www.iFourWinns.com

Just curious, how much your local dealer is charging you for an oil change. We bought this boat about a month ago, and had the oil changed right away. I thought they were ridiculously high on it, but thought, I need to build a relationship with this local company, so, no complaints about it. I took it back in for some trim rod seals to be replaced. First thought was they would replace both sides, even though only one side was leaking. NOpe, the other side is leaking now. Besides the seal, they replaced the rotor and cap. That was 2 weeks ago. Just got the bill today, and my jaw dropped. Im in the wrong line of work for sure.

Its not my first boat, although it has been awhile since we have owned one, so I know all about the hole in the water, but this seems overboard. So much for building this relationship, Ill have to make time to do these things myself, I have the manual. I own a machine shop with machines that cost us up to 85 grand a piece, not to mention 20 grand in software for programming, high paid talent to run it, and expensive tooling to keep it equiped, and we struggle to get 55 bucks an hour off it. These yahoo's seem to be charging around 150 an hour. (not itemized, so dont know exactly). Maybe he had to sit and look at it for 4 hours before he started, I dont know, but I do know this, they will never, ever, ever, see my boat again. Greed doesnt go far with me.

By the way, its a 98 240 horizon with a 5.7 gsi VP Duo.

I forget exactly what I paid this past winter to have some work done, but I know it wasnt that much, I think I got charged $2500 for storage, oil change, lube, tune up. probably about $2k was for the winter storage which always includes, a pressure wash and winterization of engine and water supply (even though I keep it in heated storage I never risk the power going out) Keep shopping around and you will find a better price, ask some of the other boaters you know.

I don't know if it helps but on my 278. Oil Change, indoor (heated) storage, acid wash, and a buff and wax was just about 2100

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Current:
SOLD ! : 2007 278 VISTA LOADED! PM for details

Previous
Sea Ray Sundeck

Well I never had a dealer change mine but here's the parts cost and then you can figure labor--
5 qts Chevron Delo 400 straight 30 weight $25.00
one Sierra Marine oil filter $ 8.79

that brings you up to less than 35 bucks now if we add in the oil pump I use (Topsider @ $70) we're up to about 100 or so.....

find out what they are billing for parts and labor...

PS the mechanics here all charge close to $100/hr....
I've got a good one for the things I can't do...just rebuilt my Quadrajet for me for about 160 including the cost of the rebuild kit...

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

I always swap oil and winterize myself....not too bad.....if you want to make it easy pick up a suction pump to pull out the old oil.....if you don't have the remote filter setup, it sure makes the job a ton easier and quick. I used to dread standing on my head to change the filter and clean up the mess it creates...the remote filter was a must on my new (new to me) boat. It's literally a 10 minute job now.

If like auto mechanics they go by the book hours for a job and not actual job hours.

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Last year for the annual service, oil, filters, zincs, geny service, head filter, full lube was $2,000.00.

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2008 318 Vista "Ka-wai-ola"
350 MPI/BravoIII DTS Seacore
2006 1500 Key West -70 Yamaha
Previous Boats
Key West 2300CC
Pacemaker 270 Sport Fish
290 Sea Ray

Zero cause I do it myself.

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Mike
2007 Horizon 200 SS
5.0 GXi SX drive.

Remote filter...yes, my 5.0 has that too, but clue me on how it makes changing the actual oil easier?

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Remote filter...yes, my 5.0 has that too, but clue me on how it makes changing the actual oil easier?[/quote]


if you've ever tried to get at the filter in the usual small block Chevy location at the rear right side of the block...which in a car is OK but some boats have an engine stringer right in the way....you'd easily see how much easier it is....in my '88 Horizon 200 with the full sun pad and bench seat I take out the rear seats...remove the divider panels...slide the battery on that side all the way back...and then lie down next to the engine to get at the filter...if I had a remove filter I wouldn't have to do any of that to do an oil/filter change....

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Had my boat in for its first service since new (after break in period) at the end of June. They changed the oil (syn), oil filter, fuel filter, changed leg oil (syn), topped off power steering & trim fluids, checked hoses & clamps, checked ground connections, and checked float switches. All for $427.67 Cdn ($297 3 hrs labour, $84.85 parts & shop suppplies, and $45.82 in taxes). Shop is Volvo Penta authorized.

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2010 278 Vista
5.7 GXi DP

Past:
1999 225 Sundowner
5.7 GSi SX

I was just referring to the pain in the @ss of getting to the oil filter if you have no remote filter system....it's a stand on your head, pinch your belly fat and have to twist like a circus monkey ordeal. No matter what you do (place bags around filter, cut out buckets to catch oil, throw towels in bilge) you will spill copius amounts of oil in the bilge with no remote filter. The oil filter on the small blocks are at the rear-most/lowest portion of the block on the Port side of the boat. With the remote set up I crank it up to heat oil, insert the suction hose to the bottom of the pan via the fill tube and have the filters swapped before the oil is pumped out....sit and drink a beer and fill back up...done

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http://i1339.photobucket.com/albums/o71 ... wqm355.jpg


08' H210SS
VP 5.7Gi

Oil and filter change costs me $70. When I do a full winterization which includes oil and filter change, drive lube change, pull drive and check alignment, pull prop and grease splines, check all belts, hoses and grease whatever needs to be greased, winterize with AF...all for a total of $265.