30 hours labour?? is this right?

[cblzaccie]

this is the replacement engine i am looking at ordering.

http://www.michiganmotorz.com/Marine+Engines/Partial+engine+packages/5.7L+Vortec+marine+engine-SILVER+Package+(1967-2008+replacement)

note it seems to be only missing a few parts that are on my old engine.

the marina mechnic is quoting 30 hours labor to pull the old engine out of a wellcraft excel 26se and put this one in , hook it up and test it.
is this in the correct ballpark? it seems a LOT of hours since the engine arrives in this condition with all these parts already on it.

 

[Don S]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

I see nothing wrong with 30 hrs for a BALLPARK estimate, has the mechanic that gave you the ballpark seen the boat? or see what the condition of the other parts are? Besides being a Wellcraft, what is the present engine and drive combination (manufacturer) and what year?

 

[Bondo]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

Ayuh,...

That Could be just a base Hit, rather than a Home Run,... Depending on the Unknowns....

 

[cblzaccie]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

yes he has the boat currently. wow i would have thought a mechanic and rebuild an engine from the ground up in 30 hours. the parts are in great condition the old engine is actually pretty new, damaged due to cooling issue unrelated to the engine parts caused it to overheat so the few bits that need to be swapped ( as far as i can see form the pictures the only parts are the starter, alternator and raw water parts everything else is already assembled and tested.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

Without seeing your boat, it's hard to say what all they will have to move to get the motor out.

 

[legoman67]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

the other thing is, he is probably expecting the worse, bolts all rusted and seized, etc. That way he has time to deal with them if they happen, instead of saying 10 hours, and then being a few days late if he has a problem. He says 30, and if everything goes smooth and it only takes 10, then the customer will be happier then if he said 10 and it took 30.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

I know a cheaper way. You do it. If you can't or won't do it then, ask around other marinas and mechanics what they charge.

Drive got to come off, who knows what he finds there.

Whats above the motor that got to be removed? Then will the motor come out in one piece? What does he have to remove before he can get a arm in there to even start taking everything off to free it to move up.

Got to hook up a hoist or a hoe to it to get it out.

Got to put the old motor somewhere and transfer over to the new motor all the tins and stuff.

And cause you say everything is good on the motor he doesn't know if a riser or something else got to be ordered, so he will have to wait for more parts.

So this isn't a straight thru job where he knows it will be all straight work on your boat.

I bet if all goes good that boat will be with him for at least a week.

How about the test drive, he got to charge at least 2 hours for that more like 3-4.

You can stand there all day and watch him work and time him.

Or you could have asked for a job price. A straight price for the job no matter how long it takes.

 

[cblzaccie]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

thanks for your input, sorry , i seem to have been burnt before, the last place i had a new motor put in took 7 months !!! countless promises, then backpeddling , excuses ect. this pllace seems much more organized but its always worth checking on here.

 

[chiefalen]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

Where are you maybe someone here can recommend a place they did business with?

Maybe that was the question you should have asked.

 

[havasuboatman]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

Any mechanic would love to flag 30 hours to R&R an engine and swap a few parts. I know I would, but I'd feel a strong need to see a priest to confess that sin. Mercruiser gives a generous 9 hours to pull a motor, swap the necessary parts on to a long block and put it back in the boat with an additional 2 hours for testing and difficulty variables.
Your wellcraft isn't a hard boat to work on. For gods sake, call around. You are being gouged. This guy you took it to... He's a professional marine mechanic? Is this boat shop a Mercruiser authorized shop?
here's something to gauge it against:
actual removal times:
drive 10 min.
engine (boat to bench) 60 min. Max
Swap componets (including inspection) 3 hours
install motor: 1 hour
install drive 20 min.
Dude, doing a motor R&R on a boat like yours is a gravy job for us Merc. Tech's

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

It all depends on the particular boat manufacturer.

Engine access is everything.

Having to remove a bulkhead/bench seat/sundecks all adding time to the job.

And everything has to be put BACK, without damage.

 

[Bondo]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

And everything has to be put BACK, without damage.

Ayuh,... And Cleaned.....

 

[mkast]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

If you think you are getting burned, find someone else.
If you look hard enough, you will find a cheap price, and a good burn!

 

[Bt Doctur]

Re: 30 hours labour?? is this right?

Are you getting burned? .Thats hard to answer without seeing the boat. how much of the interior has to be removed, do the front mounts need replacing, structural glasswork involved, corroded/rusted solid rear mounting bolts, new rear mounts included. I`d ask for a breakdown if the 30 hr estimated charge and I`d ask for references for past work performed.