Payment for unsuccessful boat repairs

Pilotpak · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 8:08 am

Although I've boated for over 15 years now, prior to the GFC, I was fortunate enough to always have a boat that was under warranty, so my biggest argument was the dealers interpretation of "consumable parts" - but that's all changed now :roll:

What is the general consensus on payment for unsuccessful repairs ?

After taking delivery of my 6 year old Vista 378, I hit the local engineer with a punch list of around 10 minor issues, such as the tank senders, generator surging, horn inop, hot water thermostat etc. Nothing major at all.

They've just given me a bill for 3k, 20 hours labor - and they were only able to fix one thing on the list - the horn !

Going to negotiate the issue with the owner of the business - they billed me for two people on every task - and I don't think it takes two guys two hours to do a load test on the house batteries !

I'm just wondering about members view of repairers charging for two people on simple jobs, and what happens when they "look at" an issue for two or three hours, then say you should call someone who knows about that particular brand - e.g. the Uline Icemaker.

LouC · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 10:30 am

I thought those guys sounded like crooks. I would not pay them for what they did not fix. This is why I am a fan of small simple boats. Honestly I'd get rid of that one and buy a new small duel conse boat with an outboard.

weather · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:06 am

That's one of the reasons I spend so much time trying to fix my own boat, even if I don't really know what I'm looking at. I figure any time on the boat is good time. BTW, I repaired my own Uline IceMaker last year and found a full service manual online - I can't recall where I found it, but I'm sure Google will find it for you (for free). It was very complete, and allowed me to fix two issues it had. One was the motor assembly and the other was the valve, both were cheap to buy online once the issue was identified.

Found the SM - http://www.u-line.com/media/downloads/s ... Manual.pdf

NiagaraChillin · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 11:49 am

Pilotpak wrote:

They've just given me a bill for 3k, 20 hours labor - and they were only able to fix one thing on the list - the horn

Like I said in your first post about this issue. You are being taken, my friend. There is no way they can justify that bill, or those labor hours. I know Oz is different than here, but you need to get away from those crooks while you can.

rpengr · **Posted:** Fri Mar 21, 2014 12:03 pm

I think that if a competent mechanic spends an hour or two trying to track down a problem, and is not able to fix it for reasons beyond his control, then he should expect to get paid. He should also convey his findings about the problem to you.

However...
That does not seem to be the case here. Your guys seem to be a combination of incompetence and rip-off. I would fight the entire bill. Use the credit card company to fight the payment if you paid with a credit card. Then ultimately just settle on paying the portion that they accomplished. (like $200?)

$150/hour sounds awful high too. Especially for the 2nd "worker", who is probably a kid getting some on-the-job-training for minimal wages. (you would think that $150/hr would cover both of them... $100 for the mechanic, and $50 for the helper)

Ray

298VISTA2000 · **Posted:** Sun Mar 23, 2014 12:33 pm

What gets me is that they only fixed one item. You in essence are paying $3,000 for them to fix the horn.

kd4pbs · **Joined:** Thu Sep 05, 2013 10:34 am **Posts:** 350

I think I need to move down yonder, start a marine repair business, and make many new friends, if that's the going rate. What's even better is that I'd actually fix the problems for that much moolah.

ric · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2014 12:13 pm

Well, you can brag to your buddies you have a $3000 horn

LouC · **Posted:** Mon Mar 24, 2014 8:17 pm

Has the owner offered to help you on the bill?
Billing you for two workers, for some of these tasks is just ridiculous. Two workers is appropriate for jobs like installing/removing a radar arch, snaking control cables or wiring or in some cases installing an engine. For the jobs you listed any competent marine mechanic could handle it on their own.

Its these kind of rip offs that makes people get out of boating and take up something less aggravating like hot rods....

Pilotpak · **Posted:** Mon Apr 07, 2014 5:01 pm

Well, a reasonable outcome here. Repairer agreed to halve the bill, down from 20 to 11 hrs,so I'm OK with that.

Main issue was sending (& charging) for 2 people to do simple tasks like load testing the batteries and measuring the water tanks for replacement senders.

After seeing the work logs, it was amazing just how quickly small ad-hoc jobs can chew up a lot of hours.

www.iFourWinns.com

Payment for unsuccessful boat repairs

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