This Dont happen very Often

[BruceK]

Have you named and shamed him or me. I will confess as it's pretty much common knowledge by now that I fettle far too much, but there still has to be a median. Outdrive bellows might be a good example. They aint broke but you change them because the consequence of waiting till they are broken are catastrophic. So is pre-emptive seal changes etc.
Also taking the opportunity to do work while you are already in there. Example change outdrive steering bushings before they are worn out and grease ram pins annually even though rams are in good order.

 

[Richard.C]

This is what I fear. I too have just a so called handful of connections but testing all connections is not just plugs. There is the 220V shorepower system, RCD, earth leakage / stray current. Earth connections, switches, bilge floats, PAT etc etc. To go through a boat and say you have tested all the electrical systems in 20 minutes by checking the loom plugs is not checking the electrics.

I understood he was checking electrical connections on the engine not the entire boat. Checking connections can be as simple as if a plug is correctly seated or terminals on alternator are tight, it's not exactly time consuming.

 

[BruceK]

I understood he was checking electrical connections on the engine not the entire boat. Checking connections can be as simple as if a plug is correctly seated or terminals on alternator are tight, it's not exactly time consuming.

If only boat wiring was always that simple. Alas, voltage drops play havoc with instrumentation. Oil pressure to low, coolant too high, fuel tanks arbitrary and the list is endless. No checking should be a comprehensive and involved affair. Touching with a tap like it's a pet is not a billable task and one I would expect to be complimentary and un-noted.

 

[BruceK]

Let me put it to you this way. Biggles here goes back in a years time and says my outdrive has a hole in it, my seacocks turned to clay and there is a oil leak from the steering hydraulic cooler. You checked my wiring but I obviously have a serious bonding issue. I mean, the contractor checked wiring, he's responsible to guarantee his work between service schedule right? I'd sue. Damn right I would.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Out of interest is that price using Volvo penta parts, if not I would want to check what parts were fitted, e.g. third party impellers don't last well according to some posts on this forum in the past.

All OEM Parts. The thing is as he works at the marina a lot I am sure he does stuff if for some reason there is a wait. As for Antifoul paint it was £15 on the bill. So unlike me who would buy a small pot and possibly just use 3/4 he buys a very big pot and just sort of charges how much he thinks he used on your boat

 

[Bigplumbs]

All I can say is that I looked at the work he did (The bits I could see) and I was pleased. Did he do all the checks he said... I of course know not but I do actually trust him

 

[BruceK]

All I can say is that I looked at the work he did (The bits I could see) and I was pleased. Did he do all the checks he said... I of course know not but I do actually trust him

That's great and maybe they undersold themselves. For me trust is a sliding scale. On wiring checks I'd trust he simply switched on a light and if that worked all was fine and dandy, no more and no less. But for me that is not a qualified check. Same can go for the rest. At the end of the day you get exactly what you pay for and take it on the chin.

 

[Bigplumbs]

That's great and maybe they undersold themselves. For me trust is a sliding scale. On wiring checks I'd trust he simply switched on a light and if that worked all was fine and dandy, no more and no less. But for me that is not a qualified check. Same can go for the rest. At the end of the day you get exactly what you pay for and take it on the chin.

Brue.... I think you need to remember that I did not ask him to do any of these checks. He just did.... So I kind of think I have not been charged for them so what ever he did is a bonus I recon.

I also like the if it aint broke dont fix it approach

 

[BruceK]

It would have been clearer if you gave what you did contract him to do.

You welcome to like whatever you want and if you like the aint broke dont fix approach more power to you. In a perfect world nothing wears or breaks and ignorance is contentment. Perhaps I may take a leaf out of that book.

 

[Bigplumbs]

It would have been clearer if you gave what you did contract him to do.

You welcome to like whatever you want and if you like the aint broke dont fix approach more power to you. In a perfect world nothing wears or breaks and ignorance is contentment. Perhaps I may take a leaf out of that book.

Even without all the checks he carried out and I know from others that he always does them the Bill I received is I think still a very good prices for the 'real' work carried out.

As I said I would normally do this sort of stuff my self but at his prices and what I would have to pay for the materials and the 'warranty' I have for his work I think on this occasion doing it myself would have been foolish.

 

[longjohnsilver]

It would have been clearer if you gave what you did contract him to do.

You welcome to like whatever you want and if you like the aint broke dont fix approach more power to you. In a perfect world nothing wears or breaks and ignorance is contentment. Perhaps I may take a leaf out of that book.

I guess that comment, ignorance is contentment is aimed at me. I’d like to think you’re wrong. In over 30 years of boating, and many tens of thousands of miles covered, ive only had one occasion where something has gone wrong at sea that required assistance, that was about 25 years ago when, in my single engined CI22, a fuel lift pump failed. Luckily I was only a mile or so away from Harbour and a friend, a local charter boat skipper, gave me a tow in.
That taught me to carry a reasonable stock of spares for things that might fail, although you can’t possibly carry a spare for every part on the engine.
However, I keep a constant watch on just about everything on the boat. I’m lucky in that I have a walk in engine room with lots of space to swing a spanner, so regular engine checks are relatively easy, I wouldn’t want a boat where engine access was so restricted meaning that you’d be tempted not to do daily checks, and unable to have a quick look for leaks etc.
So yes, I do believe if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, but that doesn’t exclude regular maintenance and checks. But sometimes, shit happens, and you need to be prepared to deal with it as best you can.

 

[BruceK]

LJS, no it wasn't and no it wasn't aimed at anybody but myself. I worry constantly about my engines and it robs me of a little bit of the enjoyment.

 

[Mr Googler]

LJS, no it wasn't and no it wasn't aimed at anybody but myself. I worry constantly about my engines and it robs me of a little bit of the enjoyment.

And there in lies the rub. I couldn’t afford to boat without doing most of my own work but it does create that little bit of doubt in the back of your mind. Did I do this....have a missed that....hours on a poxy forum reading about all the things that go wrong! ? I think in some way that is removed by having a professional do the work.

Volvopaul looks after your boat....you never worry again!

the psychology of boat ownership is interesting in that regard.

When my previous boat sold....the owner did 350 miles in 10 days at 25 knots pretty much the whole way. Not a care in the world and never missed a beat. If that had been me....in the same boat....I’d have peppered for 349 miles?

 

[Mei Mac]

£750 tops.

What's the prize for guessing correctly? A spin in your boat, champagne and snacks included?

 

[Scubadoo]

All OEM Parts. The thing is as he works at the marina a lot I am sure he does stuff if for some reason there is a wait. As for Antifoul paint it was £15 on the bill. So unlike me who would buy a small pot and possibly just use 3/4 he buys a very big pot and just sort of charges how much he thinks he used on your boat

That is a very good price, I normally get charged around £600 to just service my single engine (goes up a little every year), but that does include £100 travel expenses. This year decided to do the basic engine servicing myself which is saving me almost £500 and using Volvo parts.

Ask the guy if he will cover the Solent

 

[Bigplumbs]

That is a very good price, I normally get charged around £600 to just service my single engine (goes up a little every year), but that does include £100 travel expenses. This year decided to do the basic engine servicing myself which is saving me almost £500 and using Volvo parts.

Ask the guy if he will cover the Solent

I suspect he does not know where the solent is He is as you might say a 'local'