I used Mockingbird to repair several things on my boat. They replaced both toilets, reconfigured my air conditioning hoses and intakes, and installed a new shaft and several thru hulls. They also did a pressure test on my fuel tank. The work was generally excellent although the fuel tank pressure test was incorrect and those false results led me to spend additional thousands of dollars replacing the fuel tank when, in fact, it was not leaking and didn't need to be replaced.
The owner, Casey, is thoughtful and patient. I would give Mockingbird 5 stars if their pricing and the way they bill was more approachable.
Overcharging for marine services in the Kemah area is a well established, standard practice. (All of the marine services companies I've used in Kemah have grossly overcharged me - especially Mockingbird.)
So, if you can accept the fact that you will be overcharged (anywhere from twice to four times more than you should be charged at $100/hr) and that there is an endemic culture of overcharging for all types of marine services in the Kemah area, then competency becomes the critical, most important factor when selecting a marine services company in Kemah to do work on your boat.
Mockingbird's claim to fame is that they will provide you with a firm, fixed price bid and if the actual work exceeds the bid you will only have to pay the bid amount. A practice unheard of in Kemah. However, the truth is, this never actually occurred with my multiple jobs. In some cases, they did work without my knowledge and in all cases, they exceeded the bid and charged me the exceeded amount.
So, don't be fooled by bid or estimate prices or hourly rates from any Kemah vendor- no matter if it's Mockingbird or another well-established area business. All Kemah area marine service companies quote around $100/hr and then end up billing at more like $300/hr. once they inflate the actual work hours and add various mark up charges.
I will say, Casey is extremely knowledgeable and Mockingbird can do practically any repair and do it very professionally. However, their billing system is a real mess and often does not accurately reflect the associated work. Casey was flexible and accommodating, though, when inaccuracies were pointed out.
So, to sum up...I can promise that you will be overcharged (most often, grossly overcharged) by all of the marine service people in Kemah, Mockingbird included. So, it's critically important to select a competent company so you won't have to have the job redone by yet another expensive vendor.
I truly wish things were different in the Kemah area, but this is the way Kemah is. Reasonable fees simply do not exist here. Focus on vendor competency and do your best to deal with the over charges.
Mockingbird has proven to be very competent but alas, they overcharge just like all the other guys. read more
