Boat & Watercraft Lemon Law — symptoms and safety implications
Bowriders, ski boats, pontoons, center consoles, yachts — engine stalling, electrical, hull, and structural defects.
Watch for these patterns:
- Outboard or sterndrive engine stalling at idle
- Persistent electrical failures (12V/24V system issues)
- Hull leaks, gelcoat blistering, or structural defects
- Steering-system failures
- Bilge-pump or trim-tab failures
- GPS / fishfinder / multifunction display freezing
Safety implications: Boat engine failures or steering issues offshore are real emergencies. Hull defects can lead to take-on-water situations that no warranty repair shop can fix on the water.
If the dealer says it's normal and it isn't, that's why we exist.
What counts as a "reasonable number of repair attempts"
State lemon laws use specific repair-attempt counts in their presumption windows — typically 3-4 attempts for the same defect, or 30+ cumulative days out of service, within a window of 12-24 months / 12,000-24,000 miles. Specifics vary by state.
Federal Magnuson-Moss doesn't use a fixed number. MMWA asks whether the manufacturer has had a reasonable opportunity to repair — and reasonable depends on the severity. For safety-critical defects (brake, steering, airbag, fire risk), one or two attempts can be enough. For comfort-feature defects, the bar may be higher.
Two practical things you can do right now:
- Keep every repair order. The dealer is required to give you a written repair order — save them all, even the "no problem found" ones. They prove the manufacturer had the opportunity.
- Document the symptoms. Photo, video, or audio recording of the defect. Especially helpful when the dealer says they "can't reproduce" it.
This is general information, not legal advice. Take the case eligibility quiz to find out whether your specific repair history supports a claim.
How we use MMWA to push for cash settlements
Boats and watercraft are covered by federal MMWA when sold with a written warranty. Most state lemon laws don't cover watercraft. This is a niche we wedge — and most consumers don't realize MMWA applies.
The federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act has two features that change the math for boat & watercraft lemon law claims:
- Fee-shifting. When the consumer wins, the manufacturer pays the consumer's reasonable attorney fees. That means we can afford to take cases that would be uneconomical on a pure-cost basis.
- Covers used vehicles with any written warranty. State lemon laws often exclude used vehicles. MMWA doesn't — if there's a written warranty (CPO, extended warranty, balance of original), MMWA applies.
Our default settlement structure: cash payment for diminished value, you keep the vehicle, manufacturer may pay our fees on top. Never out of your settlement.
How the case works
Same playbook, regardless of which defect drove you here.
Take the quiz
A few quick questions tell you whether your defect pattern likely supports a lemon law or MMWA claim.
We review
Send us photos of your purchase agreement, every repair order, and your warranty booklet.
We demand
We file a formal demand with the manufacturer. Most demands settle without court.
Cash settlement
You keep the vehicle, pocket cash for diminished value. We seek to have the manufacturer pay our fees under federal warranty law.