500 Euros for a Major Engine Service? Really???

[The Real Flipper]

They change the oil in engine, transmission, water in cooling system, replace some anode (?) in cooling system, and want 500-550 Euros.
This sounds insane.
I know boat work is expensive but is this legit? Should I just do the work myself?
It's a modern Volvo D1-20, about 4 years old with almost 600 hours on the clock.
I have done basic car work, change oil, new brake pads, etc, but I'm not very physically fit at the moment and wondering if this is a PITA job then maybe I'll just pay them.

BTW, they also want 350 Euros for a new prop shaft seal installed.
Same questions.
Am I being taken for a ride? Maybe I just need to get used to the realities of boat ownership, but geez. These are lofty rates for seemingly simple work!

What do you want your son or daughter to be? A doctor, a lawyer, an engineer? How about a boat mechanic, they make more LOL

Edit: the boat sat for two years in the marina so I'm worried about water in the system, and need to sail/power her a long ways to get her home.

 

[Wansworth]

The trouble with maintenance or repair of yacht engines is the ability of mechanic to be thin and flexible,features that can escape an olderyachtsmen

 

[The Real Flipper]

The trouble with maintenance or repair of yacht engines is the ability of mechanic to be thin and flexible,features that can escape an olderyachtsmen

LOL. Well those features certainly escape me!

But I wonder, are these quotes remotely reasonable?

 

[Daydream believer]

How much will the oil, filters, antifreeze ( assuming you add that in that part of the world) & anode cost you if you do it yourself
Do you have a pela pump, strap to undo the filters, hose pipe to flush the cooling system, some means of supplying water if warming the engine to extract the old engine oil & other tools needed to do the work otherwise that is a cost to add.
I can understand your reluctance to do the work but you do not have to rush at it. Does it matter if it takes you 2-3 days to do a 2-3 hour job?

 

[Greenhorn]

Can you send him to Mallorca, I’d like my engine(s) serviced for 500 euros! ?

Seriously though, I think they earn every penny of it. Crawling around in my engine bay is no fun!

 

[Fr J Hackett]

You need to assess their hourly rate which is going to be about 75 to €100 an hour, then there are raw material costs and disposal. It's all about right even if a bit on the high side. It's why most do such things themselves.

 

[Wansworth]

Seem a bit high but relative to your need for a good service prior to a long trip could be the only answer

 

[Clancy Moped]

Did you provide the oil, filters etc?

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Whilst they are at it I would ask them to change the water pump impeller, you may need to sit down when they amend their estimate.

 

[ylop]

But I wonder, are these quotes remotely reasonable?

In almost every situation where I've said "for that price I will DIY" I've got about half way through and though - "jesus, I should just have paid the money".

You've not told us if the boat is easy to get to (e.g. on a mooring, marina, hard), if the engineer is based on site, when you want the work done, etc. But it doesn't strike me as crazy.

 

[Biggles Wader]

Seems a reasonable price to me just as long as the work is done, and done properly.

 

[The Real Flipper]

How much will the oil, filters, antifreeze ( assuming you add that in that part of the world) & anode cost you if you do it yourself
Do you have a pela pump, strap to undo the filters, hose pipe to flush the cooling system, some means of supplying water if warming the engine to extract the old engine oil & other tools needed to do the work otherwise that is a cost to add.
I can understand your reluctance to do the work but you do not have to rush at it. Does it matter if it takes you 2-3 days to do a 2-3 hour job?

Well that's a lot of parts and special tools now that you mention it! And I have only basic knowledge of sailing and will need to get it home hundreds of miles on the North Sea so a reliable engine will be critical.

You need to assess their hourly rate which is going to be about 75 to €100 an hour, then there are raw material costs and disposal. It's all about right even if a bit on the high side. It's why most do such things themselves.

They 'say' their rate is 60/hour. But this seems to add up more than that. Raw materials and disposal are probably high in a European country...
I'll definitely want to learn these things on my own, eventually.

Did you provide the oil, filters etc?

No. For this money I expect them to provide me a free tank of gas haha

Whilst they are at it I would ask them to change the water pump impeller, you may need to sit down when they amend their estimate.

Really??? Please tell me you're not serious. Why now?

 

[Tranona]

Sounds about right. Remember servicing a boat is not like a car where it comes to the fitter and he does the job then parks the car. On boat usually travelling time, taking gear and parts on board, accessing the bit that needs work - often difficult. then labour rates, probably 75 euros an hour, engine service parts around 100. So 4 hours labour (mornings work) plus parts 400 plus VAT and hey presto 500 euros.
Engine size and hours is almost irrelevant under about 50hp as only real variable is the volume of oil and coolant.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Well that's a lot of parts and special tools now that you mention it! And I have only basic knowledge of sailing and will need to get it home hundreds of miles on the North Sea so a reliable engine will be critical.



They 'say' their rate is 60/hour. But this seems to add up more than that. Raw materials and disposal are probably high in a European country...
I'll definitely want to learn these things on my own, eventually.



No. For this money I expect them to provide me a free tank of gas haha



Really??? Please tell me you're not serious. Why now?

You say the boat has been laid up for a couple of years and you want to have a serviceable engine, the impeller may be OK but may well be hardened and perished about to fail. A few one shouldn't be more than about £20 and shouldn't take more than half an hour to fit so another €60. It's a critical ancillary component, you should carry a spare and know how to fit one.

 

[ean_p]

As an alternative if you don't want to do the job yourself is to find a good local hgv mechanic and ask him to do it for you.

 

[Tranona]

Well that's a lot of parts and special tools now that you mention it! And I have only basic knowledge of sailing and will need to get it home hundreds of miles on the North Sea so a reliable engine will be critical.

They 'say' their rate is 60/hour. But this seems to add up more than that. Raw materials and disposal are probably high in a European country...
I'll definitely want to learn these things on my own, eventually.

No. For this money I expect them to provide me a free tank of gas haha

Really??? Please tell me you're not serious. Why now?

You were warned about the costs associated with buying a "cheap" boat that has been laid up for 2 years and needs work. If you are seriously thinking of doing hundreds of miles on the North Sea you need to think about doing far more than just changing filters and fluids. as said water pump impellor, inspection of exhaust elbow, both fuel filters and consider draining the tank and filling with new fuel. At the very least have the fuel tank inspected for any water and crud in the bottom. All the rest of the boat needs the same sort of thorough checking followed by a period of shake down sails locally before even thinking of undertaking a long offshore passage.

If you have not done this sort of thing before and are not up to speed with doing the work yourself then I suggest you engage a professional skipper to go over the boat with you supervise the work and accompany you on the passage. Alternatively if it is feasible put it on a truck to your home port and spend time going through the boat with a fine tooth comb. This will give you the chance to check all the rig over as well as do the maintenance and upgrades without the pressure of a long open water passage.

BTW you don't say where the boat is located and where you are taking it to. Knowing that might help others give you advice.

 

[pandos]

It sounds high to me....but a bigger issue is that the OP should be able to do the work himself so that if some thing goes wrong he is familiar with the engine and where things can leak/ fall off/ go wrong...

A pella pump is about 50quid....and a new filter,oil and a gallon of antifreeze is unlikely to cost more than another 50 quid....a filter wrench is a couple of quid and all of these tools will be used next year an are therefore investments.

Second the advice to find a local non marine mechanic...

 

[vyv_cox]

Yards will always try it on. Knowing that after three years unattended our boat is filthy dirty I thought I would ask for a quote for taking off the cockpit cover, 15 minutes absolute maximum and pressure wash the decks. They quoted €80 for the cover and €230 to pressure wash, all plus 23% VAT . I can buy a pressure washer and do the job in 2 hours and be in profit. I cannot believe that unskilled work like this costs €100 per hour.

 

[Fr J Hackett]

Yards will always try it on. Knowing that after three years unattended our boat is filthy dirty I thought I would ask for a quote for taking off the cockpit cover, 15 minutes absolute maximum and pressure wash the decks. They quoted €80 for the cover and €230 to pressure wash, all plus 23% VAT . I can buy a pressure washer and do the job in 2 hours and be in profit. I cannot believe that unskilled work like this costs €100 per hour.

You are not paying the man you are paying the company with all the associated overheads.

 

[Wansworth]

Spanish yard were perplexed as to why the absentee owner wanted his batteries checked and didn’t want to pay the bill.Not any yards have cheap workers so from getting out the ladder clearing back the cover ete etc and checking the batteries and putting it alll back properly costs time.