Trade Wind Inflatables - Santa Ana, California

Doug B.

What a wonderful (refreshing) experience! Ed, Ken, Emily were all great people to deal with. I got bids from 6 different dealer/brokers for a console inflatable. Trade Wind was unique in their approach. They truly wanted to understand our needs and spent a lot of time showing us alternative approaches. Most dealers wanted to sell us what they had. Trade Wind wanted to sell us what we needed. They developed 3 different bids and approaches. They continued to enhance their bid, until it met all of our requirements. Not only were they very price competitive, but they offered options the others simply didn't have. Each individual was very professional and delivered on every promise. We are thrilled with our purchase and the result!

Nick S.

In August 2023 I bought a 2023 Highfield 310 with a Honda 20 and a davit system from Tradewinds to mount on our Proline boat as a tender, for $25,000. Used it lightly last summer and Fall, (5 hours). During their installation they scratched the helm console with the davit and covered it up with ugly touch up paint which did not cover their scratches, or blend with original color. Boating season is back and the Honda motor will not run. I called Tradewinds service department and was informed all I needed to do was swap out the fuel and run some Stabil gas treatment through the (new) motor. Was informed that I needed to figure it out myself because in person service was not available. Did as instructed, it didn't work. The motor would start, then stop and proved completely unreliable. Took my wife on a sunset harbor cruise and was stranded, trying to get the faulty motor to restart in the dark.
Tradewinds did eventually come to see the boat and quickly decided the carb definitely needed to be rebuilt, or replaced. They claimed poor fuel quality is the reason the brand new Honda 20 has developed issues and suggested I should write my congressman to complain. Meanwhile, despite being covered by a custom made boat cover they had created, the helm console has oozed glue out all over the surface facia, making a huge mess and ruining every item of clothing it comes into contact with. Hard to avoid it in a small confined space like the inside of a tender. Tradewinds claim the boat is not designed to be in direct sunlight or this is what happens. Really? They might have mentioned that when I was choosing a boat. They made an attempt to rebuild the Honda carb while the boat was in the water last Saturday. That did not work. I was told the carb needed to be returned to the tradewinds workshop. I called in to check on their progress to discover that carb work had not been started, but they ordered a replacement. Now they say they really need to recover the boat to restore the damaged helm console at their workshop and replace the carb. Apparently they will let me know when their busy schedule allows them to collect the defective boat and start repairs. Its been a few days already and no call. I get that it is Summer time and they are busy, but it seems to me I am the disappointed customer stuck with their defective product from last summer. Maybe being inconvenienced is just par for the course when you owe warranty repairs to your customer. If I had to do this again I most absolutely would not. I would source another dealer with a better customer service mindset and buy a new tender from them instead. Bummed. My wife is pissed. Bad experience on every level.

David H.

Been client of Trade Wind Inflatable ever since owned my first boat. Being first time boat owner(pre owned boat), needed to find trust worthy, quality and dependable service mechanic to repower the boat. And to service as well as routine maintenance. Got introduced to Trade Wind Inflatable from Newport Yacht club and Bay club members. Owner, Ken, personally engages and checks all aspects of service. Whenever out in ocean, boat has been reliable and very dependable. Ken stands by all the service performed by each mechanics and takes his time to answers all questions. He help guided in many choices and saved me from making unnecessary purchases. When out in deep waters, having a boat maintained and serviced by trust worthy mechanics is must. Would highly recommend this establishment

Adrian B.

I can't say i had an at all good experience here. Took my boat in and you can tell "Ken" didn't want to work on the boat. He had one of his guys go ahead and work on it. I went ahead and stood by and he didn't know what to do. Ken would instruct him..so he went ahead and all of a sudden says we need a valve job and this worker didn't know how to do it. We waited 2 hours so he can ask ken if he did it right. Ken said go ahead and close it up and the worker did..we started the motor and all there was is a CLANK CLANK CLANK that was not there before. Ken then instructing me that i need new heads or even a motor. I took the boat home and worked on the valves and did the work that i had taken it there for the first place..Motor is running perfect!! I DO NOT RECOMMEND THIS PLACE

Patrick H.

Ed, Ken and Jim did a great job selling and installing my new inflatable dinghy. I bought an Achilles 280 LX with a 9.9 Yamaha.

Glad I decided to buy from these guys! I shopped every dealer in Orange County. Don't waste your time. This is your best choice.

Dustin D.

These guys recently saved my fishing trip to Havasu with my old man. The fuel pump went out in our Yamaha 15 hp and o one could get it for 1-2 weeks. Trade winds made it happen in 2 days at a better price!! I wouldn’t do business anywhere else!

JIM S.

Ken is the man! Can is very honest and all about matching the proper equipment to the customers needs. I've been dealing with trade winds and can for a long time over 20 years never had a bad experience. Can is a wealth of information if you come here you will not be disappointed.

Mario D.

I left SF for LA to buy a dingy, and I was not returning till I had a dinghy on the back of my truck, went in to Trade Wind on Sat, big selection of dinghys, got to meet Ken that showed me my choice, he then got me a trailer and had his guy's prep the dinghy and trailer, he new we were staying at a hotel, so arranged to do the Sea trial on Sunday, normally they are closed, Mat made the whole process very easy, he absolutely gets things done, made the whole experience really easy.
Sunday afternoon I was on my way back to SF.
Definitely recommend this location if you're looking for a RIB.