Winterizing prices

[harddock]

For those of you that pay a boatyard or marina to winterize your boat. What does your local guy charge? What is included in the winterization?

[OKWAKEBDR]

Winterize, Oil Change, Service V-Drive and Transmission
$375

Kinda high, but seems to be the going rate around here. He was REDICULOUSLY EXPENSIVE on the impellar change through, so I'll be doing that myself.

[HS]

Ranges from $300 - $550, plus parts

Winterize Basic

Test run warm up engine
Add fuel stabilizer
Pull drain plug
Check belts
Check hoses
Check alt output
Check trim fluid
Check systems
Run engine on antifreeze
Fog engine
Coat exterior of engine with corrosion guard
Coat electoral terminals
Hang keys and tag steering wheel
$300.00 Plus Parts

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Winterize with Oil Change

Test run warm up engine
Add fuel stabilizer
Check belts
Check hoses
Check alt output
Check trim fluid
Change oil and filter
Run engine on antifreeze
Fog engine
Coat exterior of engine with corrosion guard
Coat electoral terminals
Hang keys and tag steering wheel
$435.00 Plus Parts

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Winterize with Oil Change and Drive Service

Test run warm up
Add fuel stabilizer
Check belts
Check hoses
Check alt output
Check trim fluid
Check systems
Change oil and filter
Pull drive
Check engine alignment
Check coupler
Check gimbal bearing
Check u joints
Change drive oil
Hang drive
Run engine on antifreeze
Fog engine
Coat exterior of engine with corrosion guard
Coat electoral terminals
Hang keys and tag steering wheel
$550.00 Plus Parts

[TRDon]

OMG, around here it is cheaper but it is a lot cheaper to spend the 2 hours and spend $35 on materials and read how to do it yourself on the internet. Over 500 is way crazy and dare I say greedy on the behalf of the service provider.

[WakeSlayer]

Everyone, please make sure you take advantage of the "check trim fluid" service offered......

Winterizing is so easy, I really do not understand someone paying more than $100 to do it. $500 is just stupid.....

[teamseal]

Here at Florida Inboards we perform all of the above along with a diacom diagnostic read and only charge an hour to perform the same tasks. Parts and 1 hour labor usally runs around $150.00.
Hope that helps.

[HS]

Give me some slack, just passing on cost info...

But importantly, they also coat electoral terminals which is key in an election year...

[DanielC]

It looks to me like the $300 to $500 winterization service is for an inboard-outboard boat. I have done a few, they are more difficult to do.

It seems like the shop is making a huge amount of money, but there is a lot of "non-charged" time when a shop works on your boat.

You drop the boat off, you talk to the people in the shop, they write the work order, they have to move your boat to the service bay. Usually, they have to move all the life jackets, wakeboard, ropes, wetsuits, and all the crap you keep in your boat. On V-drives, usually interior pieces have to be removed to gain access to the engine and transmissions. The boat may or may not have to be moved again to a place it can be ran, and warmed up. Back into the shop, do some of the work, and moved again to test start the engine, again, to check for leaks.

The shop does the things on the list. They also have to put the boat back together, and put all your stuff back in the boat. Often they will vacuum the carpet, clean the windshield, check the tire air pressure, check the torque on the lug nuts, possibly check the lights.

The shop owner has to pay the employees, shop over head, business licenses, utilities, and many other expenses you cannot imagine, unless you have ran a similar business. In order to be able to service your boat, the shop owner has to keep an inventory of spare parts in stock, some that will sit on a shelf for tears, until they are needed.

[WakeSlayer]

HS, was not getting on your case at all

I think Jody has a fair price for these services. Half the cost of the low average.

Daniel, I am not necessarily critiquing the business for charging a ton of money to do that stuff. If people are willing to pay it, then by all means. I am suggesting that people can do it themselves in an hour or two, and learn some things about their boats they should know. There is nothing whatsoever complex about the process.

I am also not really convinced that all of these shops do all of this work on all of the boats they winterize.....

[DanielC]

In my above post, I meant "shelf for years"

I too think every boat owner should know how to do these things. There are many who do not. That is also fine, it is their choice/

There are many who do not realize the costs associated with running a boat shop. That is what I was trying to point out. It is a tough business to be in. Especially in the last few years.

Many people get into the boat business, because they love to ski, and love boats. They actually do not get that much time in their own boats, because of the demands of customers.

[SkiTower]

But importantly, they also coat electoral terminals which is key in an election year...

ROFLMAO! Guess they only do that every other year!

[pmgIA]

I had my 93 Sport winterized and oil changed, cost $160, did it while I waited, then I took it straight to storage.