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Author Topic:   Average Repair Costs

Ablewis posted 04-28-2010 07:10 PM ET (US)
I had an idea that might be worthy of consideration. Would it make any sense to have a post where members posted the cost of repairs they had done this spring (2010)? I did a search to determine the average cost of a carb rebuild and could only find one post. I thought it might be helpful to start here? When I get my Yamaha back from the shop next week I will posts some expenses for a carb rebuild, tuneup, and fuel line replacement. Obviously it would be helpful if people would be specific about the engine, the repair and the region they are from.
contender posted 04-28-2010 08:16 PM ET (US)
I do a lot of my own work, and I'm retired, So what is your time worth? Outboard Mechanics are getting $70-90 dollars an hour here in Ft. Lauderdale area. Some big places more.(and sometimes the work it is not done correctly) To me it's not about the price, but about the work that's done and is it/ has it been done correctly or is it what I specified with no mistakes. Take a simple electrical connection on a boat, How many places will crimp the connection, solder the connection, use heat shrink, and then coat it with some type of grease or protectant. Or do they just tape the two bare wires together? Fine tuning like this takes time and cost more but then it's done correctly. I do have a saying, pay peanuts get monkeys, sometimes you will just have to pay the bucks... Another thought, what is it worth to you to have it done correctly, or do you want to bring it back in a year or two for the same thing (then what does that cost you?)...good luck
pcrussell50 posted 04-28-2010 08:17 PM ET (US)
I do my own. Does that count? I can give an accounting of the cost of parts I've used though.
-Peter
kwik_wurk posted 04-29-2010 03:20 PM ET (US)
In the PNW I was quoted $280 to rebuild a Holley 4-barrel (goes to a 5.7l, 350). 3-day turn-around, unless it really was dirty.
For that price I can almost buy an Edelbrock new. Makes me scratch my head.
I would love to rebuild the Holley myself, but I really don't have time.
All the other smaller carbs I do myself. I can get through the 3 carbs on my 90hp Mercs in 2-3 hrs. (Excluding the overnight soak.)
dgoodhue posted 04-29-2010 03:28 PM ET (US)
I do all my own mechanic work. I recently bought carb rebuild kits for a 89 70hp Evinrude, the rebuild kits were $30 each.
Mambo Minnow posted 04-29-2010 05:05 PM ET (US)
I would love to see a reference articlecaddition to the site on rebuilding carbs. It is a common occurence with ethanol now and long winter layups.
I was recently quoted 500 dollars at 95 dols/hr for a 90 up two stroke.
pcrussell50 posted 04-29-2010 08:36 PM ET (US)
Yes, that would be a welcome addition. I've got to do the two carbs on a 50hp Evinrude twin I have lying around unused. It has classic, "needs a carb rebuild", syndrome... it starts and runs well, but doesn't idle so well. I might put it up for sale it the carb rebuild does the trick as I have no use for it. I bought it to use on a Sport 13 I was hoping to find without a motor.
Maybe I'll do a photo documentary of it, and send it to Jim.
You're dead on about the cost of labor... and it costs what it costs, whether the tech is scraping old gaskets and freeing frozen bolts or performing advanced tuning and setup procedures that require specialized tools and expertise. I try to save my labor expenses for the latter.
-Peter
jimh posted 04-29-2010 10:37 PM ET (US)
Wouldn't the cost of repair be well correlated with the type of repair? It seems hard to come up with an average repair cost unless we have an average repair problem.
Tohsgib posted 04-30-2010 01:07 PM ET (US)
My mechanic gets $40/carb or $80 if he has to pull them and put back on.
Hal Watkins posted 04-30-2010 05:47 PM ET (US)
Boy was I surprised...
I just picked my '06 Montauk from its annual service. I put 103 hours on it last year for a total of 293 hours in 3 years of northern boating.
The following services were performed by a mercury authorized dealer:
Engine oil and filter change
Lower unit oil change
Fuel filter changed
Checked spark plugs, (like new)
Checked and greased wheel bearing, (no concerns)
Greased engine bracket
checked tilt fluid
checked nuetral deteent and adjusted
Charged and load tested battery, (original)
Checked all console switches
Blew out water discharge
Checked and adjuted tire pressure
I took it in at 8:30 AM and picked it up at 3:30 PM, same day.
So, how much was the total?
Hal, Waseca, MN
jimh posted 04-30-2010 06:42 PM ET (US)
In Minnesota, $375. Anywhere else, $575.
Ablewis posted 04-30-2010 07:43 PM ET (US)
Jim,
Thanks for the posts and e-mails. As I stated, I am having a tune-up, carb rebuild and fuel line replacement. As soon as I get the final bad news, I will post the results. I have a 1990 Yamaha 90 h.p. I agree with the suggestion for a reference piece on rebuilding carbs. If I had the time and the confidence, this is something I might have been tempted to do myself.
Andy
Hal Watkins posted 04-30-2010 09:35 PM ET (US)
$134.34...
Surprised me as well. I thought it would run twice that. The serviceman gave me a thorough debriefing of each item as well.
Hal, Waseca, MN
Jefecinco posted 05-01-2010 06:19 PM ET (US)
Average repair costs for common repairs would be interesting but I fail to see the value of such information. Charges can differ significantly between shops in the same area. Authorized repair shops may charge more than general repair shops. Authorized repair shops which also sell boats and motors may be higher. Chains such as MarineMax may also be higher. Shops in high cost metro areas may charge more. Shops in ore rural environs may charge less. Independent mobile repair technicians may charge more or less.
What is average in one place may not be average in another.
What could be useful is a flat rate manual for each brand of engine. That could result in some competition and charges would vary by hourly labor charges based upon the flat rate hours deemed appropriate for a given repair.
Butch
modenacart posted 05-01-2010 06:34 PM ET (US)
My mechanic took mine apart and sonic washed it for 35 dollars. He replaced any parts that needed replacing, not many, for the cost of parts. I think it was about $40, plus he gives me a cash discount.

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Author	Topic: Average Repair Costs
Ablewis	posted 04-28-2010 07:10 PM ET (US) I had an idea that might be worthy of consideration. Would it make any sense to have a post where members posted the cost of repairs they had done this spring (2010)? I did a search to determine the average cost of a carb rebuild and could only find one post. I thought it might be helpful to start here? When I get my Yamaha back from the shop next week I will posts some expenses for a carb rebuild, tuneup, and fuel line replacement. Obviously it would be helpful if people would be specific about the engine, the repair and the region they are from.
contender	posted 04-28-2010 08:16 PM ET (US) I do a lot of my own work, and I'm retired, So what is your time worth? Outboard Mechanics are getting $70-90 dollars an hour here in Ft. Lauderdale area. Some big places more.(and sometimes the work it is not done correctly) To me it's not about the price, but about the work that's done and is it/ has it been done correctly or is it what I specified with no mistakes. Take a simple electrical connection on a boat, How many places will crimp the connection, solder the connection, use heat shrink, and then coat it with some type of grease or protectant. Or do they just tape the two bare wires together? Fine tuning like this takes time and cost more but then it's done correctly. I do have a saying, pay peanuts get monkeys, sometimes you will just have to pay the bucks... Another thought, what is it worth to you to have it done correctly, or do you want to bring it back in a year or two for the same thing (then what does that cost you?)...good luck
pcrussell50	posted 04-28-2010 08:17 PM ET (US) I do my own. Does that count? I can give an accounting of the cost of parts I've used though. -Peter
kwik_wurk	posted 04-29-2010 03:20 PM ET (US) In the PNW I was quoted $280 to rebuild a Holley 4-barrel (goes to a 5.7l, 350). 3-day turn-around, unless it really was dirty. For that price I can almost buy an Edelbrock new. Makes me scratch my head. I would love to rebuild the Holley myself, but I really don't have time. All the other smaller carbs I do myself. I can get through the 3 carbs on my 90hp Mercs in 2-3 hrs. (Excluding the overnight soak.)
dgoodhue	posted 04-29-2010 03:28 PM ET (US) I do all my own mechanic work. I recently bought carb rebuild kits for a 89 70hp Evinrude, the rebuild kits were $30 each.
Mambo Minnow	posted 04-29-2010 05:05 PM ET (US) I would love to see a reference articlecaddition to the site on rebuilding carbs. It is a common occurence with ethanol now and long winter layups. I was recently quoted 500 dollars at 95 dols/hr for a 90 up two stroke.
pcrussell50	posted 04-29-2010 08:36 PM ET (US) Yes, that would be a welcome addition. I've got to do the two carbs on a 50hp Evinrude twin I have lying around unused. It has classic, "needs a carb rebuild", syndrome... it starts and runs well, but doesn't idle so well. I might put it up for sale it the carb rebuild does the trick as I have no use for it. I bought it to use on a Sport 13 I was hoping to find without a motor. Maybe I'll do a photo documentary of it, and send it to Jim. You're dead on about the cost of labor... and it costs what it costs, whether the tech is scraping old gaskets and freeing frozen bolts or performing advanced tuning and setup procedures that require specialized tools and expertise. I try to save my labor expenses for the latter. -Peter
jimh	posted 04-29-2010 10:37 PM ET (US) Wouldn't the cost of repair be well correlated with the type of repair? It seems hard to come up with an average repair cost unless we have an average repair problem.
Tohsgib	posted 04-30-2010 01:07 PM ET (US) My mechanic gets $40/carb or $80 if he has to pull them and put back on.
Hal Watkins	posted 04-30-2010 05:47 PM ET (US) Boy was I surprised... I just picked my '06 Montauk from its annual service. I put 103 hours on it last year for a total of 293 hours in 3 years of northern boating. The following services were performed by a mercury authorized dealer: Engine oil and filter change Lower unit oil change Fuel filter changed Checked spark plugs, (like new) Checked and greased wheel bearing, (no concerns) Greased engine bracket checked tilt fluid checked nuetral deteent and adjusted Charged and load tested battery, (original) Checked all console switches Blew out water discharge Checked and adjuted tire pressure I took it in at 8:30 AM and picked it up at 3:30 PM, same day. So, how much was the total? Hal, Waseca, MN
jimh	posted 04-30-2010 06:42 PM ET (US) In Minnesota, $375. Anywhere else, $575.
Ablewis	posted 04-30-2010 07:43 PM ET (US) Jim, Thanks for the posts and e-mails. As I stated, I am having a tune-up, carb rebuild and fuel line replacement. As soon as I get the final bad news, I will post the results. I have a 1990 Yamaha 90 h.p. I agree with the suggestion for a reference piece on rebuilding carbs. If I had the time and the confidence, this is something I might have been tempted to do myself. Andy
Hal Watkins	posted 04-30-2010 09:35 PM ET (US) $134.34... Surprised me as well. I thought it would run twice that. The serviceman gave me a thorough debriefing of each item as well. Hal, Waseca, MN
Jefecinco	posted 05-01-2010 06:19 PM ET (US) Average repair costs for common repairs would be interesting but I fail to see the value of such information. Charges can differ significantly between shops in the same area. Authorized repair shops may charge more than general repair shops. Authorized repair shops which also sell boats and motors may be higher. Chains such as MarineMax may also be higher. Shops in high cost metro areas may charge more. Shops in ore rural environs may charge less. Independent mobile repair technicians may charge more or less. What is average in one place may not be average in another. What could be useful is a flat rate manual for each brand of engine. That could result in some competition and charges would vary by hourly labor charges based upon the flat rate hours deemed appropriate for a given repair. Butch
modenacart	posted 05-01-2010 06:34 PM ET (US) My mechanic took mine apart and sonic washed it for 35 dollars. He replaced any parts that needed replacing, not many, for the cost of parts. I think it was about $40, plus he gives me a cash discount.