Things to Consider In a Mobile Marine Mechanic

Whether you like working on your own boat or not, it makes sense to often call a qualified technician to do the repairs for you. Imagine a situation where you are stuck at the docks in the wee hours of the night and with no tools to work with. This makes it very important for you to find a competent mobile marine mechanic that you can reach out to in case of emergencies.

Boat repairs are not always so straightforward, even when dealing with reputable companies. Unforeseen obstacles are often bound to happen. For instance, what may seem like a minor leak at the cabin portholes can result in unsuspected rot in the wooden parts. As such, you may want to ask your repair firm how much similar issues have cost previously, and the kind of problems that are likely to occur along the way.

You will notice that your list of repairs to be conducted getting more detailed as you discuss the problems with your marine mechanic. That notwithstanding, make sure that your technician keeps a copy of your work order. This will be useful once work begins to keep track of all that needs to be done.

To keep tabs on the repairs, be sure to keep in mind the following:

• If you are working on a tight budget, make this known before the work starts. Your marine mechanic company may suggest ways of doing your work in stages to accommodate your budget needs.
• Always insist on a written estimate before work starts. Nonetheless, an estimate is just an approximation of the cost of repairs, in the absence of unforeseen problems.
• Agree on a target completion date and include it in your work order.
• While there is no legal requirement for marine mechanics to warrant their work, some still do it. You may want to find this out before work begins.

While some people will argue out on whether it is necessary to choose a mobile repair service, the truth is that this is absolutely necessary. Take for instance that your engine has developed a problem. It would take you more time to disengage the engine from the vessel and have it transported to the boat repair shop and back. The cost of disengaging and transporting the heavy engine could almost match the cost you will pay a company which offers on 24-hour breakdown callout services and emergency services.

So, you should always inquire whether your marine mechanic is up to speed with your specific engine. Propulsion engines often come in different brands and types. But the most important factor you need to consider is whether your engine uses diesel or gas.

This is, however, not the only crucial factor to be looked at. You may also want to evaluate the proficiency of the mechanics. With the fact that the company also offers power generation services, this helps to place their technicians in different scenarios, working with different engines at all times. Therefore, when it comes to experience, you can be sure that such a technician will quickly find the problem to your engine and provide the right solution.

Be sure to check out with your boat repair service on the kind of diagnostic equipment and special tools at their disposal. You do not want to work with a remove and replace type of mechanic. They are likely to nickel and dime you to your last coin. With all that, you may still not have found the right cure to the nagging problem. On the other hand, when your technician plugs in an electronic engine diagnostic machine, it would only be a matter of minutes for them to determine the condition of the different parts in your engine.

Published by Kidal Delonix (1200 Posts)

Kidal Delonix is a contributor to Mr. Hoffman's blog. The views and opinions are entirely his/her own and may not reflect Mr Hoffman's views.