The Dock expert

[modernrocketry]

I got these two guys on the dock where I keep my boat...

Every time I am working on something, or have someone working on something, they come over and get in my business and tell me everything I am doing wrong and then tell me how they would do it. They are both really nice guys, but their boats have never left the slip in the 3 years I have been there. I call their boats floating condos

I am looking for a new generator and one of them was telling he has the same generator and that I must be doing something wrong because he has no problems with his. I asked how many hours his has, he proudly said 900 hours, I smiled and said I've got over 9000 hours... I use mine.
He hasn't talked to me for two weeks

Most of the time they crack me up, but sometimes I just can't help it.

 

[ilmostro99]

Re: The Dock expert

Wow, I didn't know my brother-in-law was down in Long Beach now!
Erik

 

[avenger79]

Re: The Dock expert

That is one of my pet peeves. I told a guy once who was telling me how to load 4 wheelers for my trip back home. I managed to get them here without your help, and in fact the only time I've ever lost one off the trailer was doing it the way you just described.
My son said people who overheard probably think I'm the biggest jerk in the world for being rude. I'm running late, trying to get going and had no patience at that moment.
I like the "I use mine response"

 

[mthieme]

Re: The Dock expert

Yep. Gotta neighbor like that. No matter you're doing, it's the wrong way. It's gotta be done his way (right, wrong or indifferent). Even if you simply digging a hole. Of course he knows everything about everything.

 

[oops!]

Re: The Dock expert

i got one of those guys in our boat yard....hes a mechanic....the only one ive ever seen that can totally botch up the installation of a set of points.

he came to help with the fairing of my boat.....(un invited and without my knowlage.....long story)....cost me two weeks i desperatly needed.......i made him pay for re-gellcoating the boat

 

[polk county]

Re: The Dock expert

You guys are posting wrong! Let me tell you how to do it!

 

[SeaSprite18]

Re: The Dock expert

Sounds like my wife.

 

[zach103]

Re: The Dock expert

no neighbors like that thank god. both on each side are willing to help when we need it.. neither own a boat so no problem with that.. but one owned a construction company so when we built our deck and porch he was in the yard with his bobcat and tons of knowledge. an whenever we need a stump pulled out he asks us before we can ask him.. he likes puttin his truck to the test..

 

[avenger79]

Re: The Dock expert

I'll add a word of caution. I once built a mild hot rod camaro for the missus. we lived in an apt and i did the work outside. everytime i popped the hood i had a group of know it alls and gawkers there to "help". I got a little frustrated with them after a while. not much you can do it's their parking lot too.
then one day these two young guys walked up. "whatcha doin?" nothing just trying to work on this car. they were polite we chatted a little but i really wanted to get back to work unbothered.
they left, after admiring the car a bit. Said if i ever needed help to shout at them. of course pride, frustration and stupidity blocked me from that. the car got done after some rework. mistakes are part of learning.
funny part, the next time i seen those two young fellows, one was driving a '67 nova that could turn low 10's, the other had a 68 charger that was absolutely drool worthy. turns out they both work in r&d for one of the big three.
Still friends with the older one of the two, unfortunately the younger died about a year after I met him. Brain tumors stink. We still joke around about those days under the hood of that camaro. They were always around at a slight distance watching the progress but polite not to interfere after the first time.

 

[JB]

Re: The Dock expert

Don't automatically reject advice from the kibitzers. Some of them really know what they are talking about. . . especially the grizzled old farts.

What most of them don't know is how to offer advice so that it is taken seriously.

Ever heard the saying, "Wisdom is wasted on the old"? The rest of it, of course, is that youth is wasted on the young.

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: The Dock expert

I got one of those in the slip next to my boat. Every time I go to grill something, it is "Whatcha cooking?" Oh that is only 5 minuets each side, Hey man your cooking that too long, its going to be like shoe leather, and don't even talk boats with him. He too also has a houseboat that never has left the dock in 16 years. The lower unit of the outboard housing has corroded away! Just the shaft is there (which is just a rusted nub).

I like getting advice from the quiet ones who may say just a few words that make since,,,,,,,,,,Sorta like JB

 

[QC]

Re: The Dock expert

I am one of those guys . . . except I use my stuff too . . . I give myself a break though cause I have one neighbor who drove his boat & trailer over 250 miles with the surge break safety tripped and the brakes on full. Don't ask, I have no idea how he even moved it, but he melted the beads off his tires, but not until he got where he was going . . . He did complain a little about his truck's fuel economy though, but I stopped him before he took it to the dealer

And another one who installed his prop without a thrust washer. I noticed that there was no clearance between the prop and the gearcase and though I should butt in . . .

Frankly, I always look over their sh!te, they're gonna come get me when they break it, so it's waaaay easier for me just to straighten out their stuff before failure. I see it as self preservation . . . Dead serious though.

 

[Tyme2fish]

Re: The Dock expert

I'd like to give one word of advice, but then my brain would be empty.

 

[mthieme]

Re: The Dock expert

I am one of those guys . . . except I use my stuff too . . . I give myself a break though cause I have one neighbor who drove his boat & trailer over 250 miles with the surge break safety tripped and the brakes on full. Don't ask, I have no idea how he even moved it, but he melted the beads off his tires, but not until he got where he was going . . . He did complain a little about his truck's fuel economy though, but I stopped him before he took it to the dealer

And another one who installed his prop without a thrust washer. I noticed that there was no clearance between the prop and the gearcase and though I should butt in . . .

Frankly, I always look over their sh!te, they're gonna come get me when they break it, so it's waaaay easier for me just to straighten out their stuff before failure. I see it as self preservation . . . Dead serious though.

There's a difference between offering advice in a friendly manner versus being the end-all know-all if-it-ain't-done-my-way-it's-wrong.
I assume you didn't treat them like idiots.

 

[oops!]

Re: The Dock expert

Don't automatically reject advice from the kibitzers. Some of them really know what they are talking about. . . especially the grizzled old farts.

What most of them don't know is how to offer advice so that it is taken seriously.

Ever heard the saying, "Wisdom is wasted on the old"? The rest of it, of course, is that youth is wasted on the young.

actually....i was allways kind of a student of the older folk......in allmost every job or neighborhood......

they had oodles of great ideas....and uasually....anything i was doing...they had allready done a gazillion times.........

the cool thing was.....when they needed my areas of expertice......the allways asked......

i allways respected the older gereration and listened.......some times they were just mad at the world types.....but others are just a world of information.....and really really good friends

 

[Shizzy]

Re: The Dock expert

you get that with anything you are working on. Cars, boats, motorcycles, houses etc..

the only time I comment is when I see something unsafe. BUT I just make my one comment and leave it at that.

For instance a coworker showed up with a canoe tied to the top of his Honda Civic with one single strap on the front and one single strap on the rear. I simply said, thats not going to stay. and let him worry about it.

 

[SgtMaj]

Re: The Dock expert

I have a neighbor like that. I think there's one guy like that on every street.

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: The Dock expert

actually....i was allways kind of a student of the older folk......in allmost every job or neighborhood......

they had oodles of great ideas....and uasually....anything i was doing...they had allready done a gazillion times.........

the cool thing was.....when they needed my areas of expertice......the allways asked......

i allways respected the older gereration and listened.......some times they were just mad at the world types.....but others are just a world of information.....and really really good friends

You are being a suck-up the wrong way young man.

 

[f_inscreenname]

Re: The Dock expert

Sounds like the ?neighborhood boat ramp gang.?
Last night I was doing a test drive after chasing a ignition issue in the driveway for hours. For those that don?t know I rebuild motors, outdrives and for that matter anything in a boat. So I get back to the ramp and get a ?How?s it running?? from one of the gang. I tell them I?m still chasing a ignition issue bla, bla bla and one of them comes back with, ?I will have to get so and so?s phone number to you, he may be able to figure it out. He's a salesman at outdoor world.?

 

[greasemonkeyjmj]

Re: The Dock expert

i prefer to play dumb. people expect less out of you that way...LOL