Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

[Newhook]

Hello <br /><br />I have a 16 foot Princecraft alum utility and I bought a basic alum. steering wheel stand that rivets to the hull; baically a vertical panel with a horizontal upright that the wheel affixes to, and some basic Quicksilver controls for the '98 Mariner 4-strike at the rear. Stupidly I brought it in before getting a quote on the rate. The shop is telling me that it will take 6 hrs. to do the job. Does that sound right? I'm thinking that I should have tried it myself. Looked like a couple of hours work to me, tops. <br /><br />Any of you know what time it should take? <br /><br />Thanks <br /><br />Todd

 

[moderator1]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

Moving to Boats.

 

[skiffer]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

I was quoted $400 - $600 to put a wheel and remote throttle controls in a boat with an existing console. At $65/hr, that's about 6-9 hours. Probably worth it considering all the other expenses in the boat if you're sure the guy has done it before and will do it right. When I do something like this for the first time I usually screw it up.

 

[snapperbait]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

4 to 6 hours would seem (to me) to be just about right... Having not seen the boat, I could not say with any absolute certainty..<br /><br />Holes may have to be cut and drilled, cables will have to be installed inside the control box which in most cases requires at least some dis-assembly of the box then adjusted, cables and wire may have to be fished through tight areas and then fastened up out of the way to protect them from harm... Just a few of the things going on there... <br /><br />I'm not saying it's all that difficult, but there's alot going on there...

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

Things don't always go together as easy as they appear they should. Hey, if this stuff was easy, everybody would be doing it. Not just us that don't know any better.

 

[Newhook]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

Thanks guys for the input. It seemed to me that given that all of the stuff is out in the open because it is a utility boat that it would be simple, or rather not that time consuming, to hook it all up. I probably would have screwed it up if I had tried it myself. I tend to perfect my ability after haveng ruined something and before I ever have to do it again. <br /><br />Were the jobs that you had done simply to install without the need to deal with a lot of fancy boat to work around?<br /><br />Todd

 

[Newhook]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

Well I got the final bill. It cost $560.00 tax in for the wheel and cable and alum stand. The controls cost and additional $550.00 and labour of 6 hours for a grand total of about $1370.00. Yikes! The boat only cost $3000.00 two years ago. I still feel like I have been fleaced.

 

[JerseyJim]

Re: Shop time for installation of controls and wheel on alum. utility?

think of it this way...you would have had to buy the equipment anyway... the 300$ to get it professionally done and save yourself the aggravation was probably worth it.