SOLVED: Why Owners Sell Mid Project
 

In the middle of dealing with a nightmare, what has become a partial restoration (at my choosing), now year long transom repair project and completely understand why owners sell prior to re-rigging.

I'm absolutely disgusted with the "professionals" I hired to carry out the work. Some would say because I only asked 5 references and not 10 I'm to blame but it literally comes down to unprofessionalism on their part. Tens of thousands of dollars in, plus collateral damage which I ate and will seek to recover in small claims court; now the mechanic in possession of my driveline has ghosted for two weeks when I asked for an estimated date to re-rig.

I see why others "just want it to end" and post recently refreshed unassembled boats and their uninstalled drivelines for sale now!

Some "professionals" really got you by the balls when they have your boat or your parts, AND your money. What are you gonna do?

Getting rid of the project is a way to stop the bleeding for some, or, get rid of the bad vibes and the worry about a job that was not done as well as was promised.

been there too

Biggest part of the problem is so many people just aren’t honest. Like glass Dave says whatever you think needs to be replaced you can nearly double it when it’s said and done. That I understand when it comes to moisture and rot. Almost like buying any used boat I think it’s a good idea to figure in an addition 7k for misc engine-drive-rot etc. If you get lucky then party on.

Hopefully everything starts to go better for you.

Over the years I’ve decided that even with my limited time and knowledge, it was faster and less hassle to learn how to do it myself. Either way it takes forever, but at least I have control. Plus you learn new skills.


edit… and have an excuse to build shops and buy lots of tools lol

I hear everyone, unfortunately I don't have the means to pull engines etc., nor do I want to attempt to align engines, reconstruct a transom etc. It hasn't really been add-ons but rather rework, undue time to complete work, collateral damage, denial of it and refusal to repair. In 3 weeks I've been without the boat for 1 year to have the transom replaced, one 4' stringer and cabin headliner. :eekdrop:

Been there done that…multiple times and different people…

Yea I would never hand over all the he leverage. They should never have all your parts your boat and money. Deposits and written agreements are key. Especially if it is indeed all your parts and equipment on top of it. Not that it helps in every situation but you shouldn't be leaving your rear end out on the line.

Unfortunately you really need to have multiple boats so that you don't miss the season and have other things to distract yourself. I have been down this road soooo many times now. I have a 10 year project that I am still chasing but it doesn't eat me up because I am still out having the time of my life in other ones. It all cost double what you think and takes 3 to 4 times as long as you expect.

Joe

YEAH I agree why do we do this to ourselves, but as they say we all learn that people are not who they say they are the hard way. I remember restoring my 67 mustang there was this guy great work blah, blah............. yet he took half the money up front and then 3 weeks later closed up shop and took my engine with him.

After Richy and Janet hacked up my boat, lost 40k on that then to get all of that off and done right was an additional 100k....:mad:

Been there in the car world. Years ago I was into restoring British cars, mainly Triumphs. Had a project TR6 that was a little more than I wanted to do, plus was working a TR7 and an MGB in my own shop. To make a REALLY long story short, the TR6 was 'in work' for over two years...I literally had forgot I had it, there had been so many delays and false promises, etc. As others in this thread have noted, the frustration is off the chart...there are times when you just really can't believe the fawking you are getting.

Then another issue is some of these big name shops/builders (and some small ones) dont have time to barely finish the work they got BUT they live beyond their means, fancy trucks, houses, boats,etc and NEED new work to fund their lifestyle and to finish the work in front of you with the money from YOUR job! Then, they take on new work that should be AFTER yours because again, they need the money! car restoration shops are worse than boat repair shops! in end, after they take 2 years vs the 4 months you anticipated they RUSH the job and cut corners, i see this in business all the time!

And it keeps getting better. Now the mechanic who derigged the boat, cutting harnesses etc. mid span refuses to reinstall the drivetrain. 13 months down for transom and headliner. Fun times!

When I had a boat I got so tired of dealing with that, I started doing everything myself, including a complete transom replacement. It sucked, I will never do another one but we made it to our big NYC poker run on time and honestly its what let me know I was able to do all of the maintenance myself and never paid anyone to do anything from that day forward except the things I'm not able to do ,engine rebuilds, paint, etc.. I feel like this issue has gotten 10X worse since Covid started though. I had a custom car on order in mid 2019 that was supposed to take a year, I just got it a month ago. Given its unbelievably bad ass, I was so angry with the people by the end from all of the lies, issues, runarounds, that it put a serious damper on the excitement and enjoyment of finally getting the car. Its so frustrating to deal with people and be so out of control, I know how you feel.

I have a guy I like using but a boat manufacturer contracts him to rig their new builds so that they can deliver more boats. That’s his main priority and I get pushed back.

I talked to Marlago boats last week and they estimated $370k for a new 37SS. So it makes sense to keep fixing the old boats until the market cools off. Obviously everyone has the same idea and these shops are just overwhelmed.

I also diligently shopped for a boat that has no wood in it.

geeze. Who TF did you find

I do absolutely everything I can which stops at puling engines, transom assemblies and reconstructing transoms and stringers, as I do not have the lifting means nor storage and not working on it in blistering heat outdoors. I knew the repair was inevitable and my current situation is why I put it off as long as possible. As soon as my driveline is back in my hands I'll be releasing the keyboard hounds on the offenders lol.

All was well, so I was told until last monday, I've used them before. As soon as my driveline is back in my hands I'll be releasing the keyboard hounds on the offenders lol.

Still in the works, 25 months and counting but almost there. Waiting on drive u-joint replacement, trim tab diagnosis and final wire tucking.

Found more professionalism by the 1st mechanic (thread subject) who charged and was paid for completing the outdrive/gimbal assemblies, he deleted drive pivot bushings, didn't return an inner transom assembly plate to me, deleted bellows hose clamps, didn't install any trim senders, left 1 bolt off of drive trim manifold and didn't reinstall the zinc, didn't tighten the drive trim hoses to said manifold and didn't install the port driveshaft bellow ring. Also, he didn't return steering rack bolts nor drive pivot caps nor 2 motor mount keeper plates nor 2 exhaust y-pipe gaskets nor 2 exhaust y-pipe bolts nor an exhaust bellow which I had to repurchase. Also, broke a chunk off a drive skeg and had my vinyl hatch cover leaning against something in the shop that was evidently wet, as I now have a semi-circular pink mold mark on it about 3' in diameter.

Nothing was covered so it's all coated in shop dinge/dust. When mentioning to the mechanic I was told, "If you were so worried about me storing your parts you should have picked them up and stored them yourself until reassembly." Or he can just give a damn about his work, his reputation and his customers to produce a final product equal to or greater than when it arrived!! Typical CRAP Florida Workmanship!

And around this time last year as stated in post #14, I owed $0 but was told to pickup all parts within a month or they'd be auctioned off, without a written and signed agreement at any time of course. That cost me renting a U-haul trailer for about a month to store engines and drives, hatch cover etc. until the current mechanic could begin the re-rig.

After airing my story here (the only place I've done so) and never using the company name; I received an email from them to cease and desist and threats of lawyers. Laughable! Guess they or a friend Google stalked me and found this thread. How pathetic!

Final Update: 26 Months and I have the contractors work behind me finally.

Just have to clean it up (grease etc.) and possibly replace the wrap above the rub rail that a few of the "professionals" I hired destroyed.

Hopefully have it on the water in a week or 2.