Boat Repair = Forever

[Sfritr]

Ok.  I realize this is the height of the boating season but......

I took my boat in Wed. 17th to have a new ignition installed (remember, lost my keys) and to have them give a tune up.  I called Yesterday and they hadn't even looked at the boat.  They said that they hoped to have it by the 4th of July.  HELLO THATS d**n NEAR A MONTH.

These guys do great work but isn't this kinda long????  Maybe I'm just dying to go fishing......  What do you all think

[Ellesar]

When I had to take my boat in a month or so ago they had it for 3 weeks. Its just that time of year.

[CFFF 1.5]

Go pick the boat up and take it somewhere else. I understand it is a busy time of year but, simple things like should not take a month to complete. I had to have my carbs cleaned about 3 months ago in the beginning of the boaitng season here in Central FL and it only took 3 days to get it done.

[tntitans21399]

I think, not 100% sure, but I think they work on boats first come first serve type of way.  Not little projects first and bigger projects latter.  So even thou you might have simple things to fix, their could be 4-6 boats in front of yours.  I know their is a boat shop near my house and during the off season the parking lot is pretty empty but when boating season starts you will see anywhere from 3-10 boats sitting in the parking lot waiting to get worked on.  It's just that time of the season.  Just like a traffic jam on the interstate, to much of demand.

[TommyBass]

Ive had that type of thing happen to me before.  What makes me mad is when they don't get to even starting on it.  They shouldn't have told you to take it in the 17th if they couldn't get to it till next week.  The way I see it is if its scheduled for a day, they should be starting that day.  Its just a way for a place that is really backed up to steal your business from somewhere else that may have been able to get you in quicker.  Good luck man, its terrible having your boat out for that long and not knowing when it will be back.

[fishfordollars]

If you are going to own a boat you are going to have to learn to repair a lot of smaller issues. Otherwise you will be sitting and waiting more than you realize. There is little money in a repair job like this so it gets pushed to the rear in favor of the money making jobs the service department has lined up.

You can get keys for an ignition. Get the codes and call a dealership or get a number from them to call and have a dupilcate sent to you. Or you can carry to a locksmith and have one made. Makes no sense to replace the ignition box when all you need is a 5.00 key.

Had an issue several years ago with a set of keys for my boat. Called a locksmith and he came to my home and had a key in 15 minutes. I had two extras made and have not had a problem since.

[cart7t]

If you are going to own a boat you are going to have to learn to repair a lot of smaller issues. Otherwise you will be sitting and waiting more than you realize. There is little money in a repair job like this so it gets pushed to the rear in favor of the money making jobs the service department has lined up.

You can get keys for an ignition. Get the codes and call a dealership or get a number from them to call and have a dupilcate sent to you. Or you can carry to a locksmith and have one made. Makes no sense to replace the ignition box when all you need is a 5.00 key.

Had an issue several years ago with a set of keys for my boat. Called a locksmith and he came to my home and had a key in 15 minutes. I had two extras made and have not had a problem since.

Yep, not too mention warranty work on customers whose boats were purchased at that dealer will take priority over your boat.  

The boat repair business works differently than most.  Either learn to handle smaller repairs yourself or prepare yourself for the wait.

[DawsonH]

Take the advice about the lock smith. Go get your boat, save some money and get back to fishing. Seriously. You will have it ready to go on the day you pick it up.

[Way2slow]

As with any seasonal work, they need a lot more mechanics during the peak season than during the winter.  They can't afford to pay a full crew of guys to sit around for seven months and work five so when peak season hits, you're gonna be waiting in line a long time.  Just the nature of the beast.    Also as mentioned, somebody that just bought or is buying a brand new rig is going to bump any other maintenance.  NO dealer is going to loose a big sale for a couple of hundred dollar repair.

Any boat owner that doesn't want to wait in line at a repair shop for weeks on end needs to learn to do the small, unscheduled maintenance them selves.  Major breakdowns, most have no choise, but for a key/switch, the boat should have never been taken in.  Just not a whole lot involved is swapping out the whole switch if needed.  The whole switch is less then the shop is going to charge you in labor.

I've never taken anything I own to anyone for repair unless it was a warrenty or insurance claim.   I pretty much feel if man made it, I can fix it and have been doing that for a whole bunch of years.

[5bass]

I had the same problem with my trolling motor. Took it in on a Saturday, they said they'd have it done by the following Friday. I picked it up 2 Saturdays later and they hadn't even looked at it. It was still in the same spot it was when I left it. (on the floor)

That was 14 days in the shop (11 WORKING DAYS) in between where they couldnt even get one hour to diagnose my motor problem after telling me the whole thing would be diagnosed and fixed in 5 days.

In the end, I had to take it somewhere else and buy a new trolling motor.

[HPBB]

I would take it somewhere else. One shop had my boat for 4 months and never fixed it. I ended up picking it up one day and another shop fixed it in a week

[Low_Budget_Hooker]

switch out the ignition yourself and hold on the tune up.  make an appointment with another dealer for the tune up and explain that you need it to go in on the day of the appointment and OUT the next day, that's why you are making an appointment.