mrmagoo01
25-12-2010, 05:44 PM
This is my first post here, However I feel compelled to pay $10 to subscribe so I may warn others. Firstly I would just like to note that because this is my first post I have minimal credibility. Your welcome to PM me and I will give you my phone number to verify my claim. I have also posted this on another large forum and posted my number in the boating section so I apologise if you have already read this. I am not another boat mechanic. I run a markerting and photography company. Some of the information I have written about is sourced from me googling the company na,e
Hi,
Just a warning to anyone thinking about taking their boat to stephax marine in Carrum downs. Apprantly These guys have started up about 6 months ago and often hand out flyers at the Carrum boat ramp. They used to be based in Queensland and the owner "craig" worked down her in Vic 20 years ago. (sourced from google and can not confirm if they are actually from QLD)
This is my story:
Being flat out with my work I had no time to do a carb tune and impeller kit myself and I couldn't get into any other mechanic before Christmas so I thought I would try these "new" guys out......what a massive mistake!
I took my boat down there for a carbie tune and new impeller and impeller kit.
Later that day they rang me to say that had come across a rusted bolt and needed to hit it with the oxy, I asked how much the job was going to cost and they said they would call me back with the price. I told them not to start until I had a price. Two days later and I get a phone call telling me my boat is ready and the cost was $840
They tried to charge $840 for a carbie clean and impeller install. When I questioned this they became very aggressive. They then tried to seize my boat and blocked it in with another boat, Even after I offered to pay them $500, which after speaking with 3 other reputable mechanics deemed $500 to be at the high end of the market, They refused to release my boat.
After lots of yelling, more so from them, they settled on $600 after they admitted that they had "bumped" the hours up.
Anyway I got the boat home and fired it up, and it ran ok, apart from some water spraying out of the leg.
A week later I took my little kids out to Westernport for some fishing. On the way out we noticed no water was pumping through the engine, so we dropped anchor and tried to clear any blockage with no luck. 3 hours later and with two cold and frightened children I managed to call a friend to tow us back.
I decided to take the leg off myself the next day and I was shocked and disgusted to find they had replaced my working pump with a crappy old cracked second hand pump. I took the pump down to a reputable local Johnson dealer and asked him how old the pump was. He agreed that it was indeed a very worn out old pump and not even the right type of impeller for the type of engine. We were both amazed at how anyone could put such an old worn out pump with a cracked case into the engine.
I took my parts down Stephax Marine and confronted them, to which they denied they put old parts in my engine. They simply flat out lied to me. It was only when I said I would be taking them to court that they admitted to me that they had not put new parts in. They became aggressive and they even called the police on me! They police arrived and said it was a Civil matter. Stephax marine eventually gave me back $200.
However I now have a half cooked engine, I had to buy a new pump kit and install it.
The work these guys did was just awful, they made such a mess with the oxy and the negleted to grease anything or replace any orings.
These guys are flat out con-artists and liars.
They claim they are bankrupt, so even after ripping people off they still can't make a buck!
The fact is I have a young family and rely on my boat being in good working condition.
No one deserves to have their life or family's lift put at risk because of a dodgy mechanic.
These guys are cowboys and simply putting people’s lives in danger while also ripping them off.
I will be taking these guys to small claims.
Steer clear of them!
Hi,
Just a warning to anyone thinking about taking their boat to stephax marine in Carrum downs. Apprantly These guys have started up about 6 months ago and often hand out flyers at the Carrum boat ramp. They used to be based in Queensland and the owner "craig" worked down her in Vic 20 years ago. (sourced from google and can not confirm if they are actually from QLD)
This is my story:
Being flat out with my work I had no time to do a carb tune and impeller kit myself and I couldn't get into any other mechanic before Christmas so I thought I would try these "new" guys out......what a massive mistake!
I took my boat down there for a carbie tune and new impeller and impeller kit.
Later that day they rang me to say that had come across a rusted bolt and needed to hit it with the oxy, I asked how much the job was going to cost and they said they would call me back with the price. I told them not to start until I had a price. Two days later and I get a phone call telling me my boat is ready and the cost was $840
They tried to charge $840 for a carbie clean and impeller install. When I questioned this they became very aggressive. They then tried to seize my boat and blocked it in with another boat, Even after I offered to pay them $500, which after speaking with 3 other reputable mechanics deemed $500 to be at the high end of the market, They refused to release my boat.
After lots of yelling, more so from them, they settled on $600 after they admitted that they had "bumped" the hours up.
Anyway I got the boat home and fired it up, and it ran ok, apart from some water spraying out of the leg.
A week later I took my little kids out to Westernport for some fishing. On the way out we noticed no water was pumping through the engine, so we dropped anchor and tried to clear any blockage with no luck. 3 hours later and with two cold and frightened children I managed to call a friend to tow us back.
I decided to take the leg off myself the next day and I was shocked and disgusted to find they had replaced my working pump with a crappy old cracked second hand pump. I took the pump down to a reputable local Johnson dealer and asked him how old the pump was. He agreed that it was indeed a very worn out old pump and not even the right type of impeller for the type of engine. We were both amazed at how anyone could put such an old worn out pump with a cracked case into the engine.
I took my parts down Stephax Marine and confronted them, to which they denied they put old parts in my engine. They simply flat out lied to me. It was only when I said I would be taking them to court that they admitted to me that they had not put new parts in. They became aggressive and they even called the police on me! They police arrived and said it was a Civil matter. Stephax marine eventually gave me back $200.
However I now have a half cooked engine, I had to buy a new pump kit and install it.
The work these guys did was just awful, they made such a mess with the oxy and the negleted to grease anything or replace any orings.
These guys are flat out con-artists and liars.
They claim they are bankrupt, so even after ripping people off they still can't make a buck!
The fact is I have a young family and rely on my boat being in good working condition.
No one deserves to have their life or family's lift put at risk because of a dodgy mechanic.
These guys are cowboys and simply putting people’s lives in danger while also ripping them off.
I will be taking these guys to small claims.
Steer clear of them!