Was this price too high?

[tim]

I had a battery switch put in the back of a 20 foot pontoon along with the battery box 20 gauge wire going up to the front of the boat and two poles to put my trolling motor to connect to. $571. I think it’s a little lot of whack but then again I’m 70 and everything seems expensive now.

[mr 580]

What are you using 20 gauge wire for?  Trolling motor hookup uses much heavier wire especially on a long run.  They probably also installed a circuit breaker too and additional cables for battery switch.  What’s your material cost and labor cost?  Marine wiring is more $$$ than auto wiring as well.  Go over the bill with the people who did the work.

[nickihoyboy]

I think he meant 2/0 gauge wire.

[mr 580]

Big difference in price- 20 gauge duplex marine 70 cents a foot and 2/0 is about 7 bucks a foot single wire plus your crimped ends that need a hydraulic crimping tool.  I added heavier cable for my downriggers and an ACR myself this spring and good marine components aren’t cheap.  

[bulletbob]

Any repair from any tech either home, car, boat, whatever, is very high these days...  marine repair costs are the worst.
4 or 5 years  ago, I took a 30 Hp Johnson in to a marine dealer that wasn't running right-They replaced the squeeze bulb on the fuel line, installed 2 spark plugs, and the fuel primer solenoid.$350..Thats MAYBE 80-90 in parts, and 1/2 hour of very light labor.. It didn't even fix the problem, which I fixed myself with a new $20 fuel pump...

 

 5 years  before that another marine shop charged $350 to install a water pump in a little 9.8 Merc... I don't know how shops justify these prices but people pay them, so they keep doing it I guess.. I will NEVER under any circumstance take anything to a marine tech again as long as I live.. Prices are out of control....

[Bozeman Bob]

First off , the OPs question should of been before the work was done ,not after . Not any different than someone buying a boat ,then asking if he got a good deal . Secondly,  labor rates in the car industry are anywhere from 150 to 200.00 per hour , how does that translate to the marine rate ,which is usually higher . Thirdly we don't know what the exact parts are ,or what they cost . People should ask these forums BEFORE , not after , the work is done or boat is bought , the ship has left the port at this point . 

[tim]

I’m just asking not mad at the mechanic . After some of your comments I’m more at ease. For someone 70 years old $135 an hour seems a lot.i sound like my dad in the 70s.The reason I didn’t ask before , the mechanic that did the work owned the place and his prices were very reasonable. He just sold the business now just works there .

[bulletbob]

These days, $135  an hour is actually on the cheaper side, crazy as that sounds... so if a  marine mechanic/technician that owns a small shop works a full 8 hour day on your rig his labor for one day is $1080... Now, lets say he installed $1000[retail customer cost] in parts... Parts markup is standard at  40% give or take a few percent... meaning he paid $600 for the parts he sold with the job... That business owner paid himself almost $1500 for one days work.. Not bad..... I get it, you must pay those that have skills and training that you don't have.. Still labor and parts on anything mechanical these days is crazy... Costs $100   to have  snow tires put on these days.....

[Bozeman Bob]

^^^ , BulletBob yes ,135.00 per hour is on the cheap side, especially for a Marina . Yes they mark items up ,just like auto repair shops , been like that forever.  You could bring your own parts in and they will just charge you labor . It's frowned upon and the repair shop will not be responsible for any of your parts warranty or fitting, working properly . Sometimes it cost you more bringing your own parts in , and if they don't fit or work , that's $$$ on you .You are forgetting the shops overhead in your analysis.  Everyone knows , Insurance has gone up , what do you think a commercial business pays for that ? Workman's compensation,  unemployment comp . , heating cost , electricity,  401K , health insurance,  real estate taxes , school taxes , office supplies,  office help , service writer , paying a mechanic 30- 35.00 per hour ( Going rate at most garages ) and I'm sure a handful of other things that cut into your actual profit . So a business owner is not sticking 1500.00 into his pocket for one days work .