Boat Yard Con ?

[leadersail]

A professional Boat Mechanic agreed to service my engine and antifreeze the raw water in my boat engine.
This was scheduled for 28/11/05.
Boat was due to be lifted 1/12/05.
When I went to my boat to check 10/12/05 I found nothing had been done.
The mechanic said they would do it on Monday 12/12/05.
I spoke to him today and he said they were already doing it and two engineers were in the progress of the work.
I phoned the Marina office to see if anyone had been for the keys to be told they were still in the office.
No one was working on my boat.

I do not think the engine can be serviced properly out of the water as the engine needs to be warm and the Hurth Gearbox should be run in gear and oil level checked immediately when stopped.

I asked them how much it would cost to antifreeze the raw water only and then we could leave the service until the boat goes back in.

The Yard want £220 +VAT for a raw water antifreeze that should take two men 2 hours max. and he went on to say severe frost was forecast this weekend.( I think the weather is a lot more mild than it was 10 days ago when they should have done the job.)

Do you think I should trust these engineers or do you think I should do it myself ?

 

[Nick_H]

Heven't you answered your own question, of course you can't trust them. Engines can be serviced out of the water, and they can be run so long as you can get a hose pipe to them, just disconnect the hose to the impeller, point it upwards and stick the hose pipe in it.

 

[leadersail]

They do want to connect a hose pipe but can you put the engine in gear to check the gear box oil ?
I wouldn't want to be under the boat with the prop turning and how long will the cutlass bearings last ?
I am maybe been too pedantic ? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[Nick_H]

I've had my engines and gearboxes serviced while out of the water. I think all they do with the gearbox is change the oil anyway?

 

[Nauti Fox]

I would think you could measure the amount that comes out and refill it with the same amount then check it properly once you are back in the water.

 

[Dave99]

I'd do the antifreeze yourself its easy to do, pm if you havent done this before or need any guidence. Why not save the 200 quid and treat yourself to a new handheld gps or something!!

And it wont't take you 2 hrs to link up a hose to a bucket of antifreeze solution!

 

[david_bagshaw]

I would be very concerned on the hard without winterized engines at this stage of the winter.

Must admit more recent layups(last 10 years) have used wet vac to remove water from cooling pipes, of course removing end caps to heat exchangers, so not only can the water be removed but crud as well. obviously this is not done with the fresh water circuit pressurised.

 

[andy_wilson]

Bad idea.

Better to point it down into a bucket, into which a hose is flowing, that way, no chance of overflowing the exhaust header and filling the motor with water. The engine draws what it needs.

Also easier to decant can of anti-freeze into bucket just before the engine takes it's last drink before shut down.

 

[andy_wilson]

How incredibly strange...

.. that the professionals always need two men AND take twice as long as the average DIYer who seems to manage most often with no help at all.

Why is this?