THIS is why...

[artcarney_agr]

I've had a couple quotes on mine and your 100 dollar quote is pretty low I think.......Almost all shops around LOU are double that.........

I think that's because it's in Louisville......the shops around town take advantage of the summer people or weekend warrior ski boat crowd; that crowd pays whatever the shop says because they don't know any better. I think that's the point lilmule was trying to make about prices varying from location - some places just charge whatever because they know they'll get it, and in Louisville especially.

[FlyLie]

Thanks to all, interesting information! So, assuming cost for parts are about the same for all shops, then your responses suggest one should "shop around" based upon local labor charges. Also, considering, winter time is down time for most marine shops, then location and timing should equate to lower prices? What you think?

[lilmule]

Location,timing and knowing your repair person all equate,winter just means less wait in line.Thats a set fee type of job,other things in the winter they will do cheaper like redoing a gel coat.
Thus why if its already in the shop pays to do it its been awhile,every 2-3 years and done that way doesnt quite or shouldnt quite cost as much even in loiusville.
Some things are or need to be oem parts,many however do not why pay 60 diollars for oem rubber wheel when 26 elsewhere covers it.
They may even be saving some bucks and installing it anyway,therefore pays to know really know your mechanic.
I run cheap motors costing under 1500 and often less yet pay to have preventive maintenance done so its not a throw away sooner rather than later.End of the year cable lube and fogged,cant help it if a house costs 180 k in new jersey and 60 here,or a hop skip and a jump away in ky.
Just guessing nyc would be high as well.They tend to charge what the market permits locally,just dont always wear a mask.
Are you a number or an individual,does he (mechanic)call you by your first name,and do you actually like him,and trust him.
Bottom line even if it costs more elsewhere its cheap preventive maintenance.

[onemorecast56]

I agree with embrey,,change them out every 2 yrs,,,BUT this is the thing that kills the pumps,,DON`T EVER START YOUR MOTOR WITH OUT MUFFS!!!!!!!!!! I just sold my Stratos and the guy wanted to trade in his V-hull to me and was tellling how good his motor was,,he started it up with out muffs or water and ran it and rived it up for 30 sec`s that killled it for me,,,dumbass! It don`t take but a few sec`s to burn a pump up,,,,never,,i mean never start your motor with out water! I work on boats for a living and these kinda people i like,,,now something esle I`ve found out is that for older motors ,,90 on backmmand like late 70`s and early 80s the pumps are higher priced. I replace pumps for 100.00 bucks incudeing the empeller while you wait,,,,