How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

[BugsBunnyBoater]

I just had a boat checked out that I was buying. The shop I chose to do the check had a listed price of 89.00 per hr.
The gave me a break on the price on the check since I let them fix what the found.
I was wonder in these tuff times are shops more willing to cut deals to get business?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

"How much do you pay for service on your boat? "



I don't know, I've never paid to have a boat worked on, I do all of it myself.

 

[109jb]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Well, I don't pay anything myself, but without knowing where you are the answers won't mean much. Rates can be highly dependent on geographic location.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

At least from what I've seen, marinas don't generally drop rates when times are tough, they go up! There is still a large portion of the population that won't work on an engine, and even in hard times, people still go boating. The marinas business is down, but they gouge the remaining customers.

(ps, $89 is CHEAP! I've seen local places at $150.)

 

[slag]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

"How much do you pay for service on your boat? "



I don't know, I've never paid to have a boat worked on, I do all of it myself.

I subscribe to the idea that if I don't know how to work on something, I probably don't need it because I'll never feel comfortable having someone else work on it. If its a throwaway item like a microwave or iron or something not worth my time, then it gets pitched if it breaks. Larger stuff like washers/dryers, TVs, etc, I learn how to fix. Same with cars, boats, etc.

 

[dingbat]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

My mechanic charges $85 per hour.

 

[jmarty10]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

I have seen prices stay the same the last couple of years.

 

[hydra23]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Unless the work requires the special use if tools, I do all maintenance and repairs.
Is a form of theraphy and pride.
H

 

[dsiekman]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

$90/hr...and he comes to me! I'm all for doing as much as possible myself, but some things I just don't have any experience with and don't want to screw up. I'd rather pay him, watch what he does, and know that its done right. The other choice is to jump in with both feet, break something, and then pay him to fix it. Simple cost/benefit analysis. To you guys who do all your own work, you have my absolute respect. I hope to be there someday, but I am well aware that day is not today.

 

[southkogs]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

I've learned/am learning to do all my own. And have only hired a mechanic once ... with that one experience, I've come to this: I'm probably willing to pay a little extra to have a GOOD mechanic when I need one. And finding one is apparently a rarity.

 

[Brewman61]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Going rate around here is $120 and it's been that way for a few seasons now. This is for the service departments at the boat dealers.
Independent fixit guys that are established may be closer to $100. Doesn't seem to be any shortage of work for these places- I wonder if people are paying for work on to keep their existing boat running instead of getting a new one?

 

[jigngrub]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

$98/hr. here, I do all of my own I can... but when it comes to synchronizing 4 carbs on one engine I take it to them and let them put it on the machine and get it right.

 

[ohioriverat]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

$85 hr around here too, $75hr to have your lawnmower repaired. no wonder there are so many diy'ers around these days! Most shops have slowed down for the last 2 years but from what i have seen they will bounce back, fishing,hunting and playing will always be around!

 

[jkust]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Service, cars and boats are extraordinarily high priced here in MN. 89$/hour would take us back more than a decade. We are well over $100. You can find a shade tree mechanic for a little less. I see so many referces to prices whether it be cars, boats, or service on here and other sites where people have no idea how cheap they live or that regional price differences are tremendous.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Around here it's about $100/hr. Which is actually somewhat misleading because the shops that are lower (in the $60/hr) range almost universally end up costing more in total because they charge actual time and tend to work slower. Even the shops around here that are $100/hr are actually underpriced.

 

[H20Rat]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Service, cars and boats are extraordinarily high priced here in MN. 89$/hour would take us back more than a decade. We are well over $100.

Even worse here in ND. $125 on up at a dealership. Boat prices in general are overpriced, I've bought 4 boats in Minnesota and towed them 400 miles home. The last two came from near the DL area and were from private parties about 10 miles apart!

 

[jkust]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

Even worse here in ND. $125 on up at a dealership. Boat prices in general are overpriced, I've bought 4 boats in Minnesota and towed them 400 miles home. The last two came from near the DL area and were from private parties about 10 miles apart!

We are easily at 125$ but don't forget ND is doing fantastically economically speaking and MN isn't too terribly far behind compared to the rest of the country given we have no oil. It is amazing when I see boats that are 15k down south where the identical or lesser boat is 10K more here and cars are easily as bad (maybe a bit of a stretch) and that includes the east coast. Our 11,000 lakes and many rivers contribute to why boats cost so much and hence service since everybody has a sub 20 foot bowrider or fishing boat in their garage. I don't quite get why cars and auto service cost so much more here other than the the much higher quality of life compared to most states. With that comes a lot of educated people, high incomes and high demand. The internet really opened my eyes as to all of these things. Even a basic nationwide search on cars.com is a frustrating experience when you just want to buy locally and realize the realities. We have multiple sets of friends who transplanted from the south who lived in very large houses in gated communities which translates to a ho hum $500,000 or $600,000, everyman house here. I have bought multiple cars down south, had them trucked up here and still saved a ton plus get a car that never saw salt.

 

[BIGALF]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

It's not how much you pay per hour for service, it's are you getting a fair price for the work done. I just payed $110/ hr for service because I though I would be treated fair, however, I think now I know they ran the hours up to a cost of $1,200 for a minor job just to make money. I will never go to that major SeaRay dealer in Orlando again. I though I could trust them. I screwed up!!!
You better know what has to be done to your boat before you just let someone fix it.

 

[StevNimrod]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

I agree - I've never really understood why people are so stuck on hourly rates. Nothing really good comes of it because what people really care about is the total cost of the repair. And it's hard to say what's fair because it depends on who you're asking and what the circumstances are - some people are getting the short end, but some people want miracles on a holiday weekend only to complain about the bill the following Monday.

 

[ewenm]

Re: How much do you pay for service on your boat? Are prices up or down?

cost me $1700 AUD last year for service on twin 4.3 efi and bravo two,s plus lift out and hard stand fees etc about another $500

plus anti foul about $1200

EM