Boat "Do It Yourselfers"

[ratso]

TPC's thread got me thinking... How many of you do your own work on your boats? Is it because you are more meticulous or anal about it? Is it because the dealer charges too much? Or, do you have all your work done at the dealer?
Around here, there are a few do it yourselfers. Some are okay... but the others, well, lets just say it's a nightmare straightening out their fukk ups.
I had one guy, wanted to re-wire his boat. He spent about $5000 with us for a new floor and transom (something he knew he couldn't tackle) although he brought the boat to us stripped and ready to seperate the deck. I spent a while writing down all the color codes for the wiring, what color for the bilge pump, tach, lights, acc... you name it. All of it. He called about a week later, said he had the boat wired but there was a couple of things he couldn't get to work and wanted us to check it out... no prob, or so I thought. He came in and I walked out to his boat to see what he had wired wrong, and EVERY WIRE was RED or BLACK!!!!!! He told me that was all Home Depot had in stock!!!!!!!!!! Here's Your Sign!:jawdrop:
I got a million of them... What are your stories? http://***boat.com/ubb/graemlins/idea_2.gif

[Wet Dream]

I'm 3000 miles away from my dealer and they sold the boat new 30 years ago. I'm not driving that far.

[ratso]

I'm 3000 miles away from my dealer and they sold the boat new 30 years ago. I'm not driving that far.
lmao... can't blame you there.:D

[lucky]

my boat is water tight , so is my ass :) :D

[Boatcop]

I do all the work on my own boat, myself. Why? Because I can. :D
Now for the work boats, I do the minor stuff. Lower unit oil, Spark plugs, water pump.
The top end stuff is all electronic (Optimax) so I ship it to the guys with the tools, tech and knowledge.

[BADBLOWN572]

I work on a bunch of different boats. My big thing is that coming from within the industry, you see what type of hacks sometimes work on boats. There are VERY few shops that I see that I would let work on my boat. They are the shops that are perfectionists and check out everything. Unless the guy is smarter than me, I don't go there. ;) All joking aside, I am 100x more comfortable doing my own work than someone else. Unfortunately you can never be 100% sure who is working on your boat. It could be the veteran who has 20 years experience or the guy who has six months of experience. The veteran could be burnt out too. You never know exactly you are getting unless you do it yourself.
Most shops want to get you in and out as quickly as possible. That is not good for anything with real high performance. If every little detail is not looked at, it is that one detail that could kill you or someone else. Sad to say, but it is true. :(
My rule is if you want me to work on your boat, drop it off and I will call you when it is ready to be picked up (unless it is something very simple). If you worked on it before, take the price and double it. If you broke it and tried to fix it (and couldn't) 3x it! ;)
Being serious, it is very hard to find a reputable shop who really will take the time and work on each boat as a boat and not a $$$ sign. Sometimes you win, sometimes you loose. What really matters is being able to sleep at night knowing you did not take advantage of a person and that their boat is safe for the desired purpose. :) Not every shop can say that. :(

[Jyruiz]

Sor far, only oil changes and installed my own windflaps and drive shower. I would like to learn to do the water imperller and how to change the drive oil. I hear you have to fill the drive oil from the bottom.

[MikeF]

I do most of the work myself but I don't mind paying people who I know will do the job right. If I can do it myself, I will.
My neighbor bought a new boat from a new boat builder. He is having to redo a whole bunch of rigging type stuff that was incorrectly installed.....by a hackjob.

[phebus]

I try to do everything myself, unless the work involes specialized tools (drives). Since I do have a 496HO, I will take it to a dealer frind for electronic diagnosis if needed, and then do the work myself. The only time that was needed was when there was an electrical short in the loom to the motor. Otherwise, all fluids (engine and drive), filters, impeller, etc., I just do myself.

[Schiada76]

One of my current boats I stripped to a bare hull and sanded it down to the original gell, patched all the cracks and the holes chopped all over it from some idiot that put the stereo in, rerigged it (including wiring) painted it and built the motor.
I punked out and the tranny pro built, the trailer pro built and the upholstery done by some HACK shop.:D
The other boat I left the gel repair to a pro and had it short blocked by same.
All the other rigging redone by me including switching it over to a hat.:D

[rrrr]

I completely restored my flattie with machine work and plating being the only stuff farmed out. Uh, I shoulda had that done with the polishing too. :rolleyes: :D
As for the other boat, a 2004 with a 496/BIII, I'll do everything I can to it; oil/fluid changes, water pump impellers, etc. The engine/drive has 2 more years of warranty, so that's dealer stuff.
Prior to that boat, had a 7.4/BI and did everything to it, winterizing, engine upgrades, etc.
But hell, I was taking apart Mom's toaster when I was four. And yes, it was unplugged. :jawdrop: :D :D

[roostwear]

I don't know who can do work on a '69 Stevens flatbottom jet. Maybe the '83 Advantage, but in the long run it won't be done the way I want, so I just do it myself.:eek:

[77charger]

Do most of the basics.Needed the y tube on my boat repalced 3 years ago at the time i didnt have time so i paid to have it done.I know i can do it though.When this motor goes i plan on building a nice 383 for it but hopefully it wont be for while.
When i had a jet i did mostly everything except the pump work(detailing impeller,bowl work),Done a couple of motors too.

[Jetaholic]

TPC's thread got me thinking... How many of you do your own work on your boats? Is it because you are more meticulous or anal about it? Is it because the dealer charges too much? Or, do you have all your work done at the dealer?
Around here, there are a few do it yourselfers. Some are okay... but the others, well, lets just say it's a nightmare straightening out their fukk ups.
I had one guy, wanted to re-wire his boat. He spent about $5000 with us for a new floor and transom (something he knew he couldn't tackle) although he brought the boat to us stripped and ready to seperate the deck. I spent a while writing down all the color codes for the wiring, what color for the bilge pump, tach, lights, acc... you name it. All of it. He called about a week later, said he had the boat wired but there was a couple of things he couldn't get to work and wanted us to check it out... no prob, or so I thought. He came in and I walked out to his boat to see what he had wired wrong, and EVERY WIRE was RED or BLACK!!!!!! He told me that was all Home Depot had in stock!!!!!!!!!! Here's Your Sign!:jawdrop:
I got a million of them... What are your stories? http://***boat.com/ubb/graemlins/idea_2.gif
I'm restoring a '78 Marlin Tigershark. A fiberglass shop is doing all the glass/gelcoat work and I'm doing everything else.
Now this is typical of guys who think they know about wiring. I was in the Navy for 4 years as an Avionics Technician rewiring dozens of wire harnesses on F/A-18 Hornet weapon delivery systems. Before that I had started electronics at the young age of 12, getting into vaccuum tube amplifiers at 17.
Now while I could wire a boat wire by wire, I found it would be easier to buy the prebuilt wire harnesses you get from Hardin Marine. Although for a couple of things I have to modify the harness for. Like for instance, they have the wiring for the bilge pump and blower, but that's for a standard manual pump and my boat doesn't need the blower since the engine won't be enclosed. I'll be installing an automatic bilge pump, but with a 3 way switch so that I can override it for manual operation in the event that the float switch goes bad. For that I'll be tapping into the blower wiring. The engine harness is set up for a points ignition and a 2 wire alternator...I'll be running a 1 wire alternator along with an auxiliary start solenoid as well, so the engine harness will get modified as well.
The other thing I'm adding is the fuse box. On the Hardin harness, they tie the master hot wire for the guages to the ignition wire. I will be seperating this connection so that I can have ignition and gauges on seperate fuses.
It's great to have electrical know how to do this stuff, but electrical is not something to be focked with. If you honestly do not know what you're doing with it, do not attempt to do it yourself. You'll save yourself a major headache trying to troubleshoot stuff, and avoid the risk of an electrical fire by having an experienced technician do the work for you.

[Jetaholic]

TPC's thread got me thinking... How many of you do your own work on your boats? Is it because you are more meticulous or anal about it? Is it because the dealer charges too much? Or, do you have all your work done at the dealer?
Around here, there are a few do it yourselfers. Some are okay... but the others, well, lets just say it's a nightmare straightening out their fukk ups.
I had one guy, wanted to re-wire his boat. He spent about $5000 with us for a new floor and transom (something he knew he couldn't tackle) although he brought the boat to us stripped and ready to seperate the deck. I spent a while writing down all the color codes for the wiring, what color for the bilge pump, tach, lights, acc... you name it. All of it. He called about a week later, said he had the boat wired but there was a couple of things he couldn't get to work and wanted us to check it out... no prob, or so I thought. He came in and I walked out to his boat to see what he had wired wrong, and EVERY WIRE was RED or BLACK!!!!!! He told me that was all Home Depot had in stock!!!!!!!!!! Here's Your Sign!:jawdrop:
I got a million of them... What are your stories? http://***boat.com/ubb/graemlins/idea_2.gif
I'm restoring a '78 Marlin Tigershark. A fiberglass shop is doing all the glass/gelcoat work and I'm doing everything else.
Now this is typical of guys who think they know about wiring. I was in the Navy for 4 years as an Avionics Technician rewiring dozens of wire harnesses on F/A-18 Hornet weapon delivery systems. Before that I had started electronics at the young age of 12, getting into vaccuum tube amplifiers at 17.
Now while I could wire a boat wire by wire, I found it would be easier to buy the prebuilt wire harnesses you get from Hardin Marine. Although for a couple of things I have to modify the harness for. Like for instance, they have the wiring for the bilge pump and blower, but that's for a standard manual pump and my boat doesn't need the blower since the engine won't be enclosed. I'll be installing an automatic bilge pump, but with a 3 way switch so that I can override it for manual operation in the event that the float switch goes bad. For that I'll be tapping into the blower wiring. The engine harness is set up for a points ignition and a 2 wire alternator...I'll be running a 1 wire alternator along with an auxiliary start solenoid as well, so the engine harness will get modified as well.
The other thing I'm adding is the fuse box. On the Hardin harness, they tie the master hot wire for the guages to the ignition wire. I will be seperating this connection so that I can have ignition and gauges on seperate fuses.
It's great to have electrical know how to do this stuff, but electrical is not something to be focked with. If you honestly do not know what you're doing with it, do not attempt to do it yourself. You'll save yourself a major headache trying to troubleshoot stuff, and avoid the risk of an electrical fire by having an experienced technician do the work for you.

[ratso]

I ran Evinrude and Johnson outboards my entire life and also on one of my speedboats, and thats what we work on at my shop as far as the outboards go. This past summer, I stuck a 2.5 Merc on it. I don't touch it. That motor goes to the Merc shop...

[phebus]

My boat needs a new wing nut behind the wheel. My wife says she can fix that. :D Hmmmmm.......................

[rrrr]

It's great to have electrical know how to do this stuff, but electrical is not something to be focked with. If you honestly do not know what you're doing with it, do not attempt to do it yourself. You'll save yourself a major headache trying to troubleshoot stuff, and avoid the risk of an electrical fire by having an experienced technician do the work for you.
Posting correctly on an internet forum can be hell too. :D :D
LOL j/k :D

[LuckyDaze]

I do all my own work only because I don't trust anyone but my father or me touching my boat. That and the person who put the boat together is too far away and my boat is too damned old.. But I wouldn't have it any other way. :D
~Brian

[Schiada76]

My boat needs a new wing nut behind the wheel. My wife says she can fix that. :D Hmmmmm.......................
My wife says there's a loose screw on the nut behind the wheel and won't allow WOT when she's in the boat.:eek: :D

[Morg]

Where I came from boats used to be like what Harley's used to be like. If you wan't one you better learn how to work on one, much less build one.
I know that has all changed now. But You could not imagine the pride when you hit the starter button knowing "I built this to the best of my ability"
Don't get me wrong, the custom deals that are being built these days are amazing & it is nice that the general public has access to those custom boats.
I would just rather build it myself.:D

[Schiada76]

[QUOTE=rrrr;2351568]Posting correctly on an internet forum can be hell too. :D :D
Post another pick of that bad boy!
Your boat is perfect.:D

[djunkie]

I do 90% of the work to my boat. The rest of it goes to Wilkes Marine.

[RiverDave]

Well this is Forensics boat, but myself and him are restoring it ourselves this is what we did Saturday night and Sunday morning. Alot of things like gelcoat work will get subbed out, but most of it will be done by us.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor1.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860EngineBayFloor.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860FrontRBulkhead.JPG
So I guess you could say we're do it yourselfers. ;)

[ratso]

Lookin' good RD and Forensic.:D

[boatnam2]

i have done the outdrive and oil but not worth the hassle imo.

[rrrr]

Post another pick of that bad boy!
Your boat is perfect.:D
LMAO, you know me, I ain't skeered to throw down a pic of the ol' Howard.....:D :D
I didn't redo the upholstery, some guy named Jack sewed it up in January '68....:D
Finished color sanding (2002)
http://www.harm.net/gallery/rrrr/default.asp?returnimg=color2.jpg
http://www.harm.net/gallery/rrrr/default.asp?returnimg=tlr2.jpg
Plowman's Creek Park bash October '06......
http://www.harm.net/gallery/rrrr/default.asp?returnimg=plowman0602re.jpg
http://www.harm.net/gallery/rrrr/default.asp?returnimg=plowman0601re.jpg

[rrrr]

Well this is Forensics boat, but myself and him are restoring it ourselves this is what we did Saturday night and Sunday morning. Alot of things like gelcoat work will get subbed out, but most of it will be done by us.
So I guess you could say we're do it yourselfers. ;)
Dave, don't forget to fill in that big hole in the transom. ;) :D

[riverbound]

Well this is Forensics boat, but myself and him are restoring it ourselves this is what we did Saturday night and Sunday morning. Alot of things like gelcoat work will get subbed out, but most of it will be done by us.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor1.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860EngineBayFloor.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860FrontRBulkhead.JPG
So I guess you could say we're do it yourselfers. ;)
Damn....looks like you had your hands full.

[Run_em_Hard]

Shops and dealers charge too much for me...There are some things they are need for but not too much. I do everything from blowers, gimbles, outdrives, whatever I have the cash for. If ya need help thats what fathers and friends are for...:idea: :idea:

[Dave C]

I do all my own work, even on the new boat, including everything from routine maintenance to engine rebuilds.
I learned engine builds from doing my cars. I have been doing them for years.
I rigged and built the motors on all my old boats except for the new one (4 of them).
I have to farm-out things like paint, drives and machining though.
thats why I want to get rid of this 496HO because there are too many unnecessary things on it and I have to borrow tools :( I never should have bought this POS. :mad: :mad:
My next boat is being ordered without motors, so I can do them myself. :D

[Ziggy]

Basic maintenance work myself, oils, impellers and such.
If it requires special tools, drive alignment(or a unknown issue) then I'll take it in.

[OCMerrill]

I work on mine because:
I have most of the know how - Minus outdrive special tools and such, everything else you bet.
I like doing it...for the most part like oh say maybe a hobby
I hate the marine shop talk up of "I will have it ready by..." and you have to cancel your trip because the shop went boating instead of keeping their promise.
Controls the cost a bit anyway.

[Phat Matt]

Well this is Forensics boat, but myself and him are restoring it ourselves this is what we did Saturday night and Sunday morning. Alot of things like gelcoat work will get subbed out, but most of it will be done by us.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor1.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860EngineBayFloor.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860FrontRBulkhead.JPG
So I guess you could say we're do it yourselfers. ;)
Are you building a shed? I heard they don't use plywood in boats anymore. ;)

[RitcheyRch]

Some things I do myself but am limited since the freaking HOA doesnt like me having the boat in front ofm the house. Next house "NO HOA"

[Zaairman]

I do all of the work on my boat that I can do. So far, that's been all of it. This is my first boat BTW. Rebuilt the seat frames, had the top end of the motor apart looking for a cooling blockage, replaced spark plugs, new water pump, new lower unit lube, added a soundsystem, etc. Only thing I know that I forsure won't be able to do is re-gel the boat. This summer's project will be rewiring it under the dash. :eek: Also, the HOA can suck my balls. My boat is outside for a day and there's a warning on it. The president of the HOA buys a shitty sail boat catamaran thingy and lets it sit on the side of his house for a month, and nothing bad happens. :idea:

[Jetaholic]

Well this is Forensics boat, but myself and him are restoring it ourselves this is what we did Saturday night and Sunday morning. Alot of things like gelcoat work will get subbed out, but most of it will be done by us.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor1.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BowFloor2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860EngineBayFloor.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860BellyTankCutouts2.JPG
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/860FrontRBulkhead.JPG
So I guess you could say we're do it yourselfers. ;)
Uh...oh yeah...almost forgot...
RD SUX...:D

[phebus]

Are you building a shed? I heard they don't use plywood in boats anymore. ;)
That is super special RD billet plywood. :D

[work2play]

When a Gran Marquis came around a blind cornor way to fast and t-boned my boat, totalling it. I did the fiberglass work and the gel coat. That work required pulling the engines and drives. If I have the time I enjoy doing it myself. If I don't have time then I have to pay someone I really trust. I did hire out the hit on the driver of the Gran Marquis. I usally enjoy doing that myself too.

[Flyinbowtie]

I am in the top 5 of the most anal human beings I know when to maint.
My wife says I am even more anal than that.She is probably right.
Therefore, I do most of the boat stuff 'cause I am never in a hurry when working on it. Just like the rods in the garage.
If I can do it, I prefer to do it. If you ain't as anal as me, I'll just wind up doing it over again, anyway.
If I don't know how to do it, like glass work or paint, I try to find somebody as anal as I am. Everything else, engine work, stereo shiznit, wiring, etc., I do. My back problem is cutting into this a bit, but I'm adjusting.

[Jetaholic]

It's also good to know how to work on your own boat solely due to the fact that what happens when you're out on the lake and something breaks, ruining your whole weekend?
Whereas if you carry spare parts on hand and know how to do repairs yourself, if something happens and you happen to have the tools, parts, and know how to fix the problem, put the boat back on the trailer (if need be), fix it, and you're back on the water within the hour!

[rrrr]

It's also good to know how to work on your own boat solely due to the fact that what happens when you're out on the lake and something breaks, ruining your whole weekend?
Whereas if you carry spare parts on hand and know how to do repairs yourself, if something happens and you happen to have the tools, parts, and know how to fix the problem, put the boat back on the trailer (if need be), fix it, and you're back on the water within the hour!
I'm amazed at how many people don't have tools on the boat. Not even a screwdriver. A basic set of tools is a pretty small package, and could save a lot of aggravation.