Boat at mechanic for 2 months? HELP - The Hull Truth

brossi01 · 07-07-2006, 02:49 AM

OK, I admit I am normally a very patient person. Usually, to patient, as you will see. I have been without a boat for quite a few years. A good friend of mine had an offshore boat (27 ft) that had been sitting for a few years on a trailer. He basically gave it to me and we weere gonnna redo all of the wiring and get it seaworthy. Needless to say, we both didnt have the time to mess with it so I took it to a local dealer ( they work mainly on bay boats here in TX) We took it in right before snapper season opened and it is still not ready. From what the head mechaninc tells me, he doesnt "trust" anyone else to work on it and he doesn't get " a chance" to work on it too often. I dont have many options close to here to take it too. What should I do? I have missed some awesome fishing so far this season and it is driving me nuts! Should I confront the mechanic? Should I just go get the boat and haul it to another shop? I am trying to have a positive outlook on this but I am honestly starting to get extremely pissed off. The best part is he initially said it would take about 3 weeks to finish it. At the 3 week mark, I called him and he basically said noone had even looked at my boat. Go ahead and blast me, I already know I am an idiot for leaving it that long with them, but they came with quite a few good recomendations.

greyg8r · 07-07-2006, 04:40 AM

Well, if you have no one else to rely on, then it sounds like you are kind of stuck.

People are motivated by fear and by reward. I don't think fear - i.e., you going in there ranting - would accomplish your goals, but reward might! Try going in there and slipping him a $50 and mentioning that you really need the boat. The worst case scenario is he takes another 2 months, but you will have a fixed boat that was gratis! You are in a no-lose situation.

Or, you can pick it up and learn to do the necessary repairs by learning from the forum members here.

TB Hawks · 07-07-2006, 05:42 AM

Quote:

brossi01 - 7/7/2006 1:49 AM

From what the head mechaninc tells me, he doesnt "trust" anyone else to work on it and he doesn't get " a chance" to work on it too often.

That statement should tell you something....(Like) what does he mean by this....and when does he have time to work on it...Pay them what you owe (with a discount) and go to someone else..

Tell the fix it guy, to write down everything he has done to this point...unless he can't remember....then I'd pay nothing....

durabostbay · 07-07-2006, 07:52 AM

I had a simlar thing happen to me took my boat to a local well known mechanic in need of a shift cable replacement and general cheek up in Feb. checked on the boat a few weeks later and he hadnt even looked at it yet! I was patient though because this mechanic was known for his good work. Well in May I went and picked it up and he still had not looked at it yet before I picked it up I called him for two weeks and never got an answer or call back I even stoped bye a few times and he was never there. I waited till late one night and got my boat without him knowing when I knew he would not be there and he still has not called me to ask if I have picked it up

oldmako · 07-07-2006, 08:33 AM

That boat would be in my driveway or another shop this afternoon.

captsuperfly · 07-07-2006, 09:28 AM

what's strange is how candid he's being with you about making your boat a low priority. Was there a price break when you dropped it off? Are you friendly with him? Is this a "side job" for him? It sounds from your description like he might consider it some kind of favor, even if you consider it business.
It's time for a "come to Jesus" meeting with him. Be firm but not obnoxious and set a firm deadline by date. Tell him if he can't get it done by then you'll have to take it somewhere else. Also might be time to get it all on a written estimate.

good luck.

DAVIT MASTER · 07-07-2006, 09:37 AM

Brossi01,

I feel your pain. Last Summer my buddy's boat went to the dealer for a problem with the engine cutting out at mid range speeds. It was there for 2 weeks and they said that they fixed it. The first time we took it out the same thing happened. Then a mechanic from the dealer said he would do it as a side job and kept the boat for the rest of the season and the boat is still broken.

www.davitmaster.com

prockvoan · 07-07-2006, 10:51 AM

Quote:

captsuperfly - 7/7/2006 8:28 AM

what's strange is how candid he's being with you about making your boat a low priority. Was there a price break when you dropped it off? Are you friendly with him? Is this a "side job" for him? It sounds from your description like he might consider it some kind of favor, even if you consider it business.
It's time for a "come to Jesus" meeting with him. Be firm but not obnoxious and set a firm deadline by date. Tell him if he can't get it done by then you'll have to take it somewhere else. Also might be time to get it all on a written estimate.

good luck.

This is the way I would handle it

Great post

SeaJay · 07-07-2006, 12:13 PM

Tell him first you will be taking it another dealer if it isn't done in the next week. The problem is you can take it to another dealer who might take a while to look at it. Best if you can get the current guy to do it.

catfish3 · 07-07-2006, 01:27 PM

Sounds like his "excuse" is the same as the reason why you brought it in. I agree with captsuperfly's post as to how you should proceed if you still want to get someone else to do the work. You probably are better off taking it and doing it yourself though if its something that is easily learned. Think of it this way, if the boat was working, you'd spend the same amount of time fixing it as you would going on a few fishing trips in it, right?

byram · 07-07-2006, 02:34 PM

Similar situation with a car..
My neighbor is quite the mechanic and always has side jobs in his driveway. A family member of mine has a 60's muscle car that needed some work on the engine. I put his car in my garage and told the neighbor to go in whenever he wanted. After many months of (a little here and there) of work my family member had me ask the neighbor what the cost would be to fix. family member told my neighbor "I'll double it if its done by X date"..
Car was finished on time...imagine that..

I guess some people might need a little motivation..
I'm not suggesting that you do the same but talk to your mechanic and see what can be done.

RussH · 07-07-2006, 06:30 PM

I feel your pain, my boat has been in for a transom rebuild since April 16. From my experience this is just typical for the industry. I was told the boat would be done in 3-4 weeks, then by June 10, then July 4th weekend, and now by the end of July.

My $1,400 dock has been sitting empty all year and there's not a dang thing I can do about it except wait.

jwb · 07-07-2006, 09:49 PM

I have no patience so I do everything myself. I'm lucky that I have most of the skills, but come here and read to learn what I need. I just did a bunch of wiring on my boat and found tons of books to read up on. I'd do that and go get your boat. Now when you have a wiring issue 3 miles out you can be better equipped to deal with it.

tobnpr · 07-07-2006, 10:48 PM

If they haven't touched it yet after two months, I'd (as politely as possible) pick it up and take it somewhere else.
I had a similar problem last summer when repowering my boat. It took a month to get the new Crusader in, then they just dragged their feet. It is a small shop, they're very knowledgable and do things right; they just don't know when to say "NO" to business they are too busy to handle. They made service/rigging new boats a priority and mine kept taking a back seat. I just kept showing up asking when we're gonna "get er done", and offered my help. Believe it or not, he gratefully accepted my help and together we finished replacing my running gear and installation /rigging of the new engine over the course of a few afternoons!