, no problem. My hubby had problems with his seat portion of his XX loosing air. He talked to Dave and he told him to check the pressure release valve. He did and it was loose. He tightened it, and that was a week ago...seat is still tight with air.
They can talk you through real easy.
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[quote flygoddess]Leaks are tough. They are busy so they really don't have time to look for leaks.[/quote]
Not try to bash NFO been reading through the forums and there allot of great reviews well... not on the white water forums but I don't plan on taking the Scadden down a class V rapids anytime soon but I guess Im just neurotic to think if drop $$$$ for another boat I like to know I covered down the road.
Heres the crazy thing I sent NFO an email just to see how there service was .... I got no response
Then I sent him another email from another email & IP address and I got a similar reponce stating to tighten the valves after explaining to him not the valve its pinhole leak NFO said use aquaseal and no further response on sending the toon to NFO ( ill pay shipping ) kinda sketchy especially when NFO toons are mucho $$$$ hmmmm
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I’ve had some self-inflicted leaks with the Assault and Navigator (hint – be sure and remove foot bar before folding up boat as cotter-pin can wear through the ‘toon). Rather than send to Dave, it was just so much easier to repair them with Aquaseal or if necessary with an actual patch glued on with something like Vynabond (you can buy at NRS web site).
I always carry the Loon UV-Cure Wader Repair. We got started on the Green last summer when we eventually noticed bubbles coming up between my legs (not what you think!). It was leaking fast enough, I had to pump it every 20 min. or I would be sliding off the seat into the river. We pulled over for lunch, I let the air out of the seat, put on some of the Loon stuff and let it sit for 30 min. It took full pressure and stayed good the rest of the trip. Really saved the day, and leak was from when we had folded boat the night before. I’ve yet to have a leak from just normal use.
I will note that one day I was at Scadden’s shop and some guy had sat on his boat with a Bowie knife and sliced a wide swath in the hull. Dave had fixed it for the guy’s upcoming fishing trip and he was exceptionally grateful that Dave would fix it even though it was clearly “user error.”
It is also my experience that Dave is so busy trying to be a "good guy" to everyone that he is not always able to immediately respond.
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I always call Dave. There are days I get the message machine or I don't get answers to emails, but not often. I call in the morning hours and always get through. In fact I mentioned your concern and DAVE said tell him if he wants us to fix it just send it on in and we would be happy to fix it with about a week turn around right now.
As far as the white water forums, all I can do is laugh. Most times they are comparing apples to oranges. And if there is a problem with NFO it is ALWAYS a friend had one, what a joke.
Now if running class 5 white water all the time or this is your thing, NFO does have the steeheader with the larger pontoons and frames, but he sales more than any of those other companies could dream of and he focuses more on FISHING. BUT, any of his boats can and have done so, go down a class V.
Same breath, try taking one of those Steelheaders out on stillwater. Way overkill. More wind Resistance, harder to sit and kick, weight is sick.
Again, the bad mouth is done by people that CLAIM they ordered something they didn't, in fact one guy pm'd me bitching he didn't get the rolling duffle. I asked when he purchased it, and he said he didn't, it was suppose to come with the boat????? Never seen that, it is an accessory, but again, customer screw up. Michael bitched his caps came off, come to fine out he was lifting boat by the caps!
Or the complaints from people that have never owned one, but a friend of a friend....
There is another forum that is quickly becoming an OUTLAW site and everyone loves them. Some great mods as well.
Problem with the Escape is I thought of it as a pontoon boat, it isn't! It is a magnum float tune with oars is all. It is perfect as a Float tube!
You decide and I can help if you need it. I will be making a trip up there this week.
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[quote kandersonSLC]I’ve had some self-inflicted leaks with the Assault and Navigator (hint – be sure and remove foot bar before folding up boat as cotter-pin can wear through the ‘toon). Rather than send to Dave, it was just so much easier to repair them with Aquaseal or if necessary with an actual patch glued on with something like Vynabond (you can buy at NRS web site).
I always carry the Loon UV-Cure Wader Repair. We got started on the Green last summer when we eventually noticed bubbles coming up between my legs (not what you think!). It was leaking fast enough, I had to pump it every 20 min. or I would be sliding off the seat into the river. We pulled over for lunch, I let the air out of the seat, put on some of the Loon stuff and let it sit for 30 min. It took full pressure and stayed good the rest of the trip. Really saved the day, and leak was from when we had folded boat the night before. I’ve yet to have a leak from just normal use.
I will note that one day I was at Scadden’s shop and some guy had sat on his boat with a Bowie knife and sliced a wide swath in the hull. Dave had fixed it for the guy’s upcoming fishing trip and he was exceptionally grateful that Dave would fix it even though it was clearly “user error.”
It is also my experience that Dave is so busy trying to be a "good guy" to everyone that he is not always able to immediately respond.[/quote]
Right ON! Went I say the Renegade has a scrape, that was as you said, MY fault for packing it wrong, or I should say ALAN did it[laugh]
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@ FG & Kendal, Thats great to hear as mentioned earlier no problems now but great to know Ill be covered down the road.
Yeah those white water forums are funny I think the best comment I read was:
"Class V whitewater is more about the skills and experience of the person on the oars, not the type or brand name of boat. Just because someone says "it's a class V boat" does not make the person a class V boater. "
Plus its too hard to fish on a class V waters [
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[quote flygoddess]
Right ON! Went I say the Renegade has a scrape, that was as you said, MY fault for packing it wrong, or I should say ALAN did it[laugh][/quote]
Scrape ? Is this the Renegade your selling ?
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Yes, and not a scrape, wrong wording. It does have a spot of Aquaseal on both sides of boat from packing the boat with the foot bar on. And not so much the bar but those stupid clips. This was back when I first got the boat, three years ago. No leaks in those three years.
I put same material patches on the front of the seat to prevent wear from either my hip waders or the stripping basket also.
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I just told someone how I got a replacement oar after losing mine.
I have had them repair the cap on the end of my toon that I drug on the ground on the way home from Idaho years ago. (Don't ask me how) I dropped it off on a monday and Larry repaired it by that friday. Can't beat that.
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FYI about Dave Scadden's Service
I purchased my Escape thru Cabela's(I know--my fault) I made an incorredt assumption that the package was the same as what NFO sold. Turned out the Cabela's didn't include the pump and duffle bag. When I called NFO, they sent me the pump and duffle, no charge, no hassle, even though they were not responsible for my error. It doesn't ge much better than that for customer service. I am a fan for life.
[quote zebramidge0]FYI about Dave Scadden's Service
I purchased my Escape thru Cabela's(I know--my fault) I made an incorredt assumption that the package was the same as what NFO sold. Turned out the Cabela's didn't include the pump and duffle bag. When I called NFO, they sent me the pump and duffle, no charge, no hassle, even though they were not responsible for my error. It doesn't ge much better than that for customer service. I am a fan for life.[/quote]
However, need to spread the word. There is no more duffle bag included. That was an old ad for Cabela's that THEY need to change.
But that service is what I have always dealt with. Thanks for posting that though.
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I envisioned his shop being much bigger... oh well as long as he producing great boats thats what counts. Stopped by NFO on my way home form Mantua, I must have missed them cause they were locked up @ 4:30.
Still trying to get a motor mount but hard to get stuff when NFO is in Ogden and Im in Herriman. I think NFO needs to hire a graphics artist and do a online shop. [cool]
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That is actually the show room. The places the boats are built are kept very private.
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