Boat/Motor/Trailer Servicing Costs

[BM]

Hi guys n girls,

Dong some research here on Ausfish and interested to know what hull/engine configurations do you have and what are you currently paying for your engine servicing and other repair items etc etc

I appreciate any input.

Thanks,

Nicholas

[snelly1971]

Hi BM...I have a 6m Plate Boat....200 hp 2 stroke engine...I service my own motors...always have unless it is something major...as for repairs and modifications + fishing...I would spend about 10-15 k a year...I am always up grading or buying new fishing gear..I just cant help myself..

Cheers Mick

[Scalem]

Hi Nicholas,

For me, owning a boat is a priveledge that often tests the family budget, but if it's one thing I hate about servicing that got on my goat last time, it is the approach to problems that mechanics often have.

Nearly two years ago, the motor had a problem, stalling constantly and it had a real flat spot through the rev range.. They said it was the flywheel, so we replaced that .... and it still ran like a dog...... Oh, there is a crack in the stater, so we replaced that.....no difference.>:( Next we replaced the CDI pack.....Still runs like a dog!!>:( Then we pulled the carbs down, replacing gaskets and diaphrams that looked suspect.... A little better, but still chomping through the fuel..... At $1500.00 for what was meant to be a routine service, that's a bit hard to cop on the chin on a family budget!! I found the problem myself.... It was the wrong model of spark plug they were using!!!Beleive it!! I still can't!! We ate baked beans for 6 months after that!;D

Considering we had parted with $5,500 only 12 months earlier to purchase the 2nd hand, but workshop overhauled motor, we were probably better off to have bought a new one in the 1st place. I place my hand on the bible and tell you this story is 100% true!

Scalem

[dogsbody]

Gday BM, One from the smaller end of town. I got a 4.2 mt heavy duty bluefin tinnie 30hp motor last service cost $160. Have not had any trailer probs but due for bearing replacement.

Scalem that is absolutely astounding, numbskulls. >:( >:( >:(.


Dave.

[Deiter]

I got stung $400 from the leisurely boat shop at capalaba about 2 months ago.

5.5m plate half cab with mid 90's 90hp v4 Johnno, new plugs, impellor, and fuel filter, thats all - nearly fell over when he gave me the bill!!!!

To top it off, i took it for a run straight away, then got home and realised that the bolt holding the anode (just behind the trim tab) had been snapped off and not replaced! much easier to do with the leg off, i would have thought.

Will be doing my own servicing from now on.

Damo

p.s. Are you setting up shop BM????

[Luc]

I do all the servicing on my 25/4 yammy, cost is around $100 anually.

Same for trailer, with grease being the most 'replaced' component as well as the occasional roller.

Luc

[Kleyny]

Hi Nicholas,

For me, owning a boat is a priveledge that often tests the family budget, but if it's one thing I hate about servicing that got on my goat last time, it is the approach to problems that mechanics often have.

Nearly two years ago, the motor had a problem, stalling constantly and it had a real flat spot through the rev range.. They said it was the flywheel, so we replaced that .... and it still ran like a dog...... Oh, there is a crack in the stater, so we replaced that.....no difference.>:( Next we replaced the CDI pack.....Still runs like a dog!!>:( Then we pulled the carbs down, replacing gaskets and diaphrams that looked suspect.... A little better, but still chomping through the fuel..... At $1500.00 for what was meant to be a routine service, that's a bit hard to cop on the chin on a family budget!! I found the problem myself.... It was the wrong model of spark plug they were using!!!Beleive it!! I still can't!! We ate baked beans for 6 months after that!;D

Considering we had parted with $5,500 only 12 months earlier to purchase the 2nd hand, but workshop overhauled motor, we were probably better off to have bought a new one in the 1st place. I place my hand on the bible and tell you this story is 100% true!

Scalem

Dealers i dont know one you can trust.
Do all my services myself. It does help when I'm a mechanic.

you would think there should be something you could do when you get led down the garden path like that. (like a consumer watch dog)

You would almost think that someone the mechanic knew was doing up the same motor you have got.

[wessel]

I live in the Middle East at the moment, and out here you learn quickly how to service the engines yourself if you want it done right.
The dealers here sting you A$250 to 300 for a full service i.e. plugs/oil/impeller/grease. Now that can take anything from three days to two weeks.

It is impossible to get a decent trailer out here so the average person here replace their trailers every 4 years or so. (Less than A$1700 for a single axle)

Wessel

[Scalem]

Scalem that is absolutely astounding, numbskulls. >:( >:( >:(.


Dave.

Can you blame me when I say I am very reluctant to put the boat in for another service anytime soon??. After 2 years since then, what can it need? Everything is done! Even the water pump and gearbox oil is less than 2 years old. I might pull the plugs out and regap them, run a wire brush over them and lean it off a quarter of a turn ( seems to run a little rich and smokey on premix) but that's about it. Runs like a dream and has done since I tuned it myself - with the right plugs!! The linkage synchronization between the 3 carbs was also way out, effectively opening one carby's butterfly before the other two. I thought that didn't look right, adjusted - Hey presto!!

I get the shakes just thinking about going through all that again. You know the phone call when it's in for a service " we tried to time it, but found ...... Ahhh.. here we go again!!" Until now I have never touched an outboard motor, but do basic tunes on cars myself. It's amazing what you learn when you are forced to, which is when the wife says "that's it, if it isn't fixed now you will be using the oars";D

Scalem

[BM]

Snelly, thanks mate. I probably should have said particularly interested in QLD boats and more particularly in sunshine coast area boats. But thanks for your comments in any case :)

Scalem, that sounds like a situation where the mechanic doesn't know where to look and plays process of elimination (at the customers expense). Interested to hear what your symptoms were and the plug info etc

Dogsbody, thanks for the info.

Deiter, what money were you expecting to pay? and was it a routine service with no unusual stuff going on? Re setting up..... likely to be in the Sunshine Coast are within 4-6 months.

Luc and Honky Dory, thanks for that. Honky, yes I know it can be difficult at times.

Wessel, thanks for your mid east perspective. Trailers are cheap there...!!

Scalem, you should change your gear oil annually and your plugs too (depending on use) and usually your impeller too (depends on the operational environment though ie: sandiness, gritiness etc etc).

Be careful leaning out your idle mixtures as you could run lean and pop pistons. I gather you dont have an OMC engine as they are fixed idle circuits so its probably a Merc? If you go too lean it will die in the arse on takeoff. What engine do you have (brand, hp, year)?

Cheers all, I appreciate it and keep talking

[mamu]

Scalem, I have had a very simaliar experience with my ex boat, a plate 6m with 175 evinrude fisht.
It ran like a one legged dog and the evinrude "specialists" at capalaba and more so yatala drained more than $5000 trying to fix what they 'thought' was the problem. It was very trying on my allready limited budget not to mention trying to justify spending that amount of coin to my cook.
The whole experience soured me with dealers, and I rate them lower than fleas.
I ended up selling up and swore I would learn how to do my own maintaince which I have since been doing with another boat.
I ask myself, is it ignorance on my behalf for not knowing enough to do it myself and trusting the supposed experts to do the job they are trained for? or is it just plain greed and/or under qualified monkeys from the workshops. I repeatedly asked to see the manager at Yatala to justify the amount on the bills but he/she was always in a meeting or on the phone or some other piss weak excuse was given.
I refuse to step inside this dealership's yard, not even to buy a packet of hooks, it may seem insignificant but its my own private protest.
Once bitten, twice shy
Mamu

[fishingrod]

Im watching the cricket in the background, so i pulled out all my old receipts.

In the Sydney metro area:

115hp Merc 2 stroke carby. 2000 model.
Last major service Sept 06
Labour $290
Parts $280 (includes 3 x anodes which added up to $87 and the spark plugs were $72 (4x18ea) but he reckons they were the correct suppressed etc plugs)
Total $570
Which i felt was a little dear. This was by a inderpendent mobile guy.

15hp Merc 2 stroke 1999 (my aux motor)
8/1999 $100 (1st service from brand new)
5/2002 $320 (12 month service inc normal parts and diagnose+replace faulty rubber stop switch that was a $32 part)
9/2004 $245 (12 month service inc normal parts, but at a different dealer to 5/2002)

And im due to have it done again very very soon. I have been checking the fuel filter, changing the gear oil and greasing the prop shaft myself every 6-12 months.

[fishingrod]

im bored ...found some more old reciepts.

120hp Evinrude 1986
7/1996 $615 (12 month service inc normal parts and repairing tilt and trim motor)
3/1997 $215 (6 month service inc normal parts)
1/1998 $453 (12 month service inc normal parts + repack existing bearings & replace seals/ single axle)
12/1998 $200 (6 month service inc normal parts + change oil hose
12/1999 $395 (12 month service inc normal parts)
8/2000 $300 (change water pump & 2 x thermostats + check timing and sync)
1/2001 $425 (replace VRO pump)
11/2002 $395 (12 month service inc normal parts)
9/2004 $210 (6 month service inc normal parts)

12/2005 The motor "spat a ring and this broke off a corner of the piston" i was told. So i sold it as a broken motor.

[bluefin59]

And you know what is even funnier with all this money we spend on a couple of plugs and a bit of oil is a friend in P.N.G since 2000 has changed oil in leg twice spark plugs twice impollor once his merc 60 has always run like a dream he is in an isolated area and has no access to a mechanic he is about to do the lot for the third time in6yr .....

[saphire]

Keeping my motor in good condition is very important to me as I have absolutely no knowledge of marine mechanics.
I used to take my boat to a high profile marine store to get serviced but this has changed.
Last time it was serviced I took it to a smaller workshop. I was told that when they looked at the engine it seemed like it was never serviced in its life.
This made me feel angry at the time as I take maintenance of my boat seriously for safety reasons.
Its important to be able to talk to the mechanic who is doing the work on your motor. This is needed for exchange of usage and maintenance history with regard to motor condition.

[Scalem]

I repeatedly asked to see the manager at Yatala to justify the amount on the bills but he/she was always in a meeting or on the phone or some other piss weak excuse was given.
I refuse to step inside this dealership's yard, not even to buy a packet of hooks, it may seem insignificant but its my own private protest.
Once bitten, twice shy
Mamu

Sounds very similar to a dealership I have come to know who are at yatala. Still on the rebound from the horror story I told you - the $1500.00 service, I was in the market for a new trailer, and I wanted to deal with a service agent for my brand of motor, which these guys are. So when they said the trailer was $1600.00, I didn't haggle the price, only making one request - that they make sure the hubs/bearings were standard holden because I had a tonne of spares inc the old trailer wheels. I didn't get what I asked for, the bearings are 3025's both inner and outer, and the bearing buddies don't fit the hub.

Several phone cals later, the dealership obviously were burying their heads in the sand, they had my money, so after that who cares>:( Sorry to go over old ground for those who read my post on this matter, but it really has been a bad run for me. Happy now though, some AF members have come to my aid and restored my faith in human nature.

Scalem

[BM]

Mamu,

What year Ficht engine was it? The early ones were a part of OMC's downfall. They were fixed when BRP took over and rectified what was actually good technology but had problems. The basic problem was the spray pattern from the injector was incorrect and it was causing engine detonation.

Its a difficult situation overall in many cases with difficult problems to locate. One cannot (or shouldn't) play 'process of eliminaton' at the customers expense but it does go on quite a bit. By the same token I suppose, one cannot know everything about every engine. However, this does not apply if you take it to the authorised rep for the product. They have ZERO excuse for playing process of elimination.

Cheers

[emj]

Nick

I have a 115 4stroke yammy , 3 years old and frightened to get a price on a service, so I bought myself a workshop manuel. $80 , but a great investment. has a great intro on basic mechanics and skills and some amazing MUST DO'S on the engine and tips and hints that would open the eyes a lot of 'I KNOW ALREADY' people. Its clymer publication. I dont know how you feel , but I have a great hesitation in paying up to $100 an hour for someone to change the oil , filter and plugs that can be done by a handyman, and as was mentioned earlier, you know it has been done.What convinced me was when I went to buy the filter and oil for my engine , I asked for the parts for my engine , giving size etc and he got to the oil and filter section and turned and asked if it was for a four stroke, I'm not sure if he was trying to take the piss out of me or he just didn't know, but i've not changed an oil filter or oil in a two stroke before, and either way he'll never touch my engine , or sell me any more parts. Careful mate , not all sharks swim in the sea. cheers and good luck

[emj]

8-) Nick

I have a 115 4stroke yammy , 3 years old and frightened to get a price on a service, so I bought myself a workshop manuel. $80 , but a great investment. has a great intro on basic mechanics and skills and some amazing MUST DO'S on the engine and tips and hints that would open the eyes a lot of 'I KNOW ALREADY' people. Its clymer publication. I dont know how you feel , but I have a great hesitation in paying up to $100 an hour for someone to change the oil , filter and plugs that can be done by a handyman, and as was mentioned earlier, you know it has been done.What convinced me was when I went to buy the filter and oil for my engine , I asked for the parts for my engine , giving size etc and he got to the oil and filter section and turned and asked if it was for a four stroke, I'm not sure if he was trying to take the piss out of me or he just didn't know, but i've not changed an oil filter or oil in a two stroke before, and either way he'll never touch my engine , or sell me any more parts. Careful mate , not all sharks swim in the sea. cheers and good luck

[BM]

Too right EMJ.......

I call them Land Based Sharks.....

To answer your inquiring mind in relation to your engine I recently serviced a customers 115hp 4 stroke Yammy for $350.. Engine oil and filter, gearbox oil, waterpump impeller, water separating filter. Plus the usual "other" lubricants and checks etc etc

With home servicing the main difference is that you can read the manual 10 times over but there may well be things you miss that I or other mechanics wouldn't. Now those things may be insignificant or they may be major.

I agree with home servicing (so much so that I am trying to set up some instructional courses in the subject) however, the one limitation to the concept is that I can teach you, the next bloke and so on how to service an engine but what I CANNOT do is transfer my experience/general knowledge into your head.

Cheers