I took my boat over to a local shop on Lake Travis to have some shifter cables replaced. The weekend after I picked my boat up, I went to mess with my amp so I went looking for my socket set on the boat. Checked everywhere, it's gone. It is a Craftsman set worth about $130, then a few more expensive ratchets in it.

I called the mechanic being nice, said: "Hey, just wanted to know if your guys accidentally picked up another tool set?" He told me he would ask them and call me back. It has been nearly two weeks, no call back.

How would you guys handle this going forward? Sure, I could write it off and get another set. But at the very least, it is the principle of the thing. I took my boat to be worked on, not stolen from. Yes, it is a little on me that I didn't take out all valuables, but there is a reasonable expectation that your mechanic only robs you with labor!

Find a more honest marina...

Years ago I had a boat winterized and shrinkwrapped. Come spring I cut the wrap off and there was a hole in the seat. When I called to complain I was told I should've inspected the boat before I pulled it off their lot and go F myself. It was wrapped! How the F could I inspect it???

FFW a few years. I bought a new boat and took delivery late October. Salesman and I went for one quick ride and then it was winterized and put into rack building. The next spring I pulled cover off and gee a hole in bolster. Called the mechanic to come look. He apologized and said one of his guys might've had a screwdriver in his pocket. Within a few days it was fixed at his expence.

Twelve years have passed. Over the years I have become friends with him and nobody else touches my boats. I pass his # along every chance I get. You might not get anywhere with the missing tools but now they have possibly lost a customer...

I would write or email the Austin Statesman and name names.

While that is BS, it is your word against theres. Don't get back get even



John jr

What mechanic?

As someone who works at a marina, let me offer my opinions. First of all, stuff does happen - even to the most reputable marinas and mechanics. The best will fess up and / or offer to work something out with you because we realize that we're human.

On the other hand, you have to realize that marinas regularly have customers try to take advantage of them. I can't tell you the number of totally bogus claims I've heard or see in 25 years in the business. In fact we have one guy who tries to pull the exact same stunt (we damaged his gelcoat) every single year. Oddy enough, the damage looks like the boat was tied to a concrete pier in a hurricane.

One final point. It may not have been anyone working at the marina that took your tools. No matter how secure a marina is, boats still get broken into. And most marinas will tell you that they are not laible for anything left in your boat. No offense to Craftsman tools, but they're not generally something a full time mechanic uses and therefor would steal.

Call him back and ask if he ever asked his guys, which he didn't because he was the one who stole it, and never give them your business and tell everyone you see on the lake what the did.

+1........ Great post.

Yarrr have you gone down there in person looking for your tools? Could be sitting on bench somewhere like a piece of lost luggage! Maybe a helper cleaned up the boat and took the tools assuming they belonged to the mechanic...

Like T-Rav said I'd call back and ask if he ever asked then move on. If you aren't 100% sure of the theft by them it's hard to accuse. If you suspect just don't do business with them anymore.

I had a similar situation happen at my marina, stolen stereo equipment from my boat. Boat no longer stays there for winter storage. I still like the marina, and the people are great there. It was mostly the principle of an "oh well" attitude when I brought the issue up with management.

I wasn't asking for or expecting any compensation, just wanted to let them know boats were being vandalized, theft, etc.