*THE HULL TRUTH is the world's largest FREE network for the discussion of Boating & Fishing. Whether you're researching a new boat, or are a seasoned Captain, you'll find The Hull Truth Boating & Fishing Message Forum contains a wealth of information from Boaters and Sportfishermen around the world.
Welcome to the updated THT!
If you are having trouble signing in, please email feedback@thehulltruth.com with your username and we will help you. We thank you for your patience as we help you access the new site!
Random Quote: When the tide goes out, we find out who has been swimming naked (Warren Buffet)
Well I dropped my boat of for the mechanic to install a new impeller. One of those things I could do myself but with my schedule it seems easier for them to replace it, motor was not running hot but a couple of times when at an idle for several minutes the temp alarm went off so figured I better go ahead and get it done ASAP. Well the mechanic I use promised me the boat would be ready by last friday, he is also open on Saturday am, but due to my schedule i did not get by there until Saturday am. Well I noticed the gate was locked and nobody there. Well no big deal since I plenty of honey do stuff to do but my wife really wanted to go to the lake but we figured another day. Anyway It is now Tuesday and I have called several times and even been by a couple of times during the day today and yesterday and nobody is there. I ran into another guy and he stated the owners wife had a heart attack, don't mean to be unsympathatic but i have used them several times and a lot of times I am given every excuse why the boat is not ready, heck they even have a 16' bass boat of mine that has been there a 1 1/2 years(i told them no hurry and have not really needed it, another long story, but have been very patient). I have used them several times and it seems to be one story or another but they are likeable and nice folks. However it looks like someone could put a note or change the voice mail to explain( believe me I have 2 seperate businesses of my own and i do understand things happen but I always make sure the customer/client is informed and taken care of no matter what my problems, health, etc are). Anyway back to my question, and i am not asking for legalities, the yard is locked with a small chain and lock and not only do i want my boat back in the next couple of days I am concerned about the electronics and other things that are left on my boat with no one being around at all(I am sure theive can figure this out in a hurry) that some of these things can get gone in overnight. When i stopped by today another guys was in the same predicament as I and mentioned if he did not hear from them in the next day or so he would cut the chain and get is Dam$ boat. I know the guy and he was dead serious and he made the comment he would let me know when he did this so I could get my boat also. If he does this it makes my boat even more accessable to theives. If ya'll were in this situation would you go and get your boat or let it sit there ? By the way they do have a deposit on my other boat so it is not like the do not already have some of my $$$.
Location: Quebec, Canada and Pirates Cove, OBX, NC
Posts: 17,813
What would you do??
I believe that you could be charged with theft and possibly break and enter . . . worse case senario a cop drives by and he sees you reclaiming your boat . . . could it get worse? Oh yeah . . .
PS your post is hard to read. Please use a number of short paragraphs . . . you will probably get more responses . . . just to let you know . . . hope you get your boat back real soooooonnnnnnn!
I understand your concern, but don't do it. It is illegal (trespassing, destruction of property, breaking and entering, etc..). You are better off waiting. I know that sucks, but it is the law.
Take some flowers to the Hospitol. See if there is anything you can do to help the guy and then ask if you can borrow his key so you can go fishing. I would start looking for a more reliable boat guy.
No employee's? The way I see it if he's the phone answerer, parts orderer, counter man, and mechanic he's probably understaffed. If this is the case you would have to expect these things every now and then. I would ask for a discount when he comes back.
Do you have confirmation your boat has been repaired?
I hope you get it back soon, and for me, I would just wait. Better safe than sorry.
If you or someone you are with cuts the lock and walk in, you can be charged with breaking and entering even if your boat is in the yard. If it were me I'd contact the owner in the hospital, ask about his wife, then ask if you can pick up your boat. Tell him you talked to another customer who wants to get his boat too. I see no harm in this, you just want your boat back. Hopefully, he'll understand and give you the keys or offer to have the gate opened for you.....
The problem is, the longer he takes to contact you or finish your boat, the less sympathetic you or I would become! I know, I went through this with a custom rod builder when he was in a major car accident, broke both legs and was two weeks late delivering my rods. The problem was noone contacted me or returned phone calls while they had 2,500 dollars of mine! It tends to make you UN-sympathetic! Somebody SHOULD call you, but I would NOT take your boat back without permission!
Years ago, I gave a "friend" a deposit on an 85 hp Johnson for my ski-boat. I installed the motor and did not get to test it, which he agreed he would let me do, for about ten days. One morning I left for work and my boat was gone! I immediately called the Sheriff and reported it stolen. After two days I had heard from another friend that the owner of the motor had taken my boat from my front yard because he thought I was using it and wasn't going to pay him! He had it hidden from me in the garage of one of his rental properties! When I went to his house to "confront" him,(basically I went there to beat the bajezus out of him) his wife answered the door and when she called him, he came to the door and called his kids into the room!? I figured he wanted witnesses for what he KNEW was coming! I "wised" up to his little plan and did him one better! I was told by another acquaintance that he was on probation, so I told him the local Sheriff has been notified and his name was given to them! I had the whereabouts of my boat in about 2 seconds!
I went to the location without him and unbolted the motor myself and laid it on the floor and took my boat home. The Sheriff informed me it was Grand Theft, Trespassing and B&E as he had to cut a lock, even though it was rightfully his motor.
all the advice above is good, but i'm not sure what i would be capable of if it was my boat locked up away from me, and me worrying about it every minute.
i'd like to think i'd be patient and wait it out, but i'm really not sure how long i'd be able to do that...
So this guy's lifemate and reason for living has a life threatening illness and he drops everything (as he should!) to take care of her and all you can think about is cutting the lock to get your toy back? Where is the human compassion?
Cut the guy some slack and maybe take a whack from the ol' clue stick.
1)If having access to the boat is critical to you, you need to take it to a 'factory' shop with a lot of mechanics and service people.
2) Never leave anything that could be stolen on-board when you leave it outside of your control cuz things CAN happen.
3) never never never tell someone to take their time on fixing something cuz someone else will always have an emergency that will put your project in the back lot holding down the weeds.
4) remember that when you work with the 'small guy', things come up outside their control.
Since you asked for advice I all I have done is pick at you - that's not real nice of me, huh? - I'd like to offer a way to turn this into a win-win. Please talk to the poor guy and offer to help him out - do some stuff to help him at home, which is no doubt neglected, or offer to help him contact other boat owners and work out a schedule to get their boats back into their hand. Ask him if he'd like you to see if you can find a substitut mechanic that he can sub the work out to.
Please remember that his loved one is his # 1 priority and if it were you in that situation, you'd like for your boss to be understanding and give you all the time off you need to keep the family floating. I work with these situations everyday and I can perhaps suggest other ideas if you don't like these.
Good luck to you and send my best wishes for a speedy recovery to this fellows wife.
"Kiss my ass, I bought a boat, I'm going out to sea." Lyle Lovett
I hate to be in the "unsympathic camp".. but you must know the operation better than we... does it sound right that the whole place shuts down if this guy's not there?.. I mean.. does he have any employees (as Len suggested)? If so.. does he lay-off his entire staff while he tends to his wife.. It would be a shame to have your boat locked up indefinitely.. although, other than contacting the guy.. as others have said, maybe you have no recourse.. it's probably a little soon to panic.. but if you can't get a hold of within a few more days.. and we start drifting into August?
If it was me and I found the gate open during his normal business hours I would go get my boat whether he was there or not. Leave a note on the door stating that you came by to pick-up the boat and a number that he can contact you at so he doesn't think the boat was stolen when he comes back.
quote:…..but they are likeable and nice folks.That’s a good thing, but it appears they don’t know how to treat their customers.
You’ve had a bass boat there for over a year. You’ll be lucky if anything works when and if you get it back.
If the owner’s wife had a heart attack he should get in contact with the customers and advise them of the options available. Not just keep their boats locked up.
See if you can get the owners address. Stop by and demand you boat be given back.
Dude you are getting hosed. And you are letting it happen.
This place isn't even a mom and pop shop, it's just a pop shop. Nice people (your words) who tie up my money and keep my toys are people I don't do business with.
Get your bass boat and let me "work" on it for a you. I'll only take a year to fix it and get it back to you.
By the way, do you have a tow vehicle that needs some work? I can take care of that, too.
At the moment he is not "letting it happen". The boat is currently locked up on a peice of property that he does not own. The owner of the property is not available. Not much he can do about it without committing an illegal act of trespassing.
Well I understand the post and I do agree with you, that is probably my problem, I should have know better. I did stop by today, this "shop & yard area" are behind another business and the other business rents them the space, and the gate is still locked and no sign of anyone around. I did talk to the guy that owns that property and he did not have a phone # and admitted that several folks were kinda upset. He said all i know is the guys wife is sick but I think she is supposed to be home yesterday and would love to help but he had nothing to do with that business and I understood. He also stated that he understood they would be open today buy he has not seen anyone as of yet(3pm).
I do want to explain in a little more detail
1-my bass boat has not been used in several years and we are kind of looking for another motor instead of fixing the one that is on there(Force engine, enough said). I have not complained about that since this was the agreement we had and I am truly in no hurry, in fact I may sell it after/before I fix it
2-I myself am not planning on cutting a lock, I am just concerned if someone else does that my boat is not secure anymore(yea, I am angry at myself for not removing the electronics and other things but I was not expecting this).
3-I am not a hard hearted person, I am sympathetic about his situation but please read post in that I do own 2 seperate businesses myself and I do make sure my clients/customers are taken car of no matter what personal problems I have
4-Yes it is a mom and pop operation(i do not believe there are any employees) and the local boat shops we have are not to favorable to you if you did not purchase a new boat from them, and yes i can understand this to a point.
5-I have just left another message, nothing harsh in fact very pleasant and just inquiring about picking my boat up Thursday.
6-Back to the mom and pop operation, they do have voice mail and it does not take that much effort to change a message(i do it plenty of times at my office or if my secretary and myself are both going to be out of the office on the same day I can change if from home, cell phone, etc)
P.S. i do appreciate your input and I do agree with most of you and I do not want to do anything illegal or destructive I was just a little frustrated last night when i wrote the original post.
Most of you have a kind heart and feel for the repairman and his wife and also for tprice's dilema. to the others, take alook at the big picture. I know how many of you feel about your boats but not being able to use it is not life and death! But it is as far as the shop owner is concerned. tprice,you mentioned he has had your other boat for over 1 1/2 years. And yes you have been very patient.....well i should really say neglectful. It looks like your patience now should be heartfelt.
Me, I'd get a cop friend (have several for many reasons) and a new lock. I'd take both and cut one link. I'd open the gate, get my boat, lock the gate with the new lock, and find a new marine mechanic. Of course I listen to New Riders of the Purple Sage and I'm a Lone Wolf, No Club! Good Luck, I hope you get back on the water soon. By the way; its nice that you take your wife with you.
I was certainly not advocating for tprice to cut a lock, trespass, and steal (which is what it would be) his boat(s) back. I was simply saying that lack of action is a decision, especially on the bass boat. That lack of action has now melded into a new level of frustration.
If I am paying for a service, then I should get what I pay for and it should be done right. After all, I'm only the customer.
However, there is an obligation to be a good customer. Being a good customer means being patient when the owner's wife is sick, and be nice to the waitress who spills tea on you. It does not mean be patient when the boat yard keeps my boat for a year and a half.
I honestly think the best course for you is to wait it out and then take back your stuff. Hopefully you can find a more professional place to do critical business with.
Tell your friend with the bolt-cutter that if anyone steals your stuff because he destroyed the 'security system' you'll expect him to make it up to you. If he's just working himself up to it you may give him the excuse he needs to not go through with it.
Trespass is dificult to prosecute if the cops don't catch him on the premises but B&E is simple if there is a witness like the guy who really owns the place, or anyone who heard him mouthing off. Anyone who has a boat there will probably be asked if anything is missing and I expect at least one of them wil say "Oh my gosh! My new radar was in a box in the cuddy and it's gone." Then you'll have grand-theft even if his account with the mechanic is up to date.
By the way, taking your own boat is not grand-theft but if you owe for work it is theft of services unless you have permission to remove it. (That's what I was told when I worked for a car dealer-ship).
You could check with a lawyer about getting some kind of court-order but I expect that will take at least a week or two as well, if it's even possible. Never mind the expense.
What would you do?? 
