Florida's lemon law covers new boats that are found to be defective.
Boat owners in Florida are covered by the state's lemon law if they purchase new boats that appear to be defective. Boats less than two years old are covered by the lemon law if they require lengthy repairs or if service mechanics are unable to fix the problems. By asking for lemon law coverage, a consumer can have his boat replaced or receive a refund if the boat is found to be defective.
Types
Florida's lemon law that applies to boats covers new boats only. All boat buyers are covered. Boat lessees are covered by the lemon law only if they are responsible for maintenance and repairs on the boat and sign a lease agreement for at least a year. If a boat is transferred to a new owner before it is two years old, the new owner is covered by the lemon law.
Effects
The boat lemon law in Florida covers any defects that negatively affect a boat's use or safety. A boat's owner must report these defects to the boat's manufacturer or the dealership where the boat was purchased within the first two years of owning the boat. If the boat's manufacturer does not repair the boat after at least three attempts, the lemon law requires the manufacturer to refund the buyer's money or replace the defective boat with a new model.
Considerations
Consumers should keep all receipts and paperwork when purchasing a new boat. When returning a boat under the lemon law, it's helpful for the owner to provide all invoices from attempted repairs. Florida's boat lemon law covers boats that spend a lot of time getting repaired. If a boat spends a total of 30 or more days in the repair shop during its first two years of life, it qualifies to be replaced under Florida's lemon law.
Potential
Florida boat owners who want to learn more about the state's boat lemon law or start the process of returning a boat should call the Florida lemon law hotline at 800-321-5366. A boat owner must submit a written notice to the boat's salesperson or manufacturer when invoking the lemon law. All lemon law disputes go through arbitration, which is a hearing in front of representatives from the Florida New Motor Vehicle Arbitration Board, where the boat owner and the manufacturer present their cases. The board decides whether the boat will be covered under Florida's lemon law. If the board decides the boat is covered, the manufacturer must offer a replacement or a refund.
Warning
The boat lemon law in Florida does not cover problems with a boat that occur due to misuse, neglect, abuse or alterations caused by anyone other than the boat's manufacturer or authorized service personnel.
Tags: Florida lemon, boat lemon, boat manufacturer, boat owner, boats that