DIY or Not?

[Bilgamesh]

Forgive me if this has already been done:

I know there is a variety of expertise levels on this forum, and I am curious to know how many DIYers we have. So, how much of the work and maintenance do you personally perform on your boat? Please elaborate as you think fit. -Thanks

FWIW, so far I do it all; a mixture of the fact I am a natural born skinflint, and I like to tinker.

 

[dlngr]

Re: DIY or Not?

If you want it done right,do it yourself! I'm a tinkerer too,have always done my own labor. Some times I wish I had the money to pay someone else though!

 

[WAVENBYE2]

Re: DIY or Not?

I do most of it myself with the guys help and advice here on Iboats,Manual,and others. The only thing I haven't been able to do myself was the lower unit replacement because all of internal guts were taken out of mine and put in the used lower unit with new gaskets, seals and O-rings, plus I don't have all the tools needed for such a project as that, it would have cost me just as much in tools as the used lower itself, Everything else I have done myself. so I clicked on the 2nd option. 70%-90%

 

[skargo]

Re: DIY or Not?

100%.

 

[ShaneCarroll]

Re: DIY or Not?

I hear ya, if I had the money there are certain jobs that would go to the pro's. There are plenty of things that I deem better to pay someone else for, call me lazy, but here goes: mowing the lawn, changing the oil in my car, or anything internal in the engine. I don't have much experience going inside the block of the engine or what not, so I'll pay someone else to do that, I don't wanna mess anything up. By the time you buy the oil, filter, etc you could have paid someone else with better tools to do the job for you for the same price. Mowing the lawn is a nuisance, I've served my sentence, mowing 10 acres on a weekly basis, and then it dropped to two acres, but I would rather pay someone else to mow my lawn. Tune-ups and stuff like that, I will do, as it is pretty much a rip off to take it to the shop. Ever changed a fuel pressure regulator on a Caddy? It's easy, pull one pin, take out the old, in with the new, no special tools needed. I paid $75 for the part. The Caddy dealership wanted to charge me $300 for the job, and explained it could take two to three hours, really? The first time I had ever done it in my life took two minutes, and three steps: open the hood, pull pin and remove old one, put in new one and replace pin.

 

[cpubud]

Re: DIY or Not?

so far 100%.

 

[alumi numb]

Re: DIY or Not?

i put 70 to 90% because i'm not going to do the valve grinding, seat hardening, boring "if needed".
pretty much everything else i have done or will do.

 

[fat fanny]

Re: DIY or Not?

100% what you don't already know learn as you go read research and use common sense and take your time the reward comes with the satisfaction that you did it your self plus I can't see paying someone what you can do yourself. I once 2 had a Caddy and I think I know more about the Northstar than I should especially after changing the alternator 5 hours out and 4 hours back in but! it saved me 500.00 and the alternator only cost 35.00 bucks to rebuild. So I guess if you have the money and are willing to part with it go for it but I on the other hand work to hard for mine and will save it for a day on the lake with the Hen and kids. Thanks to iboats it makes boating affordable for a guy like me and many others If I had and iboats flag it would be waving right under the stars and stripes on my boat proudly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[airdvr1227]

Re: DIY or Not?

For me, there's enough on my rig that I don't know much about. I'd rather pay a pro to do it correctly. That way, when it's not right I'm not talking to myself in the mirror.

 

[Bondo]

Re: DIY or Not?

Ayuh,.... I don't do my own Drive Rebuilds/ Reseals,....Engine Assembley I leave to my Machinest,...

Other than that,... I find a Hull,+ Build a Boat,... Just for ME....
Or whomever is willing to pay me to do Theirs...

 

[109jb]

Re: DIY or Not?

None of my boats has ever been to a boat mechanic. I do everything myself onn them includiing cosmetic, interior, exterior, engine and trailer maintenance.

 

[OMCboater]

Re: DIY or Not?

Once, when I was around 19, I sent the engine block for my Toyota 4x4 out to get rebored and have the pistons and crank installed. I did the rest of the engine work myself. Since then, none of my numerous vehicles has ever been in a mechanic shop, and I tend to buy older vehicles. I am now 44.

1969 Thermoglass bowrider I/O
1991 Ford F250 diesel 4x4 - daily driver with 380,000 kms on it
1990 Jeep Cherokee off road rig - very customized - 310,000 kms on it, fully street legal and reliable, but mostly for off road fun
1978 Yamaha XS750 Special - mileage unknown as speedo was replaced
and until recently a 1988 Audi 5000 Turbo Quattro - sweet car but a real time hog in the maintenance department. This car had about 310,000kms on it when I sold it and the purchaser hopped in and drove it home the 400 or so kms to his city.
I have even learnt how to service and repair my newest vehicle - a 1995 Polaris RMK900 snowmobile.

For me it's all in the satisfaction of learning to do something. Someone commented about not having to face the guy in the mirror when it goes wrong and someone else did it. Well, when I do it myself, I know that when I look at the guy in the mirror, we will both be smiling.

 

[5150abf]

Re: DIY or Not?

I do it all, I have rebuilt my boat from the keel up and recently painted it, do all my engine work too, never done a power head but I did rebuild 2 lower units.

I fish every other week and normally tinker with the boat on the off weeks, always something to tweak.

I just enjoy tinkering with the boat, last week I got a Minn Kota electric anchor, last night I put in a Rockford Fosgate stereo.

I even built a camper top, 4 sides, zippers on the corners and zipper doors, we can fish into the mid 20 in a sweatshirt after you fire up the heater.

I work for a boat company so it is pretty easy to come into things for cheap/ free, I paid $7.50 for the bimini frame for the top, the canvas was obsolete and free, the Rockford was an R&D part they didn't need, free, MotrGuide W55 wireless trolling motor new $100, it is pretty ruff but someone has to do it.

 

[LIQUID PROZAC]

Re: DIY or Not?

so far i have done it all myself but there's always a point when the ability will not be there just have to have enough sense to know when

 

[Bilgamesh]

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.

 

[tomdinwv]

Re: DIY or Not?

I do everything myself. I built the engine that is in my boat and have done all the small repairs that have came up along the way. The only way any of my vehicles would go to the "pros" would be for warranty work or a recall. All home repair and improvment work gets done by me. I love to do all the hands on work around my home and vehicles. If I don't know how to do something I will take the time and learn. All this started at the age of ten when my dad would drag me around to help him do everything from wiring houses, plumbing, drywall, digging ditches, etc... We always worked on our own vehicles so I learned a lot helping him. Ended up as a diesel mechanic in my adulthood. I owe my dad big time for the "hands on education" he gave me while growing up! Now I smile everytime he calls me and asks for a little advice on how to do something. Doing things yourself is rewarding. Sometimes it can be hard, especially when things go wrong, but it is rewarding when you finally do get it right.

 

[IVAZ]

Re: DIY or Not?

100% on the boat, wife wont let me pay a tech. For stuff around the house it depends on what it is, so it?s probably 50/50. I?m having a new roof being put on my house right now as I type this. I?m way to busy at work right now and I end up having to finish it at home. That?s what I told the wife anyway, it?s freaking 100+ degrees these days in my neck of the woods.

EDIT: I couldn?t do an engine rebuild but my boat doesn?t need it. If it did the install is easy, I would have to buy an assembled short block.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: DIY or Not?

Wow, I'm impressed with how many said 100%. My admiration to them all.

Our boat was new last year and is still under warranty. When buying it I knew there were certain annual costs associated with it, including insurance, storage and winterizing. I keep all of the receipts in a 3-ring binder (to show to prospective buyers when the time comes).

For now all I'm doing is greasing the Bearing Buddies and rotating the tires on the trailer as needed.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: DIY or Not?

As I am now only two months away from my 70th birthday there are some things I don't do anymore. I take my vehicles to the muffler shop for exhaust work. The inspection dates on my oxy-acet. tanks ran out a few years ago so I don't have torches anymore plus I ache the next day after laying under a truck on jack stands I quit changing tires on rims with a mallet and tire irons since I can get it done for a few bucks at the garage. I was just about to start an engine rebuild *burnt piston* on my bass boat when I found a newer and bigger boat for sale at about twice the price of the parts for redoing the old Merc. I enjoy working on boats but not as much as I enjoy fishing. I am also just putting the finishing touches on a 3000 sq ft log home that I have been building for four years now.

I also cut my own hair. Why pay someone to do anything I can do myself.

 

[salty87]

Re: DIY or Not?

not much engine tear down for me. no garage, little experience.

i'd like to learn upholstery this off-season.