How many of you guys do your own work? - The Hull Truth

Wulybgr · 06-25-2005, 11:58 AM

How many of you guys do your own work on your boat and motors? I myself do almost all of my own work. I am a young guy with a family and simply cannot afford to have mechanic do my work. Even if I had the extra money lining my pockets I am probably too cheap to fork the money over for something I could myself.

I read about guys waiting weeks to replace water pumps and simple things like that - yikes! If you did your water pump yourself it should take a 1st timer about 2 hours. Instructions very clearly detailed in the manual, and almost anybody already has all the tools needed. Why wait a month for your mecahnic to do this for you - and then pay a crap load of money for it?

I know some guys out there have great experiences at shops with people that really take care of them. Doesn't seem to be the norm - ecspecially for the people posting here. They wait in long lines, pay huge prices all for shotty work. Why not just invest a portion of the time you would be waiting on learning how to do it yourself.

I am no mechanical genius - but neither is the guys you have working on your boat. I follow the same instructions in the manual that the shops have. Trouble shooting can be tough, but if you go through it systamatically it can be done. The resources on the board can also be very with diagnosis.

Steve

ave8er · 06-25-2005, 12:16 PM

I do all of my own work. From a filter service to installing an AP

Mist-Rest · 06-25-2005, 12:23 PM

The only thing I did not do was make the t top.

I'll never strip the bottom paint. The check book will have to do that.

Mumblerone · 06-25-2005, 12:27 PM

I do!* It's the 'time element' and getting it 'done right' the first time that appeals to me.**

** Plus I have a better chance of getting it going on the water if it breaks down.* Bonding with you boat is a good thing!*

Victory 1 · 06-25-2005, 12:50 PM

I do it all myself, from stripping the bottom for the interlux blister repair, (3 months), to rebuilding the engines / cooling system, to awlgriping the entire boat

bug nut · 06-25-2005, 12:57 PM

I try to do all of my own work. But at present I am having a problem with my port motor that I can't seem to solve. If I can't fix the problem within the next two days I will have to throw in the towel

Summers are to short.
Good luck

finbox · 06-25-2005, 01:02 PM

I'm with Mumbler...I removed old motor and rigged and installed my twin 200 HPDI's on my drive way....I don't think the hood liked the fork lift in front of the house.

I like to do things right....once you know how things should be done, when you take it to someone to do a job they almost always half a$$ it.

If you don't know how things should be done, you smile hand the guy a bunch of cash and think he did you good....

dneal · 06-25-2005, 01:08 PM

I do as much as I think Im capable of doing . Last week I replaced the trim motor on my 2000 f100 Yamaha, and saved about 300 $.
Some stuff such as carbs. and removing heads and technical stuff I leave to the pros. But after buying a shop manual and a testing meter I have save a bunch of money on the small stuff, Relays for trim motors ,gauges, etc.

It does help that I have two boats so if one is being worked on the other is ready to go

Dave

goblin127 · 06-25-2005, 01:14 PM

If its something I can do I do it. I wont spend hard earned mony to pay someone with a bad attitude to half a$$ the job. And it makes me feel more confident knowing I can fix it out on the water. Maybe.

Doug in Bermuda · 06-25-2005, 01:15 PM

I do all the regular service work. Routine stuff like filter changes, heat exchanger cleanout & general engine stuff is not a problem. I'll have a respected mechanic double check me to see if I missed something every year. Sometimes what I pass for OK is not such as a hose that is nearing the end of its useful life. Electrical stuff drives me nuts but Ill take a stab at that too.

twentynine · 06-25-2005, 01:19 PM

Wulybgr

I don't think your cheap, you work, and you use your time/skill and assets the best way you can.

All of us have been young, most of use were not born with a silver spoon in our mouth. You want a boat, you got to be willing to do what is needed.

I say good for you!

I do most of my own work also.

In Agreement · 06-25-2005, 03:02 PM

I'm with Mumbler also, I like to know how it works, if it goes down, I might be able to get it running again.

I've got a good relationship with my mechanic and he helps me trouble shoot as he knows my ability. Electronics, would probably be handled, or at least diagnosed at the shop, then fixed at the house unless it is a warranty issue then it is done at the shop.

SeaCat22 · 06-25-2005, 03:56 PM

Do it all. Git 'er done. Glass work...I hate it...but I do it.

katkt · 06-25-2005, 04:40 PM

If I had to pay someone to work on it, I'd have to give it up. When you work on it yourself, it becomes a little more of you.

Having said this, there is still a "caveat". I've been doing hands on work my entire life so far, and have a good selection of tools, and experience with them. If a person is going to start doing their own work, they should constantly be aware of their limitations.

If you want to do your own work the resources are available.

pooldoo73 · 06-25-2005, 04:57 PM

I do pretty much all the work myself. The last project I started was just about too much though. I took a little extra time with it so I could learn how to do some of the stuff, but now I am pretty good at quite a few new things. I am now confident that I can totally rebuild Alpha outdrives, top and bottom, fiberglass anything that stays put for a few minutes, and can rebuild a GM motor. That said, I could have gone my entire life without learning a couple of those things. It seems that as we get older, it is worth more to have it done for you than do it yourself. My dad won't touch just about anything around the house anymore. He much rathers have someone else do it so he can go fish.

4000 · 06-25-2005, 05:37 PM

I still consider myself a newbie. Been boating for 8 years. Plumbing and basic electrical work is fairly easy. Anything I don't know how to do or I can't figure out, I have a great mech. who will show me how to do it as he works. At least then, I know how to fix it the next time.

Although sometimes, there's the type of work where I KNOW I'll be doing a shouting match with my wrenches. At that point, it's a toss up of whether to do it myself, do it with my mech. or let him take care of the whole thing.

The great thing about working on your own boat and learning all the systems on the boat is that if you're offshore and something goes wrong . . . you'll have a much better chance of finding the problem and perhaps even fixing the problem on the spot.

Oh yeah, and there are times when working on your own boat requires an investment of a specific tool. I needed to buy a specfic sized pin spanner wrench to re-seal my hydraulic steering cylinder. The tool was 20 bucks on e-bay. The shop charged me 60 bucks for the job. . . I would have never used that spanner wrench ever again and didn't want to deal with re-selling the wrench on e-bay so I brought the cylinder to the shop . . .

dstockwell · 06-25-2005, 06:02 PM

I do the plugs, lower oil, grease fittings... Other things I need to learn.

Lone Ranger · 06-25-2005, 07:25 PM

I do ALL my own work.Of course it helps to have been turning wrenches for 33 yrs.!

Thom · 06-25-2005, 07:32 PM

I do my own, I work on other people's boats too.

COOL BREEZE · 06-25-2005, 07:35 PM

I enjoy working on my boat and have learned a lot. Now I'm a little concerned. I would like to buy a new boat that is well built. I really don't want to buy a brand new boat that is a fixer upper.