Registry Connects Boat Builders to Owners When Recalls Arise

Boat manufacturers know that for a period of ten years after a boat is built, federal law requires them to recall and repair their vessels if they are found not to be in compliance with Coast Guard regulations or when they contain safety defects. But the law only requires that U.S. Coast Guard Defect Recall Notices be sent to original owners. With most vessels changing ownership at least once during their first ten years of life, well-meaning manufacturers often have difficulty reaching subsequent owners to let them know they have a fix available to remedy a safety problem.

The nation's largest recreational boat owners association, BoatU.S., has stepped in to fill this important gap between boat builders and owners with its National Recall Alert Registry, a free service for manufacturers that connects them to owners with U.S. Coast Guard recall actions.

"No one wants a recall action," says Caroline Ajootian, BoatU.S. Consumer Protection Bureau director. "But when one does occur, the system often fails because second or third owners aren't notified. It also fails when new boat owners don't return warranty cards. In both cases, manufacturers have no way to notify owners about a recall and their good efforts to correct them.

"The way the recall is handled is often remembered by boat owners and using this registry helps to reinforce the positive image of a company and its product. It can only help a difficult situation get better," said Ajootian.

"We want manufacturers to know that this system is secure," commented Ajootian, "So each manufacturer can view only the database of owners having their product."