Opinions on service/quality?

[martyh]

Hey guys, I am new to the forum and relatively new to boating.
I’m just looking for some opinions here to see if I am out of line or if this is normal.
I picked up my boat from the shop and I am a bit frustrated with the condition it was left in. There were greasy finger and hand prints all over the (new) seats and transom seat backs, oil had dripped down the stern and the sealer that was used to seal the outdrive to the boat looked like it was applied by a three year old doing finger painting. I have spent many years with auto repair shops and the cars always left clean. I know it doesn’t sound like much but, paying for there labor rate to do a job and then spending another hour on it after bringing it home to clean up there mess just seems wrong to me.
Is the boating world that much different or am I just being too picky?

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

Welcome to iboats.

You are right.... if it is a marina or dealership.

I would be kicking the service guy in the butt and demanding they clean it up. I would be real ugly!!

When you see garbage work on the outside.... it makes you mentally question the inside work.

If it was an independant repair place complain and don't bother to go back.

You are not being too picky.

 

[tymtogo69]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

have all issues taken care of before paying bill and never,ever go back. Find another mechanic that cares about his job and you wont have that problem.

 

[QC]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

I will say though, that your experience can be typical which was part of your question. This is why many of us have resorted to doing our own work almost completely. Yes, there are great dealers out there, and there are some great individual techs too. However, I see what you note above waaaay too often with boats to call it unusual.

I just helped a friend gor over his boat after having a new windshield installed. This required new front bimini straps. The tech had simply fed the straps straight through the adjustment buckle, no sewn loop on the center "bar" of the buckle if you follow me. This thing would've pulled thorugh and collapsed on his family with the first high speed run!!! Makes me crazy. This was a very large Chapparal and Robalo dealer. We've seen crap work and lies from them before too.

 

[JB]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

Boat Dealers, Marinas, "Bote Fixers" and shade tree wrenches are just like those who repair autos.

There are some good ones who give good, reasonably priced service. They are hard to find.

If you can't find one, get service manuals and learn to do it yourself. Specific recommendations from some of the first class pros here can go a long way.

For example, I can recommend Alliance DFW Boating Center in Roanoke (Grapevine Lake), TX and Sandy Creek Marina in Graford (Possum Kingdom Lake), TX. I have done business with a few others that I would not recommend.

 

[martyh]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

Well, it looks like I get to learn how to work on my own boat. I took it out tonight to make sure the water leak was fixed. Nope! It still leaks, the water does come in slower but it is still leaking and the engine runs warm now too.
Anyway, thanks for your comments, I just wondered if I was over reacting.

 

[hiflyer]

Re: Opinions on service/quality?

Get the idear shade tree quality, at best in most places.
Repairs that do not work is true all to often. Boat dealers Reairs make the auto industry of the 50'60's look good. Modern Discount Marine Ft Pierce Fl 2x failed to fix what they said they did. The same at Boaters Exchange Rockledge Fl. both New boat Dealers. So you have to go to them, for warrantee work that never gets fixed right. Their are good ones but usually overworked and hard to get into.