Independent Boat Mechanics Around Athlone....

betterfly

Hi,
I wanted to see if anyone here knew the lie of the land with regard to boat mechanics around Athlone. I've got a harbour on the water, and would like to be able to trade up in my boats.

It would be great to know of a good one man band who could do all the service items like bellows/gimbal bearings/filters/leads/ignition etc etc. I'd be looking to stay away from the local boat yards. Like most Irish people my default position is there must be a great eastern european lad somewhere nearby to do this kind of work I'm used to working with good mechanics during my day job, so I'm mechanically aware but not confident enough to tackle all the jobs.

You could pm me if that suits better, if you have some leads.

ta v much

fergal.b

This could be like looking for the treasure on Oak Island or my boat I often get asked to recommend good mechanics and to tell the truth it's getting harder and harder, we had a severe lack of apprenticeships in mechanics over the last few years let alone marine mechanics and any that do emerge would normally go to a main dealer as with all modern engines now you need the diagnostic kit and the engines makers will only give this to registered dealers.

Best of luck with your hunt.




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Tabnabs

betterfly wrote: »

Hi,
I'd be looking to stay away from the local boat yards. Like most Irish people my default position is there must be a great eastern european lad somewhere nearby to do this kind of work

Attitudes like this just make me so angry. I want the work done to my boat, but I'm not willing to pay a fair rate. You want it done on the cheap by a random Eastern European "magician" who will walk away at the first sign of trouble and then you'll expect the local Irish professional to fix it properly (for the same rate).

People won't support the small domestic marine industry and then whine about not being able to find a "good" mechanic to work on their boat.

betterfly

Thanks Fergal,
I do see your point. It's the same in my business. No young people taking up the trades.

Still there the are lots of boats on the lake. Someone must be servicing all these boats on the lake. I may just start asking everyone with a similar boat I see parked at Coosan Point who is doing their maintenance tasks....

betterfly

Tabnabs wrote: »

Attitudes like this just make me so angry. I want the work done to my boat, but I'm not willing to pay a fair rate. You want it done on the cheap by a random Eastern European "magician" who will walk away at the first sign of trouble and then you'll expect the local Irish professional to fix it properly (for the same rate).

People won't support the small domestic marine industry and then whine about not being able to find a "good" mechanic to work on their boat.

I'd gladly pay the same rate as any workshop, 45 euro an hour. I just want to be in control of the parts and labour content. I am paying 500 euro a day to lots of mechanics in other fields. Paying for it isn't the issue. Some of the top engineers you'll meet are eastern europeans, and they dont tend to moan like Irish people.