Bravo III service...Screw job?

[Carpedmman]

Needing to vent here a bit...I had my baby in for some servicing this past month. Here is what I had done:
1) Bottom painted ($875 inc. haul out)
2) Bravo III's serviced: Drive oil changed, new anodes. Drives were spot sandblasted and repainted with zinc-chromate and paint (Bad paint job-runs all over!)
3) New drive bellows installed.
4) Exhaust Flapper on starboard engine replaced.

When I asked for an estimate to be done, the shop wouldn't give me one until the boat was out of the water. I kept calling and to get a running total...the bill went from $2000 for bottom paint, outdrives with anodes and serviced/painted. Final bill was $4500! OUCH!

Here is my "beef" with the shop. I didn't ask that they disassemble the drive and the bell housing and repaint. I asked them to touch up the outdrives. (They didn't break the seals, just removed from the boat.) They said the bell housing had to be removed to replace the bellows. Is this true?

The port flapper was replaced a few years ago by a Sea Ray dealer and at that time there was one flapper purchased. This time around this place charged me for two flappers and 6 hours to install! Does it take THAT long?

Total labor for the outdrive/flapper work was 27 hours. Anyone do this lately?

Is this a ROYAL screw job without vasaline? TIA!

 

[JV II]

It sounds about right. The bellows replacement is laborious and expensive. Parts and labor for all that can easily add up to $4,500.

 

[STIHLBOLTS]

Did that include changing engine oil and winterizing? :huh:

 

[tbirdvet]

This is why I try to do most work myself. I would only pay to have the bellows changed (if required) as this is heavy work removing the drive.

 

[Redhook98]

You got screwed. You do not have to remove the bell housing to change bellows. Never heard of that. I had both Bravo II's on mine done for $1350. This included oil change, all bellows, new gimble bearings, lower shift cables, anodes and check-out. This was for parts and labor. Oh, and they also replaced both Mercathodes on the bottom of the drives (I paid for those parts though).

Not sure on the flapper replacement though. Why did you replace them?

 

[Carpedmman]

You got screwed. You do not have to remove the bell housing to change bellows. Never heard of that. I had both Bravo II's on mine done for $1350. This included oil change, all bellows, new gimble bearings, lower shift cables, anodes and check-out. This was for parts and labor. Oh, and they also replaced both Mercathodes on the bottom of the drives (I paid for those parts though).

Not sure on the flapper replacement though. Why did you replace them?

Thanks for all your input.

I had the exhaust flapper replaced because when they pulled the drive they found half a flapper in the exhaust bellow.

[QUOTE: Did that include changing engine oil and winterizing?
No, this did not include an oil change or winterizing. Here in Portland we boat year round and I change my own fluids. I would do more of the work if I had a place who would pull the boat and allow me to do my own servicing. The items such as anode replacement is stupidly easy!

 

[sprink56]

You know the drill....

B.O.A.T......Break Out Another Thousand :thumbsup:

 

[Sundancer]

I thought it was B.O.A.T.T.?? Break out another ten thousand??

 

[KHARRIMAN]

I say a bit of a screw job- but not a TERRIBLE one
Can't comment on the flapper but the drive bellows---
I just did both sets(3) of my B3 drive bellows-
-NO- you don''t have to remove the bell housing for bellows replacement
-The parts alone are $250-$300 off the net
-Without doing the water hose, replacement of all three bellows would be an 6-8 hour job on one drive- thats me not a pro. A pro should be able to do it in 4-6 hrs- closer to four.
Add in the anywhere from $90-$125+ for labor:smt101 hours and the markup for the parts and i'd say $2,000 per drive is about what they'd charge you.

As a consolation- know that you are good to go for at least 3 years on those bellows- and you can hold them responsible for any screw-ups/ failures!
My advice is to do the bellows yourself on the next round- it's not that bad I'd say difficulty is 8 /10 on the first time AND 6/10 for the second drive
my- $.02
--Kevin

 

[Redhook98]

I say a bit of a screw job- but not a TERRIBLE one
Can't comment on the flapper but the drive bellows---
I just did both sets(3) of my B3 drive bellows-
-NO- you don''t have to remove the bell housing for bellows replacement
-The parts alone are $250-$300 off the net
-Without doing the water hose, replacement of all three bellows would be an 6-8 hour job on one drive- thats me not a pro. A pro should be able to do it in 4-6 hrs- closer to four.
Add in the anywhere from $90-$125+ for labor:smt101 hours and the markup for the parts and i'd say $2,000 per drive is about what they'd charge you.

As a consolation- know that you are good to go for at least 3 years on those bellows- and you can hold them responsible for any screw-ups/ failures!
My advice is to do the bellows yourself on the next round- it's not that bad I'd say difficulty is 8 /10 on the first time AND 6/10 for the second drive
my- $.02
--Kevin

Wait..... You think $2k PER DRIVE is OK?!?! Yikes!

 

[KHARRIMAN]

OK- NO- BUT NOT SURPRISED
When you pay the piper- he's not a nice fellow(he takes first -born).
A. If you can find a good mechanic- like it seems you have- DO USE THEM
B. Do it yourself and save
or
C. Pay through the nose or wallet

 

[Carpedmman]

I say a bit of a screw job- but not a TERRIBLE one
Can't comment on the flapper but the drive bellows---
I just did both sets(3) of my B3 drive bellows-
-NO- you don''t have to remove the bell housing for bellows replacement
-The parts alone are $250-$300 off the net
-Without doing the water hose, replacement of all three bellows would be an 6-8 hour job on one drive- thats me not a pro. A pro should be able to do it in 4-6 hrs- closer to four.
Add in the anywhere from $90-$125+ for labor:smt101 hours and the markup for the parts and i'd say $2,000 per drive is about what they'd charge you.

As a consolation- know that you are good to go for at least 3 years on those bellows- and you can hold them responsible for any screw-ups/ failures!
My advice is to do the bellows yourself on the next round- it's not that bad I'd say difficulty is 8 /10 on the first time AND 6/10 for the second drive
my- $.02
--Kevin

Kevin- Thanks for your input. The information you provided was sound and was what I was looking for as a response to my post. What gets me PO'ed is the "surprise" factor of the bill at the end. I just feel these guys soaked me for an extra grand.
The labor rate is $75/hr, so 6-8 hrs plus parts should have been less than $1000/Drive.
Thanks for the info!
Happy Holidays!

 

[dr.j]

Boy can I relate to this tale! Years ago I completed annual winterize with new lower unit fluid and leg removal for grease and inspection. One of the u joints required replacement so I ran it over to the local marina, aquired a quote and date to pick it up. I came back to a 3K bill and a list a mile long of replacement parts; every bearing, shaft and seal was replaced. Water in the leg they said ! The fluid was new and the leg was not installed after fluid replacement; never in the water and the old fluid was just as good as the new. I took the lower unit over in the trunk of my car. My old parts were no where to be found in the shop. Months later I paid 1.5K in order to get my leg back. The line that angered me the most was when I said I would not pay and was told the boat was of little value without a lower unit.