How much does it cost?

[Merrymeeting]

My two boys (men, I guess...both in their 20's) would describe themselves as gearheads. They think it is a perfectly good use of a day off to spend it under their trucks, adding features, fixing things, "doing stuff".

They don't understand why I'm willing to pay someone $$ to do a simple thing like a brake job. They also don't understand been-there-done-that, or the perspective you get later in life that your free time should be spent doing things you love. In the latter case, they are...so am I.

It all depends on where you are in life and what is important to you.

Me, I'm happy to pay someone to prep my boat. Though I'm also lucky at this point to be paying one of my sons ;-)

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Merrymeeting

My two boys (men, I guess...both in their 20's) would describe themselves as gearheads. They think it is a perfectly good use of a day off to spend it under their trucks, adding features, fixing things, "doing stuff".

They don't understand why I'm willing to pay someone $$ to do a simple thing like a brake job. They also don't understand been-there-done-that, or the perspective you get later in life that your free time should be spent doing things you love. In the latter case, they are...so am I.

It all depends on where you are in life and what is important to you.

Me, I'm happy to pay someone to prep my boat. Though I'm also lucky at this point to be paying one of my sons ;-)

Well you can look at it a couple of ways I guess. What is your time worth and do you fully trust the person doing the work to do it right?

I get satisfaction knowing that I can do all my own work and that I know it's done right, if not overly done because that is the way I am. I have worked as a technician before I see the kind of work some guys will do keep in mind you're paying them a handsome sum of money to do it. Plus I like to know it how my stuff works and keep a close eye on everything so I am aware ahead of time what may need to be addressed.

Do save a ton of money, sure! It costs me about $200 bucks in parts\supplies to winterize my two boats and clean them. That would probably be close to or north of 1K to let somebody do it.

Speaking of brake jobs, I just did all four corners of my car, cost me about ~500 bucks, to have it done 1400.

That adds up... Can't beat free labor!

[Rich]

My girlfriend's sister thought she would save a lot of money by having her brother in law change the disc brake pads on her vehical.

This is not a particularly difficult job, I've done it myself, as well as I'm sure a bunch of other gear heads here have done also.

Well, she thought she was saving a lot of money until a very short time later her car started making all sorts of noises when braking.

Somehow she decided to have a shop look at her car (probably so she could drive home from work). What did they find?

Her disc brake pads were installed backwards. Yes, metal towards the discs instead of brake pad towards the discs!! Hard to believe! But the shop says that's how they found them (and knowing how the brother in law tries to do things as quickly and cheaply as possible, I wouldn't doubt it)!

Her brother in law says 'no way, I didn't do that'. So now there is a war going on, did he do a poor job, or was the 'shop' trying to scam the woman out of some money?

We'll never know, but it cost her a lot more money than it should to finally get her brakes in good working order, and I think she will never ask her brother in law to save her any money in the future?

So... do you want to have others work on your boat or not? It's up to you!

I do a lot of my own work. I enjoy it and often find it relaxing as I normally sit at a computer to earn a liviing. But then again, for some types of work, I let the marine pro's do their job!

[Merrymeeting]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

That adds up... Can't beat free labor!

We actually agree. In my case it is woodworking, DYI, and gardening. All things I could pay someone else to do. But they wouldn't do it the way I want it done, and I totally enjoy the time doing it.

The point I was trying to make is that it is always a tradeoff. Time, cost, desire. Without the latter, and lacking the first, I'll pay someone else to do the job (within reason and quality)

[SIKSUKR]

I've never seen a brake pad that could be installed backwards because of the clips or tabs to hold them in position.

[Chaos]

Question about Merc 4.3L MPI tune up. Is it normal to have the distributor and the plug wires changed as part of the process that is recommended every other year? Seems excessive. I figured all the smart people on this thread would know.

Thanks,
Mike

[BroadHopper]

Plugs every 100 hrs, platinum plugs every 300 hrs.

Wires every 300, unless you have the expensive lifetime wires from ACCEL.

As for distributor wires???? Never replaced them.

[Flotnjr]

In my experience, it does seem excessive every other year. I've seen some distributer caps that are original, and over 15 years old. As part of a normal tune up, every three years in the spring, and it's typically the cap and plugs, but not wires. Salt water environment might cause more corrosion on the cap, but in fresh water every three years is typical.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by Chaos

Question about Merc 4.3L MPI tune up. Is it normal to have the distributor and the plug wires changed as part of the process that is recommended every other year? Seems excessive. I figured all the smart people on this thread would know.

Thanks,
Mike

I would question this practice for sure..... Plug wires should last several years, as long as they are good quality... For instance, my wires are in the range of 7 to 10 years old......As for the distributor cap, well that is a judgement call, however once again I don't think every other year is called for... The Points and the Rotor on the other hand are a different story...

[Rich]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

I would question this practice for sure..... Plug wires should last several years, as long as they are good quality... For instance, my wires are in the range of 7 to 10 years old......As for the distributor cap, well that is a judgement call, however once again I don't think every other year is called for... The Points and the Rotor on the other hand are a different story...

Another thing to keep in mind, most of us are lake bound, or at least we are when boating on the lake.

If you have a problem, you're not going to be miles from shore, or from help. Unless you are in the deepest part of the broads and you have a problem, drop an anchor and call/wait for help.

If you were on the open ocean, the need for absolute reliablity is a bit higher IMHO.

But then again, some don't want to take a chance, and change things before a problem occurs. Others prefer to get the most use out of parts and prefer to wait until a problem occurs. Which one are you?

[SIKSUKR]

One could always keep an extra set of those parts on board and run it till you have issues.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by Chaos

Question about Merc 4.3L MPI tune up. Is it normal to have the distributor and the plug wires changed as part of the process that is recommended every other year? Seems excessive. I figured all the smart people on this thread would know.

Thanks,
Mike

I have a 4.3L in my bowrider. I'd replace the plugs when they start to show signs they need it. I pull them every fall and look them over. I replaced mine at 250 hours and arguably they were fine but at the time the boat was 7 years old and I figured for the cost of new plugs I'd throw new ones (NGK's) in. I still have the original distributor and plug wires in mine, my boat is now 12 years old.

I did however have to replace the distributor pickup coil (inside the distributor body), bad design on Merc's part the circuit board was not in sealed package and over time the moisture got to it and I started to have ignition problems. The replacement part was all sealed up in resin. This is a known problem and I'm not sure when that part was redesigned.

[Rich]

Originally Posted by SIKSUKR

I've never seen a brake pad that could be installed backwards because of the clips or tabs to hold them in position.

You don't know her brother in law! LOL (just sayin)

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Speaking of brake jobs, I just did all four corners of my car, cost me about ~500 bucks, to have it done 1400.

That adds up... Can't beat free labor!

What the heck do you drive for a car??? 500 dollars for parts is way over excessive even for 4 corners... Unless I suppose you drive a BMW or Lexus or such... As for 1400$ to have all 4 brakes done, where the heck are you having your work done the dealer????

I just priced out pads and rotors for my Tow vehicle getting top of the line parts from AutoZone, it only came to 325$ dollars.....As for labor I have never seen a brake job all 4 corners take anymore the 2-3 hours, and even at 100 dollars an hour, that is only 300$ bring the total to 625$....

Now grant you I drive American Made vehicles....But come on 1400$ for brakes, I don't think you go to a very honorable garage for price estimates, or you did / where looking to have more done then just pads and rotors.

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

What the heck do you drive for a car??? 500 dollars for parts is way over excessive even for 4 corners... Unless I suppose you drive a BMW or Lexus or such... As for 1400$ to have all 4 brakes done, where the heck are you having your work done the dealer????

I just priced out pads and rotors for my Tow vehicle getting top of the line parts from AutoZone, it only came to 325$ dollars.....As for labor I have never seen a brake job all 4 corners take anymore the 2-3 hours, and even at 100 dollars an hour, that is only 300$ bring the total to 625$....

Now grant you I drive American Made vehicles....But come on 1400$ for brakes, I don't think you go to a very honorable garage for price estimates, or you did / where looking to have more done then just pads and rotors.

I drive a Lexus and yes the parts are expensive and yes I stick with OEM only, no aftermarket stuff, yes there is a BIG difference. That was new rotors and pads in all four corners. I'd never pay that kind of money to get the job done, someone that I work with has the same car and had theirs done at the stealership and that was the bill. Of course you do get for ahem "free" a loaner car, and your car gets returned washed and vacuumed out which is a nice gesture but still that's nuts.

The other thing to remember is that labor rates are charged by the estimated book time, not based on how long it actually takes, otherwise known as flat rate.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

The other thing to remember is that labor rates are charged by the estimated book time, not based on how long it actually takes, otherwise known as flat rate.

The interesting thing about that is that it doesn't work out the way you think all the time. While at times the work is done quicker, and thus it is better for the garage... The are also time where the work takes longer and doesn't work out so well for the garage.....

[jst_4_kiks]

I work at a marina on Winnipesaukee.

I just recently worked on a "new to the owner" boat. Came from saltwater environment. The owner asked to tune it up. Mercruiser 7.4 with bravo one. The spark plugs were severely rusted into the cylinder head. One actually broke the threads off. Was able to extract the broken piece without damage to engine or dissassembly. The spark plug wires were very old actually arching out in numerous places. Distributor cap & rotor were green & fuzzy. Wires, cap, & rotor were replaced with genuine quicksilver parts & spark plugs are factory recommended ACDelco. Before installing spark plugs threads had antisieze applied to them to aide in removal next time. Fuel filters were replaced aswell (inlet on four barrel carburetor & fuel water seperator). As ice is not out yet the engine will be run when it is time to be put in water & timing will be checked aswell. Ask for a tune-up everything is looked at, replaced if needed or asked to be, & engine runability/timing checked.

Pricing varies per application (Mercruiser, Volvo Penta, OMC, outboards, etc).

Make sure the job is done right the first time so the lake can be enjoyed in a boat instead of being looked at from shore.

Any questions about anything feel free to ask via Private Message. Many years experience in the marine industry around the Lakes Region.

Come on ice out. :-)

[MAXUM]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

The interesting thing about that is that it doesn't work out the way you think all the time. While at times the work is done quicker, and thus it is better for the garage... The are also time where the work takes longer and doesn't work out so well for the garage.....

I suppose so but there is lots of slush built into those labor hours so they hardly end up on the loosing side of things. Plus don't forget the very healthy markup on parts that are used too. The techs are paid flat rate too so it's to their advantage to get things done fast and "bill out" more hours than they are working.

When I used to do that kind of work I would typically bill out 10-15 hours over 40 even though I was was only working 40. A lot depended on the jobs I was getting. Things like oil changes, brakes, exhausts, typical service interval "services" such as 30,60,90K, timing belts, tuneups, etc.. these are the holy grail very easy to blast out in short time, require no troubleshooting, and pay very good hours, that's the stuff which everyone loves to do as there is big money in it and it doesn't require a significant amount of mechanical know how to do.

[JasonG]

Am I the only one that enjoys taking care of a boat as much as using it?

[Tired of Waiting]

Originally Posted by JasonG

Am I the only one that enjoys taking care of a boat as much as using it?

Mrs ToW and myself do the cleaning of the boat at the end of the season. We enjoy the time together talking about the years fishing and what we want to do next year.

Then the next day my son comes over and we do all the mechanical work. Engine maintenance, boat up-grades that had to wait for the boat to be dry. And then winterize the engines and boat. Of course there is some Libation to be had ,once the engine work is done, and A LOT of A_Busting.

It a pleasure for us to put the work into the boat and have the time together.

ToW

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by JasonG

Am I the only one that enjoys taking care of a boat as much as using it?

I enjoy working on the boat. I have restored Challengers in the past so I am mechanically inclined. A closer bond to the craft is good karma

Namaste!

[BroadHopper]

Originally Posted by MAXUM

Speaking of brake jobs, I just did all four corners of my car, cost me about ~500 bucks, to have it done 1400.

$1400? I just had 4 rotors, pads and calipers replace on my MB for a hair under 1,000 in ManchVegas.

Is it a Jagyouare or a Rover?