08/02/2026
Over the past few weeks, I've seen a lot of discussion about aluminum boats, so I'm going to say this again for those who may have missed it the first time.
I've seen, touched, driven, and worked on just about every aluminum boat built in Arkansas, along with many built elsewhere. I was there at the beginning of both Edge and Havoc. Mighty White Marine was Havoc's largest dealer from 2013 to 2019, and we have been Edge's largest dealer to date. Before Mighty White Marine, I worked for other dealerships and became the go-to person for hull performance and setup because of my background in racing boats and duck boats—long before Facebook was around.
So what I'm about to say shouldn't surprise anyone who knows me or knows how we operate at Mighty White Marine.
Every manufacturer—and I mean every manufacturer, not just the three or four brands people constantly argue about—has had, and will continue to have, issues from time to time. It may be a weld, paint, hardware, rigging, or something else a customer isn't happy with. No boat is perfect.
What matters is how those issues are handled.
At Mighty White Marine, we're proud to represent Edge, Alweld, WeldBilt, Gatortail, and other quality products. We don't see nearly the same amount of social media criticism surrounding some of those brands, but that doesn't mean they never have issues. They do—just like every other manufacturer. The difference is that most issues are handled professionally through the dealer and manufacturer without becoming Facebook headlines.
In all the years we've represented Edge and Havoc, neither company has ever refused to stand behind a legitimate warranty issue that we brought to their attention. In fact, we repair many warranty items in-house because we have the experience, equipment, and capability to do it quickly, saving our customers time and getting them back on the water.
I can also speak on Reaper. Zack contacted us directly to help one of his customers with an issue, and he stepped up and took care of it.
The point is this: if you have a legitimate manufacturing issue, work through your dealer first. If the dealer can't resolve it, I have every reason to believe the manufacturer will stand behind their product if it truly is a manufacturer's defect.
The internet has a way of magnifying problems. Hundreds or even thousands of satisfied owners don't get on Facebook every weekend to post that their boat performed flawlessly. One negative post can spread faster than a thousand positive experiences. Don't mistake the loudest voices for the majority of owners.
Constantly tearing down one brand to promote another doesn't help anyone. Every company is made up of hardworking people trying to build the best boat they can. No manufacturer is perfect, but the good ones stand behind what they build.
At the end of the day, our reputation isn't built on selling one brand over another—it's built on taking care of our customers long after the sale. That's how we've always done business, and that's how we'll continue to do business.
Let's spend less time bashing brands and more time helping each other enjoy being on the water.
