Re: Need feed back please...
I went through a somewhat similar situation where I think it was even clearer that the repair shop was at fault. Also had a time lag between them causing the damage and having it formally diagnosed.<br /><br />I'd recommend that you NOT just drop it. Instead, negotiate with them on a good faith basis. Let them know you've talked to several other marine mechanics and that you know that some of the stuff they're trying to feed you is B.S. (maybe state it a bit more diplomatically than that, lol).<br /><br />I also think it would be worth taking it (with all the old parts) to a different shop for diagnosis & repair estimates before making a final decision as to how to procede. Hopefully you can find one that will be completely honest and not worry about ruffling the feathers of a 'colleague'. <br /><br />Keep Small Claims Court in mind as a real option if you can't arrive at an acceptable solution with the original shop. As far as an acceptable solution, determine what your bottom line is w.r.t. how much $ (if any at all) you're willing to pay to cover any portion of the repairs that they won't. This is a personal decision, weighing the money vs. your time, effort, and the stress of taking it to small claims court. <br /><br />If you do reach an agreement with the original shop, GET IT IN WRITING BEFORE YOU LET THEM DO ANYTHING TO YOUR BOAT. This should be very specific w.r.t. what they will do & pay for and what you agree to pay for (INCLUDING A MAXIMUM $ AMOUNT).<br /><br />Don't be afraid of small claims court. If you do go that route, at the end of your neotiation with the shop, politely let them know that you can't accept whatever solution they offered and are going to take the matter to "arbitration" by an independent third party (i.e. small claims court). Make sure you take your boat & old parts with you at that point, if you haven't already. <br /><br />Make sure you're thoroughly prepared w.r.t. documentation. This includes all paperwork & other materials supporting your position. Hopefully you can get the independent shop that verified your diagnosis to accompany you to court. If not, get them to give you a signed, notarized statement on company letterhead supporting your case. If you've got witnesses that can verify your account of how the boat ran the last time you drove it before taking it in for winterization, when you first launched it the following spring, and what happened on the water after launcing, bring him/her to court with you. If you absolutely can't get them to accompany you to court, again, get a signed, notarized statement from them & bring it with you. <br /><br />Get a copy of the OEM Owners & Service Manuals and mark/ highlight the sections that describe proper winterization procedures and consequences if done incorrectly. Hopefully there will be a line that specifically states that the engine block is subject to cracking if winterization isn't done properly. In court, be polite and unemotional (to both the judge and the shop representative). State your case, provide your documentation, and hope for the best. <br /><br />One good thing about small claims court in your case is that you'll be filing against a business and stand an excellent chance of collecting any award you might win.<br /><br />Good luck. In my case, I was awarded half the amount of the damages I asked for. Basically, I had thought I'd worked out an agreeable solution with the shop, only to find out that in the end they were going to charge me over twice what I thought the agreement would cost me. But since I didn't have any specifics in writing, the judge felt I left myself 'open', and split the amouont down the middle. More info on my case is in the following post if you're curious:
http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=24;t=008398 <br /><br />EDIT: also, make sure you memorize the information posted by others above to counter some of the shops dubious claims, whether during negotiations with the shop or in court if it goes that route.
