Your boat mech....

[McRib]

Can u trust them?? If so, why?? Ive been burned by a boat mech in cali. His lube tech told me I didnt get what I paid for. I now do my maint cause of it. Unless I can stand there and watch I just cant trust it. How do u really know ur immpellar was changed? U cant see it and if it fails the mech will jjst say "its hit or miss with impellars" same with oil. I went a season and checked my oil each time out. It stayed pretty much the same color all season so how do I know my shit was changed during a service?? Drive oil is dark blue 24/7 how do u know it wasentjust topped off?? How do u trust something u cant verify?? Do u trust it cause u have to believe there are honest shops out there?? Its just to easy to be shady. I know reputations are important and the popular shops would "never" do something like this. Well how do u know ur not that once and a while guy that gets screwed cause its out of sight out of mind??

Sorry for the babble hope u can decode 2nd grade level grammer :fingers:

 

[Phebus]

I would trust Aaron from Absolute with anything. Key to my house, anything. If he told me he did something I would never think to question it.

 

[McRib]

I would trust Aaron from Absolute with anything. Key to my house, anything. If he told me he did something I would never think to question it.

I trusted my old mech for two seasons b4 the incident. 450-2000 bucks (dep on motor size and if u have one or two) thats a lot to get burned for. Abosolute def has a great rep I just cant get past my own burn job to trust anyone again. I will eventualy end up going to someone again for the convienace I just gotta get myself there

 

[460]

i work on my own stuff so i trust myself alot.

 

[pronstar]

I would trust Aaron from Absolute with anything.

I took my boat there...he laughed and said he doesn't work on antiques

 

[plaster dave]

So Cal Speed and Marine.
I trust Mario with anything I own. He is the best boat mechanic around. :thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[shintoooo]

So Cal Speed and Marine.
I trust Mario with anything I own. He is the best boat mechanic around. :thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

X2 - Mario is Awesome. Been going to him since I've owned my boat.

Honest down to earth guy. Great Service. Going there in a couple of weeks to drop off my boat for the annual service. :thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[RitcheyRch]

Most likely going to be taking my boat there this season to have the gear oil changed in the gear case.

So Cal Speed and Marine.
I trust Mario with anything I own. He is the best boat mechanic around. :thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup:thumbsup

 

[saucedaddy]

It took me 30 yrs of dealing with numerous boat mechanic clowns to find a good one. Chris at prestige is great and very trustworthy. Ive probably dealt with 10-15 mechanics from L.A to Az. pm me for names of shit holes. But HOLIDAY MARINE in Bullhead blows them all away, I will due all I can to let the boating public know had terrible they are.

 

[Weekend Therapy]

It took me 30 yrs of dealing with numerous boat mechanic clowns to find a good one. Chris at prestige is great and very trustworthy. Ive probably dealt with 10-15 mechanics from L.A to Az. pm me for names of shit holes. But HOLIDAY MARINE in Bullhead blows them all away, I will due all I can to let the boating public know had terrible they are.

I take mine to Chris as well and have always been happy. X2 on Holiday my cousin took his toon there a few times and got burned bad. Didnt do what they were paid for and offered to store the boat until everything was in order. When he returned the boat had sat outside for 2 weeks uncovered and was a mess.

 

[parkerpowersports]

shops that do these things make it hard for us honest guys.. why am i gonna tell you i did something i didnt.. if you find out, i loose a customer. my job is to help you as a customer keep your vehicle, boat etc.. in good working condition and or fix any problem you may have. the extra 20-100-500$ i can screw you out of isnt worth loosing the repeat business and recomendations im loosing when you find out.. just my 2cents

 

[Kleptow]

My first Job in my Grandfather's gas station was to tell him when one of his guys picked up the empty oil can setting on the Island he new one of them had been short sticking his customers he just needed to know witch one to fire.

I don't trust anyone working on anything of mine, I pulled almost 3 Impellers out of a buddies boat that had been changed at one of those so called reputable shops in Havi.

 

[charlyox]

Chris @ Pretige Marine. One of my best friends nephew works there and if he didn't do something right he would never hear the end of it. . I totally trust them.

 

[blythebound]

greg shoemaker without a doubt

 

[sergeantmike]

Your boat mechanic should have been invited to your house for a BBQ, know your kids, dog, etc. Seen the actual heads (or the pictures of the heads) of people that did you wrong.

In all seriousness,,, if you see a guy once a year and expect him to treat you like a true friend and do you right, good luck. Gotta have a close relationship with someone you are paying hundreds to thousands of dollars to...

Hey! It's our boats where talking about here... not just some car or something.

 

[HBCraig]

I go to Johns Custom Marine (Al Stoker) and he has been good to deal with so far.

 

[parkerpowersports]

Your boat mechanic should have been invited to your house for a BBQ, know your kids, dog, etc. Seen the actual heads (or the pictures of the heads) of people that did you wrong.

In all seriousness,,, if you see a guy once a year and expect him to treat you like a true friend and do you right, good luck. Gotta have a close relationship with someone you are paying hundreds to thousands of dollars to...

Hey! It's our boats where talking about here... not just some car or something.

That doesnt apply to every shop, I give 100% to first time, once a year, once a month, $10, or $1000 customer.. you guys pay my bills, if i screw you ill end up starting over, NOT AN OPTION!

 

[Phebus]

Your boat mechanic should have been invited to your house for a BBQ, know your kids, dog, etc. Seen the actual heads (or the pictures of the heads) of people that did you wrong.

In all seriousness,,, if you see a guy once a year and expect him to treat you like a true friend and do you right, good luck. Gotta have a close relationship with someone you are paying hundreds to thousands of dollars to...

Hey! It's our boats where talking about here... not just some car or something.

One of the advantages of living here in Havasu is that it is a small community and you get to know a lot of the business people on a personal level. That said, if a person is an asshole and can't behave in public, there is no way in hell I'm going to use that person to doing any service work for me regardless of the reputation they might have. No way I could trust them.

 

[ultra26shadow]

greg shoemaker without a doubt

X2

 

[Phebus]

shops that do these things make it hard for us honest guys.. why am i gonna tell you i did something i didnt.. if you find out, i loose a customer. my job is to help you as a customer keep your vehicle, boat etc.. in good working condition and or fix any problem you may have. the extra 20-100-500$ i can screw you out of isnt worth loosing the repeat business and recomendations im loosing when you find out.. just my 2cents

My experience with the welding you did for me was top notch, and the work you did for me was excellent.
I have reccomended you to others, and won't hesitate to reccomend you in the future.

Thank you

 

[maxwedge]

My mechanic is kind of a dipshit. It usually takes forever for him to fix stuff, sometimes he does it twice or three times before it's right, and it usually winds up costing 5 times as much as he first thought...but since it's myself, I try not to bitch too much.

 

[riverman140]

Paul and Jim over at outdrive exchange. only guy im gona trust :thumbsup

 

[460]

Paul and Jim over at outdrive exchange. only guy im gona trust :thumbsup

u better watch the skinny one. Last time I was around him he stole my gas and drank my beer. Hehehe

 

[parkerpowersports]

My experience with the welding you did for me was top notch, and the work you did for me was excellent.
I have reccomended you to others, and won't hesitate to reccomend you in the future.

Thank you

Your very welcome, and thank you!

 

[rivermobster]

My experience with the welding you did for me was top notch, and the work you did for me was excellent.
I have reccomended you to others, and won't hesitate to reccomend you in the future.

Thank you

Nate takes good care of me as well. Changed the oil on my truck for me while i hung around and waited! Welded and fixed up my toon, and bailed me out on my golf cart as well. How much more full service can you get???

:thumbsup

 

[Cdog]

I do it myself. They are either rip off artists or charge doctor wages.

 

[WTDecker]

I do mine myself but if I need a mechanic here in Havasu I go to AJ!! The only one I trust period, some of the other mechanic's mentioned in this thread from Havi I have my own reasons for not trusting them.

 

[PVHCA]

It took me 30 yrs of dealing with numerous boat mechanic clowns to find a good one. Chris at prestige is great and very trustworthy. Ive probably dealt with 10-15 mechanics from L.A to Az. pm me for names of shit holes. But HOLIDAY MARINE in Bullhead blows them all away, I will due all I can to let the boating public know had terrible they are.

Holiday AKA"Stan the Man", what a fucking tool, his own family can't stand the stroke waiting to happen. I have never met a bigger thief in my life, and ya Aaron he's a bigger theif than you!!

 

[Duffster]

This is why I turn my own wrenches. Changing impellers and oil is way to basic. Plus I know it's done right.

 

[OCMerrill]

With my Lavey I can do pretty much everything including pulling the engine, whatever. I enjoy it. Yopengo knows I can have an Alpha Drive off in about 4 min.

Now can I rebuild that drive? NO so there is a level of what I can do. I have built about a 100 engines so that is no issue (used to work for an engine builder).


With the Ocean Cat with twin 380 QSB's - we used to have a Mobile guy service. It cost a G Spot every 100 hrs. Then about 8 months ago we discovered that he did not change the impeller's or fuel filters. SO now I am knee deep into that (with one other partner) and let me tell you a full day can get killed servicing those. But, I know it's been done. Just parts alone to do filters, oil, and ZF's is over $375 in parts alone. The Diver changes zinc like his underwear. We are watching this deal as well. Either some ass is pumping the water with electrons or our diver needs to pay his rent.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

The problem today is that nobody seems to want to build a relationship with their auto / boat mechanic , people are on the constant search for 2 dollars
worth of something for only 1 dollar ...ain't gonna happen !

 

[460]

With my Lavey I can do pretty much everything including pulling the engine, whatever. I enjoy it. Yopengo knows I can have an Alpha Drive off in about 4 min.

Now can I rebuild that drive? NO so there is a level of what I can do. I have built about a 100 engines so that is no issue (used to work for an engine builder).


With the Ocean Cat with twin 380 QSB's - we used to have a Mobile guy service. It cost a G Spot every 100 hrs. Then about 8 months ago we discovered that he did not change the impeller's or fuel filters. SO now I am knee deep into that (with one other partner) and let me tell you a full day can get killed servicing those. But, I know it's been done. Just parts alone to do filters, oil, and ZF's is over $375 in parts alone. The Diver changes zinc like his underwear. We are watching this deal as well. Either some ass is pumping the water with electrons or our diver needs to pay his rent.

 

[Kylemenz1]

i work on my own stuff so i trust myself alot.

I work on my own stuff too. But I think thats why it keeps breaking!!! :skull

 

[whiteworks]

For outboard
In socal, Johns custom marine
in Havi Outboard Doctor

For IO/V drive,

Prime Marine in rancho cucamonga

 

[pronstar]

The problem today is that nobody seems to want to build a relationship with their auto / boat mechanic , people are on the constant search for 2 dollars
worth of something for only 1 dollar ...ain't gonna happen !

But part of the problem is, you might build a relationship with someone, only to find they've been ripping you off/skimping the entire time.

 

[OCMerrill]

SBC/Alpha faster than a Jet powered Manchina with a ferd. :skull

Incoming.......




So this is how a truce works with foreign countries. LMAO.

 

[HALLETT BOY]

But part of the problem is, you might build a relationship with someone, only to find they've been ripping you off/skimping the entire time.

I would think it is a lot less likely ...not entirely improbable .

 

[Some Kind Of Monster]

I trust my mechanic with my life and he works for free.. :blah:

 

[Some Kind Of Monster]

On a more serious note, when I used to work for a local shop and still when I do side work, I hand the old impeller / old parts to the customer so there are never any questions.

 

[460]

I work on my own stuff too. But I think thats why it keeps breaking!!! :skull

LOL, its chevy powered bro you cant help but have it break:skull

SBC/Alpha faster than a Jet powered Manchina with a ferd. :skull

Incoming.......




So this is how a truce works with foreign countries. LMAO.

You know that aint happening. Not even with RD pulling you

 

[Vmjtc3]

I am surprised with the digital age some mechanics have not set up cameras in the shop and broadcast them live so people can watch their junk get worked on. Little doubt what was done if there is video to prove it:thumbsup

 

[parkerpowersports]

I am surprised with the digital age some mechanics have not set up cameras in the shop and broadcast them live so people can watch their junk get worked on. Little doubt what was done if there is video to prove it:thumbsup

but then they would see me picking my nose all day

 

[OCMerrill]

You know that aint happening. Not even with RD pulling you

What's your top speed.

River = ? You can use down river.

Ebay = ? Anything real plus 20%

 

[460]

What's your top speed.

River = ? You can use down river.

Ebay = ? Anything real plus 20%

47.7

On GPS of course

 

[RiverDave]

Can u trust them?? If so, why?? Ive been burned by a boat mech in cali. His lube tech told me I didnt get what I paid for. I now do my maint cause of it. Unless I can stand there and watch I just cant trust it. How do u really know ur immpellar was changed? U cant see it and if it fails the mech will jjst say "its hit or miss with impellars" same with oil. I went a season and checked my oil each time out. It stayed pretty much the same color all season so how do I know my shit was changed during a service?? Drive oil is dark blue 24/7 how do u know it wasentjust topped off?? How do u trust something u cant verify?? Do u trust it cause u have to believe there are honest shops out there?? Its just to easy to be shady. I know reputations are important and the popular shops would "never" do something like this. Well how do u know ur not that once and a while guy that gets screwed cause its out of sight out of mind??

Sorry for the babble hope u can decode 2nd grade level grammer :fingers:

If you goto a reputable shop, then you shouldn't have any worries. I'm weird about my boat... scratch that I'm weird about my Schiada. Schiada serviced it the 1st two years.. Paul (Outdrive Exchange) serviced it in my garage last year.

I wouldn't hesitate to take it to Prime Marine for work, Quality Performance, and a few other shops around here. I would also take it to Mike Lotka at Nordic for service, Dirty Deeds, and a few other places out there.

I took my boat there...he laughed and said he doesn't work on antiques

Did that really happen?

The problem today is that nobody seems to want to build a relationship with their auto / boat mechanic , people are on the constant search for 2 dollars
worth of something for only 1 dollar ...ain't gonna happen !

x2.


This whole subject (not just on boats) is the reason for my signiature.. I was answering 3 - 4 pm's a week asking "Who do you use?" I would say xyz, and they would reply back.. I know that's who you recomend on the boards, but who do you actually use? Those are the people I use, and have used in the past with great success.

RD

 

[pronstar]

I would think it is a lot less likely ...not entirely improbable .

Hasn't happened to me...but it is the reason why this thread was started by McRib in the first place.

 

[HolyMoly]

I'm not going to bash anyone in particular in this thread, but I saw names of 2 shops on here that have been caught red handed short changing their customers specifically on engine rebuilds - not putting the parts in a motor that a customer ordered and paid for. One even dropped some of the parts off himself only to later find that they were not in the motor.

I don't trust anyone in the boat business 100%. Even my favorite shop does a few things I don't like : not delivering on time, or telling me it is done or they are working on it when they are not, or getting the boat unnecessarily dirty, then having it detailed....but stains like to do a disappearing/reappearing act.

 

[460]

I'm not going to bash anyone in particular in this thread, but I saw names of 2 shops on here that have been caught red handed short changing their customers specifically on engine rebuilds - not putting the parts in a motor that a customer ordered and paid for. One even dropped some of the parts off himself only to later find that they were not in the motor.

I don't trust anyone in the boat business 100%. Even my favorite shop does a few things I don't like : not delivering on time, or telling me it is done or they are working on it when they are not, or getting the boat unnecessarily dirty, then having it detailed....but stains like to do a disappearing/reappearing act.

You own a boat? When did that happen.