Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

[12thManFalseStart]

And that's without parts....I'm new to boats, as I just bought one that needs help last week. Even the trailer has issues with a not vertical wheel, wearing it down on the edge of the tire. I rushed into it, excited, and was told everything works great. Stupid me.

 

[rbh]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

That rate is accurate, maybe even a little low for a mobile mech.
Think about a dealers shop rate $110+

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

You can save a lot of money by getting a manual, using this forum and gaining knowledge from the help and advice you will get here. If that's not your thing then the rates you have are pretty good actually for a mobile outfit.
Remember as well it is a seasonal occupation in many parts of the country as well.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

12thman -- let me start with this...It wasn't long ago I was in your very shoes. Rushed to buy a boat I "loved", did some work, but eventually needed a shop to help. Got the real eye opener from there. I will say this after my experience. Learn to work on the boat, learn not to rush, learn from these guys their help is invaluable once you get to know them, don't give up and most important find a mech you trust and who is competent.

I did give up on my power boat because of my own stubbornness and being unwilling to try another shop. Now days I have a sail boat that I have thus far done all the work to myself. (much easier w/o engine)

as for the rate you paid, it does sound right. the question is never about the money though, it's did he do a good job. any hobby (boating, bicycle, motorcycles etc) will cost that for a shop rate. when you find someone qualified to do the work right it won't seem so bad.

it only hurts until you get to use the boat, than it's all worth it.

 

[Pony]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

I was thinking that rate is probably a little low. I would expect $90-100/hr if at the shop......I would expect it to be more than that for a mobile visit. $50 trip charge doesn't seem out of the question either......

Boats are expensive.......it just comes with the territory of ownership.

 

[12thManFalseStart]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

You can save a lot of money by getting a manual, using this forum and gaining knowledge from the help and advice you will get here. If that's not your thing then the rates you have are pretty good actually for a mobile outfit.
Remember as well it is a seasonal occupation in many parts of the country as well.

I can do basic wiring the stereo, change spark plugs, but that's about it. Even with a manual, I'd be scared tinkering with the carb. Oh, I had the mechanic come out for 5 min to tell me without even testing the wires, that I needed a new or rebuilt starter. Well, first I bought a new battery, since it kept acting dead one min, and alive the next intermittently.

I guess I was scratching my head thinking about how little I make an hour, and this "kid" comes out with his own business and makes this kind of money. lol, I'm rethinking my schooling back in the day. Should have been a mechanic that owns the small business.

 

[avenger79]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

beautiful boat....that looks a lot like the boat I had I can understand why you rushed in...

 

[aspeck]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

Just remember the overhead that young man has for owning his business, the insurance, his own maintenance, his vehicle and tools, his parts inventory, etc. It is never cheap to own your own business.

Again, the question is, was his diagnosis correct? If yes, yeah!

 

[12thManFalseStart]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

beautiful boat....that looks a lot like the boat I had I can understand why you rushed in...
View attachment 204905

Hey thanks. It came with a nice fish finder, tube and rope, another never used rope, slalom ski, anchor, and extra gas can for $1,500. He was asking $1,900, so I guess I did alright. Still needs about a 135-150 on it. I'm guessing it's because it's only 17 feet, and if it were like yours with a longer bow, It might be rated for a higher hp. Our old glastron that was basically the same boat had a 135 on it, and I think it was rated for 140. Maybe the transom, where the motor is mounted is more reinforced or something in order to be qualified for the larger hp. I dunno.

 

[saumon]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

Your boat is on a trailer, why did you call a mobile marine mechanic?

If the starter is "acting up", it could as simple as corroded connections , bad solenoid or that the starter need to be rebuilt. Granted, an outboard starter is about the only thing on a boat that can be repaired by a non-marine mechanic. Bring it to any starter/alternator rebuilding shop...

 

[12thManFalseStart]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

Your boat is on a trailer, why did you call a mobile marine mechanic?

If the starter is "acting up", it could as simple as corroded connections , bad solenoid or that the starter need to be rebuilt. Granted, an outboard starter is about the only thing on a boat that can be repaired by a non-marine mechanic. Bring it to any starter/alternator rebuilding shop...

The trailer has no title, yet, so no license plate. The guy I bought it from suggested we have a mobile mechanic come out, to make things easier, and was paying for it. The regular mechanic shop he first thought about having me take it to had a 3 week wait. This guy came out within a day.

I Was having troubles electrical and running problems the first time I took it out with him. Broke down twice. Luckily he was nice, and offered help. He also paid for the rebuilt starter. Like a dummy I trusted his add on craigslist "runs great", and he said it like 5 times while talking to him before I bought it, and didn't take it out for a test run first. I knew better, but was excited, and didn't want to wait a week till he could take me out on it.

After I put in the rebuilt starter, the running issues went away, so didn't need the mechanic to come out again. Still issues at low rpm shaking bad though, but at least it gets up to speed now. Thought maybe it was clogged fuel filter, but it wasn't. I didn't do anything but take it out again to see if it would start up ok, and decided to see if the starter somehow took care of the other issue. It got up to full rpm, so maybe it was the starter as well making it sound funny and bogged down, barley getting on a plane with lower voltage to the engine.?

I still have to take the trailer and boat to the state patrol, and then after that, I'm not sure what else in order to get a "home made" or whatever it's called title for the trailer.

 

[saumon]

Re: Jebus, I should have been a mobile marine mechanic. $50 to show up, $85 an hour??

Still issues at low rpm shaking bad though, but at least it gets up to speed now. Thought maybe it was clogged fuel filter, but it wasn't. I didn't do anything but take it out again to see if it would start up ok, and decided to see if the starter somehow took care of the other issue. It got up to full rpm, so maybe it was the starter as well making it sound funny and bogged down, barley getting on a plane with lower voltage to the engine.?

Very unlikely. Starter didn't do anything than cranking at startup. Bogging down at low rpm could be a clogged carb or a link and sync problem...