Marina charges

[jmauld]

Okay so new boat owner and maybe I’m a bit naive .

I got an estimate to have the boat bottom painted, zincs replaced, cutlass bearings and a few other odds and ends.

I got the call today that they were done and then came the bill. Which was 25% higher than the quote. Is this typical practice?

I expect a heads up if the bill is going to jump from $4000 to $5000.

 

[Henry Boyd]

Sorry to abuse your naiveté, but $1k is but one boat buck. Depending on your list of "odds and ends" it can be within the range of an estimate. Was the overrun in parts, or additional labor?

 

[Tripsdad]

I agree with Henry that the odds and ends add up fast on a boat. I always anticipate things costing more on the boat and most importantly pay on the credit card that my wife doesn’t see.

 

[fwebster]

It should not be a typical practice. However, marinas typically quote estimated costs because they have very little idea what will be involved in a bottom job or a repair until they see what is involved in the repair.

For example, my last bottom job was quoted at $75/foot.......I've owned this boat a long time and I know what is required in a complete bottom job in NW Fla in warm Gulf water. When the work order came, it was $4100, instead of the quoted $3375 ($75X 45ft.) I was expecting. As it turns out, when the bottom was sanded, the boat yard found several blisters (pretty typical on a 22 year old boat) that had to be ground out, dried , filled with resin and fiberglass, faired, sanded, and primed with barrier coat, before the bottom could be painted. The extra $725 was a reasonable and a fair cost for the added work required to handle the blisters.........I didn't complain, but called the service manager and thanked them for handling the blister issue so painlessly.

The same analogy could apply to mechanical problem as well.........say, you get a quote on a tune up involving replacing 8 spark plugs, When the mechanic goes to work he finds the plugs have never been changed and are rusted in the engines heads so tightly that 2 of the plugs broke off in the head when removed. When you asked for a quote on this, the service writer gave you an estimate based on his experience with a V-8 Merc engine, little did anyone know that one of the risers was leaking salt water all over the side of the engine.

30 years experience in maintaining a boat in Florida has taught me to visually inspect my engines before asking for work to be done as well as to know the scope of the work for which I'm being quoted.

The above are examples, however, in your case, you were charged $128/ft for the same work we pay $75/ft for in Florida where we have a state DEP inspector in the boat yard 2-3 times a week....your service manager needs to be asked to explain the $1000 premium over his estimate for the work. Don't be afraid to ask hard questions when things don't go as planned/estimated. Some owners are afraid to "rock the boat" for fear of retaliation or the marina "getting even" next time. If you are dealing with crooks, maybe; but if you are dealing with honorable business men, they will respect you for asking questions when they may have mis-handled a work order.

 

[Fill Ess]

I put in for a bottom repaint this winter with my friends at MM, and it said Bottom Repaint Full $24 per foot. Sounds like a great deal! Then the footnote: Acid washing, additional prep/sanding/scraping as required is additional

Seeing as you had a few things done, it would depend on which item(s) caused it to go over the estimate. Personally I handle mechanical stuff but bottom paint is the one thing we can't do where I'm at now. I have the zincs and I'll do those before it goes in the water.

 

[Golfman25]

My marina, while they aren’t afraid to charge, are usually close or under the estimate. But I have an older really simple boat.

 

[jmauld]

Sorry to abuse your naiveté, but $1k is but one boat buck. Depending on your list of "odds and ends" it can be within the range of an estimate. Was the overrun in parts, or additional labor?

Most of the overrun was in the bottom paint estimate. The other odds and ends was actually just an extra hour for a stripped boat when changing a zinc.

His excuse when questioned was that he quoted a 340 vs a 390. The quote says 38’. I gave him a chance to correct this, which he says he will look into in the morning. If not, I will just try a different marina next time. I’m okay with overruns, but I expect a heads up if it’s a 25% difference.

 

[Irie308]

Actually I’m surprised when I end up paying what was quoted when it comes to the boat.

 

[jmauld]

Good news, I followed up with the service writer and he honored the original quote. He has won himself a return customer.

 

[Fill Ess]

Good news, I followed up with the service writer and he honored the original quote. He has won himself a return customer.

Good deal! I'm sure you'll Break-Out-Another-Thousand many times over in the future.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Good news, I followed up with the service writer and he honored the original quote. He has won himself a return customer.

By being a straight up guy he will make that money back 10 times over the years. Too many shysters want the quick buck and don’t get customer loyalty. Good for him and you.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

I had a drive serviced and when i got the bill it was $350 more then first told. This is a marina i have been at for 20 years. Great guys and when i asked they explained everything. And the extra charge were just for things they knew i would want done. Trust and loyalty goes a long way

 

[Blueone]

I agree with Henry that the odds and ends add up fast on a boat. I always anticipate things costing more on the boat and most importantly pay on the credit card that my wife doesn’t see.

Always pay with a credit card your wife doesn’t see....that is a rule

 

[HP12Sea]

Yes, typical but it's up to you that you get the quote in writing saying no work is authorized if the bill will be more than the estimate and to call customer to get additional cost approved before moving ahead w/work.

In general a marina will charge you more 100% of the time, so expect it.

 

[Jeff Delbuono]

And always tell the admiral it cost 1/2 of what it really did cost. You think they tell us the true cost of a manny pettty. I think not

 

[Tripsdad]

Always pay with a credit card your wife doesn’t see....that is a rule

And no bills to the house... office or email only.

 

[Tripsdad]

And always tell the admiral it cost 1/2 of what it really did cost. You think they tell us the true cost of a manny pettty. I think not

And remember, we only spend money on the boat so THEY can enjoy it!

 

[Henry Boyd]

Always pay with a credit card your wife doesn’t see....that is a rule

And no bills to the house... office or email only.

And remember, we only spend money on the boat so THEY can enjoy it!

This isn’t necessary when it becomes “her” boat. I had to do all of the above on all of the previous boats until we got the current one. It’s hers on no uncertain terms.

 

[b_arrington]

My wife pays the bills. She knows exactly how much stuff costs and is fine with it.

She also insisted on paying for the repairs on her parents boat so they would keep boating. You guys are doing something wrong if you have to hide stuff from your wife.

 

[sbw1]

Can’t say that I’ve run into this issue on a regular basis, so minority opinion here. We have always owned new boats and had them professionally serviced by the same marina, many time by the same tech. So, never really had any surprises. Maintenance has always been straight forward year after year. Never had any surprise failures, just routine preventive maintenance. On big projects like electronics and replacing thru hulls, we have gotten firm bids that were honored.