DIY or Not?

[scipper77]

Re: DIY or Not?

So far I am 100% but I didn't vote that way because I know I am not capable of doing everything.

 

[scipper77]

Re: DIY or Not?

It is no blinding revelation, but I deduce from these numbers that the wealthy elite are not frequenting this board; About what I expected. I feel in good company.

Well this site is for the do it your selfer after all.

 

[_chris_]

Re: DIY or Not?

I voted 100% but should have voted 70-90 because I don't do my own machine work, I send that out, but I will take a stab at any other repair, I have rebuilt many of motors but have not dove into any outdrives yet. I have learned that proper maintnence is alot less work than rebuilds. I wish I could afford to just go to the shop for everything.

 

[cwhite6]

Re: DIY or Not?

It is no blinding revelation, but I deduce from these numbers that the wealthy elite are not frequenting this board; About what I expected. I feel in good company.

Right now I work on my boat as it is nothing real complicated. However, if the motor craps out and changing plugs, cleaning carb or something simple won't fix it, it will go to the shop. Getting stuff fixed by a qualified mechanic does not always mean wealthy. I was a mechanic in the army for 8 years so I can fix alot of stuff. But, and to me this is a huge but, time has alot to do with it. With 2 small children, 5 years and 2 months, and a demanding job timewise (VP of an Engineering Company) you have to make a choice sometimes. Do I try to fix it and spend a great deal of time on it and maybe screw something up, or do I let a professional fix it and spend my time enjoying my boat on the water with friends? When we buy a bowrider in the next couple of years, I will do the maintenance on it, but big items will go to the shop. To me, and this is just to me, my time is worth a certain amount of money and I would prefer to have someone fix it. My buddy is a perfect example. He has a 20' Searay (probably early 90's) with a 5.7l in it. In the last three trips he has been towed in twice. This guy can rebuild engines blindfolded so it is not a skill thing. First, the alternator bit the dust, then the fuel pump went out. A couple of little things has broke too. So, he has spent all his boating time fixing the boat. If it were me, as soon as the alternator bit it, I would have sent it to a shop to have the engined tuned and looked over real good. May have saved him alot of time and grief. However, he fixed it all himself and the motor runs perfect now. He likes to tinker alot. I don't. Different attitudes I guess.

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: DIY or Not?

Getting stuff fixed by a qualified mechanic does not always mean wealthy.

Agreed, I am all for knowing where to draw the line, but did you notice the last category has no respondents at all? The one above that has very few. That pretty much indicates that everybody who is responding does some portion of his own work AND frequents the site. Furthermore, lets face it, boat service and maintenance is expensive to have done for you. I assume anybody who can afford to send it ALL out is wealthy, but maybe I over-generalize. Certainly we are talking about persons of some means. Thus my conclusion.

I do recognize that there are those like myself who could afford to send it out if they really wanted to, but would rather do it themselves out of an aptitude for tinkering or being thrifty.

So, to all you "I do none of it myself" folks, if you're tuned in, you need to chime in and tell us how the cow eats the cabbage!

 

[cwhite6]

Re: DIY or Not?

Agreed, I am all for knowing where to draw the line, but did you notice the last category has no respondents at all. And the one above that has very few. That pretty much indicates that everybody who is responding does some portion of his own work AND frequents the site. Thus my conclusion.

I agree with that completely. I would not pay anyone to do trailer stuff and that is easy stuff. Also, oil and fluid changes are easy and I enjoy that kind of stuff. I plan on doing all of the maintenance stuff myself up to my ability level. But, stuff like dropping a lower unit on an I/O, I will not do. Same for real in depth engine stuff. Alternator changes, plugs, etc I can handle. But I am not diving into engine internals. Just not worth it to me.

 

[dingbat]

Re: DIY or Not?

Days past when I had more time than money I did it all. I'm sure that more than once I spent more doing it myself, for the first second and third time, before getting it right, but that was the situation at the time.

Now that I have more money than time I don?t mess with stuff as much as I used too. Just don?t have the time or ambition to deal with it all anymore. I would rather be out boating than fixing.

 

[grahamh]

Re: DIY or Not?

I'm the opposite, more time but less money.

I'm experienced with cars, so the engine part is pretty straightforward, and the outdrive is pretty simple and mechanical too.

One thing I would pay someone to do is any sort of fiberglass repair, I've never worked with glass at all. Hopefully that day will never come.

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: DIY or Not?

Very impressive...all of you in the 100% category. My hats off to you all. I do not possess the skills, time, or patience.

 

[Blue Crabber]

Re: DIY or Not?

I am in the 70% to 90% catergory.

I enjoy working on the boat and insuring that it runs properly everytime I take it out. Forums like this help make that possible.

However, I do know when to draw the line and if need be, I will take it somewhere else. There comes a point in time that it may be more expensive for me to do it than paying someone else.

Other than that, I do try most of it myself!

 

[Johnny Too Bad]

Re: DIY or Not?

I'm in the 70-90% range. Probably closer to 70% now, but I'm learning. I did have my tinny soda blasted because it would have taken FOREVER to get the three coats of paint and primer off. I still would have done it myself if I had planned on painting the entire hull. But, since I'm planning to polish the sides to a chrome-like finish, I really needed to get all the old paint out of the seams and from around the rivets.

I also enlist the help of my dad for motor work. I'm right there next to him assisting, because, as per usual, he will only do something for me once. So, I really have to pay attention.

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: DIY or Not?

I do 100% of my boat/trailer maintenance and repairs. I had been fixing my own cars since I was old enough to own one and when I got my first boat, I didn't know anything about them. I soon found out that marinas and boat repair shops were way worse than professional auto repair places. Every time I went to local shops, they treated me like they were doing me a huge favor by servicing my boat and charged through the nose to boot. Adding insult to injury, they kept my boat for months at a time and more often than not, returned it with the same problem (e.g. water in lower unit).

So I bought the manuals for my engines and boats and haven't looked back. Sometimes, I'll buy parts from them but that's the extent of my dealings.

I'm in a position where I have more money than time and could afford to do it, but I wouldn't even consider taking my boat into a shop due to my past experiences with them.

 

[allinmygarage]

Re: DIY or Not?

Well I think my name explains my answer. But since someone brought up the fiberglass and bodywork piece I am probably in the 70-90% range. I do not have the patience for bodywork on my cars or boats. I?ll gladly pay money for cosmetic stuff.

Mechanical stuff no problem. I figure I can fix it and mess it up 3 - 4 time before it will equal how much shops will charge. I especially HATE hearing how much people pay for simple things like breaks. I know this is an all boats forum but I am going to vent anyway. My wife?s cousin just paid $900 for breaks on a Pontiac Aztec (yes the ugly one). When I almost fell over he stated "they said I needed new calipers and a fluid flush". All parts total were about $250 when I looked them up online. So they charged him $650 to do breaks........sigh........I just don?t get it.

 

[pmat1]

Re: DIY or Not?

I started working on my boat after we got a $800 bill for having the carbs cleaned.. never again.....

 

[Woodnaut]

Re: DIY or Not?

Since my engine is still under warranty, I'll only go so far on it. Everything else, however.......

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=306152

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: DIY or Not?

I like this quote: "I also cut my own hair. Why pay someone to do anything I can do myself." My hero!

I also share the frustration that people you hire to do stuff seldom do it right and you end up going back over the job yourself. Sometimes I wish I didn't know how to do stuff! Like I wish I never learned to paint so I wouldn't DIY and could go boating instead!

However, I split the difference on DIY and sending it out. My boating season starts in April (flounder) and runs through January (duck season) so I don't have a "down time." besides, few maintenance/repair items can wait. I have limited time off, and my weekends often have obligations--albeit things I enjoy--and I want to use the boat rather than fix it. I'm not "wealthy elite" but my job is a profession, and I am fortuneate that I can make more in an hour at the desk than the cost for an hour's labor at the shop, so I don't "save" money by painting the bottom of the hull. i have changed the axle and springs on a trailer, and rewired plenty, but last week the boat was in the shop anyway so I got them to replace a rusted strut, paid maybe $40 labor that I would have lost just spending time getting the part. In this economy especially, I am glad that I am able to provide work and wages for others.
By getting work to my mechanic, we establish a loyalty where he gives me free advice on the stuff I do myself, and will treat me fair when he works on my boat--and will give me fast service in an emergency.
So Sunday I spent most the day installing a fish finder I scavenged off one boat onto another. Of course it took way longer than I envisioned. Cost effective? probably not. Fun? at times yes at times aggravating. Rewarding when it's all over? absolutely.
But in addition to the cost benefit issue, I have tons of other projects around--I fix up my older home, repair everything around here, and am in a hunt club with two historic buildings that require constant work--and we do it all. So if I'm fixing screening or rebuilding a porch, someone else should clean the carbs.

 

[Bilgamesh]

Re: DIY or Not?

I like this quote: "I also cut my own hair. Why pay someone to do anything I can do myself." My hero!

A man after my own heart! I used to go to a barber shop, then a hair stylist, then a chain type salon. After every visit, I would invariably either return with complaints, and/or come home and trim up the loose ends myself. Finally some 30 years ago I just started cutting it myself. As I got older, I bought a set of clippers, and I have never regretted the savings or the peace of mind. Over the years, I have also had many friends and family ask me to cut their hair.

I like what one poster said about the shop mechanic acting like they were doing you a favor to work on your boat. This is so true. After having rebuilt a couple engines and done a ton of work on other things, I have a healthy respect for the work mechanics and other tradesmen do, but I have no love for a prima donna attitude in any field of endeavor. If I pay a fair price, I expect a person to deliver a product or service that reflects pride in his work AS WELL AS courtesy and respect for the fact that I also work for my money. Unfortunately this is all too often lacking, and I choose self-reliance instead. I can do anything I set my mind to, and I frequently do.

Bravo to all you self-starting, self-reliant do-it-yourselfers. It is a very American state of mind.

 

[Ned L]

Re: DIY or Not?

100% myself. It helps that I grew up that way & also years ago worked as a boatbuilder in a yard where we built commercial boats up to 90'. (My wife cuts my hair.... & I cut hers. )

 

[JeepinGunGuy]

Re: DIY or Not?

I was a Jeep tech for 20 years, now I write the service manuals for
AM General. So wrenching is in the blood. I do 100% of everything including cutting my hair.

 

[Thad]

Re: DIY or Not?

Well, most of my hair has fallen out, so I am not in the "cut my own hair" category.

I do most everything to my boat. Used to do a lot for my buddies boats as well. Then it started becoming a chore rather than a hobby. I will help now and then, mostly I just drink a beer and give them direction.

I absoulutely will not touch gel coat though. No way, not gonna happen, forget it! I am too picky and if the color does not match...ooh do I get mad.

I do have someone else shampoo the carpets also.