This Dont happen very Often

Bigplumbs

Bigplumbs

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Normally I do as much service and other work on my boats myself and still prefer that to be honest.

This year however I decided I would get a Marine engineering firm to do some work and today I received the Invoice which I have paid.

Here is a list of what was done and I have verified (as much as possible) that it was actually done. I would like those that can be bothered to give me their opinion of the Price I should have/have paid:

Work carried out was on a Volvo Penta KAD 32 in a Sealine S24

1) Fit the Anodes (supplied by me) and refit repaired Duo Prop (Repair previously paid for)
2) Antifoul the Whole leg and transom shield
3)Change the Air filter
4) Changed the primary fuel filter
5) Changed the secondary Fuel filter
6) Changed the impeller
7) Cleaned the raw water intake and strainer
8) Oiled/greased the control linkages
9) Checked a whole host of things on the engine - all reported ok
10) Ran up engine to warm and checked all alarm functions
11) Checked alternator output
12) Checked for any leaks (None found)
13) Changed the engine oil
14) Changed the Oil filter
15) Checked the tappet clearances
16) Checked all electrical connections
17) Checked the condition of the engine mounts - ALL ok


I know there is a lot of checking and you can make your own mind up as to what this actually means but there is also quite a lot of real work done and parts fitted. This firm is a very well respected firm in my area.

Go on then give me your price for this work including UK VAT at 20%
 
sailorman said:
10 hours :unsure: a mornings work on site
It took longer to type out some of the items on the list, than to do them
Click to expand...

True, but there’s some tasks in there that could range from almost nothing to taking a while, e.g. “check all electrical connections”.

It’s possible that the engineer was very pedantic, which is what some people want.

”Antifoul the leg and transom shield” is another task that could either take an hour or a few hours, depending on how much cleaning is needed.
 
Like you I try to undertake as much as I can myself so no real clue ... Apologies to the professionals just in case...

I am guessing the Engineers will class this as an all day job... so...
£60 per hour for 8 hours = £480
Travel expenses = £50
Consumables / spares allow = £150
= £680
Vat = £136

Grand total = £816.00
 
Was all that done with the boat out of the water ?

I paid £650 incl vat in 2016 which was the last time I paid for service but that was two engines serviced and all parts and coolant change. Not including belts as they had been done the year before. It included fitting a new seal on one raw water pump . Labour included in that was £290+vat . The boat was in the water so nothing done on the outdrives.

By the way I did the coolant recently , after 4 years and there was some crud so have resolved to change coolant more often.
 
Wow. Some of you need to do your own work to appreciate what all that involves. For me I'd expect a minimum of 3 days to do all that properly and without hiccup because of previous bodges.

So ~25hrs labour at what roughly 50 quid an hour at least. So £1250 exl VAT on labour alone

and the rule says double it. But lets be bias. Up to 1800 imo is reasonable
 
BruceK said:
Hell I've had to add a single wire to a loom before and that was a day's job all on it's own
Click to expand...

Sounds as if your “rate of progress” is very similar to mine.
I’ve taken half a day to remove an impellor.

But the professionals can be surprisingly fast.
 
The clue here is "reputable firm" They have overheads rather than self employed. I expect their labour rates may be a kick in the groin.

FlowerPower said:
Sounds as if your “rate of progress” is very similar to mine.
I’ve taken half a day to remove an impellor.

But the professionals can be surprisingly fast.
Click to expand...


Yes they can, but you pay for that sort of expertise too so it kinda balances out.
 
Bigplumbs said:
Normally I do as much service and other work on my boats myself and still prefer that to be honest.

This year however I decided I would get a Marine engineering firm to do some work and today I received the Invoice which I have paid.

Here is a list of what was done and I have verified (as much as possible) that it was actually done. I would like those that can be bothered to give me their opinion of the Price I should have/have paid:

Work carried out was on a Volvo Penta KAD 32 in a Sealine S24

1) Fit the Anodes (supplied by me) and refit repaired Duo Prop (Repair previously paid for)
2) Antifoul the Whole leg and transom shield
3)Change the Air filter
4) Changed the primary fuel filter
5) Changed the secondary Fuel filter
6) Changed the impeller
7) Cleaned the raw water intake and strainer
8) Oiled/greased the control linkages
9) Checked a whole host of things on the engine - all reported ok
10) Ran up engine to warm and checked all alarm functions
11) Checked alternator output
12) Checked for any leaks (None found)
13) Changed the engine oil
14) Changed the Oil filter
15) Checked the tappet clearances
16) Checked all electrical connections
17) Checked the condition of the engine mounts - ALL ok


I know there is a lot of checking and you can make your own mind up as to what this actually means but there is also quite a lot of real work done and parts fitted. This firm is a very well respected firm in my area.

Go on then give me your price for this work including UK VAT at 20%
Click to expand...
If you send that list to a Volvo distributor/service centre they will give you a full estimate to compare your bill with
 
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