Quality Guidelines

L A N D C R A F T ' S

Quality Guidelines

Quality control approved

What we mean when we say our work is QUALITY:

Repairs and Restorations
  • LandCraft is licensed & insured.
  • Great reputation, in business since 1978.
  • We are the warranty repair center for a number of marinas, dealerships and boat manufacturers.
  • LandCraft and its associates are timely & reliable.
  • You can always contact us by phone, e-mail or find us at our repair facility.
  • We operate a year-round repair facility & also offer mobile repair services.
  • We specialize in custom color matching services.
  • We repair surfaces with proper materials.
  • Surfaces are repaired to a smooth, even finish.
  • Our color finishes are glossy & clear of defects.
  • LandCraft associates are vigorously trained and are thoroughly supervised.
  • We repair according to industry & manufacturer standards.
  • LandCraft is an authorized vendor at all Chicagoland marinas.
  • We comply with all environmental rules, regulations & clean-up procedures.
  • In every boat repair process, we protect all accessories, including canvas and dock lines.
  • We are aware of neighbor boats while working mobile and take necessary precautions to protect other boats and surroundings.
Boat Restoration Installed Electronics Installations
  • LandCraft ensures tight, proper wire connections.
  • Properly hidden/buried wiring.
  • Tight, proper-fitting components.
  • Proper connections to prevent corrosion.
  • We heat-shrink every connection we make (something that very few shops still do).
  • Electronic components are installed evenly and with detail to maintain a "factory" appearance.
  • Our install technicians are hand-picked and experienced with boats.
  • We only install the highest quality marine grade components.
  • Technicians are knowledgeable with boat layouts (where and how to install electronics, components and accessories).
  • Technicians are thoroughly supervised and abide by all LandCraft installation guidelines.
Warning! Buyer beware notice

Below is a "BEWARE OF" list of what everyone should look for before moving forward with a Boat Repair or Restoration.

BEWARE OF:
  • Uninsured Companies/Individuals.
  • Unknown business reputation.
  • Unlicensed businesses.
  • Repairers that are strictly mobile (no business location).
  • Businesses with few years in operation.
  • Businesses that do not specialize in boat repair.
  • Businesses that only operate seasonally.
ALSO WATCH OUT FOR THE FOLLOWING ISSUES:
  • Difficulty in correcting repair or warranty claims/issues.
  • Reliability issues (not finishing job).
  • Lack of contact information or address (cannot reach a representative).
  • Requests for a sizable deposit before work begins.
  • Mismatched colors of paint or gel coat.
  • Uneven repair surface (lumpy, wavy, distorted).
  • Sand Scratches in Paint or Gel Coat Finish
  • Improper masking (over-spray).
  • Incorrect repair procedures.
  • Use of incorrect materials (which may only be evident after repair is completed...possibly after time).
  • Substandard or incorrect materials and/or parts.
  • Unqualified/poorly trained labor.
  • Disregard for environmental rules & regulations.
  • Improperly disposes of hazardous materials.
  • Non-Compliance with vendor applications.
  • Non-Compliance with insurance company/manufacturer standards.
  • Disregard for accessories, canvas, fenders and dock lines.
  • Disregard for neighbor boats if working outdoors.
When choosing a boat repair facility, be aware of the above listed guidelines that are of importance to you. An unqualified, non-reputable, poor-quality repair company or individual laborer may leave you the following nightmare with a repair or refit: A lumpy surface, with a dull (possibly scratched) finish, color mismatch, or worst of all, an unsafe structure. An unqualified company or individual laborer may charge you more money while in process of the repair without prior consent to beginning the job, or they may leave a job unfinished and in worse condition than before the repairs even started.

Below is a "BEWARE OF" list of what everyone should look for before moving forward with electronics installation.

BEWARE OF:
  • Loose connections
  • Exposed, dangling wires
  • Broken panels
  • Torn carpet
  • Loose fitting components
  • Rattling
  • Stress cracks around screw holes or other installed equipment
  • Unqualified electronics technicians
  • Disregard for boat appearance, aesthetics and installation locations
  • Uninformed/poorly educated on electronic equipment and equipment output
  • Uninformed/poorly educated on boat layout (where and how to mount electronics, components and accessories)

Keep in Mind:

"The individual boat repairers who are not allied with any boat repair shop are free of the normal operating costs of established businesses; these individuals often charge labor rates that are 30% to 50% below industry rates. Human nature being what it is, many consumers shop for boat repairs on price alone and put little consideration into what will happen if the job isn't done right. Individual repairers may skip adequate personal liability, property and workman's compensation insurance in case of damages or injuries altogether because of its expense. If anyone gets hurt on the job or a job is not completed correctly/safely you could be fully liable." - Boat US Magazine
Don't try this at home
No-No #1
The pictures you see are of a boat that has a cleaned, dry exterior. It's a "clean" boat, but the "cloudy" look you see is due to an incorrect repair method, overspray, incorrect material use, and incorrect material mixture ratio. The boat was incorrectly repaired by a facility and brought to LandCraft Marine for a proper repair.

No-No #2
The pictures here show a brand new waverunner that has endured severe damage, and the owner had autobody repair friends "patch" the fiberglass with a binding caulk material... basically rendering the original body lines useless. The "patchwork" actually created 50% more labor in molding and body lines work. Please don't do this, try this, or operate any watercraft with this type of DIY repair job. It won't last, it doesn't look nice, and it creates a much larger repair than necessary.

No-No #3
This type of scenario will happen in 1 of 2 ways. Scenario 1) Incorrect materials were used in an original repair which not only fell off (literally) in the water during usage, but caused extensive damage while operating in the water, essentially ripping off the majority of the bottom hull. Scenario 2) An unaware boat operator hit something in the water, caused an open crack and delaminated fiberglass in the hull... causing the hull to disintegrate during continued operation.

No-No #4
The fire damage you see in this picture is from a boat owner who left a space heater on while not on their boat. A simple, unintentional decision caused a lot of damage, almost a total loss of a great boat. Be sure to never leave boat electronics on in an unattended boat.
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