Association Forum - In Praise of Catalina Direct

Assn Members Area · Join

Home.

Association Forum

Ships Store

Cruising

Racing

Technical Tips

Photo Gallery - New

Boat Search - Updated

Manuals & Brochures

Swap Meet

Links

Officer Flag Line & Staff

Bylaws & Constitution

Members Area

Join the Association

Notice:
The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.

Association Forum

Username:	Password:
Save Password
Forgot your Password?

All Forums

Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

In Praise of Catalina Direct

New Topic

Topic Locked

Printer Friendly

Author

Topic

Brooke Willson
Admiral

Member Avatar

USA
983 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/01/2002 : 15:26:27

I received my new (replacement) keel winch this week. When I ordered it, the delightful (young? sounds young!) woman at Catalina Direct asked me if I also needed the adapter for the winch handle. Heck no, I replied, I have a perfectly good one on the old winch. . . I'll use that one.

Friday, after much sweating and muttering, I pulled the old winch out and installed the new one (by the way, if you're planning to do this, get some of those neat new ratcheting box wrenches from Sears like I didn't have. It's a very tight fit to the nuts holding the winch on the ladder). The old winch drum had utterly collapsed, and it's a miracle the keel pendant wasn't damaged. When I tried to get the adapter off the old winch . . . it's a five inch long barrel extension that fits over the axle and has the slot in the end for the winch handle . . . the set screws were utterly, completely frozen. No amount of penetrating oil or heating was going to free those babies after seventeen years.

In utter contrition I called Catalina Direct to order the adapter. "Ohh. . . ," replied the same delightful voice at the other end of the phone. "The manufacturer only sells that with the winch handle. I don't know if we can even get that as a separate item. Can you hold for a minute, and I'll see what I can do?" Sure, I answered: it's your 800 number.

Two minutes later she came back on line. "Mr. Willson? Looking at your history, I see you've been a really good customer over the years. I talked to my boss, and we're going to send you the adapter. . . FREE. It should be there by the end of next week, if that's OK."

Moral: there really ARE a few wonderful companies out there who still care about customer service. AND, like voting. . . order early and often from Catalina Direct!

Brooke

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

Members Avatar

Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/01/2002 : 18:20:16

I'll second that... Good folks, know our boats, and even get to know us! When I call, they know right away what boat I have and what I've bought from them--meaning they have a good computer, too. You can find some standard items (like rope clutches) cheaper out there, but the unique stuff they have for our boats is fairly priced--some if it is a downright bargain. They're another good reason to own an older Catalina.

Dave Bristle - 1985 C-25 #5032 SR-FK-Dinette-Honda "Passage" in SW CT