I wanted to get some expert opinions on how common this type of
problem is. I'm getting extremely frustrated and am to the point that
I am not planning on paying the bills that I have already occurred
from the marina.

About four months ago my MerCruiser Alpha 1 engine stopped running in
the middle of a local lake. Clouds of black smoke, wouldn't crank.
After getting towed in and having the marina look at it they found two
cracked cylinders. They were repaired within a month; I was charged
$1500 and told the boat was ready.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened. Towed in, marina looks at the engine and informs me that it
needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. They send it to a machine
shop to do the work; three weeks later I get the boat back and a bill
for $3500.00.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened AGAIN. Towed in, marina sends the motor back to a machine
shop. Three weeks later, I get the boat, no additional charge, and,
well, you guessed it... Less than a mile out and same thing. This
was the third time.

Fourth of July, boat is ready... Take it out, long story short, same
thing. Black smoke, won't crank. Marina informs me that the machine
shop did not properly torque the cylinder heads and that the motor
will need to be rebuilt again.

The marina promised to take the boat back to the machine shop and make
sure that it was repaired immediately, that was three weeks ago. They
claim the boat will be ready Tuesday, which I seriously doubt.

My question is this: How common is this type of incompetence and is a
total of more than $5000.00 fair for the same engine, rebuilt four
times, and a complete loss of my boat for the summer? Naturally I
plan on pulling the boat from this marina, but how common is it to
demand a new motor and what is a fair price for that plus the work
that has been attempted?

I already plan to pull my boat from this marina, due to the fact they
operate a very unprofessional marina. Resturant not open except when
they feel like it, gas pumps usually locked with nobody available
during business hours, etc... Sadly enough, I've had a handfull of
people tell me the same thing about this place but only in the last
few months. You live and learn, I guess.

Thanks in advance!

David

Didn't you rather answer your own question by describing the general level
of unprofessionalism at this marina? If you do not have the experience to
find and deal with good mechanics on your own, I would be out of that place
like a shot! You get what you pay for (sometimes - not at your place,
apparently!!)

"David Wolfenbarger" wrote in message
om...
I wanted to get some expert opinions on how common this type of
problem is. I'm getting extremely frustrated and am to the point that
I am not planning on paying the bills that I have already occurred
from the marina.

About four months ago my MerCruiser Alpha 1 engine stopped running in
the middle of a local lake. Clouds of black smoke, wouldn't crank.
After getting towed in and having the marina look at it they found two
cracked cylinders. They were repaired within a month; I was charged
$1500 and told the boat was ready.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened. Towed in, marina looks at the engine and informs me that it
needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. They send it to a machine
shop to do the work; three weeks later I get the boat back and a bill
for $3500.00.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened AGAIN. Towed in, marina sends the motor back to a machine
shop. Three weeks later, I get the boat, no additional charge, and,
well, you guessed it... Less than a mile out and same thing. This
was the third time.

Fourth of July, boat is ready... Take it out, long story short, same
thing. Black smoke, won't crank. Marina informs me that the machine
shop did not properly torque the cylinder heads and that the motor
will need to be rebuilt again.

The marina promised to take the boat back to the machine shop and make
sure that it was repaired immediately, that was three weeks ago. They
claim the boat will be ready Tuesday, which I seriously doubt.

My question is this: How common is this type of incompetence and is a
total of more than $5000.00 fair for the same engine, rebuilt four
times, and a complete loss of my boat for the summer? Naturally I
plan on pulling the boat from this marina, but how common is it to
demand a new motor and what is a fair price for that plus the work
that has been attempted?

I already plan to pull my boat from this marina, due to the fact they
operate a very unprofessional marina. Resturant not open except when
they feel like it, gas pumps usually locked with nobody available
during business hours, etc... Sadly enough, I've had a handfull of
people tell me the same thing about this place but only in the last
few months. You live and learn, I guess.

Thanks in advance!

David

David you are describing and "extreme" situation built over multiples
accumulating errors. I had an engine blown on my boat, the camshaft melted
away.... I had the engine remove from the local marina shop and sent to an
professional machine shop where they completely rebuilted it; crankshaft
turned to .020, cylinder bored oversize to .040. High performance oil
pump, double roller on camshaft chain. Forged pistons and refinished of the
cylinder head all for a mere 2000 $ canadian. That was 300 hours ago.

The problem is that marine mechanic is a specialty but engine rebuilding is
a commodity. It easy to find a competent marine mechanic just by
references, but as we don't rebuild engine every week its harder to have
good references. In your situation, prior to engaging in $$$ expenses, did
you get an explanation of the intented repair procedures ? I think they
welded up the cylinders and this is the first error = i would never do this
even on a car engine. The engine block should have been changed for a
core on first time and you wouldn't have experienced the other failure.

André


"David Wolfenbarger" wrote in message
om...
I wanted to get some expert opinions on how common this type of
problem is. I'm getting extremely frustrated and am to the point that
I am not planning on paying the bills that I have already occurred
from the marina.

About four months ago my MerCruiser Alpha 1 engine stopped running in
the middle of a local lake. Clouds of black smoke, wouldn't crank.
After getting towed in and having the marina look at it they found two
cracked cylinders. They were repaired within a month; I was charged
$1500 and told the boat was ready.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened. Towed in, marina looks at the engine and informs me that it
needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. They send it to a machine
shop to do the work; three weeks later I get the boat back and a bill
for $3500.00.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened AGAIN. Towed in, marina sends the motor back to a machine
shop. Three weeks later, I get the boat, no additional charge, and,
well, you guessed it... Less than a mile out and same thing. This
was the third time.

Fourth of July, boat is ready... Take it out, long story short, same
thing. Black smoke, won't crank. Marina informs me that the machine
shop did not properly torque the cylinder heads and that the motor
will need to be rebuilt again.

The marina promised to take the boat back to the machine shop and make
sure that it was repaired immediately, that was three weeks ago. They
claim the boat will be ready Tuesday, which I seriously doubt.

My question is this: How common is this type of incompetence and is a
total of more than $5000.00 fair for the same engine, rebuilt four
times, and a complete loss of my boat for the summer? Naturally I
plan on pulling the boat from this marina, but how common is it to
demand a new motor and what is a fair price for that plus the work
that has been attempted?

I already plan to pull my boat from this marina, due to the fact they
operate a very unprofessional marina. Resturant not open except when
they feel like it, gas pumps usually locked with nobody available
during business hours, etc... Sadly enough, I've had a handfull of
people tell me the same thing about this place but only in the last
few months. You live and learn, I guess.

Thanks in advance!

David

Around these parts, most shops after an engine repair of such
a large extent will do a sea trial and run it for a couple of hours.
You should have insisted upon such and been aboard during
it. Incompetant marinas and mechanics feed upon nieve boat
owners. Never pay the bill until the repair/service is completed
to your satisfaction.

Doug
s/v Callista

"David Wolfenbarger" wrote in message
om...
I wanted to get some expert opinions on how common this type of
problem is. I'm getting extremely frustrated and am to the point that
I am not planning on paying the bills that I have already occurred
from the marina.

About four months ago my MerCruiser Alpha 1 engine stopped running in
the middle of a local lake. Clouds of black smoke, wouldn't crank.
After getting towed in and having the marina look at it they found two
cracked cylinders. They were repaired within a month; I was charged
$1500 and told the boat was ready.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened. Towed in, marina looks at the engine and informs me that it
needs to be rebuilt from the ground up. They send it to a machine
shop to do the work; three weeks later I get the boat back and a bill
for $3500.00.

I took the boat out, got about a mile and the exact same thing
happened AGAIN. Towed in, marina sends the motor back to a machine
shop. Three weeks later, I get the boat, no additional charge, and,
well, you guessed it... Less than a mile out and same thing. This
was the third time.

Fourth of July, boat is ready... Take it out, long story short, same
thing. Black smoke, won't crank. Marina informs me that the machine
shop did not properly torque the cylinder heads and that the motor
will need to be rebuilt again.

The marina promised to take the boat back to the machine shop and make
sure that it was repaired immediately, that was three weeks ago. They
claim the boat will be ready Tuesday, which I seriously doubt.

My question is this: How common is this type of incompetence and is a
total of more than $5000.00 fair for the same engine, rebuilt four
times, and a complete loss of my boat for the summer? Naturally I
plan on pulling the boat from this marina, but how common is it to
demand a new motor and what is a fair price for that plus the work
that has been attempted?

I already plan to pull my boat from this marina, due to the fact they
operate a very unprofessional marina. Resturant not open except when
they feel like it, gas pumps usually locked with nobody available
during business hours, etc... Sadly enough, I've had a handfull of
people tell me the same thing about this place but only in the last
few months. You live and learn, I guess.

Thanks in advance!

David

Unfortunately this is one of those areas that I lacked knowledge,
first boat. I trusted the marina, heard a few good things and well,
you live and learn.

Just as an update...

Over the weekend they changed their story, claiming the boat would be
ready Monday. Monday, of course, no boat. Tuesday, no boat and no
return calls. As of today, they still claim the boat isn't ready, but
they aren't real sure where it is or how far along the mechanic got
with it, the usual story. He's off working on someone elses's boat at
the moment, again, usual story.

I told them to put the motor, and all of it's parts, back in the boat
and I'll be down within a few hours to pull it out of the marina.
I've found a shop that is pretty highly reccomended, so I'll end up
taking the mess over to them and seeing if they can help me sort it
out. The marina hasn't provided an itemazied list of repairs to
justify this last $3000.00 bill nor can they provide a written
warranty from the machine shop, needless to say I can't provide a
check.



"Doug Dotson" wrote in message ...
Around these parts, most shops after an engine repair of such
a large extent will do a sea trial and run it for a couple of hours.
You should have insisted upon such and been aboard during
it. Incompetant marinas and mechanics feed upon nieve boat
owners. Never pay the bill until the repair/service is completed
to your satisfaction.

Doug
s/v Callista

Unfortunately this is one of those areas that I lacked knowledge,
first boat. I trusted the marina, heard a few good things and well,
you live and learn.

Just as an update...

Over the weekend they changed their story, claiming the boat would be
ready Monday. Monday, of course, no boat. Tuesday, no boat and no
return calls. As of today, they still claim the boat isn't ready, but
they aren't real sure where it is or how far along the mechanic got
with it, the usual story. He's off working on someone elses's boat at
the moment, again, usual story.

I told them to put the motor, and all of it's parts, back in the boat
and I'll be down within a few hours to pull it out of the marina.
I've found a shop that is pretty highly reccomended, so I'll end up
taking the mess over to them and seeing if they can help me sort it
out. The marina hasn't provided an itemazied list of repairs to
justify this last $3000.00 bill nor can they provide a written
warranty from the machine shop, needless to say I can't provide a
check.



"Doug Dotson" wrote in message ...
Around these parts, most shops after an engine repair of such
a large extent will do a sea trial and run it for a couple of hours.
You should have insisted upon such and been aboard during
it. Incompetant marinas and mechanics feed upon nieve boat
owners. Never pay the bill until the repair/service is completed
to your satisfaction.

Doug
s/v Callista

David,

Document everything carefully and then sue them for as much as you can.
(Your description in your usenet posts are already a good start.)

You may wish to put any future charges on a credit card, which can be
disputed if you run into additional problems. Hopefully this new shop will
treat you right.

--Alan Gomes

"David Wolfenbarger" wrote in message
om...
Unfortunately this is one of those areas that I lacked knowledge,
first boat. I trusted the marina, heard a few good things and well,
you live and learn.

Just as an update...

Over the weekend they changed their story, claiming the boat would be
ready Monday. Monday, of course, no boat. Tuesday, no boat and no
return calls. As of today, they still claim the boat isn't ready, but
they aren't real sure where it is or how far along the mechanic got
with it, the usual story. He's off working on someone elses's boat at
the moment, again, usual story.

I told them to put the motor, and all of it's parts, back in the boat
and I'll be down within a few hours to pull it out of the marina.
I've found a shop that is pretty highly reccomended, so I'll end up
taking the mess over to them and seeing if they can help me sort it
out. The marina hasn't provided an itemazied list of repairs to
justify this last $3000.00 bill nor can they provide a written
warranty from the machine shop, needless to say I can't provide a
check.



"Doug Dotson" wrote in message
...
Around these parts, most shops after an engine repair of such
a large extent will do a sea trial and run it for a couple of hours.
You should have insisted upon such and been aboard during
it. Incompetant marinas and mechanics feed upon nieve boat
owners. Never pay the bill until the repair/service is completed
to your satisfaction.

Doug
s/v Callista

Ah, I see you're about to become familiar with the concept of
The Mechanic's Lien.

Have a happy day

Brian W

On 11 Aug 2004 11:01:42 -0700, (David
Wolfenbarger) wrote:

Unfortunately this is one of those areas that I lacked knowledge,
first boat. I trusted the marina, heard a few good things and well,
you live and learn.

Just as an update...

Over the weekend they changed their story, claiming the boat would be
ready Monday. Monday, of course, no boat. Tuesday, no boat and no
return calls. As of today, they still claim the boat isn't ready, but
they aren't real sure where it is or how far along the mechanic got
with it, the usual story. He's off working on someone elses's boat at
the moment, again, usual story.

I told them to put the motor, and all of it's parts, back in the boat
and I'll be down within a few hours to pull it out of the marina.
I've found a shop that is pretty highly reccomended, so I'll end up
taking the mess over to them and seeing if they can help me sort it
out. The marina hasn't provided an itemazied list of repairs to
justify this last $3000.00 bill nor can they provide a written
warranty from the machine shop, needless to say I can't provide a
check.



"Doug Dotson" wrote in message ...
Around these parts, most shops after an engine repair of such
a large extent will do a sea trial and run it for a couple of hours.
You should have insisted upon such and been aboard during
it. Incompetant marinas and mechanics feed upon nieve boat
owners. Never pay the bill until the repair/service is completed
to your satisfaction.

Doug
s/v Callista

I didn't get a chance to pick the boat up yesterday, but did go this
afternoon. When I arrived the mechanic was putting the boat back
together and informed me that he would have everything ready within
the hour. I asked that the boat not be placed back into the slip, but
put on the trailer and I would be back to pick it up and remove it
from the marina. The mechanic apoligized for all of the problems and
indicated he had several other motors from the same machine shop that
were having the exact same problem...

Picked up the boat, drove it down to a public dock and put it in the
water. Made it about a mile and, well, or course, the smell of burning
oil and the sounds of severe knocking from the motor. Luckily I
wasn't very far out. I made it back to the ramp at about the same
time the motor gave it's final cry.

Needless to say, given this is the 5th time they've rebuilt the motor
in the last few months, it's in my driveway waiting to go to a real
machine shop. Sadly enough, I really think the marina may still be
thinking I'm going to pay them, but, hopefully, I'm wrong.

So, if anyone is looking for a marina, or machine shop, in or around
the Concord or Knoxville Tennessee area, feel free to drop me a line
and I'll be more than happy to tell you what I know of the local
marina's.

I'm just curious, what is your break in procedure? What type motor is it?
I might have missed this earlier if so I apologize. Kirk.

Picked up the boat, drove it down to a public dock and put it in the
water. Made it about a mile and, well, or course, the smell of burning
oil and the sounds of severe knocking from the motor. Luckily I
wasn't very far out. I made it back to the ramp at about the same
time the motor gave it's final cry.

Needless to say, given this is the 5th time they've rebuilt the motor
in the last few months, it's in my driveway waiting to go to a real
machine shop. Sadly enough, I really think the marina may still be
thinking I'm going to pay them, but, hopefully, I'm wrong.