Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

[1964jetstar]

When I bought my house 10 years ago I bought it because it had a very nice 25 x 25 ft detached workshop and garage. Being in the mechanical repair biz for 25 years.(not combustion engines) but specialty equipment. I thought how nice it would be to walk out my back door to work. I live near Smith mountain lake va. In the city of Roanoke. I bought a little old 65 Starcraft Jet with a 35 seahorse some years back. Both needed work. I bought the factory service and parts manuals for my 1981 seahorse on ebay. as well as many other parts from Ebay, Iboats and other online sites. After I had done all that I could with the tools I had I still wanted a qualified outboard mechanic to give it a final checkout: timing ajustment, comp readings, idle, ect. To make a long story short, the tech tried to rip me off told me it needed a part and it was on order. I told him I did not authorize any repair work that it was running ok and as per our discussion, I just wanted documented specs and ajustments if needed. He had the carb off for what reason I don't know. I told him to put everything back together the way it was. After having a dicussion with the marina owner about his mechanics procedures, towed my boat on home. Now I cant get it started. I know it was something he did because it was running when I bought in in.
After another month or so And a compression tester , Flywheel tool, torque wrench. Spark tester ect ect. And lots of Reading on Iboats and some more parts. It is running just fine. It looks and runs like a brand new motor. What I discovered was That with a well equipped shop and the internet you can repair and sell all most anything. It just so happens good running and looking outboards bring in some big money. I would like to keep it to 35 hp and below. I have a huge resource here with Smith mountain lake. I am sure many of you have already attempted this venture and have opinions and suggestions that may save me alot of time and effort. What do you think. Am I dreamin?

 

[halas]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

That sounds really good maybe just start out slow advertising free on craigslist. Since you are so handy it will be enjoyable and maybe even make a few bucks.

 

[smallboatlover]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

If i were you i wouldn't start a shop right away after one out board motor. Try buying old junk ones off eBay or craigslist and restore them and sell them and then if you like it and are good at it after 50 or more of all different sizes and brands then give it a shot. i wouldn't take other peoples outboard and try to fix them after only doing one.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

As long as you consider it a hobby that might earn a few dollars here and there (and not as the only source of your livelihood), you should make out okay. Profits will be gravy, but the friends you will make will be the meat.

BTW, what did that shop muck up in your motor?

 

[1fishbone]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

You should think this through, hard and long.
Not to be insulting:
ONE motor repair doesn't make a marine mechanic..nor 5 nor 10!

Are you wiling and able to enter a Marine Mechanic program?

Do you have the resources for parts? Manuals?

Now for some of what I learned as a small business owner working out of my garage.
Are you prepared to handle the 7AM Sunday morning knock on your door?
Or 8PM?
Or while out for supper with the wife, have to 'debug' someones issue?

Remember the Golden Rule...The last one to touch it ...is it!
Even if they ran it on motor oil, the wrong mix, NO oil, someone changed plugs to the wrong one, their 'friend' turned some carb screws etc etc.

And remember the other Rule...Nothing leaves the shop until paid in full!
Can you trust your friends? You'll find out!

Do you know when to say no?
There will be times you should pass on a job.
i.e. That motor that was submerged...last year, the basket case, the guy with no money, or the guy that will pay a little each week, or the hardest, the friend with no money!
Or as you experienced, mis-communication between the motor owner and previous mechanics.

Or maybe you'll re-build and sell used motors...you'll have to stand by them.
Regardless!!!

Sorry for any rant!

 

[outdoorsman10]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained. I've been planning it myself and will begin to build custom stands after the snow is gone. (steel I need is buried) Not os a big money maker but a spare time thing.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

you may have recently acquired skill but you lack experience. From being around old motors and guys who work on them, there is something mystical, such as how they can make an electrical problem act like a fuel problem. Let's say you charge $50 an hour. you will get a haunted motor and spend 10 hours on it--but you can't charge $500 for a $300 motor (by limiting yourself to "kickers" you have priced yourself out of a profit). Indeed, a larger motor may be easier to work on. And if you take one that's running OK, take it apart and put it together and it doesn't run, you have to go out of pocket to make it right.

As someone said, fix 50 of them and then try your hand at it.

 

[mercury713]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Open a shop and hire a mechanic?

 

[dingbat]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Figure in the cost of insurance, warranty costs, permits and licensing fees for the business and a good tax lawyer.

Make sure you think about shipping costs. Roanoke is in the middle of no-where.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Agreed that this is something that needs more thorough analysis. Did you do a market study to see who your competition is? Did you check with local officials to see if you can actually run a business from a residential property? Does the municipality require a license. Do you plan to organize this business as a Corporation, S-Corp, LLC, etc. If not, everything you own is at risk should you be sued because you mucked up a motor and someone was hurt. If there are two other service facilities within a few miles of you and they do employ trained techs, you have a choice: Try to compete or work for far less than those shops charge. Limiting yourself to 35 HP and below is shooting yourself in the foot. There are two and three cylinder 30 - 35 HP motors. There are also 40, 50, 60, 75, and 90 HP three cylinder motors as well as 40, 50, and 60 HP two cylinders. Just because they have larger displacement does not make them any more difficult to service since afterall -- a cylinder is a cylinder. Big ones operate the same way small ones do. If you plan to be in the parts replacement buisiness you are at a distinct disadvantage. Consider this: I walk in with a 19xx 35 HP Johnson. You determine it needs part xyz which you very likely will not have on hand. You have no choice but to tell the customer there is at least a weeks wait for parts and another day or two to get the repair done. The customer says heck, I might as well take it to a Johnson/Evinrude dealer and get it back in a couple days. Can you succeed at this? Certainly -- but only if you think it through and create a business plan that is realistic. Having tools and having fixed one outboard is not a plan.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

I think you've been given excellent advice above. People just don't want to pay anything to get their 20year old 10hp fixed. As said, you'll spend a LOT of time and can't realistically charge folks for it on a motor worth $250. That's why a lot of mechanics won't work on them at all. You will be forced to break bolts, have 20year old brittle plastic and metal parts disintegrate in your hands----all of which you will have to replace on YOUR dime, IF you can locate them. Folks will be hounding you to get their motor fixed, calling for advice, coming early and late as mentioned, etc.
You will have no life whatsoever other than fixing outboards. AND, you think you want your business at your HOME???
I suspect you will fall out of love with this idea rather quickly. I find that when I'm working on someone else's motor and I can't find the problem after lots of effort, it really stresses me out and I can't enjoy myself for dwelling on that cursed motor.
Besides insurance, taxes, permits, etc. Then how about the irrate customer that gives you a good cussing for something that was beyond your control (it's never happened to me, but I've seen it before). How's your temper?????
I fix motors for friends every summer. That's as far as I want to go, and I enjoy working on outboards.
Just something to think about. I don't think it's worth it, myself. I'd have to make 200,000 a year at it to make it worth the headache.
JBJ

 

[dew2]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

I started doing just what you speak of,I also wanted to go 35HP and lower.I am partially disabled so less weight with a 35 and lower.I found the modern 50HPs arent much heavier.
I do it as a hobby,I tried to make it a job, at times I cant work on my feet and that alone stopped me! I knew I'd feel guilty not getting work done in a reasonable time.
So I buy rough or non running,sometimes on Cs list I get great deals,I buy, repair,resell its working great for me.Bought last fall 14 motors 15HP to 50,I have 3 to finish just in time for spring when a premium price can be got. Buy cheap in fall/winter sell in spring when most start looking.
Keeps me from being idle and bored,to making some $$,I also have some return sales guys asking to do extra But I keep that small easy work I can get done quickly.
There's $$ to be made I sell 1/2 to 3/4 price of the bigger shops.Here in Minnesota there are plenty of boat motor owners! I enjoy it immensely!! and in my own time.

 

[merc20076]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

If i were you i wouldn't start a shop right away after one out board motor. Try buying old junk ones off eBay or craigslist and restore them and sell them and then if you like it and are good at it after 50 or more of all different sizes and brands then give it a shot. i wouldn't take other peoples outboard and try to fix them after only doing one.

This is what I've done in November! I like playing in mechanics even if it's messy.

I found 3 outboards for 300$, after checking a few things before buying (compression and spark) they had minor repairs to do. I have 1 6HP '77 and 2 7.5 HP 1982-83.

So far the 6 HP is almost ready to sell but I preffer test it on a boat rather than in a big barrel. One of the 7.5HP is ready and is goiing to be my motor for my inflatable. It's funny but it works better without thermostat.

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Got to give you credit for your enthusiasm but, cutting your first piece of wood on the table saw does not make you a carpenter.

When you start accepting money from people for services rendered, you take on a whole new level of responsibility and liabilities.

You will want to (need to) talk to your insurance agent.

Have the financial backing to front the up-front cost of parts / supplies / tools ?

Have a reliable source of parts for all the different manufacturers ?

What about warranties ?

Is your property zoned/approved for this type of business ?

What will the neighbors think of two-cycle smoke, and running outboards all hours of the day and week?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Buying a dead or ailing outboard, repairing it and reselling it is one thing and time is on your side. You are also selling a product not a service. If you are doing repair work aside from the outboard selling, or repair work alone, this is a totally differnet situation. Once an outboard is sold it is generally out of your life unless you provided some type of warranty. Once you repair, or attempt to repair an engine it is now your baby and the customer will generally hound you until the work is done, done right, and at the cost you indicated. Be very careful what you represent as it can get you into court.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

so it sounds like the best idea is to buy/fix/sell motors, to avoid the time for delivery issue and to allow you to walk away from the bad ones. If someone wants you to fix theirs, just buy it and sell them one you've fixed. But keep track of how much time you spend on a motor--including the time it takes to get parts. You may end up making $2 an hour, maybe $3!

Good point about not running motors in the neighborhood. My neighbors and I wouldn't allow it on a regular basis--and almost everyone in my neighborhood has a boat or two, and we run them occasionally no problem.

 

[F_R]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

jetstar, read your original post. Are you prepared for the shoe being on the other foot and somebody ranting and raving about what a no-good $^^#(^% YOU are?

Also, I don't know how well the environmental laws are enforced where you are, but if you spill that tank of parts washing fluid on your property around here, it will cost you a fortune to clean it up. It will also make your property impossible to sell until it is cleaned up. Even on a day to day operation in your business, the wastes have to be carried off and properly disposed of. But first, the disposal company will charge you hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to analyze that drum of stuff to see what's in it...lead, dry cleaning fluid, whatever. Been there and done all that when I was in charge of hazard wastes disposal where I last worked.

There is a reason they charge $90-$100 per hour. The technicians certainly don't get it.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Open a kicker motor repair and restore shop. Yes or no.

Don't take me the wrong way on the repair issue. Repairing engines as a business can be worth your while if you do it right. But in this case I feel the OP has not thought this through fully. In my younger days I made a fair amount of money repairing cars for people but I lived in an area of young couples with little excess money and absolutely no mechanical skills. I didn't charge an arm and a leg and I was very careful who I did work for and the kind of work I did. Engine tune ups, belt replacements, carb rebuilding (cars did have carburetors back then), radiator replacements, U-joint repairs and even minor periodic body work. On certain cars I did engine replacements. I generally had three or four cars that were for sale. I had a very close-in client base and they all understood that if I said no I meant it and that it was to their benefit to have the work done by a larger shop. If I couldn't save them money I let them know and they thanked me for my honesty. I had arrangements with three salvage yards for specific engines. I would be called when they had one that met my requirements. So the repair business can bring nice money but you had better know your limitations and you best be familiar with the engines you work on. If not -- that's when you begin working for free. If you have limited diagnostic skills you cannot, and I repeat cannot, make any money throwing parts at an engine hoping you get lucky. Your customers will figure you out in a heartbeat. All I'm saying here is to proceed cautiously and great forethought.