Installed steering cable pricing???

[Steve W]

Friend has a 36' Holiday Mansion Barracuda Houseboat with a single 260HP Volvo gas engine. Upper and lower (inside) helms use the same single steering cable. Steering cable broke and he was quoted $1,000.00 to replace, including installation. Access looks good. Quote seems high to me. I told him I'd check with this forum because there is so much experience here. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Steve

[Sailmonkey]

For a boat that size, and what i'm assuming is a long cable the quote may be valid. How mich of the cost is the cable?

[Scott Berg]

We've worked on a few Barracuda's and that seems about right. I believe that there are two cables (one between the helms and one aft); I can check if necessary as we have a customer with one locally. It's a LONG cable run and I'm guessing 8 Hr @ about 100/hr plus 200 for the cable and shipping isn't out of line. Like a lot of marine work labor rates vary quite a bit by market and skill level. Houseboats are problematic because many runs are actually pretty difficult and wall panels and/or wall to wall carpet needs to be removed and replaced.

Scott Berg
CHARDONNAY BOATWORKS, LLC

Originally Posted by Steve W

Friend has a 36' Holiday Mansion Barracuda Houseboat with a single 260HP Volvo gas engine. Upper and lower (inside) helms use the same single steering cable. Steering cable broke and he was quoted $1,000.00 to replace, including installation. Access looks good. Quote seems high to me. I told him I'd check with this forum because there is so much experience here. Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Steve

[Steve W]

Scott, your estimate makes sense to me. Owner had no idea what was innvolved to do the work or what he could get a cable for. He has no interest in attempting it himself.

Thanks for the information. Just wanted to make sure he was not getting ripped off, our yard is gaining that reputation on their prices.