Choosing The Right Mechanic

[LuvBoating]

How's your marine service-mechanic with: attitude/customer service, labor cost, parts costs, reasonably clean/organized shop and office?

One marine service/mechanic (Mercruiser Dealer) we've used does a great job, BUT, charges $95 per hr labor and costs for parts aren't cheap. Their labor costs are decreased by $20 in Jan/Feb.

Another marine service/mechanic (not a Dealer type) done a couple of repairs for us, but had problems with him. His labor fee was $70 per hr and parts were considerably lower than the dealer's was. Due to the problems we had, decided not take our boat back to him for anything.

Had a recent water-leak on the engine while underway (petcock broke). Took the boat to the Mercruiser Dealer mechanic and he said that we needed a new block. After giving us the estimate, we decided we couldn't afford his cost.

Was then recommended to the mechanic our boat is at now (non-Dealer). His labor charge is $70 per hr, cheaper, but his shop and office were in terrible shape (organization/cleanliness) compared to the Dealer. His "customer service skills" sure aren't the best and that has sort of bothered us! He also requires half of estimated cost upfront in cash or check for parts. He replaced the petcocks w/o having to replace the block. He then told us that he waiver the cost of that repair if we let him take our engine out, primer/repaint it and replace the "tin". We "ok'd" that. After the engine was out, he started telling us different things we needed, like: belts, timing chain, oil pump, engine mounts.........this is when he asked us for upfront cash for parts stating he didn't have the Capital to buy parts. In other words, he took the engine OUT of our boat before telling us about the upfront cash! Now, while taking our engine apart, we found out we have a slightly bent rod. Choices: leave it alone, replace the rod or get a new/rebuilt block. We chose the block. He then asked for the money to buy the block of which we gave him a check.

Bottom line: we have never paid upfront for any kind of repair on anything! The cost of this job is straining us somewhat financially, but we are making it happen. Cann't do anything about our situation, but are worried that the engine will be put back together and installed back into the boat correctly AND that the boat will be in good shape when we get it back. The boat is a '92 Cuddy Cabin.

Any comments/suggestions?

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

I'd say you have two fists in the tar baby. I have been in that situation and you are stuck--your alternative is to haul the boat and pieces to a "major" shop and pay big bucks to put it all back together. Most shops won't touch another guy's work. many won't work on old boats. And a good shop will be so busy you won't see yours back for 2 months (if it's not busy, it's not a good shop).

I have used a wide variety of mechanics, etc., through the decades. So much depends on the type of work and the boat itself--I put the better but more expensive shops on the new big motor. I let anyone paint the bottom. One mechanic who is a mess knows old motors. I used to know the only guy in town who could work on old merc's b/c his dad was a merc mechanic; lost touch with him. I had a shade tree guy who could rebuild a motor but he'd lose your bow line or trailer strap or something--but he's also launch and run the boat and pull it and not charge you. I use a small-town shop near my hunt/fish club both for convenience and to support the locals; they can be expensive but they are flexible--which you need for small boats--and don't mind telling me some stuff to do mysklef or try to help trouble shoot--which you need for old boats.

When choosing a mechanic, in my circumstances, I would pay a little more for someone nearby or who will come to the boat since every hour I spend hauling and driving the boat somewhere is money I don't make working--it is a direct cost. Others don't have that factor.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

We have quite a few shops in the area, most attached to dealerships of course, some okay, one whose door I will never darken and steer others away from at every opportunity, and the one I found last year by word of mouth. Most of the guys in town only work on certain brands, but these guys can do just about anything, and what they can't do they will send you to someone else on whose work they'll stake their reputation. They do a lot (maybe all?) of reman work on BRP powerheads but still somehow have time to do service work on a timely basis. They're reliable, honest and reasonable and they have a cool shop. I don't go nowheres else. The shop whose door I'll never darken again tried to take me on an impeller job two years ago. We finally reached a compromise with which neither of us was especially happy. There's a thread somewhere about it.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

My mechanic works CHEAP! I don't even charge myself for labor.

 

[drrpm]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

A trustworthy shop is worth an extra $20 an hour. Trying to go cheap frequently ends up being the more expensive option

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

This is what I call: "Cheaper doesn't always mean better" , BUT, will have to wait and see how this younger dude does.

A trustworthy shop is worth an extra $20 an hour. Trying to go cheap frequently ends up being the more expensive option

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Yes indeed......we are STUCK! He's got our distributor/plug wires/carb on one side of his shop, our drive and manifolds/risers on the floor on the other side and our engine in the middle on a stand. Wife and I would much rather him have everything in one spot, but when my wife left him a cell message POLITELY asking him to move our manifold/risers more to the back of his shop (they were by the garage door), he got upset and told me "nobody tells me how to run my shop or my business!". The manifolds/risers were new last year and my wife didn't want anything to happen to them.
My wife called him this AM to see if he'd ordered the block yet. He had and said it should be in by next Friday (next week). The last time I seen him, I asked him to let me know when the new block comes in so I can see it before he starts transferring stuff from the old one to the new one. Will he call me.........excellent question. Remember, my wife had to call him to see if he ordered the block.......he didn't call us, which would have been very nice if he'd had! I pretty much have my wife talk to him now b/c he told me straight up "you're a hard customer!". I don't see myself as a "hard customer", just a customer that asks questions!

The Mercruiser dealership that we've taken the boat to before (new starter, new dual battery switch, CD and Fishfinder install, drive maintenance, prop replacement) works on older boats, like ours.

I'd say you have two fists in the tar baby. I have been in that situation and you are stuck--your alternative is to haul the boat and pieces to a "major" shop and pay big bucks to put it all back together. Most shops won't touch another guy's work. many won't work on old boats. And a good shop will be so busy you won't see yours back for 2 months (if it's not busy, it's not a good shop).

I have used a wide variety of mechanics, etc., through the decades. So much depends on the type of work and the boat itself--I put the better but more expensive shops on the new big motor. I let anyone paint the bottom. One mechanic who is a mess knows old motors. I used to know the only guy in town who could work on old merc's b/c his dad was a merc mechanic; lost touch with him. I had a shade tree guy who could rebuild a motor but he'd lose your bow line or trailer strap or something--but he's also launch and run the boat and pull it and not charge you. I use a small-town shop near my hunt/fish club both for convenience and to support the locals; they can be expensive but they are flexible--which you need for small boats--and don't mind telling me some stuff to do mysklef or try to help trouble shoot--which you need for old boats.

When choosing a mechanic, in my circumstances, I would pay a little more for someone nearby or who will come to the boat since every hour I spend hauling and driving the boat somewhere is money I don't make working--it is a direct cost. Others don't have that factor.

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Wife and I would much rather him have everything in one spot, but when my wife left him a cell message POLITELY asking him to move our manifold/risers more to the back of his shop (they were by the garage door), he got upset and told me "nobody tells me how to run my shop or my business!".

What right do you have to tell someone how to organize their business? I don't think you're helping your cause with this mechanic by nit-picking how he does things. I'm sorry, but you do sound like a difficult customer.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

What right do you have to tell someone how to organize their business? I don't think you're helping your cause with this mechanic by nit-picking how he does things. I'm sorry, but you do sound like a difficult customer.

I agree. If the manifolds were stolen while in his care, custody, and control, he would be responsible for replacing them anyhow.

 

[Harritwo]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

LuvBoating if you will PM me, i will give you the name of a guy here in Orange Park. He does excellent work, is economical, and for me I have a 3.0L MercCruiser, He only uses Merc parts. He iS NOT a dealer but does excellent work. Like another poster said, he is good, he is busy. He came recommended to me by Doctors Lake Marina and i have used him for several years.

 

[slag]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

I'm the kind of person who likes to know what is going on at all stages of the build as well, but then again, I do my own work anymore so I don't have to worry while my machine is somewhere else.

At any rate, quit pestering the guy and let him work. I'd be pretty mad also if someone wanted daily updates and tried to tell me where to put things in my shop/garage.

 

[shrew]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Called him to tell him where you'd like him to store the manifolds and risers in his shop. Called him to ask if he ordered the block. Asked him to call you when the block arrived, and to make further arrangements to see the block before he begins work. Let the guy do his work. You can't have the best prices AND the best service AND the cleanest shop AND the fastest turnaround time AND have them extend you a line of credit. It just doesn't work that way. There is such a thing a "Firing the Customer". When the headache exceeds the revenue, it's right about when you find your calls are not being returned.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

She wasn't demanding that he move the manifolds/risers, simply asking him. Those manifolds/risers cost us $700 plus dollars (new/installed) and she just didn't want someone to steal them or have them get wet due to all the rain we've been getting. His shop, which is in a building with other shops, leaks water terribly and part of the shop floor gets flooded. I know this b/c I stopped by one morning when he was opening up and he was really complaining about all the water on the floor.

What right do you have to tell someone how to organize their business? I don't think you're helping your cause with this mechanic by nit-picking how he does things. I'm sorry, but you do sound like a difficult customer.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

The guy requires "upfront cash" to buy parts, says he doesn't have the Capital to buy with. How in the world would he replace the manifolds/risers if something happened to them??

I agree. If the manifolds were stolen while in his care, custody, and control, he would be responsible for replacing them anyhow.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Ok gentlemen, we AREN'T calling or visiting him every day! My wife talked to him last Wednesday on our cell b/c the check we gave him hadn't cleared his bank yet. The checked cleared his bank the next day and she called him today to see if he'd ordered the new block yet. I see absolutely NOTHING wrong with with her call today. I've already been told that "upfront cash" is not the best way to go for repairs, but we've had no choice. Some people simply say "fix it" without caring at all about the cost or how long the repair will take. We sure don't have that kind of finances!

I'm the kind of person who likes to know what is going on at all stages of the build as well, but then again, I do my own work anymore so I don't have to worry while my machine is somewhere else.

At any rate, quit pestering the guy and let him work. I'd be pretty mad also if someone wanted daily updates and tried to tell me where to put things in my shop/garage.

 

[DBreskin]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Those manifolds/risers cost us $700 plus dollars (new/installed) and she just didn't want someone to steal them or have them get wet due to all the rain we've been getting.

Don't you think there's a chance the manifolds and risers will get wet when in use on the boat?

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

It's OUR boat he's working on and we feel we should be able to find out how the job is doing. AND, since we are paying "upfront" cash (that no other shop has ask us for before), I think we have even MORE the RIGHT to ask things. I'm sure that he's much more pissed off at all the rain we are getting and that his garage/shop is flooding than us calling him! If I simply asked him to call me when the new block came in, so I could see it, we see nothing wrong with that. I believe all of this is called "customer service" in the business world. I had to comply with "customer service" ethics when I was in the business world, before retiring.

Called him to tell him where you'd like him to store the manifolds and risers in his shop. Called him to ask if he ordered the block. Asked him to call you when the block arrived, and to make further arrangements to see the block before he begins work. Let the guy do his work. You can't have the best prices AND the best service AND the cleanest shop AND the fastest turnaround time AND have them extend you a line of credit. It just doesn't work that way. There is such a thing a "Firing the Customer". When the headache exceeds the revenue, it's right about when you find your calls are not being returned.

 

[LuvBoating]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Yes, the inside of them, but obviously not the outside (leaking water). Our old manifolds/risers leaked water on the outside and that is why we got new ones. Wife and I are in our mid 60's and take lots of pride/TLC in our boat. If we had the finances and/or physical ability, she'd have this boat looking like a 2012 inside/out! As it is, we try to keep it looking/operating the best that we can.

Don't you think there's a chance the manifolds and risers will get wet when in use on the boat?

 

[spdracr39]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

You may handle YOUR business however you like. Call him a hundred times a day if you want and don't let anyone discourage you. If he gets tired of it he will tell you. I will say however I will NEVER pay for anything in advance period. If they can't afford to do the work and collect when it's repaired to my satisfaction I will not do business there. I get my work done at the dealer because they have a good history with me and they have the most to lose if i am not satisfied and give them bad reviews with my other boating friends. I am lucky to have a good dealer that charges fair prices and is pretty quick about getting the work done.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: Choosing The Right Mechanic

Some of these old shade tree guys are like what you are expaining but! are some of the best wrenches I have ever seen. Myself can't stand to be unorganized my work area has to be neat to ensure efficiency now my Dad ( my mentor) is the opposite but very effective and knowledgable in his day. Check in on this guy on the day of supposid arrival of block and clearly let him know you expect to see the new block before re-assembly period then tell him you expect him to be more respectfull of your rigs dismantled parts and expect to be communicated with in a more proffesional manner. Then start making arrangements with a back up mechanic if this does not happen. One other thing to remember is that this recreation is not cheap even if you do your own work.Good luck and post back!