Re: Hours of labor to replace the long block?
Access to the engine is always a factor. Engines below the floor take much longer to remove than a midmount skiboat engine. Once it's out there is dis-assembly, cleaning of gasket material, sometimes repair/replacement of parts now much easier to access ie; starter, fuel pump, hoses, manifolds and risers are always replaced. Usually 3 x 8 hour days is enough to do the entire job start to finish which allows for things that always come up like broken bolts, parts not easily available, sometimes have rusted bolts needing to be carefully removed from components, and sometimes I've even found broken bolts still in the new long block. THEN there's dealing with the drive, bolts corroded, broken, and then U Joints, gimbals, seals, bellows, etc.
There is no flat rate manual for boats like there are for cars. I can always look at a boat and just by my experience know how long it will take me for removal and installation in that particular hull. I always recommend U joints, seals, bellows, gimbal, then ask how old the manifold and risers are but since I'm warranting it will most likely replace them. You can see the peripherals adding to the time quite easily. The drive maintenance alone can take a few hours. After all, I don't want the customer to come back for a gimbal I should have replaced and now I have to do for free. I have found allowing for 3 full days is reasonable and I can nearly always come in under that. Some shops will quote a time and that's what you pay, others will add time if it takes longer due to unforseen circumstances. You should understand their policy before you let them start so there are no unpleasant misunderstandings. The very low hour quotes will be added on to once they have it torn apart and can hold you hostage. Ask questions, talk to the service guys, see what your gut tells you. People that don't quite look you in the eyes, give very vague answers, look like homeless people, apparently have no dental insurance, can give you an idea of how the business is run. If you can, try to engage a mechanic in conversation even if it's just asking how he likes that pin up picture on his toolbox because that's the business owners daughter and when he looks all surprised you can see if he has one of those lazy eyes that rolls around in all directions which can cause him to try to install your motor backwards which can be detrimental to the performance of the boat and of course they'll charge more hours to change the engine rotation because by golly they sent them a backward rotation long block.
