Hi everyone,

I have a concern and thought I would just ask around to see if anyone had any information.

6 weeks ago I ordered some custom covers from SaltyDog Marine. I believe these are often referred to as "Top-Gun" covers. In any event, we are talking over 600.00 dollars here (paid in advance) and these guys have yet to come through with the order. At this point they are well overdue. To make matters worse, getting them to answer emails has been tricky too. Two weeks ago I had to (angrily) re-send an email 3 times before they finally answered. They say they are simply bogged down with orders, which is understandable of course, but that is the kind of information I would have appreciated BEFORE I gave them my 600 clams!

A little Over 2 weeks ago they assured me my order should be shipped by the end of the week, but I still do not have it.

Presently, I am getting nervous about the status of my order. Does anyone know of any troubles with the company? Bankruptsy ...etc. Does anyone have any advice or similar experiences regarding this company?


Dave <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like it's time to contact your credit card company and get them involved. You did use a credit card?!?!

I ordered a jib and they sent a main sail.

The thought of keeping it as a spare or selling it for a profit did occur, but I really just needed a jib so it was sent back for the correct sail. They were unaware of the mix up and sent some "tell-tales" with the jib that came a month later. I was expecting a little more considering I saved them several hundred dollars, but oh well. Other orders went smoothly, however.

I've known Don Smith (the owner of Salty Dog) for many years and have never had a problem with him or his stuff.

I know that they just engineered a Hobie Tiger cover using John Bauldry's (Tigerboy) boat as a pattern.

If Don says they're swamped, they're swamped. They're not a very big operation.

Sorry to hear that. I ordered rigging parts and they came OK. One of the items had to be shipped at a later date and they provided a gift for my troubles. Overall I was very pleased.

Thanks for the feedback guys - especially yours Matt. That makes me feel a lot better... Being late on an order is one thing, but worrying about the legitimacy of a company is entirely another. I will try to be patient for a while longer.

As fate would have it, I just recieved an answer to my latest email whereby SaltyDog discovered ("while packing my order") that they "made the wrong covers" - after a month and a half - and now they are rushing to make the correct covers and finally ship them out to me.

...very frustrating, but at least I no longer feel I have to worry about the actual purchase.

Thanks

Dave <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />