Sen. Reny introduces bill to support Maine marinas by requiring full manufacturer reimbursement for repairs under warranty
AUGUSTA — On Friday, May 2, Sen. Cameron Reny, D-Bristol, introduced a bill to support Maine marinas by requiring manufacturers to provide full reimbursement for parts and labor for repairs performed under warranty. LD 1296, “An Act to Amend the Law Governing Watercraft Franchisor Warranty Reimbursements” was the subject of a public hearing before the Joint Standing Committee on Housing and Economic Development.
“My district, like many others, is surrounded by water that we depend on economically and for recreation,” said Sen. Reny. “Running a boat business in a state where the water can stay frozen and unfriendly until mid-April isn’t easy. Engine sales and service, including those under warranty from big engine manufacturers, are a critical component to keeping these small businesses going. LD 1296 will ensure that Maine dealers get paid for the full cost of the service they provide on boats under warranty.”
LD 1296 seeks to provide support to Maine watercraft servicers by requiring manufacturers to fully reimburse a dealer for any parts and labor provided by the dealer while fulfilling a manufacturer’s warranty commitment to its customer.
Currently, some manufacturers are taking advantage of loopholes, like denying dealers markups on parts by providing them directly or only paying a fixed price for the labor that goes into the repair, rather than the actual time it takes a dealer to fix a part. LD 1296 seeks to close this loophole by requiring the dealer to be reimbursed for the markup on parts, regardless of who provided it, and for the actual time it takes the dealer to complete the warranty repair.
In his testimony in support of LD 1296, Jason Curtis, Vice President of Operations at Portland Yacht Services (PYS), said, “I have been in the marine service business since I was 13 years old…. This warranty re-imbursement shortfall has been a subject among dealers since I started in the business. … I believe our time on each warranty job is justified and we should be fully re-imbursed. … We are absolutely in support of LD 1296 and hope that you will support it also.”
LD 1296 faces further action in the Housing and Economic Development Committee.
Sen. Reny represents Senate District 13, which includes most of Lincoln County and the towns of Washington and Windsor.
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