Boat Repair Services Near Me
Boat repair services near me? A popular search term. A group of us were sitting in the cockpit the other day enjoying a sun downer cold beer and it didn’t take long to get around to one of our favorite subjects. Marine technical people and tradespeople and the absolute major problem of low competence, overcharging and unreliability, made worse since Covid 19. Many make upselling at a popular hamburger franchise look tame. Sadly, the get rich quick group extended from diesel mechanics to electricians, stainless fabrication people to canvas and upholsterers, and then the rigging people as well. Comparing tales was absolutely jaw dropping, and it is widespread and all they hear or see is the ka-ching ka-ching mentality associated with boats.
Looking for a service person or a service company isn’t easy. The first step is to ask around your marina and very quickly you will find out who NOT to call. In my book the Marine Electrical and Electronics Bible 4th Edition I include a worldwide directory of marine electricians, marine electronics technicians and companies who come highly commended. Get your copy and start becoming self-sufficient and save money on expensive technician callouts.
Boat Repair Services Near Me
Many just call themselves marine technicians without any actual qualifications to do so. Go on recommendation, if at all possible, (ask them if they own a boat!) Most I come across have no empathy or knowledge base about boats, something that comes from owning and sailing a boat over time. Beware the domestic house wiring electrician who makes marine electrical claims. There are a few good tradesmen or journeymen around who have a more industrial background and they will often do a very good job. Having certification doesn’t not mean competence! Most I speak to don’t even have a copy of ABYC or relevant standards at hand and the results are obvious. Ask them what standards they are working to, and make sure it is on the paperwork. At least you can hold them to account as many will attempt to baffle with jargon and BS.
If you are getting AC work done demand to see an electrical license for whatever jurisdiction you are in, if things go wrong, it may raise insurance issues. The old adage of "Buyer Beware" applies, get references or check their background if at all possible. Do not forget to check what insurance coverage they hold. It's your life in the balance when you are out there.
Boat Repair Services Near Me
I remember an episode when a yacht arrived in from an extended Pacific cruise, and the skipper told me that his radar had been out for several months, and that he was only able to get the display partially working but no screen image. To really upset his day, I then went to the stern mounted scanner, and simply switched on a local power switch, somehow it had been knocked into the off position. All this took 5 minutes! Imagine the poor chap’s reaction, he simply had forgotten to check it. Grown men do cry. And no! I didn't even charge him and we then had a cold beer and talked about his voyage, good payment! In the past few months, I have had several boat owners moored near mine come and ask about an issue or fault. In all cases they were resolved in less than 10 minutes! Four were anchor windlass cases (footswitch, solenoid, remote control socket pin, voltage issue), one was a refrigeration control issue, one was a solar panel issue, one was an alternator issue. Know your equipment and system! Cost saving was over at least $1,500 given the poor troubleshooting skills of many "professional". Another boat near me recently had a simple diesel engine injector issue, and when the tech arrived, he already had a quote prepared to hand over for a new engine before he even started fault diagnosis along with a fabricated doom and gloom story.
Boat repair services near me – Pre
Callout Advice
Did you operate the equipment properly? Read the equipment manual again and go back to basics. Only when you are sure that you have operated the equipment properly and it doesn't work should you call the serviceman. Probably the number one money wasting reason for call outs. Be systematic when troubleshooting.
Are all the plugs in and power on? It is amazing how many people forget to plug in an aerial or forget to put the power on after doing some work. If the power is on at the breaker and not at the equipment double check that the circuit connection on the back of the switchboard is not disconnected. Check the obvious.
Boat repair services near me – Pre Callout Advice
Blame Yourself First! Ask yourself what you were doing immediately prior to the fault. A great number of faults occur immediately after working on often unrelated systems. The inadvertent disturbance of connections can occur so check. This is the fingers factor!
What is the Fault? Write down clearly the fault and the situation when the unit failed. If a profile can be built up it may point to some other factors. Not only will it assist the service person but it may assist you in resolving the problem and avoiding that expensive callout.
Boat repair services near me – Callout Advice
Picking up the Technician. If collecting a service person from shore, make sure you both know the correct location. I have been left standing many times due to confusion about the pick-up point. Please bale the dinghy out first and have a towel to sit on. In most cases the tools and spares need somewhere dry as well.
Keep a good technical file on board. If possible, obtain copies of all the technical manuals, as service people cannot carry, or get every different manual. It will save you money if you give the information, as time will be saved. This includes having detailed and accurate system drawings or diagrams, more technician time is wasted if they have to trace wiring than most any other cause. Document every system in detail!
Keep a good technical file on board. If possible, obtain copies of all the technical manuals, as service people cannot carry, or get every different manual. It will save you money if you give the information, as time will be saved. This includes having detailed and accurate system drawings or diagrams, more technician time is wasted if they have to trace wiring than most any other cause. Document every system in detail!
Clean up the area to be worked on. It is quite unfair to expect service people to work on filthy engines, and dirty bilges. If you want or don't mind grime tracked through the boat, then ignore this advice. It is quite unfair to expect service people to work on filthy engines, and dirty bilges. If you want or don't mind grime tracked through the boat, then ignore this advice.
Boat repair services near me – Callout Advice
Have a good tool kit ready. It is impossible to carry on to every boat a complete tool set. Any assistance like this is greatly appreciated. Make sure your flashlights work, and make sure that where access to equipment is through lockers, that they are emptied and clear. If they have to keep going back to a van its costing you a lot of money!
Is it Fixed Yet? So, you had to call someone out. Don't keep asking the service person whether they have fixed or located the fault ten minutes after arrival. Not only do you distract the person that you are paying for, but it can lead to sharp verbal exchanges, especially when he is jammed in some tight space. You are paying for the time, so if you add time, you pay more! If your tech is constantly on the phone make a quite note of how long as some nefarious people actually charge you for the time anyway, so don’t pay!
Job scope Definition. Don't go and get a job done and then try and blame the serviceman for all the other electrical problems and ills of the boat that exist. This is a common method used by some of the more undesirable types floating around to avoid paying accounts. BEFORE YOU START! Write down clearly the job you want done, the failure summary, or expected job scope and pay for the job. Absolutely document what is done as it may be required by insurance companies in the event of a claim. Make sure they give you a detailed service record, problem, resolution and parts used. A verbal isn’t worth the paper it is written on!
Boat repair services near me – Callout Advice
Refreshment Time. Don't offer beer and coffee until after the job is finished. It is greatly appreciated but it doesn't get the job done. Anything you do that extends the time is paid for by you. Also beware at the end that you are not being charged for the time when being hospitable.
Bill Payment. There are quite a number of yachtsmen who have no qualms about paying excessive call out fees for a washing machine mechanic to fix a $1000 machine. When it comes to paying an account from a qualified marine electrical/electronics or engine serviceman on a $250,000 yacht they think the fee is exorbitant to fix essential and very expensive equipment. Think about it! Again, understand the fees and charges BEFORE you engage a service person. The best solution is learn to do it all yourself.