Where do y'all buy from?

[DingiesnTheories]

In my last post I asked what challenges y'all faced when hiring technician, what goes into this decision making process and what matters most to y'all. I got a resounding response which was basically that I should be able to repair my own boat ? and I should ask around because 50% of techs are ****. So if I'm going to try my best to learn as much about my vessel as possible.

But my question to y'all today is, where do y'all buy parts and accessories from? what parts do you guys keep on hand?

All suggestions appreciated!

 

[Comodave]

Defender, Jamestown Distributers and Amazon mostly.

 

[mvweebles]

Defender, Jamestown Distributers and Amazon mostly.

Definitely Defender, though i have struggled with special orders through them. Would add Hodges Marine to my second tier list.

McMaster Carr for stainless fasteners and anything oddball. Prices aren't bad, quality is good, and delivery is fast.

Amazon for small stuff as shipping is favorable with them (however prices seem to be less competitive than other places).

Sometimes it makes sense to go direct to manufacturer. Newfound Metals for portlights for example.

I've used Go2Marine a few times. I bought a bunch of electronics from BOE Marine a couple years ago, but when I pinged them a while back for some other stuff, their excellent customer support reps were gone and had been replaced with order-takers.

Peter

 

[psneeld]

I google shop almost every item to see who has it most reasonable, in stock and has a good reputation.

I probably used 20 different suppliers as often shopping could save as much as 25% on some things but 10% was more common.

 

[dhays]

If I have to see/feel it before making a purchase, I will always buy from the B&M store that had it.

Certain spares that I always keep on hand (filters, anodes, etc…) I’ll order online.

Those things that are convenient pick when I need them, I will pick up from a local chandlery EVEN IF I don’t need it right away. I’d rather keep those local businesses in business.

 

[rgano]

I use all the above and, of course, the original manufacturer of equipment aboard whenever possible. Got to keep all those manuals.

 

[HTurner]

Defender Marine for most boat items.



Amazon for small things such as connectors and many tools.


Toad Marine for Yanmar parts. I highly recommend them. They also sell for other engine makes.


Harbor Freight for that odd ball item such as pallet jack, straps, 36" long screw driver, etc.

 

[Barrie]

We are going on a trip next summer and along with all the other spares parts mentioned, I'm planning to get a spare alternator.
Barrie

 

[Delta Riverat]

Yeah, DIY maintenance. Told the captain I bought 8 gallons of oil and 4 filters, cost almost $200 but I probably saved $500. He said it's good to do your own work and your estimate is low.

He said the going rate for a field service oil change is $150/cylinder. That would be $1800 for my boat.

 

[Moonfish]

Unless it's a very expensive item, we try our local suppliers first before going online: Admiral Ship Supply (right here in Port Townsend) and Fisheries Supply for more generic stuff. For engine parts, American Diesel and Fred Warner. After that we'll try Defender or other online sources. Syjos, one of our fellow TFers, has an online store as well, though I'm sorry to say I can't recall the name!

 

[catalinajack]

Yeah, DIY maintenance. Told the captain I bought 8 gallons of oil and 4 filters, cost almost $200 but I probably saved $500. He said it's good to do your own work and your estimate is low.

He said the going rate for a field service oil change is $150/cylinder. That would be $1800 for my boat.

$1,800 for two six-cylinder engines? What sane person would pay that? Eight gallons of oil cost no more than $160. Two filters cost maybe $30. Say $200 total cost. That leaves $1,600 for labor. At say $115/hour that translates to 14 hours of labor, 14 hours! For a four-hour job, at most. It takes me two hours to change the oil on my two engines.

 

[Delta Riverat]

I know, that's why I do it too.

But hey, if you are rich and don't want to work...

Some people hire captains to pilot the boat while they entertain their guests.

 

[Fletcher500]

Fisheries Supply in the PNW is my go to for larger ticket items like pumps, a reefer, etc. Their customer service is very good. A few weeks ago I had a small mechanical that kept me tied to the dock. They were great and shipped out the part immediately.

With that said, I have also had very good interactions with Defender and Hodges.

I know WM gets beat up on here a lot. It's not where I make the big purchases but its nice to walk in to the store to get line, parts, whatever. Yes, they charge more but they have a large store front presence and its worth it to touch things sometimes. Their rigging department is great in our area. I replaced our anchor rode last winter and their splice was perfect and goes through the windlass with no issues. BTW, I went all chain, just a small amount of rope at the end.

 

[Greg QS]

Paint and varnishes Total boat is a good shop.

 

[mvweebles]

$1,800 for two six-cylinder engines? What sane person would pay that? Eight gallons of oil cost no more than $160. Two filters cost maybe $30. Say $200 total cost. That leaves $1,600 for labor. At say $115/hour that translates to 14 hours of labor, 14 hours! For a four-hour job, at most. It takes me two hours to change the oil on my two engines.

If it's just changing oil, I agree that it's high. But the decent mechanics I've seen spend a long day doing a comprehensive service where changing oil is part of the routine. Check engine mounts, change zincs, adjust stuffing box, swap impellors, check valve lash, adjust idle (if necessary), lube linkages, change fuel filters (including bleed engine on naturals), etc. And then there is the drive time to get in and out, lug tools down to boat, haul and dispose of 10 gals of oil and filters, etc. $1200/day in labor plus consumables, you get to $1800 fairly easily. But that assumes a decent mechanic that does a full service.

Peter.

 

[Comodave]

If it's just changing oil, I agree that it's high. But the decent mechanics I've seen spend a long day doing a comprehensive service where changing oil is part of the routine. Check engine mounts, change zincs, adjust stuffing box, swap impellors, check valve lash, adjust idle (if necessary), lube linkages, change fuel filters (including bleed engine on naturals), etc. And then there is the drive time to get in and out, lug tools down to boat, haul and dispose of 10 gals of oil and filters, etc. $1200/day in labor plus consumables, you get to $1800 fairly easily. But that assumes a decent mechanic that does a full service.

Peter.

That is a pretty big assumption…

 

[Simi 60]

We cruise full time so no real option but to use the interwebs for everything.

Always good savings.

 

[psneeld]

Labor by marine outfits includes travel time, collecting parts, loading the truck, humping everything down to the boat from where ever they can find a parking spot, taping/masking off areas that can't afford to get dirty, then disposing and cleaning up.

Saying that I can change the oil in 2 hours compared to a service call just suggests to me that one has never employed outside service and seen an itemized bill or just doesn't want to face the fact that outside help costs more. Labor from a yard you are staying in usually will cost proportionately less.

 

[TowLou]

Since the most of the work currently was wiring and such I worked with Del city electronics. Very fair and good. Have used defender and nip and pick throgh amzn. Roberts and sons for starters and alternators I hope would ship if I need them to but I am still on dirt.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Labor rate here is $130/hr.

I buy from Amazon, ebay, Defender, Sailor Sams, E-rigging, West Marine, Hinge Outlet, Wholesale Marine and Home Depot.

 

[Delta Riverat]

Labor by marine outfits includes travel time, collecting parts, loading the truck, humping everything down to the boat from where ever they can find a parking spot, taping/masking off areas that can't afford to get dirty, then disposing and cleaning up.

Saying that I can change the oil in 2 hours compared to a service call just suggests to me that one has never employed outside service and seen an itemized bill or just doesn't want to face the fact that outside help costs more. Labor from a yard you are staying in usually will cost proportionately less.

I agree. It costs a lot (at $130/hr) to drive out to the store and pickup the oil and filters and drive to wherever your boat is and unload the supplies and shlep them down to your boat, load them into you boat along with the needed drain buckets and pumps and then load them item by item down to the engine room and then they can start the job.

And when they are done they can do all that prep in reverse. Yeah, take everything back to recycle.

 

[Simi 60]

Labor rate here is $130/hr.
.

Silly money, that's $192 in Oz peso.

Don't get me wrong, as an ex tradie I'd love to get that coin but it's not brain surgery or rocket science

Interesting that wages there are listed as similar to here

The average skilled trades salary in the USA is $46,799 per year or $24 per hour. Entry level positions start at $35,685 per year while most experienced workers make up to $69,120 per year.

$24 USD is $35.60aud

The average trades salary in Australia is $68,250 per year or $35 per hour. Entry-level positions start at $58,500 per year, while most experienced workers make up to $100,008 per year

 

[koliver]

When we had two fuel barges in Coal Harbour, up until the last of the others went for a refit and never returned, about 10 years ago, the fuel barge would allow the use of their sucker to do oil changes. You didn't even have to buy your oil from them. I always did, and would fuel up at the same time. That oil change took no more than 5 minutes of sucking from each engine, so 15 minutes if I also did the generator. I could pour the oil into the first while the second was sucking, into the second while the third was sucking, so all in no more than 30 minutes doing 3 oil changes.
Regretably, that is no longer allowed, as the single fuel barge can't tie up any time on the sides of the barge, where the big tugs come in, and the sucker hose doesn't reach to the end where they ask us non commercial guys to fuel.

 

[Highland Mist]

Fisheries Supply is a great local source for Washington boaters.

 

[ranger58sb]

Most of the above vendors... plus Hodges Marine, Citimarine, boatoutfitters.com (King tarboard), founderpounder.com (Sea Ray parts)...

And that's augmented by specialist (and sometimes general) labor, usually depending on how much it'll hurt me to do a job myself. Local electrics guys for inverter/charger install (potential voltage hurt there, too), sometimes on-site yard guys for bottom work and for getting into interior places I can't, local prop shop, local AC guys for major (duh!) AC things, local MAN guy for technically challenging engine work, local electronics guys for major electronics installation...

And so forth.

-Chris

 

[Hippocampus]

I’m mostly in New England now but use fisheries a lot. The one rule I’ve found is if you can find the item from a non marine related supplier you can save big bucks. Buy stuff from auto/truck supply, hardware stores, Fastenal, HVAC, electrical or plumbing supply and such. Find as soon as it says “marine” the price goes up but not necessarily the quality. Even RV supply houses are less expensive than marine most times.

 

[mvweebles]

Silly money, that's $192 in Oz peso.

Don't get me wrong, as an ex tradie I'd love to get that coin but it's not brain surgery or rocket science

Interesting that wages there are listed as similar to here



$24 USD is $35.60aud

Part of the reason for very high hourly chargeable rates for trades such as electricians, mechanics, and plumbers (construction) is the short duration of their jobs so their utilization is lower. I can only guess, but I'd reckon the typical journeyman mechanic with a factory badge (Cummins, Cat, etc) probably makes a good $100k-$120k USD per year ($50-$60 per hour) and is billed out at $180/hr, but lucky to have a 60% utilization rate, or 1200 hrs per year. I'm not defending it, just explaining.

High repair costs are the biggest reason I've become a DIY'er for almosf everything. Started when I seized a cylinder on an old Yamaha Enduro when I was 16. As ive gotten older and a bit less hand-to-mouth, biggest motivator to DIY has been finding reliable people. Seems the trades do not attract reliable sorts. Often just easier and faster to figure it out myself.

Simi - you've probably heard a lot about Defender over the years. Anything equivalent in OZ? What's the landscape for marine parts there?

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

Fisheries Supply is a great local source for Washington boaters.

They're a pretty good source to order from as well.

 

[mvweebles]

I’m mostly in New England now but use fisheries a lot. The one rule I’ve found is if you can find the item from a non marine related supplier you can save big bucks. Buy stuff from auto/truck supply, hardware stores, Fastenal, HVAC, electrical or plumbing supply and such. Find as soon as it says “marine” the price goes up but not necessarily the quality. Even RV supply houses are less expensive than marine most times.

I've tried shopping at Fisheries Supply, but frankly, for the stuff I queried, their pricing was always out of whack so I've never actually purchased from them. Is it just bad luck, or is their pricing high? Seemed their pricing was MSRP which I'd expect for a local of boatyard chandlery.

Peter

 

[rslifkin]

I've tried shopping at Fisheries Supply, but frankly, for the stuff I queried, their pricing was always out of whack so I've never actually purchased from them. Is it just bad luck, or is their pricing high? Seemed their pricing was MSRP which I'd expect for a local of boatyard chandlery.

Peter

It depends on what you're buying. For some items (like hose) I've found they can't get anywhere near Defender's pricing. But at other times, they've been much more reasonable. And sometimes they've also been the fastest place to get something from.