BoatUS. com Consumer Protection Bureau

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CONSUMER ALERT

Federal laws require marine manufacturers to issue defect recall notices when boats or related equipment contain “defects which create a substantial risk of personal injury” or when they do not comply with boat manufacturing regulations. The U.S. Coast Guard recently published the following defect recall notice.

For more information about this campaign, contact the manufacturer directly or call the Coast Guard’s InfoLine, 800-368-5647. New recalls are listed monthly at the BoatU.S. National Recall Alert Registry, BoatUS.com/recall.

Volvo Penta, 757-436-2800 (Recall #040008S)

Carbureted 2003 4.3GL-D; 5.0 GL-D; 5.7 GL-E: Federal-Mogul fuel pumps with date code 3033c received at Volvo between 11/05/03 and 1/22/04 could possibly leak fuel. There is the potential that O-ring p/n 3850820 is missing from the adapter assembly, which may result in a fuel leak.

An inspection and possible repair of the O-ring must be performed on certain carbureted models. An inspection and possible replacement of fuel pump p/n 3858261 must be performed. Fuel pumps that must be replaced are identified by a date code 3033c on the body of the pump.

MANUFACTURER’S ADVISORY

From time to time, marine manufacturers identify problems that may not qualify as safety defects but which nevertheless require repair or correction. In such cases, the manufacturer may conduct a voluntary campaign to notify owners and make repairs. The U.S. Coast Guard does not oversee voluntary campaigns.

Orion Safety Products recently discovered that a defective opening mechanism in some 12-gauge plastic flare guns manufactured by Olin (now Orion Safety Products) prior to 2000 may not open wide enough to accept a flare cartridge. Guns with a modification to correct the possible problem are marked with U.S. Coast Guard approval code 160 028//12/1. Boaters with older flare guns should check the operation of the opening mechanism now and at the start of each boating season. If the breech will not open wide enough to accept a cartridge, the gun should be sent back for a replacement.

A spokesman at Orion Safety Products confirmed the problem. Nylon material used to keep the breech closed can deform and jam the opening mechanism. Any Olin plastic flare gun is suspect, as are Orion gun made before 2000, the year the mechanism was reengineered (guns with the modification have the UCSG approval code 160 028//12/1 stamped on the body).

A recall has not been issued, although Orion has agreed to replace any of the defective guns, regardless of age. Send defective guns to: Orion Safety Products, Marine Division, 3157 N. 500 West, Peru, IN 46970; 1-800-851-5260.

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