Customer Is Very Emotional About His Yacht ... 

What do you think? Fill me in at what age is it time to retire from boating? It's hard to see your customers struggle with boating life and yet it's so hard for them to let go .... Owners get so attached because many times its their home away from home.

I do a little boat canvas, rarely let customers supply products. As a boat owner I do pick up things for our mechanic to save time if he’s busy and only get products he tells us to. So long story short , every situation is different. Nice Chanel.

That beauty of a boat is built by my neighbor

A customer providing their own parts can be sticky. Your company can't warranty the parts ( only the labor). Also, not to drone on, but all parts are not equal in quality. Love the content. Have a blessed day in Key West.

Really super channel. We used to live in the Keys and it’s good to see the same places we would frequent. Memories!

You Asked… The Client vrs you as a boat repair service . Every situation and time of year is unique so; A. if you’re way busy then you only supply the parts and the labor. B. If not too busy then work it out if you have a past good history with the client. C. New clients get you buying the materials (perhaps some they want to use on their boat) and your labor of course.

Glue a small piece of poly behind it then when you put the screw in it pull the poly tighten the screws won’t back out

Epoxy lock nuts to the back. Then use machine screws with loctite. Works like a charm.

My brother is a landscaper and his saying is, "I don't plant trees that were not bought from me" and if I do I don't guarantee them. One thing I would say is that with supply chain being what it is as long as you and the client are in agreement up front it may be better that the client actually assimilate some of the items so you don't have to track them down. Obviously if your a dealer on something it should be bought from you.

If mechanics and yards wouldnt hose customers upcharging on parts prices it wouldnt be an issue. I often can find new OEM parts in the box. Yard wanted $500+ for an alternator. I got the same one on Amazon $350 with 24 hours delivery. Took me 10 minutes. As long as the part is new or rebuilt and approved by the installer, I dont see any problem with the customer sourcing it. Many yards would be happy not to have the bother.

Really like your channel. I do a lot of my own repair on a 1998 38' Horstman trimaran that we have had here in the San Juan Islands. Like the channel because you show how to fix small things and big things. I have a very good eletician and mechanic when it is too much for me to handle. Thanks for the great content from you and your wife.

Love yalls videos, very informative and you guys do an outstanding job on all your Marine Service jobs. Keep up the outstanding work and your videos.!!!!

I wouldn’t let customers get the parts and materials. As a boat owner myself I wouldn’t do this but I’m sure some do, and that’s someone buying a lesser quality parts. I just think it’s better for both owner and mechanic for the mechanic to supply all the parts needed as well.

On the spinning screw syndrome, I also use epoxy, and if I can get to backside I'll epoxy a composite or dense wood backing block. I then use a dremel tool with thin disc to cut two self tapping notches in wood screw, have also replaced wood screws with machine screws and same homemade self tappers. 316 SS usually but have also used a tap in fiberglass with nylon bolts.

Great videos thanks you and your team 👍.

Spot on!🇺🇸👊🏻

10:40 definitely want to check that his alternators are not overcharging those batteries. Had that exact same problem happen to me. The voltage regulator in the alt was bad.

Love what you guys do. Keep up the great work!

Love the content, always looking out for your videos

Lunch looked great and the price was great 👍

On the customer provided parts, I understand why you would not want to do that, but I think if you have a good relationship and understanding with the customer its probably ok.

I would allow customers to provide thier own parts and let them know there is absolutely no warranty on parts or labor included to install the supplied parts

I grew up on the water had boats. Got expensive for repairs and maintenance. I love boats just had enough. Now that viking I would be crying selling that.

The boats are always at the end of the dock because the guys that can afford someone else to fix their problem, typically have the larger more expensive boats 😅 that require deeper water and larger slips (at the end of the docks). Y’all know this already ;)

Enjoy your channel

Great episode! Thanks for sharing! 👍👍keep rolling WFT team! 👍👍

On special occasions I’ll use parts bought by the customer. But they have to be oem in the package. No after market water pumps or things like that

I’m pretty sure I would love the Keys lifestyle if I could just afford it. Love your content

Key west life. Walking or bike riding is the fastest mode of transportation

I would use rivet nuts for the door and avoid the mess a work of epoxy.

Would I allow clients to provide their own parts. That kind of depends. 1) How much of your profit margin comes from parts mark-up to the customer. If you can live with the loss of profit margin from the owner buying their own parts, then sure, let them buy their own parts. 2) If they want to order their own parts, then they have to order the parts you recommend, by part number. They should understand, it will cost them labor for you to determine what parts, and part numbers the need to order. If they select, or order the incorrect part number, they will be responsible for all return cost and restocking fees. With your providing part numbers, you avoid the owners not ordering OEM parts and buying some Ebay junk. They should also understand, just because parts are NEW, doesn't always mean they are GOOD parts.Again, they are responsible for all returns. Good luck. Hey guys, I'm coming down to Key West from April 17-22. I'm staying at the Almond Tree Inn Hotel. All I plan on doing is fishing from a pier or two and maybe a little fishing from land. All catch and release. Catch a few rays, eat some good Seafood, a fish, fish, fish. Hope to maybe see you around town and possibly say hello if I do see you. Take care, Alan from NC

What a great environment to work in.

I have thought about how much longer I will be able to keep boating. I will be 71 at summers end. I am still very active and feel like I have many years left . I will keep at it until I feel it’s not prudent any longer.

If I'm fixing it I use my parts. OEM whenever possible. Sometimes it not!

Ive been doing the same work as you for over 25 years. I never install customer supplied parts. My only recent exception has been Starlink antennas.

Depends on your health. Some people are done by age 60, whereas many boat through their 70's and God bless them, some are in their 80's and are still out there. I'm wondering why you couldn't service the Hynautic steering cylinder? $4500 is a lot if all it needs is a new seal. Was the ram scored?

Nice episode. I’d like to see more of that Viking if you get a chance.

Matt - do yall rebuild the steering rams? New seal kit may cure that leak.

Great video so much of what you do I have done as well as run a diesel shop with my wife in South Florida. Worked for Pantropic on yachts as well for many years . To answer you question about customer parts, Yes but if part fails customer will pay labor time and mileage to Remove and replace as well claim for part

If you’re replacing with their parts I would say no warranty unless it’s a product you would purchase and trust.

Some of us get in over our head or don't have the time after we order parts. So as long as they are top quality, I say go for it. Especially in Key West where I assume you have to have most stuff shipped in.

Almost 10k subscribers! Very cool getting there! 👍👍

Great channel and I just subscribed! Depending on the part i would let the customer provide it.

Had the same problem with those West Marine AGM batteries. West Marine replaced them under warranty

Must have new parts in a box! No used parts!! With the understanding any extra labor or other parts will be billed at a higher rate!!

Speed clips on the door to get screws to tighten

I think if it’s OEM equipment (beside batteries) I’d say sure but warranties on labor.

Never allow them to supply parts. It’s our company name people here if the items fail. They will cheap out on parts most of the time. Some Amazon foreign item.

"Would you let customers buy parts" Short answer.... yes. Long answer ....Depends. Both answers require you to approve the part as being safe. I would have a SIMPLE (broad) signed/texted/emailed waver that releases you from ANY liability tied to that part the customer provides. If that part is a product that is new to you that might take more time/research to install, does not fit/work or does not accomplish the task then the customer will pay your hourly rate. It's a bit of a gamble for the customer but not for you due to that option would be an hourly rate quoted job versus a job quote. Why not remove the door, take it to the shop to repair it? I think the bench repair would be good content for your channel for a pretty common fix that MANY folks deal with not only on boats. S

Another awesome video. I followed and understood what was going on so not sure what that keyboard Karen was talking about in the comments.

You could have used a nutsert in the holes and used bolts instead of screws

I’m all for letting a customer buy their own parts but then again I’m a customer. I know part of the boating repair business is making some money on the parts also so I’m thinking that most service companies don’t like that

I'm a plumber. People buy junky faucets off the internet. I will install on two conditions - one - I'm not responsible if it breaks. two- No warranty what so ever.

Love the content

As for a customer providing parts I would have the stipulation that they had to be OEM parts or ones you told the customer to purchase.

Sad to have sell that beautiful Viking because of age , I thought that’s when your supposed to buy one .

Matt you need a work One Wheel to rip around on

maybe with reputable brands but still wouldn't warranty because you don't really know where they cane from

How were those prosciutto chips? Wonder how they make them

I’d install rivnuts.

You should get an electric bike or scooter to get around

I would never allow clients to provide their own parts. Being in a business for 35 years we learned that lesson the hard way. The times we did allow it the parts weren’t the correct ones or an inferior part that the customer would insist we try to use so they could save some money. Lose, lose almost every time

Is that a metal frame in that door? Because if so I bought a nice tool that puts a thing call rivet nuts in the holes so you could use machine screws or bolts and that viking is a very beautiful boat sad to see him get rid of it and holy cow those batteries are a ticking time bomb and no I would not let the customers supply the parts ran into many problems with people doing that

I'm a retired auto tech. I would never install customer-supplied parts. NO !

You should change your company name to "Mobile Marine AC repair" 😂. Seems. Like every video has an AC repair.

I would not say never to customer parts. Availability may be a consideration but no warranty.

Why wouldn't take the hatch with you and make solid? Then bring it back and reinstall. That's 2 trips, your making 4!

I want to buy that boat! How much?

55 for lunch how much do you charge a hour?

Sure they can provide parts but no warranty and they pay for installation working or not.

Epoxy is the way to go,

I charge 3-10% of equipment cost if client provides equipment

Heck no if. Customer insists to buy Parts there selfs then they an tht. Can of bad worms go on dwn the road. With tht full boat of problems

Epoxy and nutsert……

Yes, I will let them buy their own parts, but there will be no warranty not even with the labor

being an auto repair shop owner for 27 years customer supplyed parts is a pain. Here is what we did 1. part markup is part of our income so we charge 1 1/2 times labor 2. we very clearly inform customer if there part is wrong or bad they are paying all our extra labor 3. Most important NO WARRANTY... That being said there was a auto shop in PA that installed customer supply tierod end that part broke caused the car to crash and total the car then the customer sued the shop for a failed part that the shop did not even sell the case did not really go anywhere but the shop owner spent 10 grand in legal fees to defend himself

More engine work. Less air conditioning

I dont think its a good idea to use customers parts because of warranty issues. Maybe say if you use their parts you wont warranty any of it because you dont know where it came from. There are lots of crappy parts out there.

I would not allow that. It’s an entirely different business model to offer services without liability for those services. There are so many pitfalls to going tho I route which leaves dissatisfied customers in the long run. Not good for you or them... Joe

Age to retire from boating? When you can’t enjoy your time on your boat.

Still have a bad microphone

I wouldn’t want the customer to buy his parts if he thinks he is saving money then you don’t need him as a customer if he doesn’t trust you to buy parts then he thinks you are cheating him

audio was awful in this one .

I want to watch your videos but the disjointed editing is killing me. I don't understand the explaining of things your not doing you never said y'all were going to do.😂 Maybe a little storyline and structure is not a bad thing😬 It's like try to follow woman logic.😮

Please buy your mom a new microphone. Very difficult to listen to when she walks around. Nails on a chalkboard