Complaint Review: Allmanboats - Cincinnati Ohio

Todd Allmand insisted that we ordered a hull instead of a boat. However, he was the only one holding this belief of all the people related to the matter. US Coast Guard believed it was a BOAT and instructed him to provided a HIN number. Saipan local boat safety authority also believed it was a BOAT, because they insisted that the boat builder should provide a HIN number. And finally, Todd Allmand himself admitted that it WAS a boat because he did finally follow the instruction from USCG and  provided a HIN number for the boat. And although he claimed that we paid for a hull, he did charge us a lot of money, enough money to buy a boat and more.

I at last realized that Todd Allmand was more  a con artist than a boat builder. He is related to a family that made great boats years ago. This Todd Allmand inherited glorious boat building family name but not much knowledge about how to build a boat. However, he took full advantage of the family name and history of building boats. The past history of his boat building family is a prominent part of his website.  As a friend who also knew of him commented, "I thought an Allmand couldn't be too bad". 

Indeed, he can be that bad. He would do whatever it took to take advantage of people he dealt with. He would lie, cheat or bully his customers. We had to ask US coast guard, our congress woman and small business bureau for help. The HIN number was only very small part of whole saga. BBB rated ALLmand boats F, based on our detailed complaints. We wish we had never dealt with Todd Allmand. And we hope no other people have to go through what we endured. 

I regret the end result has turned out where you are disatisfied

I still am gratefull for your business and wish all the best. I hope some day we can get beyond this. I also hope your husband is enjoying his retirement.

 It has been almost a year before we heard from the object of my initial complaint, Allmand Boats. The owner of Allmand boats does not usually respond to complains. You can find many more complains on BBB site. I here attached a sales agreement from Allmand Boats regarding the boat of the interest. Allmand Boats ordered for us, and we paid Allmand Boats. But he does have a selective memory. He took our money but "forgot" that as a seller, he was also importer. And he had the responsibility to give the boat bore the sign "Allmand Boats" a HIN number. ALLMAND BOATS 3360 Hauck Rd. Sharonville, Ohio 45241 ph 844-843-43727 fax 815-550-2492 Buyers: Contract No. Sellers: Allmand Boats Date: The Buyer agrees to buy and the Seller agrees to sell the following goods on terms and conditions as set forth below: Name of Commodity and Specifications Quantity USD Price Total Amount Invoice 880/30' Para Sail Boat with accessories listed below 1 $97,500 $97,500 Evenrude 150 Hp E Tec Outboards 2 20 Hp. Parasail power 1 Hydraulics for para sail 1 Spare hydraulics 1 set 150 L USCG inspected Fuel tank 1 hydraulic Stering 1 parachute, rope, harness 1 SS rails set operational hardware, electrical and mechanical equipment set Discount for purchasing four engines. ($5,000) ($5,000) Shipping to Saipan 1 CIF total Payment for build and delivery US$92,500.00 Initial hull completion payment for engines and USCG insp fuel tank with shipping to hull for installation.. Balance due on installation and final completion of hull with installed fuel tank and engine controls. boat is pre-rigged for engines to bolt on and plug in Fuel tank installed before shipping ALLMAND BOATS CO.,LIMITED Besides the add-on para-sailing related equipment, the invoice stated that USCG approved fuel tank was installed before shipping. Boat is pre-rigged for engines to bolt on and plug in. It is more a boat than a "hull". We presented this invoice to USCG since we refused to be blackmailed by him. (Mr. Allmand told us that we had to pay over $2,000 for him to give the boat a HIN number). And USCG AGREED with us. Under the specific instruction of USCG, the boat finally got a HIN number, a Allmand boat number! We are only the boat "user". We never built any boat, kit or not. And we certainly do not have "MIC" number. the regulation quoted here is completely irrelevant. It is quite pathetic that as a boat builder, the owner of Allmand Boats does not seem to understand what he is reading.

33 CFR 181.23 states person who imports hull is responsible for assigning HIN. The person who posted this imported a hull without engines or fuel system installed. This is also called a Boat Kit because it as sold as a kit without engines or fuel system installed. Regulation states the person who imported and the person who assembles a Boat Kit is responsible for requesting a HIN from the USCG.

Also check this web soite newboatbuilders.com/pages/hin.html

it states regulation Boat Kit: Person who assempbles is required to request HIN from the USCG. The poerson who posted this assembled a Boat Kit As Well as Imported the hull.

Q. Kit boats: Does this apply if I make Kit boats?

Kit boats are a backyard built boats, but kit boat manufacturers are still subject to the regulations. The law says a "recreational vessel manufacturer" is "a person engaged in the manufacturing construction, assembly or importation of recreational vessels, components, or associated equipment." This means that a kit boat manufacturer is subject to the same rules as any boat manufacturer and must obtain a MIC from the U.S. Coast Guard. They must assign Hull Identification Numbers and supply any required labels. Also they must supply instructions to the builder so that the boat is built in compliance with the regulations