How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

[sutor623]

Hey fellas, getting my hands dirty again for the pre-spring boating fiasco. Had a great winter of fishing, and not messing with motors so far.

I do a lot of work on most of my friends/familys boats. Used to do it for the cost of parts. Everyone has been really happy with my work and dedication, and luckily I haven't had any issues. Have fixed some pretty major stuff in the past.

Anyways, I had made an announcement last summer that since I am working on so many rigs, that I just can not do it for free anymore. I love working on them, but I need to get some sort of compensation for my time. I have a friend of my dads that has a '77 evinrude 15hp (love that model). He wants a waterpump, and needs a gearcase seal kit. All work that I have done before, so I know that if all goes well and nothing is seized up it will take me about 1/2 of a day.

So that being said, what would you guys pay at the shop, or charge for this type of work?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

Making money on the side can be good, BUT it can be a serious pain in the butt!

I have had people call me 5 years later when their motor broke down wanting me to drive to their lake and warranty it! I'm not kidding.

It is a whole new ball game charging, so just be sure that is what you want before you begin. You blow someone's motor up, it might not even be your fault, but trust me you will be blamed.

All that being said, usually easiest to charge by the hour unless you are certain of what it will take you, then make set unit prices up.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I agree with all of the above Chris.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I can tell you that a lot of the guys in my area that do it on the side charge 25 hour. So, a typical water pump job would be 50 bucks. 25 for the impeller, 25 for the hour roughly it takes. Same with a carb job, roughly, 25 for the kit, 25 for the hour. Just to give you an idea.

I don't think I would want to do a reseal for any less than 4 hours labour.

I would stick with the easy stuff like above. You get into full rebuilds, too much can go wrong and you might find yourself in small claims for a few grand for a new motor when all you made was a couple hundred bucks putting rings in. You get my drift. Dealers have insurance for this, and warranties.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

Absolutely. You have to know where to draw the line that's for sure!

 

[F_R]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

And liability for when the motor won't start and the boat is 100 feet from the waterfall.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

And liability for when the motor won't start and the boat is 100 feet from the waterfall.

Man good luck pinning that one on me

 

[boobie]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

With the lawyers in this country today, they just might try.

 

[EZSteury]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

This is provably not what You want to read but I would not do it. I used to work on most of My 'friends' vehicles, engines, outboards, you name it and did it for free, then I thought I would charge but my wife helped Me realize what many here already said, if something goes wrong You buddy can turn on You one way or another and all for a few bucks. Tell them to find a mech and spend the time You save working on Your stuff and of course fishing.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

If there are no receipts how can there be any proof?

 

[jb93]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

If you are keeping it to friends and family and you have told them that you cannot do it for free anymore, then perhaps just take it a step further and let them know you don't warranty the work because there are too many factors that you can't be responsible for. Example: a new impeller fails because it is a bad part from the supplier and your friend runs the boat and overheats it and it goes boom. You can't be liable for a rubber part that failed due to no fault of your own. If they want a warranty covered job, then they can go to the dealer and pay $80-100/hour labor rate. I think if you spell it out and they agree to it, then there should be no surprises. Maybe even draft up a disclaimer and have them sign it. I would sign that for $25/hour labor if I trusted your work instead of paying shop rate of $80-100/hour labor. If you did a job for me as a friend for free or for $25 and I had a problem later, I wouldn't feel like the nearly free rate I paid you suddenly made your accountable for anything that happened to my motor. I think friends could agree to that. Now...charging Joe Public that you don't know is another story. For $25 they will try to hang a blown up engine on you that they ran with no oil in it.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

Agreed, that is what I had swirling around in my head.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I've found with old motors that 4 hour jobs can easily turn in to 16 hour jobs through no fault of your own. Example: broken bolts, brittle plastic parts, seized flywheels/driveshafts, etc. You also usually find things wrong other than what you're being paid to fix that you wouldn't want to leave that way. What do you do, fix it for free? I do some work for neighbors and friends, but always charge them something although it's always cheap. That way they don't bring stuff by anytime thinking I'm free and take up absolutely all of my spare time. I don't see how anyone makes it worth their time without charging at least 1/2 of what a professional charges. Then liability issues as stated......

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I try to barter labor for labor, however by default I charge about $25 per hour plus parts for friends and family. Sometimes its beer, sometimes its baked goods. Im working on trading landscaping work for some small engine work right now.

 

[boobie]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

If you're going to do this take cash only and no receipts !! But keep a record of what you did incase there's a pissing contest down the road.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

Good input fellas. JB trust me I'm well aware of the 4hour job turning into 16hours. I tell people in advance that I can't control if bolts snap off and all that jazz. I also typically refuse to work on old saltwater motors (unless its mine) because if that very reason.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

Man, I hate to work on other people's motors. You pros out there can have it. BUT, there is always a neighbor or friend (or relative) who twists your arm. I did a neighbor's motor last summer, just standard magneto and water pump stuff, but agreed on the value of the motor before starting -- and told him if I messed it up for him, I would buy it for that price. It came out fine, but I really don't like doing it -- and definitely charge only for parts, and make it really clear I'm just a hobbyist.

 

[sutor623]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I love the 2 strokes. Could work on em all day.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

I love the 2 strokes. Could work on em all day.

I find it relaxing at times to work on 2-stroke outboards as well, since the electronics part is so simple on average. I particularly like the old universal magneto for that reason. I am usually successful fixing it. I guess I need to abscond with someone's DVA meter or actually go buy one for the newer ones......

JBJ

 

[oldboat1]

Re: How much to charge for waterpump and gearcase seal kit install?

sure agree on the old two strokes. really a pleasure to bring an oldie back to life, and wish I had started working on them earlier.