Advice Needed: My boat yard sent me a bill for $4,000 for painting the bottom of my Hunter 45 (1986). The old bottom paint was copperepoxy and was nothing but a headache so I decided to replace it with Pettit Ultima SR. I had talked to both paint manufacturers (Pettit and Copperepoxy). Both agreed that you only needed to rough up (80 grit sand paper) the bottom and then apply the new paint. My charges included $1600 for building a plastic tent around the boat. $1000 for paint (5 gallons) and labor at $60.00 per hour. I'm contesting the charges. IMO $4K for this job is way too much. I'd appreciate any intelligent input on these charges. Thanks John Fletcher Wahoo H045
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com
Plastic tent for a bottom job?!
I can see building a tent if you're painting the topsides but for a bottom job? Didn't they give you an estimate before starting? That paint can be bought at West Marine for about $50 a gallon retail. The boat yard should, of course, get a discount though they certainly don't have to pass that on to you. So that's a max of $250. And you're telling me that they claim it took them 23 man hours to paint your bottom? That would be equal to 4 guys taking 5 hours each to sand and paint? Seems excessive to me. Maybe TWO guys taking 5 hours but FOUR? I think you're right to contest it. Call a couple of other yards and get estimates for the amount of work the other yard did (minus the tent, if you ask me!). Oh, and make sure everyone you know hears about this! LaDonna
I can see building a tent if you're painting the topsides but for a bottom job? Didn't they give you an estimate before starting? That paint can be bought at West Marine for about $50 a gallon retail. The boat yard should, of course, get a discount though they certainly don't have to pass that on to you. So that's a max of $250. And you're telling me that they claim it took them 23 man hours to paint your bottom? That would be equal to 4 guys taking 5 hours each to sand and paint? Seems excessive to me. Maybe TWO guys taking 5 hours but FOUR? I think you're right to contest it. Call a couple of other yards and get estimates for the amount of work the other yard did (minus the tent, if you ask me!). Oh, and make sure everyone you know hears about this! LaDonna
ouch!
John: I understand your pain! I bet you almost S--T when you got that bill. 1. Our H'31 uses about 5 qts of paint for a single coat. I seems that 5 gal. would be a bit much (would have thought that 4 gal would give you two coats, but what do I know). 2. What is the tent for? $1600 for a friggin tent? I thought that they just roughed up the bottom? 3. They changed you about 3 days labor. I would think that you could apply two coats of paint with a roller in about 2-3 hours per coat plus any masking and other prep work. Didn't they give you an estimate? We know within $5-10 what a bottom job is going to cost us ($600 with zincs, paint; 1 coat, supplies, pull, splash, power wash and environmental fees). I have no idea how you are going to get them to lower the bill unless you have an estimate. But I would be raising hell with them. It seems that the Tent and the excess labor are the biggest points of arguement.
John: I understand your pain! I bet you almost S--T when you got that bill. 1. Our H'31 uses about 5 qts of paint for a single coat. I seems that 5 gal. would be a bit much (would have thought that 4 gal would give you two coats, but what do I know). 2. What is the tent for? $1600 for a friggin tent? I thought that they just roughed up the bottom? 3. They changed you about 3 days labor. I would think that you could apply two coats of paint with a roller in about 2-3 hours per coat plus any masking and other prep work. Didn't they give you an estimate? We know within $5-10 what a bottom job is going to cost us ($600 with zincs, paint; 1 coat, supplies, pull, splash, power wash and environmental fees). I have no idea how you are going to get them to lower the bill unless you have an estimate. But I would be raising hell with them. It seems that the Tent and the excess labor are the biggest points of arguement.
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Jim Wallace
OUCH! Unfortunately you apparently didn't get an estimate prior to them ripping you off. Try to find out what others paid at this place for this type service. Even if not the same size boat. Get estimates from other yards in the area. Labor at 2 feet per hour? The sandpaper and paint roller or sprayer must have been stuck in low gear. What happened to the tent? Same one they've been using over and over? Time to call your local media, Better Business Bureau, etc. Good Luck!
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Clayton
Tent would be for dust containment
My yard now requires that any sanding of bottom paint be done by them in their sanding building that is equipped with dust collection, etc. They expanded the mooring field this year and the expansion permits would not be issued without strict controls on hazardous materials and emissions. I am sure that the tent was a requirement placed on them by some environmental agency.
My yard now requires that any sanding of bottom paint be done by them in their sanding building that is equipped with dust collection, etc. They expanded the mooring field this year and the expansion permits would not be issued without strict controls on hazardous materials and emissions. I am sure that the tent was a requirement placed on them by some environmental agency.
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LaDonna Bubak - CatalinaOwners.com
I wonder about that Clayton
Isn't that usually a state regulation? The yards I've been to in WA seem to allow bottom sanding with a vacuum. I know they do in OR - as long as there's plastic under the boat. Maybe a new regulation in WA? LaDonna
Isn't that usually a state regulation? The yards I've been to in WA seem to allow bottom sanding with a vacuum. I know they do in OR - as long as there's plastic under the boat. Maybe a new regulation in WA? LaDonna
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Paul Aubrecht
I feel your pain,literally in Tennessee
I feel your pain as well.I have a situation where I have to pay 3000 for the bottom on a 28 hunter because there is no competition and I am at a lake.Also,all the Hunter delaers in this state are more concerned about selling boats then they are helping the boatowners take care of their existing boats.I can assure you,I will never buy a new sailboat from any Hunter dealer in the state of Tennessee when I am ready to upgrade because they are part of the problem here.Sorry about the rant,but I am really touchy about this subject.You guys on the coasts have it made.....
I feel your pain as well.I have a situation where I have to pay 3000 for the bottom on a 28 hunter because there is no competition and I am at a lake.Also,all the Hunter delaers in this state are more concerned about selling boats then they are helping the boatowners take care of their existing boats.I can assure you,I will never buy a new sailboat from any Hunter dealer in the state of Tennessee when I am ready to upgrade because they are part of the problem here.Sorry about the rant,but I am really touchy about this subject.You guys on the coasts have it made.....
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Dave Royce
Tenting in Washington
As Donna stated tenting is required only if you do not use a vacuum sander. I just did the bottom of my 23.5 and the yard required some form of dust collection. (Tenting or Vacuum) The ground was covered with a tarp and had to be cleaned nightly (you were fined if you did not clean) but we did not tent as we used vacuum sanders. I think they are ripping you off. Start calling everyone from the media to lawyers..... BTW - Did you check on them during the process of work?
As Donna stated tenting is required only if you do not use a vacuum sander. I just did the bottom of my 23.5 and the yard required some form of dust collection. (Tenting or Vacuum) The ground was covered with a tarp and had to be cleaned nightly (you were fined if you did not clean) but we did not tent as we used vacuum sanders. I think they are ripping you off. Start calling everyone from the media to lawyers..... BTW - Did you check on them during the process of work?
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Dick McKee
I think your stuck ...
if you didn't get a written estimate first. Not sure any court will uphold "didnt ask what it was going to cost, but now that it done I think its too much"..
if you didn't get a written estimate first. Not sure any court will uphold "didnt ask what it was going to cost, but now that it done I think its too much"..
Should have bought them a vacuum sander.
You could have bought them a vacuum sander for less than $1600! I would still try to negoiate the price. This is a ridiculous price for the service performed.
You could have bought them a vacuum sander for less than $1600! I would still try to negoiate the price. This is a ridiculous price for the service performed.
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Tom
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andy
we are surrounded by pirates - man the guns
A fellow sailor from the cwbb reports that a Maine yard charged him $10,000 to install the wiring for his laptop and connect to the gps at the nav station. GET WRITEN QUOTES before authorizing any work!!! andy
A fellow sailor from the cwbb reports that a Maine yard charged him $10,000 to install the wiring for his laptop and connect to the gps at the nav station. GET WRITEN QUOTES before authorizing any work!!! andy
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Steve O.
wow!
Even if the tent was required--$1600 for hanging some freakin' plastic sheeting? These guys are crooks!
Even if the tent was required--$1600 for hanging some freakin' plastic sheeting? These guys are crooks!
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Doug T.
Highway (seaway?) robbery
Without a written (or even verbal) estimate, you probably don't have any legal recourse. On the other hand, you could give the yard some free advertising: Offer to mount large signs on your pulpits that say, "Early summer special: ______ Boat Yard will paint (ream?) your bottom for only $4,000!" Better yet, use colored sailcloth tape and put it in huge letters on your sail. Take a picture and send it to the local papers. Slip copies into the cabins of all the other boats in the yard.
Without a written (or even verbal) estimate, you probably don't have any legal recourse. On the other hand, you could give the yard some free advertising: Offer to mount large signs on your pulpits that say, "Early summer special: ______ Boat Yard will paint (ream?) your bottom for only $4,000!" Better yet, use colored sailcloth tape and put it in huge letters on your sail. Take a picture and send it to the local papers. Slip copies into the cabins of all the other boats in the yard.
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Jim Anzalone
do you keep your boat there?
I can't understand if you keep your boat there, why the would rip you off so bad! If it were me they would never see another dime of my money. As a matter of fact, I would not pay them. Keep track of the charge because they will put a lean against the boat. Screw them.... don't pay them.... never spend another dime there.... bad mouth they very chance you get
I can't understand if you keep your boat there, why the would rip you off so bad! If it were me they would never see another dime of my money. As a matter of fact, I would not pay them. Keep track of the charge because they will put a lean against the boat. Screw them.... don't pay them.... never spend another dime there.... bad mouth they very chance you get
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jsfletcher
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Lee Hadjiosif
Other things to consider
I agree that 4K is high for the paint job but keep the following in mind: The manufacturer of the paint recommends 3-4 coats. How many coats were there really applied? The retail price for this paint is $175/gallon plus tax. Besides sanding, was any other work done like blister repair etc. Did they have to move the stands a few times to get the 3-4 coats of paint under the stands as well? This boat could have been painted for half the price but we don't know what kind of effort was put into it.
I agree that 4K is high for the paint job but keep the following in mind: The manufacturer of the paint recommends 3-4 coats. How many coats were there really applied? The retail price for this paint is $175/gallon plus tax. Besides sanding, was any other work done like blister repair etc. Did they have to move the stands a few times to get the 3-4 coats of paint under the stands as well? This boat could have been painted for half the price but we don't know what kind of effort was put into it.
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Rick Ellis
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Ron Baringer
Bottom Paint woes
I just put my boat in the water yesterday after having the bottom done in Everett. They didn't need to tent it but they fixed about 15 blisters, ground down the keel and double coated it, sanded and repainted the bottom for $800. My boats a 35.5 so it's smaller, but it sounds like you need to try another yard next time. Thanks for giving the name of the yard. We've been thinking of moving the boat to Anacortes. Now, if I do I know what yard not to take it to.
I just put my boat in the water yesterday after having the bottom done in Everett. They didn't need to tent it but they fixed about 15 blisters, ground down the keel and double coated it, sanded and repainted the bottom for $800. My boats a 35.5 so it's smaller, but it sounds like you need to try another yard next time. Thanks for giving the name of the yard. We've been thinking of moving the boat to Anacortes. Now, if I do I know what yard not to take it to.
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Chris Gonzales
Estimate?
Did you have a contract with an estimated amount? What was in writing? I would think there would have been some sort of written agreement beforehand? I had my C30 bottom done last year while already on the hard in the yard. Cost about $800 including zincs, 8 blisters, cleaning the prop and shaft. Please tell us, what did the yard agree to as to price beforehand? Chris
Did you have a contract with an estimated amount? What was in writing? I would think there would have been some sort of written agreement beforehand? I had my C30 bottom done last year while already on the hard in the yard. Cost about $800 including zincs, 8 blisters, cleaning the prop and shaft. Please tell us, what did the yard agree to as to price beforehand? Chris
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