My boat is at a rack storage marina and they only want to service outboards. My boat is an VP I/O.
I found a guy on CraigsList saying he was a mobile marine mechanic and would work on VP. He seemed knowledgeable when I talked to him on the phone.
He told me his rate included $225 for travel and $125 per hour. Felt it was high but would save me from bringing my boat to a boat repair shop. And presently boat does not have a top. Being in indoor rack storage a top is not really needed unless I get caught in the rain out in the boat. Top is being repaired.
So when I could not shift the outdrive I felt the shift cable was most likely to cause and arranged for this guy to install a new one. He told me the shift cable was $189 without knowing the exact length. The price varies by length. The shift cable is more like $65. So $189 plus travel & labor.
He comes two hours early to work on my boat. It was still in the storage building and not on a work rack. He installs the shift cable and says the shifter is rusted and corroded and needs to be replaced. It looks rusty and the button to prevent an accidental shift would not go in. He leaves to get a shifter and an hour latter texts me it will have to be ordered. I assume he will order one from a VP dealer.
I got the part number from the Chaparral boat parts list. He has the old shifter. That may end up being a problem.
The next day I do some hunting around for the shifter. He texts me and says he found the mechanism on EBAY for $400. I ask him if the part number is the exact part number and he says yes. I look at the item on EBAY and it's $300 and it looks like it was installed and removed. It's listed as old/new stock. The seller will not take returns. And it has no part number. I call the seller and ask about a part number and no part number.
So mechanic lied about the part number and BS'ed about the price. At $400 it's getting closer to a new shifter assembly from VP. He tells me he is sure it will work.
I feel he has tried to take advantage of me more than once, has lied about the part number and adding in his travel charge will make every visit to my boat expensive.
We were looking at the old shifter and he pointed out that the micro switch in the shifter cuts out the engine just for a fraction of a second while shifting out of gear. So his knowledge now comes into play. That only happens on a Mercruiser and the micro switch for that is at the engine. The micro switch on the shifter is a neutral interlock to prevent starting the engine in gear.
I think it's time to cut him loose. Buy a shifter and get a boat repair shop to install it
I found a guy on CraigsList saying he was a mobile marine mechanic and would work on VP. He seemed knowledgeable when I talked to him on the phone.
He told me his rate included $225 for travel and $125 per hour. Felt it was high but would save me from bringing my boat to a boat repair shop. And presently boat does not have a top. Being in indoor rack storage a top is not really needed unless I get caught in the rain out in the boat. Top is being repaired.
So when I could not shift the outdrive I felt the shift cable was most likely to cause and arranged for this guy to install a new one. He told me the shift cable was $189 without knowing the exact length. The price varies by length. The shift cable is more like $65. So $189 plus travel & labor.
He comes two hours early to work on my boat. It was still in the storage building and not on a work rack. He installs the shift cable and says the shifter is rusted and corroded and needs to be replaced. It looks rusty and the button to prevent an accidental shift would not go in. He leaves to get a shifter and an hour latter texts me it will have to be ordered. I assume he will order one from a VP dealer.
I got the part number from the Chaparral boat parts list. He has the old shifter. That may end up being a problem.
The next day I do some hunting around for the shifter. He texts me and says he found the mechanism on EBAY for $400. I ask him if the part number is the exact part number and he says yes. I look at the item on EBAY and it's $300 and it looks like it was installed and removed. It's listed as old/new stock. The seller will not take returns. And it has no part number. I call the seller and ask about a part number and no part number.
So mechanic lied about the part number and BS'ed about the price. At $400 it's getting closer to a new shifter assembly from VP. He tells me he is sure it will work.
I feel he has tried to take advantage of me more than once, has lied about the part number and adding in his travel charge will make every visit to my boat expensive.
We were looking at the old shifter and he pointed out that the micro switch in the shifter cuts out the engine just for a fraction of a second while shifting out of gear. So his knowledge now comes into play. That only happens on a Mercruiser and the micro switch for that is at the engine. The micro switch on the shifter is a neutral interlock to prevent starting the engine in gear.
I think it's time to cut him loose. Buy a shifter and get a boat repair shop to install it
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