*WARNING* Wells Cove Marine - Kent Narrows, MD

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by Hardhead

I'm hopeful that bad behavior everywhere will lessen a bit as a result of internet reviews. In prior times, rudeness could be a sustainable business model, but now-a-days, word gets out easier. It's just important to leave accurate reviews - thanks for posting.

In days of yore, that's prior to the net. A satisfied customers told 3 dissatisfied told 8. I can only imagine what it is with the net.
That said! Tout your good experiences and read negatives closely.

[Navicula]

very good pionts here and these comments can damage the said companys, and I do believe every comment, but when do the companys get to rate the customer?....
with Uber the customer and the driver get a rating as well as AirBnB....

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Hardhead

In general, I don't think anyone is under an affirmative obligation to first ask to speak to the owners or management. It might help, or it may further invite a wrath of unpleasantness. I've seen such uncomfortable escalations lead to customers being shouted out of places, and also seen it the case that the actual owner is frequently who you are talking to. I don't mind such escalations personally, but many people are very averse to them. A business owner has a positive incentive to investigate the real-life customer service being provided, IMO. An accurate review of someone's experience is required for a free market, I think. It can certainly be abused however.

Never said it was an obligation, but how can management correct a problem if they don’t know about it ? The OP could have politely inquired as to who was the manager. No need to escalate. If I was managing any company in the service industry I certainly would want to know something like that.

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by captlloyd

Never said it was an obligation, but how can management correct a problem if they don’t know about it ? The OP could have politely inquired as to who was the manager. No need to escalate. If I was managing any company in the service industry I certainly would want to know something like that.

I agree with you. Frequently though - when you receive especially rude treatment - that does in fact rise to a notable level, it goes to the general culture of the management and/or staff. Staff having a hobby of criticizing customers, etc. If I was a business owner, I'd want to know. I'd consider it my job. In reality, I'd be surprised if everyone else working there did not know the general attitude of each other employee working. From the account, the guy seemed to talk with the authority of a manager.

[Uncle Bob]

Originally Posted by Hardhead

I'm hopeful that bad behavior everywhere will lessen a bit as a result of internet reviews. In prior times, rudeness could be a sustainable business model, but now-a-days, word gets out easier. It's just important to leave accurate reviews - thanks for posting.

Hi, after the recent results of someone from another forum leaving a negative google review of a marine business here in Sydney where he found the review removed, left it again and lo and behold, removed again. Reviews can apparently be manipulated by the business owners so not so valuable after all.

[Hardhead]

Originally Posted by Uncle Bob

Hi, after the recent results of someone from another forum leaving a negative google review of a marine business here in Sydney where he found the review removed, left it again and lo and behold, removed again. Reviews can apparently be manipulated by the business owners so not so valuable after all.

That's true - Amazon can be rife with phony competing reviews, IMHO. Occasionally, if you check the date of the reviews, it will be seen that 12 reviews come in within 3 consecutive days, for example, and with no reviews on either side of those dates for months. Some can be gushing it's a great product, and in other time span groups, they'll all claim the opposite.

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by bmz

In September 2018 I hit a log with my sailboat. I could tell that there was some damage below, but I was able to power back to my slip at a speed of about 6 kn without excessive vibration. When I went down below my boat with a mask and snorkel, I found out that I had sheared off the strut which held the driveshaft.
...
Oak Harbor said they could do the job. After they took my boat out of the water and blocked it, John Clarke told me that in addition to the strut, my driveshaft was bent and I needed a new driveshaft. I explained to him that this was clearly wrong because I powered the boat at 6 kn without any excessive vibration, and if the driveshaft was bent, I would have had vibration so bad I could not have done 6 kn. John said he would not do the job unless I replaced the driveshaft.

If the strut was broken off, it must have been twirling on the shaft as you motored back, no? I can't imagine that not vibrating like mad.

Did anyone remove the shaft and check it for true? I'd expect that any hit hard enough to break off the strut would also bend the shaft, and maybe even tear a motor mount.

[bmz]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

If the strut was broken off, it must have been twirling on the shaft as you motored back, no? I can't imagine that not vibrating like mad.

< it made some noise at low speed ; but was relatively vibration free at high speed-- that's how I knew the shaft wasn't bent.>

Did anyone remove the shaft and check it for true? I'd expect that any hit hard enough to break off the strut would also bend the shaft, and maybe even tear a motor mount.

Apparently the strut was weakened by age ( 37 years ). In hindsight I should have insisted on viewing the shaft after it was removed.

[undercutter]

Originally Posted by bmz

Apparently the strut was weakened by age ( 37 years ). In hindsight I should have insisted on viewing the shaft after it was removed.

$7,000.00US seems like a lot of money to do strut. Why would you have to move the engine to do a shaft? Don't they come out the stern gland end?

[bmz]

Originally Posted by undercutter

$7,000.00US seems like a lot of money to do strut. Why would you have to move the engine to do a shaft? Don't they come out the stern gland end?

That was my feelings too; as I said "thieves."

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by bmz

Apparently the strut was weakened by age ( 37 years ). In hindsight I should have insisted on viewing the shaft after it was removed.

It doesn't take much to ruin a shaft; if the runout is more than 4 thousandths of an inch, it should be replaced.


I still cannot grasp how that broken strut piece spinning on an unsupported propshaft didn't shake like an unbalanced clothes-dryer. And that shaft was just supported on the coupling and the stuffing box... could cause other issues like torn engine mounts...

Originally Posted by bmz

That was my feelings too; as I said "thieves."

There's no guarantee that the new strut will meet the shaft at exactly the same place as the old one, so an engine alignment would be necessary. Plus a new cutless bearing, unless one was salvaged from the old strut. Maybe a new stuffing box or dripless bearing? Engine mounts?

It's up to the insurance company... did they indicate that the repair was too expensive? Did they not first approve the estimate?

[Kita]

Oh absolutely replace that shaft! After that thing wobbling around without the strut it had to wiggle wobble that thing crazy! It only takes like someone said before a few thousands of an inch out of alignment to create problems so I don't blame the guy one bit for saying he wouldn't do the job if you didn't replace the shaft or at least have it checked! And from a mechanic's point of view it is quite possible to disconnect transmission linkage without having to mess with any kind of adjustment, but he also has the responsibility of making sure it's properly adjusted and working correctly. Especially for the kind of Bill you got! The vibration after the job is done leads me to believe that maybe we have some improper alignment.

[bmz]

Originally Posted by Lake-Effect

It doesn't take much to ruin a shaft; if the runout is more than 4 thousandths of an inch, it should be replaced.

I still cannot grasp how that broken strut piece spinning on an unsupported propshaft didn't shake like an unbalanced clothes-dryer. And that shaft was just supported on the coupling and the stuffing box... could cause other issues like torn engine mounts...

<I could speculate as to why the vibration was not excessive ; but it would be exactly that-- speculation. The point is that the vibration was not substantial enough to warrant slowing down even with the strut free spinning. if there was a legitimate issue, John should have offered to show me that the shaft was bent. He didn't, he simply said he would not do the job unless I replaced the shaft.>

[Kita]

Originally Posted by bmz

<I could speculate as to why the vibration was not excessive ; but it would be exactly that-- speculation. The point is that the vibration was not substantial enough to warrant slowing down even with the strut free spinning. if there was a legitimate issue, John should have offered to show me that the shaft was bent. He didn't, he simply said he would not do the job unless I replaced the shaft.>

I do not know these people so this is just from another mechanics opinion. He didn't want to do the job because experience was talkin, he knew that shaft was bent! There is no way in his mind that it could survive without that strut so to do you a good job the right way to do it is Bid the job to replace a shaft. There would be some time spent that I would consider wasted trying to prove that that shaft is Not Bent. But I would probably do it truthfully. But in his bid I would definitely consider replacing the shaft or don't accept that job. He's trying to protect you and him both. The experience in his mind is telling him that when that shaft support breaks, the shaft bends.. and I agree

[Lake-Effect]

Originally Posted by bmz

I could speculate as to why the vibration was not excessive ; but it would be exactly that-- speculation. The point is that the vibration was not substantial enough to warrant slowing down even with the strut free spinning. if there was a legitimate issue, John should have offered to show me that the shaft was bent. He didn't, he simply said he would not do the job unless I replaced the shaft.

You do what you gotta do to get home.


One thing that confuses me: was this repair covered by insurance or not? If it was, then the insurance company would have had to approve any estimate, or they would have directed you to a boatyard that they trusted, no? That's how insurance repairs happen up here.