We recently completed a major refit on a large, older European boat with complicated systems and non-functioning refrigeration, air conditioning, water maker, etc. and Swedish Marine's service was outstanding.
First the good stuff: Anders and Danny really know their stuff and are master technicians who seem to really care about their customers and completing each job to high quality standards. As a boat owner for 35 years I can confidently say that they're the best I've worked with, and very, very fair with their pricing. For each job I expected to pay more and was pleasantly surprised with the final bill. A rare experience as a boat owner!
Now the challenging part: It's easy to understand some of the reasons for the more critical Yelp reviews. They are a small shop of two technicians (with Ander's wife Lena helping in the office), are pretty much the only ones who do what they do in the S.F Bay Area and they are in demand and very busy. You can't be in a hurry and must be patient in planning your boat projects. If you need immediate attention and you're not an existing customer, these are not your guys. While Danny is a sweetheart and easy to get along with, Anders is all business until you make the effort get to know him. I understand why some might have a hard time with Anders on the surface, but I find him very likable and easy to relate to, perhaps because I get his humor and can see the twinkle in his eye. He's a "man's man" for sure, who shows he cares by providing exceptional service to his customers, if you're patient and lucky enough to become one. There is no-one in the world I'd rather have working on my boat than Anders (Danny is a close second), so he's worth getting to know.
Tips for working with Swedish Marine:
1. Be respectful and aware of how busy they are. Don't act like they should drop everything for your project.
2. Plan your projects well in advance, preferably for the off season.
3. Be patient. Like ordering food at a great restaurant, "quick" and "fast" is not on the menu.
4. Connect with them as people, because they are, and don't treat them like "the help," because they don't need your business or your superior attitude.
5. Calling is better than e-mail, and calling early in the day, early in the week is best. When I call between 8am and 9am on a Monday or Tuesday, I almost always get Anders personally picking up the phone.
These guys are worth the effort and if you're not willing to do the above, good luck finding anyone better.
[The attached photo is just one of many projects completed by Swedish Marine. The previous stove/oven was much smaller and my wife (a foodie and gourmet cook) really wanted this unit, which required modifying the cabinetry to expand the space. As you can see, with Ander's craftsmanship, it looks like it belongs there. The two digital thermostats on the right side of the photo for the new refrigerator and freezer compressors were installed by Danny and included as an upgrade at no charge.] read more