DANIA BEACH, FL — A Delaware limited liability company has sued Intrepid Powerboats, Inc. in Broward County Circuit Court, alleging the boat builder denied a warranty claim after a nearly new custom vessel flooded and lost most of its value.
The complaint, filed July 10, 2026 by BAFI477, LLC in the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County, brings claims for breach of contract, breach of written warranty under the federal Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, and violation of the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act. The case, styled BAFI477, LLC v. Intrepid Powerboats, Inc., is docketed as Case No. CACE-26-011198 in Division 02.
Attorney Christine Walker of Fowler White Burnett in Miami is listed as plaintiff's counsel, together with attorneys from Liskow & Lewis in New Orleans who the filing says will seek to appear pro hac vice.
According to the complaint, BAFI477 entered into a contract on January 27, 2021 with Intrepid Southeast, Inc., described in the lawsuit as a wholly owned dealer subsidiary of Intrepid Powerboats, to purchase an Intrepid 477 Evolution. The purchase agreement attached as Exhibit A lists a sales price of $1,205,000. The filing says the vessel, with hull identification number IBW47192J122, was delivered to BAFI477 in Dania Beach on March 30, 2022, and that a three-year Intrepid Powerboats limited warranty was registered the same day.
The complaint alleges that on January 2, 2025, while the warranty was still in effect, the vessel flooded because its port side scupper drain hose became disconnected below deck, preventing water from discharging overboard. The lawsuit alleges the disconnection resulted from defective design, use of inappropriate material, and improper installation.
According to the filing, the flooding occurred while the vessel was in St. Maarten, after which the boat was withdrawn from service, removed from the water, and shipped to Fort Lauderdale. The complaint alleges the water intrusion damaged nearly every critical onboard system, including engines, generators, electrical distribution, firefighting and bilge systems, and the galley and berthing spaces, and caused the vessel to lose almost all of its value.
The lawsuit says BAFI477 notified Intrepid Powerboats of the incident by email on or about January 16, 2025, and that on February 10, 2025 the vessel was taken to a MarineMax facility in Dania Beach on Intrepid Powerboats' advice. The complaint alleges MarineMax is the parent company of Intrepid Powerboats and that an inspection arranged by Intrepid was limited to documenting damage rather than investigating a root cause.
The complaint alleges that on August 12, 2025, a representative of Intrepid Powerboats denied the warranty claim based on a review of documents and pictures and without a full investigation. The lawsuit alleges Intrepid Powerboats has continued to deny coverage, including most recently in April 2026, based on what the plaintiff calls an unsubstantiated and untrue claim that the vessel was used for commercial purposes and that the warranty was therefore void. The complaint alleges the vessel was purchased for the personal use of the company's principal, not for commercial use.
Under the deceptive trade practices count, the complaint alleges that Intrepid Powerboats and its dealer marketed the "Intrepid Shield Warranty" as premium, comprehensive coverage while, according to the filing, routinely delaying or denying substantial warranty claims to reduce warranty costs.
BAFI477 seeks damages in excess of $50,000, full repair or replacement costs of the vessel, transportation costs from St. Maarten to Florida, shipyard and storage costs, loss of use, pre and post judgment interest, attorneys' fees, costs, and injunctive relief. The complaint demands a jury trial on all issues.
The filing reviewed by Boca Post does not include a response from Intrepid Powerboats.
Boca Post reviewed the complaint, BAFI477, LLC v. Intrepid Powerboats, Inc., Case No. CACE-26-011198, filed July 10, 2026 in the Circuit Court of the Seventeenth Judicial Circuit in and for Broward County. The case is newly filed and remains pending. The allegations have not been proven in court.
For local court coverage focused on civil complaints and legal disputes in Broward, readers can browse Boca Post's continuing Broward County Lawsuits reporting.
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