This is more of a rant than anything else. But it may help someone in the market for a new boat think twice. I have had multiple issues with the customer service @ V.V. from day one 7 years ago when I got my boat from UPS. I am now fed up with the service. Not one time has a person ever answered in 7 years when I have called. Then it usually takes at least a week if/before you hear back from them. x( I for one WILL be getting a new boat next year and though I like the product a lot I won't tolerate the poor (poor is an compliment) customer service that comes with it. Hope this helps someone on the fence about getting one. Its a great boat till you need a part then you are screwed.

Just my 2 cents

That's not good. I haven't had to call them in years, certainly not since ownership changed hands. Sounds like the "new" guys aren't on the ball.

What part were you looking for? I have two of a couple things.

Moss - This might be an option.


http://www.bucksbags.com/cm_cat.asp?id=16

Scbbbc members can receive a 40% discount on all Bucksbags!

Just to let you know that Outcast has the best customer service bar none. Always there to answer yours calls and go out of their way to help. I have been talking to them to possibly get discounts to compete with bucks bag.
Mario

Timing on this subject is perfect. Finally started my kickboat re-do. Put the New Versa Vessel Pontoons (that I bought two years ago) on and was looking at geting a new frame. I have called Versa-Vessel a few times trying to get a basic frame. I did get a call back after three or four calls, but after telling the guy what I wanted he never called me back. That was more than a month ago. I am looking at other options now.
Versa-Vessel pontoons: Since I just changed pontoons I wanted to ask, has anyone ever had issues with thier VV pontoons? Thinking in the lines of Durabillity (spelling)? My old waterskeeter pontoons went through hell and never in 6 years did I have a problem ( except the time I over loaded the boat with a full livewell Trolling motor and Battery).

To fish is to live!

Mitch, are you still interested? If not......

Brian,

I don't own a VV but over the years I've heard very few complaints when it came to the pontoons. They are durable and will last a long time if cared for, easy to patch if you put a hook them, they are well balanced and preform well with a full livewell. The only complaints I have heard are if you do happen to run over your kick boat with your truck and break off the nose cone for instance, the customer service lags in response time.

For your situation I suggest keeping the pontoons and purchasing a frame from a different brand. Mitch has a trout unlimited frame on his VV pontoons and it works well. I have a south fork frame on my fish cat pontoons(with 4 straps you can McGyver any 2 brands together). Do some research and choose a frame that is light, has good balance, and is easy to customize. I recommend bucks bags or out cast frames and stay away from water skeeter(heavy) as well as creek company(poor balance when rowing).

I've had my original pontoons for a long time, over 10 years maybe? One has a very slow leak but it is so slow I haven't bothered to find and patch it (plus no pool to find it with). I've dragged my boat up and down levees, over the rock barrier at MR many, many times, etc. The pontoons are very durable.

i wanted to buy a frame from them a few yeas back and they refused to sell just the frame, insisted i had to buy the full boat. i also bought oars and oar locks from them one time and first time out the oar lock broke, call for a replacement and they said that since i did not have a VV frame they would not replace the oar lock. there customer service sucks

All I know that when I called outcast(makers of fishcat) for a pontoon under warranty it was on my door in three days. Same thing with mario's and his frame. The price of a V.V is up there with the outcast ferrari series. The V.V is lighter for sure, but the outcast/fishcat pontoons haul @$$ on the water. I would buy from them again just becasue of the customer service.

Nate that's pretty accurate about the boat itself, it is fast. My problem with outcast and I hadn't had any till I lost a bag and needed new one and oar sleeves is they only sell to vendors. You cannot purchase anything from them unless u are a vendor. Maybe that has changed and I hope it has cause I like the boat a lot. I just want a lighter frame. I went through san Jose fly shop to get my replacement parts. There is no more san Jose fly shop, so last Mel cottons stepped up for me and got me some extra parts.

It may have changed, but not sure. I know mario busted his frame and he upgraded frames to an aluminum one, they took the price of the original frame off and then charged him for the difference, and I think you can now order stuff off their website as well.

When i talk to them few weeks ago to get new frame when mine broke. They warranty it to my door in 3-4 days. Free shipping. The guy on the phone said you no longer need to go to any store anymore. Just call their customer service and can order anything outcast offer direct and ship to your home. You can go to their web site for reference and prices. Explain the problem or issues and they sometimes will do it for free due to warranty. They basically replace my whole boat for free. It only 2-3 years old.
I definitely would upgrade into the ferrari model. If we get more contact with them i think they are interested in sponsoring club and get us discount. I explain that their competitor (bucks bags new aluminum set up) sponsors sonoma and they want to compete with their sales. Outcast got great product and outstanding customer service.
Mario

Bryan,

Here's my input.

Owned a VV and have a Bucks.

Pro/Con on VV:
+ lightweight aluminum frame
- narrow frame (legs rub on frame)
- non-adjustable oar position
- foot rest configuration
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Pro/Con on Bucks:
+ Stainless steel frame
+ wider frame
+ adjustable oar position
- heavier frame

Bottom line: try them out before you buy

Thanks for the input everyone. I called Outcast yesterday, first ring talked to a guy that gave me a quote and how to order a frame. Great customer service!

To fish is to live!

Hey Moss, nothing more frustrating then the autamated recorder when you need a human. There are a lot of great boats to chose from, I like them all. If it's service your looking for with a perty decent quality boat I might be able to help you out. I always awnser my phone when I'm not on the clock at my new day job. I have sold 83 Bucksbags kick boats, 27 round tube and a handfull of U-tubes. I have had two broken frames, first DJ and then Big Dave. You can ask them on our open forum what they thought of there service and resolution to there broken frames. Which now the frame has been re-designed just for us tournament anglers adding live-wells to there frames.

It's not exactly %40 discount, but it's several $100.00 saved on a boat bought from me. I am a central california rep for Bucksbags. Feel free to PM me if you have any question and I will do my best to awnser all of them. If you get my message, you will be called back that day for sure! So if it's service you want, I know a guy knee deep in the sport of kick boating and float tubing who would love to see you fishing in a Bronco Extreme from Bucksbags. Fish cats are nice too.
Hope this helps.
P.S. Have you ever saw a rep from any kick boat company at any kick boat events? If you In a Bucksbags, you have a rep at every SCBBBC event and once in a while at the B-N-T events, always the Open.
Rich

www.catchemcarobaits.com

Rich - the 40% discount came off the SBBBCC homepage at the Bucks banner. Might be time to update/remove info if no longer valid.


P.S. - congrats on the win !!!!!