Re: shop labor rates
Labor rates are very similar.<br />Question should be: How many hours for any specific job? Where can we find a table where to check the normal labor time required for different jobs?
If you're talking about working on outboards I'd agree that the time spent to do a given job is probably fairly constant across the board. The dynamic changes big time when you talk about inboard powered boats. My 24' Chris*Craft, with a single engine and 4' x 8' access hatch, was a piece of cake for virtually anything that had to be done. My Four Winns is set up a lot differently- the engine room is pretty packed and access isn't nearly as good. If I had a genny it would be even worse.
BTW, labor rates on Long Island run in the neighborhood of $100/hr. I also pay $60/ft for summer dock space and a couple grand for winter storage and annual maintenance.
It hurts, but I can't really begrudge them the money. We lose about one marina a year around here- the owners give up and sell out to real estate developers. That's prime waterfront property they're sitting on, and it's hard to blame them for letting go of a business that takes a helluva lot of work and aggravation. The owners and mechanics go 'b*lls to the wall' twice a year- getting the boats out and winterized; then getting them serviced, summerized and launched. I wouldn't want to do it
My .02
