I bought my Folkboat nearly three months ago now.
Yesterday I had to finally accept that I have been taken for a big, fat ride by the shipwright I entrusted to work on my little boat. Despite promise after unfilled promise, the work is nowhere near complete. I would estimate it is about 1/8 finished.
I (stupidly) handed over $1300 before work commenced. He returned $100 and told me I won't be getting any more than that back.
To 'protect my gear from the dust' he removed all my gear from the boat and stored it at his home. After countless demands, he finally returned some of this gear. I eventually had to have a male friend intervene to have some more items returned. However, some things remain unaccounted for.
I'm very upset and sad. Call me stupid if you like, but I do tend to be a trusting soul. All I wanted was to have my boat fixed and go sailing. Was this really too much to ask? Now I'm back at Square One.
Sorry to hear this. I recall a similar story recently about a boat engine. Suggest you call the police and say the missing items were stolen. Also contact the yard/slipway and complain, assuming he is not the owner. Last but not least, you can name and shame right here.
Thanks Yara.
He works for wages somewhere at <details removed by moderator>...don't know where. He was doing this on the side :/
His name is <details removed by moderator>.
I'm left to pick up the pieces and start again. Live and learn.
Id ask in here next time selkie for recommendations there's seabreeze members all over australia in here and even when you are planning to do things to your boat there's some good advice to be had.
I'm sorry to hear of your problem karma will eventually catch up with <details removed by moderator> Id say.
Like riding a bike for the first time dust your self off and get on with it sweet .
Youve got a good boat Selkie you will get through it 
many hands make light work
Thanks HG
Just heading down to my little girl now to see if he's left any parting gift...damage or whatever...
Yes, have to maintain belief in Karma :/
So sorry to hear that selkie
Karma and perhaps then some 
for him.
Let me know if I can help out in any way.
While I agree with the sentiments so far on this post, I do wonder if you were both on the same page.
If he was doing it 'on the side' because he is on wages elsewhere, and he is possibly doing the work somewhat cheaper, was he only expecting to do the work in his own time while you were expecting the work to be done as a 'full time job'?
This may only explain his lack of progress in the job at hand. It doesn't excuse the lack of communication or the stealing of your belongings.
Such a bummer!!! Let me know if there is anything he doesn't return, and I'll show how to sue him in detinue for the return of your property. The cops won't be interested because this is more a civil matter than a criminal one.
In the meantime don't be too discouraged there is so much you can do yourself or with a little help from your friends. There are a bunch of jobs on my boat that need two pairs of hands so I would happily trade a day with you.
Sorry to hear about your experience mine is nit much better i purchased my boat at easter and for the first time had a pre purchase survey done. Told motor fridge were both good only problem was some osmosis which i got a discount for. Since then i have spent 1 boat dollar on the fridge as thr coil was on its way out this was straight away out of 5 above water skin fittings 3 were broken and to top it off the motor was rs and has been replaced. Advice stay away frim a certain shipwright / surveyor in phoebe st balmain
Out of interest, how many zero' go on the end of 1 Boat dollar (I'm guessing 3)
Out of the last 3 boats I have owned I only had 2 surveyed (I did one my self and had that for 5 years trouble free. I might of just gotten lucky). One was a 28' Catalina. The surveyor just glanced at the motor and the rigging and suggested that people experienced in that have a look. The 3rd one (current one) is a 32' Mustang cruiser. Once again, the surveyor noted the details of the motor and other bits and pieces for the report, but took no responsibility for the condition, noting that various trades had been recommended.
I am not sure if this is standard practice or not for them, but I will probably do the survey again myself next time.
Yeah isnt three zeros about the right amount 
This is my 4th boat second yacht and only one I've had surveyed. I know what osmosis looks like so could have found that myself.
I would not bother again.
Select to expand quoteToph said..
While I agree with the sentiments so far on this post, I do wonder if you were both on the same page.
If he was doing it 'on the side' because he is on wages elsewhere, and he is possibly doing the work somewhat cheaper, was he only expecting to do the work in his own time while you were expecting the work to be done as a 'full time job'?
This may only explain his lack of progress in the job at hand. It doesn't excuse the lack of communication or the stealing of your belongings.
Hello Toph
at the outset, things were very considered and we were both indeed on the same page.
I was aware that the job was not going to be finished overnight, however, we had agreed upon a timeframe. I was more than understanding and tolerant when excuse after excuse, promise after promise was tendered and broken. One would have to meet this 'gentleman' to understand he is the type who could sell snow to the Inuit.
In terms of moneys paid for work done? I have paid more than adequately for what has actually transpired over the past 3-odd months.
As the friend who I finally engaged to retrieve some of my gear from said 'gentleman' remarked, "...he's up to his old tricks again...". Today, I have spoken to a few other people locally who have a sad story to share. Had I only known all this prior to the event. However, as we know, hindsight is ever such a grand thing.
Perhaps I should not have named him publicly in this environment. Maybe I will be reported and be banned from here. Perhaps I will be sued for libel and slander. Who knows?
I just don't think a person like this has the right to treat others in this manner. Finally, I feel the need to reclaim some of the power which this man has taken from me, knowingly, day after day, for the past months.
Tracey
Select to expand quoteandy59 said..
Such a bummer!!! Let me know if there is anything he doesn't return, and I'll show how to sue him in detinue for the return of your property. The cops won't be interested because this is more a civil matter than a criminal one.
In the meantime don't be too discouraged there is so much you can do yourself or with a little help from your friends. There are a bunch of jobs on my boat that need two pairs of hands so I would happily trade a day with you.
Hello Andy59
thanks for your advice and offer of trading help on our boats. I'd like to take you up on your kind offer.
Select to expand quotetwodogs1969 said..
Sorry to hear about your experience mine is nit much better i purchased my boat at easter and for the first time had a pre purchase survey done. Told motor fridge were both good only problem was some osmosis which i got a discount for. Since then i have spent 1 boat dollar on the fridge as thr coil was on its way out this was straight away out of 5 above water skin fittings 3 were broken and to top it off the motor was rs and has been replaced. Advice stay away frim a certain shipwright / surveyor in phoebe st balmain
Hello Twodogs1969
I too am sorry to hear of your horrible experience.
After our previous boat being surveyed/pre-purchase checked by a Lake Macquarie operator who "...dropped the paperwork off to the vendor because I have dinner over there every Tuesday...", and loads of problems presenting post-settlement, I too share your sentiments of their profession generally.
This time I didn't get a survey done. I knew my boat had compression damage to the mast step area. My insurers knew that and still did not demand having a survey done to cover her. As it turns out, the integrity of her hull is fantastic. She is absolutely dry and, during the five days in which she was transported from Syd to Bne, and then on the hard, I identified absolutely no blisters!!! I love my baby!
Sorry to hear about your troubles Selkie. It sucks when people take advantage of your trust.
I once lent $5000 to a supposed friend I had met through business, he was desperate, and in return he paid a total of $1000 back over 12 months. Never saw another cent. I felt like a fool. He signed an IOU and al, but you still have to go to court, get a court ruling, then try and enforce that.
The sad thing is it makes you more cynical.
Just remember perseverance wins everytime Selkie! and btw I am jealous of your folkboat.
I had similar compression damage and I spent some time fixing it but the results are good I loved my Folkboat and lived on her for 8 years and loved every minute of it, keep smiling Tracy as the good times will happen.
sounds like you have handled the situation extremely well selkie ..... you are not on your pat malone with this , similar things happened to me twice in the past , the marine repair industry is rife with sort of thing. ranging from stupid delays to shoddy work .....
you can rest easy that your karma will see you through ,and his will catch up to him .......... keep on going !!!!! the beauty in all this is we learn something new every day......... oh dear that was way too deep !!!
Select to expand quoteSandS said..
sounds like you have handled the situation extremely well selkie ..... you are not on your pat malone with this , similar things happened to me twice in the past , the marine repair industry is rife with sort of thing. ranging from stupid delays to shoddy work .....
you can rest easy that your karma will see you through ,and his will catch up to him .......... keep on going !!!!! the beauty in all this is we learn something new every day......... oh dear that was way too deep !!!
SandS your soft side is showing
Note the two turned columns in the last photo of Whiteouts's post. Beam across the top, and the two columns to take the mast compression load down to the hull via the furniture. There may also be extra columns in the furniture. The beam could be made from laminated plywood, and glassed in. Not too difficult a job to do if you have a small workshop and can do a bit of fibreglass work yourself. I have a similar arrangement on my Investigator 563.
Hello Yara
thank you :)
yep, Whiteout's is how mine was pre-deconstruction.
I went down yesterday and am actually okay with what he has left me with, which is glassed-in ply. Very, I mean very rough and unfinished, however, structurally, it looks like I could consider stepping the mast.
So sorry to hear all this Tracey.... grrrrr.... but thanks to all the great people on here, you will be encouraged and helped out.
You guys on here are awesome!!
This thing is no good at all. Not for you, not for yachting, not for the industry, even M.Lazzarini,at all.
Well, that karma thing must be working, just check out the Yacht-tracker 'Keppel race' ' Samurai Jack' to see what l mean! 
Good on you Selkie. I think the Karma thing will catch up with him too, although he probably won't know what it is
when it does. Your situation certainly brings out the 'knight in shining armour' in us blokes. I wish we could all do
an andy59 for you. What a great forum this is. Good luck Selkie.
Actually Theselkie it is very poor form to name or out somebody on a forum. And all of those wishing "bad" karma onto someone might just need to keep an eye on their own karma.
Is it possible that you were sent these tribulations as a test of your karma? No good can ever come of a name and shame excercise.
Just sayin.
Do hope that this is not the case in this instance.
I think that if everything that Selkie has stated is true, and no reason not to believe her, then its NOT bad form to warn others about "dodgy" practices.
A Current Affair does it all the time.
This is a public forum, and the "accused" always has the right to reply, deny or apologise, the ball is now in his court.
In this day and age, you have to understand that deceptive practices can now be made known to a huge audience, very quickly.
If the accuser has all their ducks in a row, I's dotted and T's crossed, then the truth should never be regarded as slander.
Select to expand quotefrant said...
Actually Theselkie it is very poor form to name or out somebody on a forum. And all of those wishing "bad" karma onto someone might just need to keep an eye on their own karma.
Is it possible that you were sent these tribulations as a test of your karma? No good can ever come of a name and shame excercise.
Just sayin.
Do hope that this is not the case in this instance.
This is one of purposes of forums . Praise and recommend good service name and shame bad service. To many people in the marine industry think it's fair to rip people off.
Selkie, happy to be part of a working bee to get you back on the water before 21 Nov.
PM me if you need help.
Select to expand quotefrant said..
Actually Theselkie it is very poor form to name or out somebody on a forum. And all of those wishing "bad" karma onto someone might just need to keep an eye on their own karma.
Is it possible that you were sent these tribulations as a test of your karma? No good can ever come of a name and shame excercise.
Just sayin.
Do hope that this is not the case in this instance.
Thats the great thing about Australia freedom of speech each to his own Frant . This isn't Frant's world .
At least Id know who not to ring for help If I was in Brisbane
If I lived close By Id be more than happy to help out
