You know those jobs you just don't wanna do sometimes? Well, this was one of them for me and I…read morewalked into this place being new to the area, pretending like I had no idea how to work on anything. I brought them an older boat of mine for a simple fuel system flush and carb adjustment. Lo and behold, I get a phone call two weeks later saying that my bill was $2500. I asked what could the two minor issues I asked to have corrected possibly have needed that would have totaled $2500 for a carb adjustment and fuel system cleanse? Well aside from the two things that I had asked them to perform that didn't get completed (which I'll get to), they installed an in-line fuel/water separator that I didn't ask for. Charged me for the separator but not the labor since I didn't ask for it but they did it anyway. Ok I thought, no biggie, it was like 75 bucks for the separator itself. Alright cool, no biggie. THEN they tried to sell me on an automatic bilge pump, which I didn't ask for and then proceeded to charge me $1500 for flushing the tank and very minimal fuel lines and a carb adjustment. Now THIS is where it goes downhill. I come to pick the boat up and tell them that I'll give them $1250 on the day of pick up, but my bill was just under $1500. They said OK no worries. You can take the boat home and just give us a call whenever you're ready to throw that last 300 at your bill. I said awesome, I had a feeling that this place was not only being proactive with things like the in-line separator choice and other tips, but also for allowing me to take the boat home with a very minor outstanding bill. Made me think, OK these guys are in it for the enjoyment of the marine life and not the money. Same way I treat the business I own. What a perfect shop to take your boat to that you're restoring to give to someone as a gift. Good morals it seems, right? Wrong.
I put that boat on the water the next day and it wouldn't start. After maybe 10 attempts at ignition, I did a quick walk to the stern and found that a QD fuel line to the motor wasn't connected, popped the seats up and fuel line to the tank wasn't seated on the in-line separator properly, they left the old plugs in that were fouled to oblivion, and they left footprints all over the seats. Considering the upholstery is in near perfect condition for that year of boat, you think they'd take their shoes off at least. Not to mention leaving the motor cover unlatched so as I'm going down the road it pops open, had to pull over and close it up. A very close friend who could run circles around these mechanics laughed at the idea of paying them 1250 to put a boat on the water that didn't run. Knowing good and well I could do everything myself, just didn't feel like smelling like fuel for 2 days. So what did I pay for? Well I'd say I paid a business to not do their job. The interesting part is they told me they dyno'd the boat and gave me compression testing across all four cylinders, so how is it that the fuel lines were still disconnected from the "fuel system flush" but you gave me a dyno when you were done adjusting what I asked for? Hmm, that's weird, wouldn't the lines be connected if you dyno'd it when you were done? Personally, I don't think they ever dyno'd the boat. Nor, do I think they ever did a compression test. I also think that if they did put new plugs in it, they then proceeded to pull those out and reinstall the old ones to save a few bucks because no boat would've ever ran with the spark plugs I pulled out of the boat WHILE I WAS ON THE WATER. I had to scrape carbon off and luckily had a can of brake cleaner on me to try and clean them up as best I could to get back to the dock....They were black as night. They also told me right before I left, that I may have to flush the system again myself....when I request a system flush, and I have to do it again myself, YOU'RE NOT DOING YOUR JOB. My end suggestion, DO NOT GIVE THESE PEOPLE MONEY. The ENTIRE BUSINESS FROM THE CRAPPY LOBBY AND SERVICE TO THE CRAPPY SHOP is not worth it, don't do it. Find another place.
