The Sailrite people also indicate that covers do more harm than good if just made from sunbrella. They suggest lining them with a softer material.Different schools of thought whether to cover or not to cover. Seems to come down to if protection from UV is needed then absolutely cover: otherwise, it is a item for discussion over a beer.
Covering Strataglass
A clean soft lining on a clean no dirt, no salt vinyl window. I can buy that.They suggest lining them with a softer material.
A club mate with a Hunter 38 was the victim of Marina Midnight shopping during his winter layup. Dodger and Bimini. Insurance paid most of the $8k to replace...Hello all,
I'm in the process of getting a new dodger & bikini for my 1988 Hunter 33.5. I received a quote between $2200-$3600 for the dodger &
$1900-$2800 for the bimini.
I already have a dodger frame and just need a new dodge. Will need a new frame for the bimini. The question is, does these quotes seem reasonable to you? I live on the east coast by the way.
Brian
What a great tip... I've added the address into my boat file.I sent my old bimini to copycovers.com and was very pleased with the results. I made some minor changes in the placement of windows and everything came out perfect.
Ignore my advice. I don't know what bikinis cost.Hello all,
I'm in the process of getting a new dodger & bikini for my 1988 Hunter 33.5.
I do have a problem with it. But, these guys are busy now with a backlog of work. More than usual. As with riggers and diesel mechanics (similar rates), etc. My rigger told me a couple of days ago that he was not accepting new jobs until sometime in January. That the recent up-tick in yacht sales (resales) due to Corona has the new owners wanting repairs and up-grades. Until these folks are waiting idle by the phone for a new job to come in, they can price “as needed.” Their skills require development, and the folks doing the work need a good reputation around town. Not the kind of business that is easy to start up even if there is over-demand.I know that it is what it is, but why don't us boaters have a problem with labor rates at $110/hr? I realize that it is a skilled labor, but engineering, teaching, and various trades are also skilled and are priced at a much lower hourly rate. I don't mean to hijack this tread, it is just a related question.
I asked an auto service manager about that in the 80's, he said, "because the valve covers on your car say Lotus not Chevrolet"I know that it is what it is, but why don't us boaters have a problem with labor rates at $110/hr?
Dr. J is, of course, exactly right. But I will reiterate that multiple quotes are usually worth the effort, as is finding out what other customers think of the work done by that particular shop BEFORE you hire them to do an expensive job (maybe even have them do a small job first, like snap covers for non-opening ports).Self-employed tradespeople who work with their own hands put in a lot of hours for which they don’t get “paid”. That $110/hr has to cover the phone, shop rent, travel time, delivery time, sales time, insurance, health insurance, unpaid vacations, etc. I’d be surprised if most net half their hourly rate after expenses and providing “free services”.
Customers want excellent customer service... and “free quotes” and “free” advice. Most customers ask at least three shops for a quote, then customer hires only one for the job. And lots of time, the customer is only kicking tires.
Professional looking, well designed canvas work requires years of practice, highly skilled craftsmanship and business management skills.
just sayin.....
That $110/hr has to cover the phone, shop rent, travel time, delivery time, sales time, insurance, health insurance, unpaid vacations, both parts of fica, retirement planning, 401K or equivalent, warranties, bookkeeping and accounting, payroll costs, performing all the BS required to meet city, county, state and federal rules and requirements, vehicles, employee BS, unpaid invoices.That $110/hr has to cover the phone, shop rent, travel time, delivery time, sales time, insurance, health insurance, unpaid vacations, etc. I’d be surprised if most net half their hourly rate after expenses and providing “free services
just sayin.....
Had to choke a bit on that number. It has been a few years when I had ours replaced. Framing was in good condition, so all that was done was new canvas, but in our case I paid $1,400 for a new dodger, bimini and main sail cover, all in Sunbrella fabric. Might pay to check around a bit more. Lita's Top Shop in Arlington did ours.I've been shopping for a dodger in the Puget Sound area and $6k seems to be the ballpark figure. $3600 would be great. As much as I don't want to, I may do it myself.
Won’t mention names but a sail loft here is infamous for quoting an hourly rate lower than the competition but ‘pads’ the total hours to compensate. Price doesn’t always equate to value.Hard to tell what to do sometimes. I asked my sail loft for a price to repair my Genoa. They gave me a $90
labor rate. I dropped the sail off and got an email a week later that it was ready to pick Up...invoice attached, at $110 per hour. I called them on it...and sales guy who gave me the $90 rate wanted me to say “oh, OK”, otherwise he was going to have to cover the $20 per hour himself.
Going to pick the sail up tomorrow...guess we will see how that goes.
Separately, I am planning a trip and was booking a limo to the airport...regular guy I have used for several years quoted me almost $400 for a round trip. I check around a little and found 2 other limo companies who were $100 and $200 cheaper! So it does pay to shop around.
Cheers,
Greg