Episode 79 - We Were Dingbats - More UP340 Repairs

Our dream dinghy has turned out to be a nightmare. In the last episode, we repaired the structurally cracked transom only to find out that the insurance adjuster notified us that the damage went beyond the crack. We patiently waited for the insurance claim which never came through. Ultralight Performance (UP) Boats promise of replacing the UP340 never came to fruition. UP Boats as of this posting no longer exists. Join us as we continue with the transom repairs and also fix other issues discovered with the UP340 before it was ever splashed. Were we hoodwink?, I do not know, we researched, analyzed, checked UP Boats reputation, and all came back OK. Somewhere between us ordering the UP340 and final delivery something happened. I can only speculate as I have no hard facts at this time. There were other customers that suffered worse than we did. For other UP customers, please post a comment and share your experiences for others to see. Subscribe and share in the adventure! Become part of the conversation by liking / sv.momentsintime As always, please feel free to comment and let us know your thoughts. *** Please Read *** During our dinghy review process, we conducted thorough research—examining manufacturers and speaking with multiple owners to gather their insights. In our videos, we explained why we chose the UP340 from UP Boats, LLC, based in Opa Locka, Florida. It met all our criteria and was proudly made in the USA. Unfortunately, our UP340 arrived 14 months late and already showed visible damage while still on the delivery truck. The damage turned out to be structural, and we immediately reported it to UP Boats, LLC. Despite having shipping insurance and receiving repeated assurances that a replacement would be provided, none ever arrived. As of July 10, 2025, all communication with UP Boats, LLC has ceased. It now appears that UP Boats, LLC is no longer in operation. Numerous complaints and legal actions have been filed by other buyers, indicating we are not alone in this experience. A quick online search for UP Boats reveals a troubling pattern. We will soon be posting videos on this channel detailing the problems we encountered with our damaged UP340 and the steps we had to take to make it marginally seaworthy. In hindsight, the cost savings from purchasing the UP340 do not justify the compromises we faced. We would have been far better off investing in a proven, high-quality Offshore Cruising Tender such as the OCT 350. *** End of Read ***