Is venting permitted?

[jenn_8675309]

Here's my vent/rant, whatever you want to call it...

We purchased our first boat a few years ago. It's an older boat, knew it would need new out drives, and some cosmetic work. Ran great when we bought it, but after a run aground mishap it was pulled out of the water and has been at the mechanic sitting on his trailer for just over 2 years. In this time we have had the old out drives removed, the transom rebuilt, new transom assemblies, new out drives installed, new controls, exhaust, and much more. The majority of the work was complete 6 months ago, with some minor things like trim work and a new battery charger being installed done recently. At first the slow pace was because this guy is a cash only mechanic, and we had to pay as we went, one out drive at a time, but now we are paid in full and ready to get in the water. For the past several months I have been to the boat just about every weekend doing some cosmetic cabin stuff and every time asking the mechanic when we're going to get the sea trials done and get her over to the marina. I should mention that he's always working on another boat. His response is always the same, "I'm going to shoot for Friday", or "planning to this weekend", this has been going on for months. I feel like we're stuck, he should set the other boats aside just for a day and get ours finished. He has to be the one that runs it in the water for the first time, he's done all of the work, is the experienced mechanic and sea trials were part of the agreement, and it's on his trailer. Sometimes I am tempted to get in the truck, haul her to the boat ramp and put her in the water myself and be done with it, returning his trailer of course.

We are new to owning a boat, but not to boating. This has been a learning experience for sure. I'm just upset that another boating season is being wasted. Other than sneaking it out and basically stealing his trailer for the afternoon I guess we're at his mercy

 

[aspeck]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Time to play a little hard ball with said mechanic. This is too long to be waiting for him to seatrial the repairs. Unfortunately it sounds like he is paid in full, so you can't hold money over his head. But you can threaten a report to Better Business Bureau.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Sorry, aspeck, but IMO, forget BBB. They haven't been relevant for at least 20 years, if they ever were. Clearly this guy does not want to do the sea trial. I'm leaning toward the OP's idea of taking the boat and putting it in, come what may. Much as I hate to involve lawyers, it may be time for a consult. I don't know how much if any of your deal was on paper, but any paper you have would be useful. My feeling is if you wait for this guy to agree to the sea trial, it's never going to happen.

 

[jenn_8675309]

Re: Is venting permitted?

I agree that the BBB would not make an impact, I'm beginning to wonder if his business is even legit with licenses, taxes, etc... We had a detailed estimate done, but all of the payments have been cash (about $17K not including the fiberglass guy doing the transom), no receipts other than for the two new mercruisers. This guy is a friend of my Dads, that's why we went to him for the repairs. I'm going to give asking him one more shot then I'll launch her myself at the closest boat ramp. She has an 11'6" beam so it's not legal to trailer without a permit. I'll have my Dad bring his boat as well to ride down the river to the marina. Worst case scenario his boat is plenty big enough to tow us should we break down.

 

[Fishing Dude too]

Re: Is venting permitted?

BBB is nothing more than a puppet for business's, they pay the bills.

 

[colbyt]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Personally, I would try honey with a firm attitude before I resorted to gasoline. I would calmly say to him what you just said to us. Then I would shut up and wait as long as it took him to speak.

When he says this weekend ask what time you should be there. Don't leave without a time.

Only a person who has never dealt with lawyers and suits would suggest that as a threat. It is the last resort after all else has failed. The only people who win suits are lawyers.

 

[SigSaurP229]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Unfortunately you are paid in full at this point and have absolutely no leverage at all I would show up at his property with paperwork in hand, detailing exactly how much money you have spent at this point. I would also carry a contract with me detailing the new terms of our agreement. I would refuse to leave his property until he either signed the contract stating that the EXACT date and time that my boat would be in the water AND sea trialed (I would also include in my contract that every day beyond the set date and time for delivery would carry AN extremely heavy late penalty i.e. $100 per day and you could bet I would be willing to go to small claims court to enforce it) or my boat left with me. You also must be VERY careful here as if you have no written agreement and everything was done in cash he can now claim that you have not paid him anything and place a lien on your boat.

Mistake 1 was no contract

Mistake 2 was paying everything in cash with no paper trail

Mistake 3 was not using IBOATS massive resources so that you could get back on the water quicker and cheaper.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Is venting permitted?

If he's a friend of your dad's, why not have your dad talk to him?

 

[jenn_8675309]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Yeah Sig, lots of lessons learned from this experience. BTW, love your user name, I'm a Walther PK380 kinda gal, fits nicely in my purse;-)

Till, love my Dad to death, but he's not much help unless it involves his boat.

I do think that I've made some progress though. I figured while it was sitting I'd have the fiberglass guy build the new cabin steps. He had them done in 2 days. Boy, I wish everyone worked that fast. When I went to see the completed steps this morning I had a nice conversation with the mechanic, he said he is "buttoning everything up and will be ready to go Saturday". Fingers crossed! I can't wait to take her out, our freezer is extremely low on fish

 

[WIMUSKY]

Re: Is venting permitted?

Unfortunately you are paid in full at this point and have absolutely no leverage at all

She has some leverage, she still has "his" trailer.........