Is this a fair price???

I bought a new prop and asked the diver to swap it out for the old one while he was cleaning my hull. The prop portion of the job took about 20 to 30 minutes. I got the bill and they are charging $300 for the prop work -- $150 to pull the old one and $150 to put on the new one. I'll admit I didn't ask the price ahead of time but I'm usually looking at $110 per hour for labor on other jobs I have had done on my boat. So I am asking for a reality check from my fellow E-boaters before I send any money in.

Thanks

Probably had to go get a puller tool, clean the critters off and maybe learning on the job. No sailboat job is an easy 123...no matter the experience. 20-30 minutes to change out a prop? I'm far from an estimator Paul...if I did it after hemming and hawing, finding excuses for weeks, and then inventing new cuss words, bloody hands, etc., I would be happy if less than one day! Anything in my non-asked for opinion that is mechanical/electrical and hired out...that costs less than $500 to repair or replace is a miracle and money, sweat and tears ahead. Especially if it's under water. Be happy you have a new prop!!! Tell us about Bear's new prop>>>

I'm a new boat owner so take it with a grain of salt - but I'll weigh in as an experienced diver. If he is doing the job underwater, he is adding value since (a) you don't have to have your boat hauled out (a 400.00 charge here at KKMI) (b) the cost of providing diving services on top of mechanical work (including equipment) is additional and adds significant overhead for him (boat, gear, compressor etc). You have to expect to pay a premium for underwater work done at your location. The same holds true for any construction services, for example. If you had a concrete cutter come to your house with their equipment, you are definitely going to pay more than just labor.

Well as a bottom feeder and avid diyer I'd say Zoiks. I am also an experienced diver and there is no part of my brain that says 600.00 per hour is any sort of good value. Good grief....if we all are willing to pay it, they will certainly think its ok to charge it...

I don't think $300 is too high these days for labor. Maybe I'm just getting use to seeing these prices be that way all over. Have you had your home AC serviced these days! Maybe ask yourself, what would I charge if I were to do the job? I might have considered diving it without tanks to install but remove... That's the hard part.

If you don’t negotiate terms before the work begins, you can’t go back and haggle after the fact. $300 for a specialty trade job in coastal California does not sound unreasonable to me. Maybe next time get a billing rate in advance or otherwise set your expectations.

$.02,