Yard work done resulting in more problems

[Don S/V ILLusion]

Many years ago, I had the marina do some engine work which almost resulted in sinking the boat because they left prior to securing seacock hose. Didn’t learn my lesson. Always do everything important myself.

at another yard years later, having not learned that lesson, had the yard (different marina) add a battery bank. Loose connection shorted causing arching and electronics damage (and yes, everything was fused).

Saturday, had yard do some plumbing work and now water heater doesn’t work. Failed to secure fittings, tank drained and heating element fried.

Trusting marina guys to work on the boat is getting monotonously predictable. Is it my bad luck, poor judgment finding competent labor or is this more common than I ever realized?

 

[JamesG161]

Is it my bad luck, poor judgment finding competent labor or is this more common than I ever realized?

I have not had that issue.

1) Trust but verify.
2) Ask what their plan is
3) Contribute my knowledge with ideas and Safety issues.
4) I have written out plans, especially when it is Boat OEM, specific.

I become the pseudo-leader of the yard team, in front of their boss.
Jim...

PS: The company providing my New Genset said this was his timing issue.
"Competent Labor"
PSS: It helps me to have ABYC Electrician/ Engine Mechanic as a son-in-law

 

[dlochner]

Trusting marina guys to work on the boat is getting monotonously predictable. Is it my bad luck, poor judgment finding competent labor or is this more common than I ever realized?

My experience having a yard work on my boat is very limited, because there are not many yards near me to have work done. So, I do it.

However, while away last year we had a transmission fail and I had a well known company replace the transmission. All was good for a few months and then.

Yep, that's the new transmission. The mounting plate bolts came loose, the plate cracked and the transmission fell off the motor. Why did this happen? The wrong diameter bolts were used to mount the transmission to engine. Apparently the technician used metric instead of SAE bolts or vice versa. The bolts felt tight, but they obviously were not. Also the shift cable was not properly adjusted causing the clutches to slip. With only a couple hundred hours on the transmission, it needed to be rebuilt.

The original did reimburse me for the repair, although not for all the other expenses like a hotel room for over 2 weeks and a car rental.

 

[sail sfbay]

Don........it sounds like bad luck. I have been fortunate to have boatyards in the San Francisco Bay and Stockton do acceptable work. However, I limit their scope of work to what can only be done with the boat out of the water, e.g., barrier coat, bottom painting, thru hull valves and waterline stripping. I hire boat contractors to come to my boat for all other work.

 

[Rich Stidger]

I have had very limited work done by yard workers. Almost all work was done satisfactory. Not all, but almost all.

However, I firmly believe that an owner is motivated and can do a better job than any yard person, unless the owner simply doesn't have the skills required. Not having the right tools can also be a reason to hire work done, but unless the tools are very expensive, I will buy the tools myself and use them multiple times.

 

[dlochner]

I have had very limited work done by yard workers. Almost all work was done satisfactory. Not all, but almost all.

However, I firmly believe that an owner is motivated and can do a better job than any yard person, unless the owner simply doesn't have the skills required. Not having the right tools can also be a reason to hire work done, but unless the tools are very expensive, I will buy the tools myself and use them multiple times.

Any job that requires a new tool is a job worth doing.

 

[thinwater]

Marina yardwork always struck me as more like industrial contracting than auto repair.

• Exact scope of work.
• Progress inspections.
• Inspection before start-up.
• Monitoring during start-up.

It's just the nature of it, because boats are not production in the way that cars are. You don't have to do it yourself, but you do need to explain that there will be completion inspections etc. I've had very good experiences, but I follow the above practices, just out of habit.

For example, I consider inspecting the thru-hull hoses before engine start-up normal. It absolutely shouldn't have to be ... but that's reality. Or a least as a refinery engnieer, that sort of follow-up was part of my job if it was my project, often requiring trips that should not technically have been required ... but they were.

 

[Rick D]

I am very careful. I have used a number of yards over the years. I had several bad results with shaft bolts not tightened, poor bottom paint prep, rigging mistakes (missing cotter pins in both cases) and some other odds and ends. On the whole, however, they have been well performed and responsible. The last three hauls have been in Baja, Mexico and I have found them to be very capable and thorough. While the labor is a bit less, the total cost isn't very different when you consider travel expense, etc.

 

[sail sfbay]

Start with cable.....may need to replace.

 

[Alan Gomes]

I am very careful. I have used a number of yards over the years. I had several bad results with shaft bolts not tightened, poor bottom paint prep, rigging mistakes (missing cotter pins in both cases) and some other odds and ends. On the whole, however, they have been well performed and responsible. The last three hauls have been in Baja, Mexico and I have found them to be very capable and thorough. While the labor is a bit less, the total cost isn't very different when you consider travel expense, etc.

I assume you are talking about Baja Naval. I did a haul on my previous boat (a Catalina 30) there in 2007. I had a great experience, though I didn't have them do anything exotic. The yard was immaculate, and they did excellent prep and painting work. And the price was really right. I was 100% satisfied.

As for price: Since I wanted to do the trip down there for fun with a few of my sailing buddies anyway, I don't count the costs and time for travel. Obviously, if ALL you wanted was to get the work done it might not be such a bargain. But I look back on that trip fondly. It was truly a blast. I've been thinking of doing it again on my Ericson 26, to have a really proper bottom job done on it. But with the uptick in narco-violence that includes also Ensenada I'm not so sure about that right now.

 

[Rick D]

I assume you are talking about Baja Naval. I did a haul on my previous boat (a Catalina 30) there in 2007. I had a great experience, though I didn't have them do anything exotic. The yard was immaculate, and they did excellent prep and painting work. And the price was really right. I was 100% satisfied.

As for price: Since I wanted to do the trip down there for fun with a few of my sailing buddies anyway, I don't count the costs and time for travel. Obviously, if ALL you wanted was to get the work done it might not be such a bargain. But I look back on that trip fondly. It was truly a blast. I've been thinking of doing it again on my Ericson 26, to have a really proper bottom job done on it. But with the uptick in narco-violence that includes also Ensenada I'm not so sure about that right now.

Yes, Baja Naval. We understand from local friends there that the media hyped this and there was little issue in Ensenada. Still, just share your concerns with the yard. I think the issues were in the border towns and involved a lot of grandstanding by the cartel to put the local authorities on the defensive because of the effect on tourism.

 

[Alan Gomes]

Yes, Baja Naval. We understand from local friends there that the media hyped this and there was little issue in Ensenada. Still, just share your concerns with the yard. I think the issues were in the border towns and involved a lot of grandstanding by the cartel to put the local authorities on the defensive because of the effect on tourism.

I'd like to believe this is correct, Rick. But if the purpose was to put the local authorities on the defensive because of the effect on tourism, then that would explain Ensenada being targeted, granting the cruise ship traffic that is now being diverted away from there, the last I read. At any rate, I would not be doing the trip there on my current boat very soon, if I do it at all. It remains to be seen what the situation might be like at the time I might go. I doubt I'd take the risk right at the present, though.

Sharing my concerns with the yard is all well and good, but they stay in business by getting customers to come in from the States, so it might not be the most unbiased opinion. But as I said, I'd reevaluate it when/if the time comes.

All that said, I had a fantastic experience at Baja Naval 15 years ago and wouldn't hesitate to do business with them again.

 

[markwbird]

Totally agree.