If you want to save time on your restore..........

[evildocrsx]

If you want to save time on your restore, never pay someone to do something you can do yourself.

For me, lesson learned. About two weeks ago, me and my Dad decided that we could save some time if we have someone glass our fishboxes while we painted and did other stuff. We hired a guy to glass the fishboxes that we had already fabbed up from plywood. All he had to do is glass them over. Well, the guy came through with the first fishbox, but dramatically failed with the other two.
We gave him $140 to buy all the material needed and we would pay him the full amount when completed in said amount of time of 3 days. When time came today to go pick them up, one and one-half weeks later, the guy comes out with, "You only paid me the first fish-box and left me $10 to buy the material for the other two fishboxes. There's no way I'll have enought to buy the rest of the material. I need more." It turns out that out of the money for material that we had given him, he charged labor from there. He wanted to charge us $65 to glass each box and he jackup the glass price, which I know how much it is where he bought it. So, we said F you and now we're going to have to glass the other two fishboxes ourselves which would have been completed by now with the money we have already given him.

We're cutting our losses and continuing our restore. What pisses me off the most is that I know i can glass 10 times better than this wanna be marine mech.

Has anyone else had an experience like mine?

 

[andgott]

Re: If you want to save time on your restore..........

With boats or ANYTHING that you're hiring out, it is always prudent to make sure that both parties understand exactly what is expected of each of them, and what compensation is expected as well. Get it in writing, too- That way there is NO question...

 

[jspano]

Re: If you want to save time on your restore..........

from following your restore thread, i seriously doubt that you have enough money to pay anyone to do the quality work you and your dad have done.
take it as a life lesson and just do all you can in house.

joe

 

[erikgreen]

Re: If you want to save time on your restore..........

Yeah... if you know a local guy who's a friend, then you can sometimes get good quality work done for a decent price (materials cost or whatever). Or if you get lucky and know a shop that's hurting for business, they'll cut a deal for you sometimes.

Get it in writing. This can't be said enough. Even if it's a friend doing it (especially if it is) make sure everyone's clear on what will be done and for how much money. Nothing ruins a good relationship quicker than an argument over money.

Myself, I'd consider doing work for some good friends if they paid the materials, provided I had time. But anyone else who "heard" I was ok with fiberglass and wanted to hire me would get a one page statement of work up front, listing everything. That's for casual employment.

Unless I had insurance, I wouldn't considering doing more than one or two off work... bad feelings can lead to lawsuits or worse.

Erik