Action 9: Man says company wouldn't help with boat cover problem

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A man said as soon as he started using a new cover for his boat, the color on his seats started changing -- but he said he couldn't get any help from the company that sold him the cover.

John Summers is a former professional water skier who suits up and skis even when it is cold, but lately Summers has put most of his energy into trying to get the seats on his boat replaced after they turned a pinkish brown.

"Right in this area, it's brown," said Summers.

Summers blamed the changing color of his seats on his new $1,200 black boat cover that he installed last summer. He thinks that the hot sun caused the color to bleed onto his seats.

"The only thing that changed was the fact that I put this cover on," said Summers, but the fabric manufacturer, Glen Raven, disagreed saying it was a reaction of the vinyl seats breaking down.

"Is it coincidence that I just put this cover on, I didn't buy into that," said Summers.

Action 9 got in touch with Glen Raven about Summers problem.

It said their testing showed the discoloration was not a direct result of their fabrics, but related to chemical compositions of vinyl.

As a part of the company's ongoing research, it told Action 9 that they would replace Summers vinyl seats at their expense. He was surprised how quickly Action 9 got them to act.

"It seems like once they were notified by you guys, I was called. They didn't even take a chance sending me a letter or an email," said Summers.

Summers said he can spend more time doing what he likes … skiing.

WSOC