In August of 2012 I saw a boat in an auction at
www.cbkaye.com the listing read...
"Vessel has not been started, operating condition is unknown.". The pictures of the boat looked great and the listing sounded promising.
There was also a jetski in the auction. Here is the info in the jetski listing (Notice it says whether or not the engine turns over)...
"Hour Meter: 110 Hours; Motor has turned over but would not start; No Vessel has not been started, operating condition is unknown"
I should have realized they conviniently left out the info of whether or not the boat engine turned over but they added that info in the jetski auction because that info was favorable to them and the item.
I bid on the boat & ended up winning it for a total of $2352.00
I spent $400 to have it transported from Michigam to NY.
In person the boat was filthy so I spent the next day pressure washing it and then scrubbing the entire interior. I also charged the battery. The following day I turned the ignition key but the engine would not turn over. It was siezed! I then used a small pry bar on the flywheel to see if more force would get the engine to turn over. Nope. Completely siezed.
I emailed Curtis Kaye about the problem and after a few days of pretending not to recieve my emails he responded...
"I was sorry to hear about the condition of the boat. The Sheriff that inspected the boat had hooked the jet ski to a battery pack to try to power it up and get odometer reading. He said the battery pack didnt seem to have much power to get the jet ski to turn over. He assumed the battery pack didnt have enough power to turn the boat motor."
So, the sheriff tested both engines to see if they turned over because this is VERY important info to a potential buyer. The jetski did turn over but the boat did not.
They knew the boat engine would not turn over. Instead of letting bidders know this crucial information, they worded the boat auction in such a manner to hide the fact that the boat engine would not turn over and was potentially siezed.
I spoke with both Curtis Kaye and the Sheriff (Chris). They both told me it was an as/is sale blah blah blah and I was stuck with the boat. It took many emails and phone calls to make them understand what they had done was fraudulent at the very least and criminal at the worst.
Curtis suggested I keep the boat (worth maybe $300 maximum) and they'd give me a $1000 refund. That would mean I'd have $1752 into a boat that was worth maybe $300.
I said no and asked that they pay the shipping back to them ($400) and give me a full refund. The sheriff and Mr Kaye both said NO.
After much "back and forth" Mr. Kaye finally offered to give me a $2253 refund if I got the boat back to him in Michigan. He wanted to keep $100 for fees and his time. I told him that my time cleaning the boat was easily worth $100 and I wanted a full refund.
He agreed. I set up the shipping and paid the shipper another $400. Now, the boat is back in Mr. Kayes hands. He did give me the $2352 refund but I'm still out $800 cash because he and Chris the Sheriff choose to not disclose important info about an auction item.
I asked for just 1/2 of the shipping but they both refuse to pay ANY portion of the shipping.
I'm writing this report because I believe this isn't the first time they've swindled people and I want everyone to be aware that they are capable of this. Read into the auction listing very carefully. It's not always what's written... but what's omitted that will cost you money.