Shopping on iboats and taking parts to mechanic for the installation

[natsgrampy]

Not sure if this is the place for this but, I have purchased some parts for my mercruiser alpha one outdrive on Iboats.com. On the bottom of the page I saw a tab for professional installation and opened the tab. It asked for my Zip Code and gave me three names of marinas nearby to have the parts installed.

Is this an acceptable thing to do? Buy the parts and bring them to the mechanic to install? I mean I wouldn't buy a dozen eggs and bring them to a restaurant to have the cook make my omelet.

If this common practice, then I certainly will be taking my drive to have it fixed, as it is well beyond what I am capable of fixing.

Does Iboats have these places checked out before they are recommended? Or, are these sponsors? If they are recommended by iboats and /or forum members then I certainly would like to support them.

What would be a reasonable charge by a marina / mechanic to work on a boat.

Thanks again for all your help to this point!!!!

 

[GA_Boater]

I would call iboats customer service and inquire. Probably the fastest way to find out, too. I can't help with labor cost. Sorry.

 

[JustJason]

I install customer parts with a few exceptions.

1. I do not install aftermarket bellows.

2. If there is any kind of problem with the part pre-installation, it's the customers responsibility to get it sorted out. And they pay for any labor up unto that point so far.

3. If the part fails for whatever reason, it's on the customer to get it sorted out if there is a warranty on the part. I will not warranty any labor. So if your aftermarket impeller falls apart in 3 months, or whatever it might be, the customer is paying again for whatever the engine might need.

If I sell the customer parts I take care of any BS that does happen here and there. And I will warranty anything that prematurely fails. Parts and labor.

 

[Fastatv]

I install customer parts with a few exceptions.

1. I do not install aftermarket bellows.

2. If there is any kind of problem with the part pre-installation, it's the customers responsibility to get it sorted out. And they pay for any labor up unto that point so far.

3. If the part fails for whatever reason, it's on the customer to get it sorted out if there is a warranty on the part. I will not warranty any labor. So if your aftermarket impeller falls apart in 3 months, or whatever it might be, the customer is paying again for whatever the engine might need.

If I sell the customer parts I take care of any BS that does happen here and there. And I will warranty anything that prematurely fails. Parts and labor.

I pretty much agree with JJ here, for all the reasons he pointed out, however, I won't usually let the customer supply the parts as per JJ's third and last sentences which I agree 100% and, I usually mark up the parts and make 10 to 20 profit percent on parts...as most all mechanics do. This profit offsets the "sometimes" issues that a mechanic experiences while wrenching...rusted bolts, bolts that break and have to be drilled out and re-tapped....the problems can be endless. Anyway, give the mechanics a call and see what they say....nothing to lose in doing that.

 

[Walt T]

I won't install customer parts. I used to but then anytime the engine hiccups they bring it back saying I must have done something to it just trying to get something for nothing. Not worth it to me for a few lousy bucks. If a customer cant afford to fix their boat perhaps they shouldn't own one. Then again no harm in trying to save a few bucks. Some shops will install them, but I don't bother.

 

[Silvertip]

Or the customer "thinks" the parts he/she wants installed will fix the problem they are having only to find out that really wasn't the problem and they then attempt to blame the installer for not fixing the problem. No -- I would not install user supplied parts nor would I warranty those parts or labor to install them. IBoats may have an agreement with the shops they recommend but you should check with them regarding that relationship.

 

[natsgrampy]

This is why I asked this here. I didn't think of it from the mechanics view. I have spoken to the mechanic of a local marine service. He diagnosed my problem and he suggested I get the parts as they were so much less here. I showed him the website.

My biggest problem is, I got water into the bellows and can't figure out where the water got in. I don't want to replace the strerndrive, gimbal bearing, the hose, gaskets, seals and O-rings, only to have water still get in.

He said he will check out the transom, the lip the bellows attaches to, the oil seal and put the parts I bought. He said it would run me about $600. Am I expecting too much of them?

Should I bite the bullet, buy the tools I need to fix it, I need the kit that has the tools for gimbal bearing removal, installation, and the alignment tool, and do it myself?

It's more about having it done right as opposed to saving $400.

Thanks again for all your help here!!!!

 

[Bt Doctur]

A bad bellows would let water trickle into the engine compartment, did you notice any extra water in the bilge ?
Did you ever have the bilge pump fail/ forget the remove or install the drain plug/ remove or shut -off the batteries with the drain plug left in?
A high bilge would let water get into the bellows

 

[JustJason]

somehow I knew this was about bellows.......