Are we too tolerant of boatyard culture?
- Thread starter markwbird
- Start date
I guess I have been very fortunate. I have used the same yard for 14 years.
Up front, I receive a printed price list for every routine service from winter haulout to spring launch. Prior to winter layup, they send a request sheet out that includes a “menu” for everything one might want completed (including item price), and the date you request for the service.
The same guys have worked in the yard for all the time I have been there. They know my boat
and I find them easy to work with. There has never been any of the “you need to have this done” routine. More often, its “how can I help”.
Its not the least expensive yard in town, but it doesn’t have the adverse reputation for gouging uneducated owners that at least one of the nearby yards has deservedly earned.
Up front, I receive a printed price list for every routine service from winter haulout to spring launch. Prior to winter layup, they send a request sheet out that includes a “menu” for everything one might want completed (including item price), and the date you request for the service.
The same guys have worked in the yard for all the time I have been there. They know my boat
and I find them easy to work with. There has never been any of the “you need to have this done” routine. More often, its “how can I help”.
Its not the least expensive yard in town, but it doesn’t have the adverse reputation for gouging uneducated owners that at least one of the nearby yards has deservedly earned.
No. Nothing ever collapsed, blew up, or crashed into Mars because of bad engineersPhew! No Bad engineers …
.-Will (Dragonfly)
Tacoma Narrows Bridge??Phew! No Bad engineers …
almost forgot the video link. (it's classic
)
A golden oldie and a classic for sure! Every engineer learned a little about harmonic vibration from it!Tacoma Narrows Bridge??
almost forgot the video link. (it's classic
I'm with Maine on this one ... bad workmanship and customer service are not limited to a single profession. I've been disappointed by many 'professionals' and it sounds like you have as well. In the end, the only thing keeping you from demanding a written quote, inspecting the work before paying, demanding to see the insurance certificate, etc. is social pressure -- that offended look from the workman. I've found that true professionals have no problem at all giving you everything you could ask for in advance, along with a list of satisfied customers. Those that get offended when you ask for something in writing are the scammers.
Scott, I had a snappy response all typed out, then I decided not to. You engineers keep doing your best.Phew! No Bad engineers …
I am an engineer as well. However, that is not important right now. The pressing issue is whether or not the overcharging and generally sloppy work that I have seen take place at boatyards is systemic in the boating world. More to the point: do boatyard people have an attitude towards recreational boat owners? You have the floor.
Hey now! Anyone can accidentally use calories instead of Joules when calculating burn ratios. It happens all of the time. Just ask anyone in my General Chemistry class.(snip)... or crashed into Mars because of bad engineers
-Will (Dragonfly)
Are you saying that anyone can be an engineer on a Mars mission?Hey now! Anyone can accidentally use calories instead of Joules when calculating burn ratios. It happens all of the time. Just ask anyone in my General Chemistry class.
-Will (Dragonfly)
That is exactly right. It is the desire not to be seen as an a**hole that keeps some of us from demanding better. It is a shame that we have to become such to get what we pay for.
BTW if MaineSail were my customer I wouldn't try to BS him. That would be a long day.
When I used to keep my boat in New England all winter, I'd go to the boatyard on a cold, grey January day and invite the yard manager to lunch. Talked boats. Asked about his kids. I looked forward to it. I wasn't his biggest customer (or his smallest) but I got great service all year.
Why omit any description of what your problem was, what the yard didn't do and how they explained the cost you claimed was excessive? It sounds like there is another side to your story.
At the end of the day, money talks. If you are not getting good service go elsewhere. This happened to me just last year. I had been with the same marina/boatyard for 9 years. The service had gradually deteriorated to where I just had to make a change. Straw that broke the camel's back was I caught them not painting the footprint of the jack stands on the hull. So I walked and couldn't be happier. With the previous yard I began to feel like an employee rather than a valued customer. It was like what I imagine an abusive relation would be. I was forced to practically beg them to do anything. So I went to a new yard and couldn't be happier. I feel like a customer again.
- Of course your problem is not systemic to the boating world.
- Boatyard people do not have an attitude towards their recreational customers, they have an attitude toward the recreational customers who stop payment on an invoice!
- What is becoming systemic in this country is Victimhood - a desire to blame others and see it as part of some whacked conspiracy against self. You chose your tradesman unwisely, own it, you are the smarty-pants engineer after all.
- My suggestion: Call the owner ask for a meeting. Explain how your sense of being ripped off caused you to stop payment. Apologize. Get his side of the story, and ask for consideration. Settle the dispute. He didn’t get into business to service unhappy customers. Move on.
I did NOT say that.... exactly....Are you saying that anyone can be an engineer on a Mars mission?
-Will (Dragonfly)
There seems to be some completely unfounded theories that I have left out the details in order to hide something. I left out details for brevity and because I am interested in hearing others folk’s experiences. Also, I did not want to make this about trashing the boatyard. And yes, Gunni I am a smarty pants engineer and you don’t know what you’re talking about. Let me just say that the process lasted from February to June and I had many conversations with the owner and yard manager and even took time away from my super high toned job to meet them during the week and take them out on the boat so they could experience the issue, something they did not do. To tell all the details would be a book. Yes, I withheld payment after taking the boat back for a third time and it was not fixed. They’re a business not a charity. I am not a victim. I am a paying customer and I demand to be treated as such. Everyone should.