I feel sorry for you.

My 16ft. El Pescador has been at their plant for some hull work since late
NOVEMBER. Estimated time to fix.....one week.... I pick it up on Monday,
January 12!!!! Price...50 % more than estimate, though I did add some items
to the original plan, so I'm not too unhappy.

I had our home's ceilings raised this summer...final price ....50% higher
than estimate...100% additional time over estimate.

When I worked ( 40 years as an investment broker)...I'd write my customers a
one page letter detailing what I planned to do...including estimated costs
and timing. Just about 100% of them agreed with the written plan...and I
was able to execute it within 3 to 5% of my estimate, sometimes on the lower
side.

Sure doesn't happen in boats and houses, does it!

RichG

I had our home's ceilings raised this summer...final price ....50% higher
than estimate...100% additional time over estimate.



To the yard's credit- the job is going to be completed at only about 20% over
the original written estimate. Part of that is
my fault, I asked to have a second primary fuel filter installed. Each tank
will have a filter, and the fuel will combine at a manifold. I can shut off
either tank to trim the boat or to change filters underway- and if there's
"bad" fuel coming from one tank it will be easier to spot. They only went for
one bump on the originl estimate, and of course if was justified by things that
hadn't been foreseen when the estimate was prepared. Still- how often do you
hear of a yard ever saying "Good news! We were able to complete the job a
little faster than we thought, so we're going to charge you less than we
quoted!" ? Seems to only work the other way. :-)

Gould 0738 wrote:

I had our home's ceilings raised this summer...final price ....50% higher
than estimate...100% additional time over estimate.



To the yard's credit- the job is going to be completed at only about 20% over
the original written estimate. Part of that is
my fault, I asked to have a second primary fuel filter installed. Each tank
will have a filter, and the fuel will combine at a manifold. I can shut off
either tank to trim the boat or to change filters underway- and if there's
"bad" fuel coming from one tank it will be easier to spot. They only went for
one bump on the originl estimate, and of course if was justified by things that
hadn't been foreseen when the estimate was prepared. Still- how often do you
hear of a yard ever saying "Good news! We were able to complete the job a
little faster than we thought, so we're going to charge you less than we
quoted!" ? Seems to only work the other way. :-)

I have a few items I want added this spring, and I'm trying to line up
some of the "connecting" pieces and parts so that I don't have to pay
yard fabrication prices. I don't mind paying the guys to install stuff,
because they do a fine job, but when they have to build items out of
fiberglass or stainless or aluminum so as to mount stuff I want where I
want it, the sounds of "ka-ching" get very loud.

I'm hoping to be in Miami next month on business so I can spend a day
shopping at the Miami boat show. I've got a March trip to Miami lined
up, but I haven't been able to nail down a February trip between the
12th and the 17th. I'm looking especially for just the right rear
bulkhead folding bench...



--
Email sent to is never read.

On Sat, 10 Jan 2004 10:40:54 -0500, Harry Krause
wrote:
when they have to build items out of
fiberglass or stainless or aluminum so as to mount stuff I want where I
want it, the sounds of "ka-ching" get very loud.

================================================== =

Custom fabrication of virtually anything is VERY labor intensive,
especially if first class, professional looking appearance is
required.