Replacement UL-1 arrived today....WTF?

[longballlumber]

I took the money I had set aside for the hull and spent it elsewhere.

Don't give up just yet... As mentioned previously, they are fixing the issues.

[Doby]

I spent about 45 minutes talking with Grim today in Toledo. The concerns regarding this boat are not falling on deaf ears.

[Grimracer]

For some reason that mail forward (from home to work) is getting filtered out?

Anyhow..

I did find out that to this point you (Flying Scotsman) have not run your boat yet so it sounds like there is no need to chat about that one.

Let me summarize. Just so you know Im still going to call you unless you state otherwise.. I really felt it unfair to post a COPY of Lisa’s mail on this forum. She does not have the opportunity to come on here and post. Lisa’s a great person and really likes to help. She is always working very hard and has fun learning about boats. She is really getting very good at RC boat knowledge. Posting a mail just seemed weird to me.. Everybody else can feel the way they want and that’s OK too.... I just wanted to chat with you about it.

MLP!

Grim

[Steven Vaccaro]

Mike can you give us an update on the issues at hand?

[Rumdog]

I think all that is going on is that everyone wants some kind of answer. Everyone who has purchased a ul-1 deserves it. To this point there has been no first or second hand input as to what is being done about the issues.

[Steven Vaccaro]

I think all that is going on is that everyone wants some kind of answer. Everyone who has purchased a ul-1 deserves it. To this point there has been no first or second hand input as to what is being done about the issues.

I was more after future updates. The ways to fix the problem areas have addressed by some of the racers on the forum. Beefing up the turn fin area and water jacket. If you have a current problem that is out of your ability to handle call Great Planes for warranty issues.

[Capt. Crash]

I didn't like the look of this boat at first....but it has really grown on me. What's the chances of being able to buy a upgraded replacement hull in the near future?

[Flying Scotsman]

[QUOTE=Grimracer;82146]For some reason that mail forward (from home to work) is getting filtered out?

Anyhow..

I did find out that to this point you (Flying Scotsman) have not run your boat yet so it sounds like there is no need to chat about that one.

Let me summarize. Just so you know Im still going to call you unless you state otherwise.. I really felt it unfair to post a COPY of Lisa’s mail on this forum. She does not have the opportunity to come on here and post. Lisa’s a great person and really likes to help. She is always working very hard and has fun learning about boats. She is really getting very good at RC boat knowledge. Posting a mail just seemed weird to me.. Everybody else can feel the way they want and that’s OK too.... I just wanted to chat with you about it.

MLP!

Mike, I have not run this boat and I trust with many updates it will run well. Lisa's comments were of a person not well conversed in PR comments. The boat WILL SPEAK as to to the potential of its force


Douggie

[sailr]

AQ really needs to fire the company making the hulls. The 'shoebox' type hull has to be joined, seams filled, and then painted, unlike a 'flanged' style hull. The result is terrible quality and workmanship. It's really a shame because AQ is probably paying just as much for the shoddy hulls as they would for a quality hull. I hope they get a handle on it soon. I love the UL-1. Probably the best driving and running RTR I have ever experienced. I am ready to buy a second one but won't until they can get a new hull under their excellent motor/esc setup.

Reference thread http://www.offshoreelectrics.com/for...ead.php?t=6675


Seriously... I get a damaged one, it takes over a month to get a replacement (FROM GREAT PLANES), now look at this one?!

It looks like maybe even the same one with "attempted" repairs or something? Tell me, is this what I'm supposed to expect for Aquacraft quality? Man oh man.... now what? Just deal with it? Am I being too picky here or what?

[bustitup]

I hope they get a handle on it soon. I love the UL-1. Probably the best driving and running RTR I have ever experienced. I am ready to buy a second one but won't until they can get a new hull under their excellent motor/esc setup.

yup and dont forget about the 2.4 radio system included in the relativley cheap price on this boat

but no matter how cheap it is you shouldnt have to rebuild the hull out of the box

[sailr]

All of this is a real shame. Mike did a great job on the hull design but the execution of the product is horrible. The motor/esc/radio/hardware combo is absolutely great. It's too bad it has to reside in the crappy hull.

The worst thing is that top quality hulls can be had in China for no more than they are paying for this POS!

Mike, certainly not your fault and I hope nobody blames you. Wish you could send me your original. I can get hulls made that are top notch epoxy gelcoat vacuum bagged for around $30 in volume.

I would demand a full refund and then buy the parts and put them in the vacu pickel hull or one of Steve's other hydros and have a fast and stronger hull. If they are not damaged by the manufac then they will be after some runs....too much flex. I really hate to see this but was pretty sure it was going to happen. Epoxy hulls are different than these polyester/painted hulls.

Mike's design is not the problem. They (GP) should have had specs showing minimum hull thickness, etc. for production... a little more is better than a little less.

Pay for Shipping back...you already paid for shipping once.

[sailr]

That is absolutely absurd! The battery connectors have no bearing on whether or not the ESC works! What a terrible policy. It seems they are just looking for a way out. It's one thing to have policies, which every company has to have, it's another to not allow the service tech the ability to use common sense.

Speaking of Hobby Services.

I sent back the UL 1 esc. It ran on the bench, but not in the water. Hobby Services response was that the warranty was voided because I replaced the Deans with bullet connectors ( to match my batteries). They considered this an "alteration that voided the warranty".

Beautiful.

It is abundently clear to me that Tower, Aquacraft, whoever..has no interest in supporting their product.

[sailr]

Your blanket statement is off the mark. MOST of what we are running today comes from China and there is some top quality work coming from there. The Chinese make exactly what you tell them to make. They are not mind readers or proactive and will rarely offer anything better than what you have ordered unless you tell them. Look at the Delta Force hulls that are so popular. Good stuff. Nearly all of the hardware being sold by everyone is coming from China.

The motor and ESC in the UL-1 is also made in China and they work great...also the 2.4ghz radio.

It would be great if we could "buy U.S. only" but then we couldn't afford the hobby.

QUOTE=skibo2;81110]Want to really know what is wrong with the QC and the sloppy workmanship? Look right on the box for those wonderful three little words "MADE IN CHINA." Look at all the other problems in the past few months with other products coming out of that country. I doubt very much if Hobbico has any hand in the poor quality as I don't think they would risk their reputation, however, they had better get on the backs of the manufacturer and correct the problem. As for Hobby Services, I have had three warranty issues with them, an ESC, a flex shaft and a UL-1 replacement and they were great about it no problems at all. Yes, they will deny they are not aware of problems as that is what they are told to say, if they admitted to all the issues, no one would buy their products.[/QUOTE]

[sailr]

When I first received my UL-1, the water jacket was bad. Hobby services said they would send me a new one. They did....the crappy silicone job they use on the Supervee! DOH!

I ended up buying one of Steven's water jackets which is great but should not have had the issue of a bad water jacket to begin with. Receiving the silicone jacket was a true insult in my opinion.

True Jim, but when you call on the phone they WILL act ignorant of UL-1 issues. Besides the wwater jacket. They aren't being very helpful at all in dealing with replacement parts. Especially hulls.

[sailr]

Yep, but you paid dearly for that Novak! Haha. It's easy to have a very tolerant service policy when you're making huge profits. Not hard to eat an occassional bad motor, etc. But when you're running on a very small profit margin, service policies, etc. tighten up. Unfortunately, hobby services seem to have tightened up beyond sensibility. They are giving their own product a bad name which is truly too bad because the overall concept of the UL-1 is incredible. Grim's design runs like a scalded ape but whatever company in china that's making the boats isn't doing them any favors.

Well Not all companies tech support or service is bad. I bought a Novak SS brushless motor speed control packeage for my Rustler many years ago and the magnet came off the shaft after two years of constant abuse by me. when I called them they said it was a manufaturing flaw and had me send it in. they sent me a new one and they sent my Sermos connectors still on the old wire from the previous speed control!! It was out of warranty too and they still made it right! That is customer service! and honesty.