Flat rate marine mechanic manual

[Lvs069]

Does anyone have a copy of the marine mechanic flat rate manual to download? Can be an older year, dosen't matter.

 

[Grub54891]

Never heard of one myself. But if its like the automotive ones, their only as accurate as what it takes to remove new components, they don't allow for old corroded bolts and fasteners.

 

[racerone]

I have a couple of copies somewhere.------from early 1980's vintage.----Why the interest in such a booklet ?

 

[Lvs069]

Working on starting a shop and getting all figures including rates. Just need to start somewhere and I like spreadsheets instead of asking the mechanic every single time a customer asks, "how much"?

 

[Grub54891]

Been doing boat repairs for years myself. Sometimes a bellows job goes together in a few hours, sometimes all day or more depending on condition of the bell housing and related parts.

 

[harringtondav]

Opinion here. It depends on your skill and knowledge working on boats: Engines and drives are the major issues. It also depends on your business model. Do you have a shop and the special tools?

If you are mechanically competent you can start small with time and materials jobs. It takes experience to know what you're taking on. Few outdrive or O/B lower unit repairs can be made correctly without OEM manuals and some special tools.

...my guess is most shops will charge for any hours/materials they put into a repair. They know the unknowns per Grub above, so are likely to avoid a hard quote, or quote high enough to cover the unexpected.

 

[achris]

Former boat shop owner and Mercruiser/ Mariner dealer.

Never quote without a teardown.
ALWAYS add to any estimate that it is 'not withstanding any difficulties in disassembly'.

Having used the Merc flat rate manual, always add AT LEAST 50% to the times quoted. Those times are for an experienced, factory trained technician to do the job on an engine (or drive) on a stand, new (with no corrosion) and with all the special tools at hand. He's also doing it every day, and knows EXACTLY what to do, without even having to look at the manual. They are unrealistic in the real world.

Chris........

 

[Yegboats]

http://spader.com/wp-content/uploads...le-MR-FR16.pdf
This is a sample I know a few companies who use spader. Not sure if sample is accurate

 

[Scott Danforth]

Working on starting a shop and getting all figures including rates. Just need to start somewhere and I like spreadsheets instead of asking the mechanic every single time a customer asks, "how much"?

start by becoming a certified dealer mechanic / dealer then realize that the flat rate estimates were written about tearing down a freshly manufactured motor/drive that is sitting on a bench and not in a boat.

or simply post a sign that says $120/hour

 

[Lvs069]

Yes, the spader manual us what i was looking for but the complete version. Thanks guys.

 

[kenny nunez]

When I was in my first Mercruiser school the instructor told us that when the Mercruiser drives first came out the factory said that all the heat you will ever to dis assemble the drive is from a 60 watt light bulb!