Considered by many as the premier engine builder in the Antique & Classic boat community. David Van Ness of Van Ness Engineering is launching a full out marketing campaign. So you ask Mr classic boat fan. What does a marketing campaign have to do with news. It’s news because it shows that… Ahh hell, it’s not news.. I just like the ad, I also like David, and this is my story. So..there…
All kidding aside I have known David for a while and he does amazing work. I also can not find one person out there that has one bad thing to say about the work. In fact folks go out of there way to say nice things. I am talking nation wide, it’s worth the shipping from California to New Jersey. David has gone to great lengths to make sure that you not only get a very strong engine, but that it looks the part. Note the color on this ad. There is a difference in a pre war Chris Craft blue and a post war. How the wires go… the texture of the black paint.. See it’s not just about valve seats… So back to the ad.. This ad marks a time were niche palyers are stepping up there game and going main stream.. That is good for the hobby.. What I like is that its more than a yellow pages ad or reprint of ones business card like most folks do. He is staking a claim in your mind. Van Ness is saying, we are that place to go for the guy that wants it done better than best. After all god is in the details… Very very smart..The ad was created by designer to the classic boat community, Bill Basler of Basler design..You may also know him as the guy that designs the Brass Bell..
Nicely put! I would like to commission an ad, too. You've really convinced me of the merits. (It's almost as if you're in the advertising business, Matt – LOL!)
Our relationship with Dave and Sue goes back about 15 years. Van Ness Engineering has built over 40 engines for us (including willys jeep and 1966 forktruck). Dave truly is the premier engine builder in our community. Beyond that he is a gentleman and just"good guy". When our daughter was young she had a little song she would sing when Dave was at theboatyard. "Dave,Dave The Engine Slave". We still sing it to him. Good Luck Dave and Sue, the new ad is great! Kim & John Kadimik
I got lucky, I'm new to the wooden boating community, my 53 KBL needed to be rebuilt from stem to stern! I never heard of Dave before or anybody else, my motor was sent to him by the guy who pulled it from my hull, he told me "Dave was the best". What he didnt say was what a darn nice guy is too! Dave took the time to explain everything to a guy who new nothing(me) I couldnt recommend him more highly.
David Pickard
I had an expierience with David Van Ness that was nothing like the ones listed above. In 2001 I shipped a Gray Phantom 103 to Van Ness for a complete rebuild. The engine was returned to me three months later than agreed on, after many phone calls and excuses the engine arrived damaged. Upon inspection of the engine after repairing the broken flywheel housing and cracked exhaust manifold water was found in the oil pan, the head and engine block still had cracks that were not repaired, the crank shaft was not turned, the carbs had to be rebuilt again, the transmission had to be rebuilt again and the list goes on. All of the items listed were paid for in the reuild cost paid to David
Van Ness. David did say I could return the engine and he would fix what was wrong however after all the trouble of getting the engine returned to me the first time I did not choose to trust him again. The last thing that went wrong was that David said he insured the engine for the cost of the rebuild ($5600.) but when I tried to collect from the trucking company I was informed that it was insured as scrap metal (how ironic)and was given a check for $50. So you can see not every one is pleased with Van Ness Engineering.
Ben Huizinga
This is to Ben Huizinga…call sometime having similar experience with Van Ness….
Honey Sparrow
207-939-8631
We here at Woody Boater have looked into these issues and of course every story has another side to it. I had to make a tough choice here to allow these comments but decided that this is a forum of sorts and I am not into censorship, just reporting. We asked around and I can report that these are isolated problems. And from we can tell, not accurate. In Mr Huizinga's situation, the motor was shipped as per Mr Huizingas request as scrap to save $300 in shipping. The motor was dropped and thus the insurance was not covered. David did volunteer new parts for fee to cover the broken items. And if mr huizinga would ship the moter back, David would fix it… As to the comments that the motor was not done,this is just plain wrong according to sources and out of Character for Van Ness…..
Regarding Honey Sparrow…They ordered a manifold from Van Ness and found another one that was free after the fact, so tried to return the one they ordered by claiming that it was the wrong one instead of just saying they found a free one. The funny thing is that David was fine with the return and there should have been no real issue here.
On a personal note. I have known David for some time, and know many folks that have known David for a very long time. They have all found these comments to be odd and not in the character of Van Ness Engineering. In fact claims of David going out of his way to make sure folks are happy and an incredibly high standard of fine craftsmanship. As you might imagine here at Woody Boater we come across all sorts of companies and folks wanting to be promoted. We try and weed through them to make sure that if we are broadcasting a service or boat, that its a quality item or company. Sometimes we miss. And will drop the story or correct it. In this case though, I will go a step further. We 100% support Van Ness. Bias? Yes! From experience and personal knowledge.. No business can be 100% pure of happy customers. It's a fact of dealing with humans. We must remember that most of the businesses we are dealing with here are small businesses made up of people just trying to make a living and doing the right thing. Mistakes happen..The true difference between these companies is how those problems are resolved. And in these two cases it appears that David did try and resolve them, but in the end was dealing with a difference of opinion on how fare he should go.
Ditto with the horrific experience, which is tough to say because I like Dave and respect his craft. I feel like I’ve been held hostage for over a year and could never at this point recommend him. Heart-broken.