I'm BACK and anxious to get out there again!

[Bassamatic]

Sorry I have been away and off this Fantastic Forum for the better part of the last 6 months. A brief update on why: the last time I went tubing on Upper Otay my H3 busted a seam on the outer covering as I was getting ready to load it into my Explorer after a great day on the lake. This incident was MY FAULT and I felt like such a dummy since I FAILED to let some of the pressure out of the pontube after being on the lake and in the hot July sun for over 6 hours!! SHAME ON ME - I should have known better!! Anyway, when I got home my wife told me to just buy another H3 and I was going to do that if I couldn't get my torn one repaired. Well, since I retired from Civil Service on July 3rd and was starting a new job the end of that month, I got real busy and never got around to going fishing again the rest of the year.

Now I've been bitten by "the bug" again and am anxious to get back out there and start "hookin' 'em":o) Monday I ordered a new H3 from NFO and it should get to me in around 6 weeks or so. I am still going to see if I can get my old H3 sewn up at a local upholstery shop but I'm not sure I can because the rip is right below the bladder access zipper on the right side and runs pretty much from where the front of the seat is to the front of the right pontoon. BUMMER!! (and SHAME ON ME again!). Anyway, IF I can't get my old H3 fixed, at least I'll have spare bladders for all the compartments on my new one:o) I stayed with NFO because I really LOVE the H3 - even though it caused me to earn the nickname "Cadillac" from the other tubers who frequent Upper Otay!!

Glad to be back!!!
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[flygoddess]

Welcome Back. How is the new job?

Did you contact NFO? Reason I ask is, isn't the warranty unconditional?
Orvis use to advertise their rods as unconditional and even showed a Dog chewing the cork grip. It is reflected in the price.
Just a thought, plus I know Dave Scadden likes to know and hear about this stuff so he can improve on it.
Do you have open water?
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[macfly55]

sorry to hear about the rip on the ride.. but Id say you have a very understanding wife if she agreed to you getting a new one.. []

just curious.. did you contact NFO and see about repair with them??

MacFly [cool]
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[Bassamatic]

Yep, I contacted NFO about repairing my old H3 and they told me that it would probably cost somewhere around $50.00 and that's IF they could repair it. Add in the cost of shipping each way and I'd be close or even over $100.00. They also told me to seek out a local upholstery shop and see it they could do a repair sew job and that that would be a far cheaper solution (and faster). I am going to do that as soon as I have the time. Still, I want a new one and believe me, I WILL MONITOR the pressure ALL DAY long when I'm out!! The H3 is such a great pontube and I had absolutley NO trouble with it until then.

BTW: the new job is working out well. No where near the money I was making at my old position BUT with my retirement combined with my new job salary, I ended up overall about $900/month net better with FAR LESS stress and worries:o)

Again, I am glad to be back!!
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[flygoddess]

Right On! so more reporting![laugh]
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[TubeDude]

[cool][#0000ff]Ahhhhhhh...so that is how their "unconditional" warranty works. If you would have bought it through Cabelas they would have replaced it.[/#0000ff]
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[#0000ff]Sorry about your loss. Hope you have better luck with the next one. Lessons hard learned in life are usually the best learned.[/#0000ff]
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[flygoddess]

I too am a little surprised with their response too. I say a little because I live where they are made and because even with SIMMs, Orvis, Winston and Sage, etc....their Warranties (which range from 25 yrs to lifetime, UNCONDITIONAL) require you pay for postage, plus a general cost (like $30. off the top to Orvis, and $35 to TFO, Winston was much more, and $30. to Simms) But they would repair or replace, which I am sure would be the case with NFO. The advantages to this is finding a store that carries whatever to cover the freight, but the initial or set price is always there. ( Another case of a really good thing being abused.) I do remember when allot of these returns were free, but no more.

So I don't see that cost as a big deal, but again I live here and shipping can get expensive!.
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[mojorizing]

I would check it out, but like most warranties, I'll bet it only covers manufactures warranties, defects in workmanship. I'll bet the site says nothing about unconditional. That's a word that isn't used too often anymore. I think their cost to repair was pretty decent, it's the shipping that's a kick in the fat cat.
I sincerely doubt that Outcast would cover a "self inflicted wound" like that either and the shipping would probably be just as costly.
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