So I took my boat in to get fixed...

[JASinIL2006]

OK, I finally got tired of my boat bogging down and backfiring under acceleration. (Diagnosed correctly on iboats as a carb issue, of course!) Got a recommendation from a friend of a boat shop he has used with success and I took in the boat. Got a call to pick it up with a nice, clean rebuillt carb.

When I pick the boat up, after I've paid my bill, in the process of getting the trailer connected, I'm in the boat and I notice that one of the screwed-in snaps (that receive a strap to hold down the sunpad that covers the engine compartment) was pulled out of its hole and is stuck in the other side of the strap, as if the sunpad was popped up without first unstrapping it. A bit annoying, but a pretty minor thing to fix.

I get the boat home and in prepping for an outing, I notice that the wingnut that screws down the engine cover and spark arrestor is missing, and has been replaced with a plain old hex nut and washer. Unfortunately, the hex nut seems to not be threaded the same as the stem that sticks out of the carburetor and the nut is stock on there pretty good. Using a wrench on it causes the stem to unscrew and I eventually get the parts separated and figure out why the nut is stuck on there.

Finally, in putting on muffs to warm the engine before heading to the ramp, I notice the prop has paint worn off the front edges of the blades and there are some small nicks and gouges in the leading edges. This is a fairly new prop, bought in late July, that I know did not have those marks before I brought it in. (I know because I nicked a wing dam on my last outing prior to taking the boat in for service. I had nicked the top of one blade, and I took pics to post on here to ask if that nick would cause problems. At that time, there was no other damage to the prop.)

None of these things is a huge issue by itself. I don't think the performance of the prop was affected (I used it today and it was fine.) The wing nut isn't a big deal and the sunpad snap wasn't much to fix. I know I'm a bit over protective of my boat since restoring it, but taken together, all these things make me wonder what sort of care my boat gets from them. The carb work was successful and I no longer have the problem for which I took it in, but I'm not sure if I should shrug it off, talk with the service manager, or just cut my losses and look for different shop the next time I need work done. Any thoughts?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[matt167]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

If the repair shop has more to offer than just service, than by all means, let the manager know you were not happy with everything and why not, but if all they offer is service, than the only thing they can give you is either a partial refund ( unlikely ), repair damages you probably already have repaired to your liking or more bad service... A repair shop is contracted at the time it is admitted into their facility to be returned to you in the same condition as you left it, so they are liable.. The sunpad I could let go, prop I would have to inspect well, but the carburator wingnut would agrivate me, because that openly means they lost parts and could not be bothered to find the correct $0.20 cent wingnut, and what else did they possibly 'substitute'

 

[jigngrub]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Can you even be sure they fixed the carb right?

I'd for sure cross that shop off the list and let them know why.

 

[Another retired guy]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Sounds like the mechanic was a little careless but he did fix the problem and I assume you were ok with the bill?
Problem is with complaining to the service manager is that you may p*** off the mechanic - and I wouldn't want to have that person anywhere near my boat again. So, you either keep quiet and continue going there, or complain and find a new shop!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Off the list.

 

[NYBo]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

I don't blame you for being a little miffed. Although small potatoes, it shows a lack of attention to detail that I would definitely bring to their attention.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

That's terrible.

I like a shop that will pay extra attention and point out what they have fixed, what might need attention and the best are the ones that go over every item in person and mention that they also tightened this or that at no charge.

Customer service is down the tubes.

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

They would never see me again. I'd tell them why and let them know I'll let everyone I meet know I'd not take a lawnmower to them-- and I have a lawn service that maintains my lawn.

 

[Woodonglass]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Yep, I agree with all. Let em know you won't be back, that you WILL tell others, and WHY!!!!

Momma said, "If it's worth doin, it's worth doin RIGHT!!!!!"

 

[LippCJ7]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Its horrible customer service, but I believe in giving any shop the chance to make things right, so I would first try that, and if that doesn't work then you know who not to take the boat back to.

 

[loose rivet]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

The problem most likely lies with a careless mechanic.
As a mechanic myself, although on trucks not boats, it annoys me to see even new or close to new vehicles that were serviced by others who could care less about putting things back the way they belong. Chances are the mechanic is getting paid by the job, or flat rate, the faster he gets it done, the more he stands to make.
Thus hunting for a dropped wing nut costs him money. Since he's not likely going to see you or the boat again, he either doesn't care what the job looks like or assumes that since you took it to a shop to get fixed, you won't notice the missing wing nut anyhow.
If it were me, I'd call the service manager, tell him what you found, and that you won't be returning. Taking it back won't get you anything but spite from that mechanic because he'll be forced to fix it out of pocket. The type of guy who would leave it like that could well be the type of guy who may do worse to get even for getting him reprimanded.

Find a shop that don't pay via flat rate, but abides by proper repair rates. Any mechanic working under the flat rate system will always be tempted to cut corners to make money. Often its not your job that's the issue, if he's behind the clock on the last job, he's looking to make up time elsewhere. Its just what the system creates. Unfortunately in a flat rate type shop an honest mechanic is only as good as his service manager lets him be via how he's paid. For instance if changing a water pump pays 1 hour of labor to the mechanic, which is very believable on a new motor, its doable, but take a 20 year old salt corroded mess of a motor and the same job that pays only 1 hour may take all day to do correctly. Either the mechanic loses most of a days wages or he takes shortcuts. Out comes the torch set, hammers, and chisels, what ever it takes to get things apart faster due to the state of the motor. None of which makes him any more money.

In a good shop, with a real service department they would call the customer and tell him things are going to cost more than normal due to the issues at hand, or simply quote the job with its age and condition in mind, vs. just looking it up in a book and tossing out a quote which in some states is legally binding to some effect.

Personally I think I'd rather have a shop that flat out tells it like it is, if the job is a bear, fine, don't butcher something up just to make time. Most are afraid to lose the work or customer if they quote too high.

In the OP's case, ripped out snaps and a bunged up prop are inexcusable. If it were mine, I doubt I'd have taken the time to post about it here before reacting.
Chances are they have some young kid working on or maybe test running the repair work who don't care.
A responsible tech would have treated your boat as if his job depended on it. (I'd say he should treat it as his own but I've seen guys who treat their own boats and vehicles like crap too). I worked at one shop where we would go to great lengths to make sure the service manager didn't test drive any vehicles since he was good for tearing things up, but that's what happens when they hire a 22 year old kid right out of college to manage the shop.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

If it's a one-man shop, consider going elsewhere. But if not, it's not fair to the business owner to bad-mouth his shop when he might have a slack worker who either needs instructing or firing. Give them a chance.

The prop is ordinary use; all props look like that when they're used, at least in my world. Don't mention that.

and it might be a big-picture thing. there was a mechanic here who was terrible about stuff like returning the boat with someone else's trailer strap but he was good on engines, inexpensive, dedicated and gave you tons of extra hours work he didn't charge for. In balance, it was worth using him.

 

[bezerk1]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Fix it yourself. It saves money and your problem is solved. Not to mention the you will learn a mechanical skill. Rebuilding a carb is not hard. There are service manuals for just about every carb ever made. You can find one with a little searching. Take the money you saved and buy a few beers. It will help you relax.

 

[T_Herrod]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Being a mechanic myself (Construction equipment) i say there is no excuse for the improper nut being used. I would let the service manager know about this and see if he would be willing to replace the stud that was damaged by using the wrong nut on it. Look for another shop if the manager has a tough luck attitude.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

I would let the service manager aware of the problem. Can't hurt. in fact, he might want to know such things.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Ever see what a wing nut does to a engine when it's dropped down the carb opening? I think it's a valid question to bring up to the manager at this shop. Then ask why a nut was used that doesn't seem to have the right threads? While small in some eye's I have 10-20 wing nuts laying around, replacing with the right one isn't that hard.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

Since they did a decent job on the repair (if they didn't then I'd just never go there again and recommend others avoid them as well) I'd call and ask to speak with a manager (or owner if it's a small place) and let them know that you're pleased with the repair but that despite that, you're unfortunately forced to put some consideration into whether or not you'd return due to the poor treatment your boat received.

 

[britisher]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

It's just plain sloppy and unprofessional. And then they wonder why folks don't come back to them. You need to give them feedback on what you have found. Complaining is the ONLY way they will ever know how badly they are performing. Voting with your feet does not provide any feedback, other than they don't see you again. These places derve to go out of business IMHO.
The guy I used to use for my boat repairs I couldn't do, was a very knowledgeable guy and did 'good' work, but was sloppy and unprofessional. He also had anger management issues too. When my boat was in for the motor, sterndrive, transom reinstalling after my full rebuild, I left the sterndrive, prop, transom and new parts with them and they were all in one part of the workshop, clearly marked by me that they were for my boat. When he put everything in, he phoned me to say that I needed to get a prop. I pointed out that the prop was with all the other parts. Turned out his Assistant sold my Quiksilver Vengeance prop to a customer who walked in looking for one!!!! I was not happy and I don't think he was too pleased with his numbnut assistant. He agreed to put on another SS prop (it has no name or no markings I can see). Me being a novice, I can only assume it is as good as the one they sold. Not long after the business closed down. I wonder why?

 

[cliffblue]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

I had a truck carb serviced years ago at a "carb shop". It ran fine but the next time I raised the hood for something, I saw that the air cleaner topped off with the wrong thread nut that was a half inch from even touching the air cleaner. I headed right back over there to share my feelings with the manager that who ever did it certainly knew that it wasn't right and obviously didn't give a crap. Some times you have to make a strong enough impression that there's enough steam left for the lazy *** by the time it gets to him.

 

[BaileysBoat]

Re: So I took my boat in to get fixed...

If it's a one-man shop, consider going elsewhere. But if not, it's not fair to the business owner to bad-mouth his shop when he might have a slack worker who either needs instructing or firing. Give them a chance.

.

Agree. Manager/owner might be grateful for the feedback as well.