As I have said ,Get your boat before "bucking "on the bill. Since he lied to you .Lie to him and tell him you are going to clean it,,,,,,,,,,and get the boat the hell out of there. Then you can deal with the engine

Do whatever your comfortable doing. I've been in the same boat, not for 16k but I was told 1 weekend down at most maybe just a day. I had my tranny rebuilt and they told me if I do a swap it could take just a day to do it. If I have them rebuild mine then probably the weekend. I asked how much for the swap and they said 1900 so I passed thinking I save a lot, only saved 200 bucks and it was a different shop that did the work. They took 2 whole weekends and my total was I crap ton more then it should of been.

I paid it, learned a lesson, but most if all I got back on the water. I'll never go back there and will never refer anyone there either.

Good luck.

It's not exactly bucking the bill at all, I've paid to date almost 9,000 to this guy including 5K down for the machining work as he requested at least half down on the original invoice. I will be going to get it but I'm out of state for work until next week. As it stands I think I will be making the 8 hour trip to the machine shop and settle up directly with him, with little or no prior notice so the mechanic doesn't try to beat me to it and hold it and force me to go ahead with a lawyer and really put him out of some money. I had asked before any work started how the costs of taking the engine there and picking it up would be paid and how much that might be to which he said that was not a cost I would be paying as the choice of machine shops was up to him ultimately. Now that is part of his threat is to bill me for the trips has made, great way to do business. I don't think the costs he was billed from the shop are anywhere near what he is tacking on, I'll be picking it all up and dropping it off somewhere else to have it at least set in the boat and may just take it back home and finish the wiring and plumbing as they made it very clear too that there would be absolutely no guarantee or warranty on this either.

I'm not saying bucking in an insulting way .I'm just saying before you have an argument about the bill ,try to get your boat .You don't want the shop holding it hostage ,until your day in court .Good luck and keep us updated

Talked to another shop and explained to them the situation and that I was going to try to go get my engine directly from the builder and they agreed to help me out and gave me an honest and high estimate to rig the engine since it's not clear what we still need done to get it going again. Spoke to the builder to confirm the engine is still in his possession which it is as well. Finally talked to an attorney and after a thorough explanation he said his best advice as well was to go try to get it if at all possible. Mechanic hasn't a leg to stand on as the way he has presented the invoices is more than enough to take him for to court for misrepresentation and fraud in his opinion although likely with a paid in full receipt on the engine and discussing what action I can take against him should be sufficient to get my things back, and he said with full paid receipts there isn't anything which should allow a mechanics lien to be used against me. My boat is out in front of his shop so I'm planning on backing right to it and hooking up, then getting the drive and all from him, my attorney stated at that point really all he could do is call the cops and say I stole it but as long as I have all my papers in hand that won't hold up either. Will keep this updated, hope to see that light at the end of the tunnel next week!

I'm hoping for a happy ending .Did the machine shop give you a total .Not the idiot trying to hose you, the machine shop ??I know this all sux for you .Not all boat shops are thieves

They didn't but I didn't pry into that, just wanted to make sure it was there and wasn't going anywhere. Don't want to spook the mechanic and have him run and get it before me for fear he will lose out. I know they aren't all bad, some people still actually do take pride in their reputation instead of trying to devise ways to screw the next guy that walks in, my attorney said they are quite familiar with this at the lake though sadly. I'll be sure to give credit where it's due when this is all over though.

Hopefully the machine shop just wants someone to pay the real bill .Not the doubled bill.I doubt the "mechanic" can pay it all by himself .He may be trying to get you to pay your bill, and other money he owes to machine shop ....

I think that may be the case or he just saw an opportunity to act as a middleman and try to take advantage of it. I think they will be fair about it, it's either that or I'll be taking the mechanic to court over it which in turn would make them have to wait even longer to recover the money they have tied up in it.

Please give us and update