Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

[Gary H NC]

When i purchased my boat over the winter i knew it needed head gaskets.<br />I asked around my area and most people told me to go to this one GOOD mechanic.<br />I could have done the work myself but just didn't want to fool with it in cold weather.<br />I picked the boat up after they had it a month and it sounded like it was running fine.<br />I have noticed since the work was performed that i was getting yellow froth on the inside of the oil fill cap.So i thought like most that i had a water intrusion leak somewhere..<br />Well today i pulled the seats,engine cover and got in there to really look close.<br />Oh! what did i find! The oil filter was never changed(i paid for that)Fuel filter was not changed(paid for it too)<br />Power steering pump was never tightened down,alternator brackets loose,Valve covers loose and leaking,exhaust manifold bolts about hand tight..and the list goes on.<br />So my yellow froth in the oil was just leftover water that got dumped in the engine during the tear down..<br />I changed the oil and filters..tightened everything up and give it a test run.<br />No more creamy oil...cool!!<br />550 bucks just labor...i will do it myself or die trying the next time!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Sucks don't it?<br /><br />Sounds like you want a mechanic that is both honest and competant. <br /><br />I think your expectations are a bit high.

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

yea and dont confront them when they are together or they will come at you in force. http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=017057

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

alot of the boat mechanics out here in calif are people that raise there hand and say yea im a mechanic. then they start charging a bunch . then the state of calif is so weak they dont evan have a force to crack down on the incompatancy.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

No, he wanted an honest, competent, and CHEAP mechanic. You can have any two, but not all three.

 

[Tail_Gunner]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Actually its a funny market right now, every body and there brothers want to start a business and try to fill it with any tech they can find. The results are terrible, poor cutomer service, crowned up mech's (good ones) the indrustry is just spread to thin. In time this will heal itself for now try to find a good mech and be very real with him, most good mech's are just that( great caring people) however when one try's to tell them what's going on............... lol LOOK OUT. For now they can get away with it.

 

[Speedwagon]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

My friend took his boat to this mechanic the other day, and I followed him over because the trailer lights were out.<br /><br />Well, my impression was when I met this guy. He certainly didn't hold back what he thought of anything. Brutally honest type of person, no BS.<br /><br />Guys like that give me the impression... if they own a shop, and it seems to be doing well, despite their harsh personality, they must be good at what they do! Those are the kind of mechanics I like!

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

This guy came highly recommended,Had a nice shop and his labor rate was 65 an hour..about average for this area.He had about 30 other boats on the lot so i thought he may have a good shop going on...go figure.<br />I could see some bolts maybe coming loose but when i pay for oil and filter changes ect..i expect to get it..<br />Now i'm wondering should i re-check the torque on the head bolts..?<br />I have put about 20 hours on it since the head gaskets were changed.

 

[crazy charlie]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Re-torquing is never a bad idea.

 

[AaronG]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Good mechanics (any kind) are hard to find because it is hard dirty work, and it doesn't pay particularly well.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

I think the pleasure craft repair industry has difficulty attracting good people because the work is very seasonal. It is real feast or famine. When the crunch comes at the beginning of the season, it is brutal. Everyone wants their boats fixed NOW!<br /><br />In addition, the industry tries to sell winterization to extend the revenue stream later into the year. They also need to de-winterize, which had been paid for, months before and all at a time when everyone discovers that their boats need attention, right at the beginning of the season. It all doesn't make for a sane work stream.

 

[dakotarmx]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

i just bought my first boat a month ago .1987v eagle 351 with a johnson 70 hp the old guy i bought it from said i just had it serviced .new power packs .bla bla first time out ran kinda funny .when i got it home i pulled the lid .got to lookin .one spark plug out of the three was different plug .the pee hole tube was spraying under thje cowl .and the inline filter was leaking when you prime it .well i got to lookin at the receipt .it was a joke ..cleaned carbs .1 2 3 ..11 dollars each .checked spark plugs .good 4 dollars gear lube .good 2 dollars .wasnt good i changed it black .water pump good 5 dollars check gas .5 dollars .carb cleaner $4.55 gear lube $ 2.00 tie wrap$1,00 labor 4 1/2 hours at $ 38 dollars an hour $ 2.22 85 well thats what the reciept says .the old man got burnt id say .how do ya check gas .ill do it myself to many con artists

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Gary H: did you ever talk to the guy about all the issues you found? He certainly should know about it and should make it right. What is his story?

 

[tommays]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

The only real difference between a boat and a car is with the car here all the shops are state Licensed and you have a hafe a chance to complain <br /><br />The Boat service thing is a big mess the NMMA is trying to make it better BUT Brunswick doesent like it because it would make it harder for there small dealers to stay open and meet the requirments <br /><br /><br />tommays

 

[rschnack]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

You should talk to the shop owner. A problem I have seen with auto repair shops (and other small businesses) is, you get a good mechanic that goes into business for himself. He does good work at a fair price and his business grows. He gets so busy he has to hire help. Sometimes one of the guys he hires for "help" is not a good mechanic. Word gets around town that the shop is doing shoddy work. The only one that doesn't seem to know is the owner. If this shop had a good reputation, the owner may have a good conscience and want to stand behind his work. He just may have one bad mechanic he would like to know about.<br /><br />RCS

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

I think good mechanics are leaving the business because they have to deal with customers like this:<br /><br /> http://forums.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=010931;p=1#000000

 

[swist]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

The problem goes back to a shotage of marine mechanics - forcing marginal people to get hired. This is all part of a larger issue - there is a shortage of skilled tradespeople in most trades. Everyone is pushed to go to college these days - it is not perceived that the best move for some people might be to learn a trade. The pay is pretty good for most experienced tradespeople - certainly a lot better than any job you'd likely get with a BA in sociology.

 

[whywhyzed]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

I agree with the labour issue as the root for the general state of things, although customer service is bad with non-technical industry as well.<br /><br />It's a cultural problem.<br />In our province of over 6 million people, there are less than 50 registered marine mechanic apprentices. The way ATV sales have been the last few years, small engine and marine mechanics need to be cloned. 500 apprentices would be the right number.<br /> <br />Kids don't mind real work, they just don't know what's available. They don't get exposed to anything except what their parents do. They don't know what any careers are like and they have to decide on a career path so they pick straws... <br /><br />I started my Heavy Equipment Mechanic apprenticeship the same year my sister started articling as a lawyer. I don't think she has an easier go of it.<br /><br />I like Heavy because the customer is treated much better. It's a B2B environment. You're fixing his dozer, he's in the sales dept. talking about a 30 million dollar order... are you gonna pad the bill? I used to teach a customer course on failure analysis... Everybody wants the truth and we all learn from understanding who f'd up... we're humans and it happens.<br /><br />I've had a few boat engines and stuff advertised locally. You should hear people begging me to work on their boats. I hate working on other people's boats...haha so I guess it's adults that don't want to work sometimes.....

 

[bigbad 4cyl x2]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

have you guys seen the attitude of the marine mechanic wantabys over in the volvo section . no wonder ,who the heck would want to work alongside some one like them . let alone under or near them as an aprentice . could go to a womens hair salon and learn how to be a b#t$h better................oh yea a little late but thnks rodbolt your advice was the one that rang true for me. i feel they shouldnt have opened up a upper gear housing with out knowing how to reasemble and using items that were just laying around to put it back together then try and charge etc. but he did try .its just those upper gear housings are very critical.and u joints are what 3/4 to 1 1/4 hour. and now i need to have it dissasebled and resealed /inspected properly any how . the sign did say marine . .... oh yea although related sorry to hijack thread.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: Why is it so hard to find an honest marine mechanic?

Thanks for all the responses guys! you have some good points!<br />The guy that done the work owns the shop.<br />But,now i have a number for another guy and his son that do work at a shop behind thier house.<br />He has been working on boats for over 30 years..<br />Maybe some old timers like him will be a better way to go.<br />I'm sure he would know more about OMC than the young kid that done my head gasket job..<br />Alot of stuff i'll try myself anyway..Have worked on cars all my life.