approved manufacturers servicing

[AJ.]

Hi guys,

I have a 2005 RC585 with a Suzuki DF140 that I can't see me selling for +5 years. I'm interested in peoples thoughts with regards to keeping the Suzuki service book stamped up by taking it to approved Suzuki service centres. If I didn't would that affect the resale value? I know with cars people prefer to see a full manufacturers service book but does the same apply to boats?

What's the view also on self service as long as you keep all receipts?

Cheers all

[Portnahaven]

At least with service receipts/book the buyer knows its been serviced. Otherwise how is he to know if the engine was ever serviced in its history.
Personally, with the money involved, i would walk away without the above unless i knew the boat well.
IMHO it would reduce your price a fair bit.

[Nos4r2]

I wouldn't be overley concerned IF you've got someone who knows the DF140-anyone who can service BRP Johnsons for example.

Get them to stamp/sign the service book and keep reciepts if you want to keep the documentation up. It wouldn't make any odds to me personally if I was buying your boat in 5 years time, as long as it was serviced. With a 13 yera old boat, any service book that's survived is a bonus.

[AJ.]

Thanks for the replys and both have two different views. Which still leaves me unclear. It would be interesting to get a few more replys to get a general consensus. I keep everything all receipts go in a folder just for the RC.

So I suppose to focus the question more. If you found two identical boats for sale both 12 years old and same engine hours but one with a full Suzuki service book stamped and the other with a load of receipts for service parts and the owner had carried out his own service at the correct intervals every 12 months or 100 hours. Would you expect one to be more desirable and to command a high resale price?

Cheers

[whisper]

If two identical boats came up for the same price and money I would go for the one with main dealer service history.

However, very rarely do boats have a lot of paperwork anyway and we are both lucky to have all the previous history with ours.

For me the more I know about my boat and engine the better, especially looking at the trips we do.

Mine will be due a service soon so I am also interested in other views on this.

So is a self service worth it or is it inviting problems later on?

[PeterM]

Interesting ...I'd be on the fence - manfacturers servicing is 'OK' but I have seen they simply work from a 'list' - home servicing I feel would tend to be rather more looking for problems and dealing with them before it fails or may be likely to fail.

While all the lists I am sure have something like 'visually inspect the engine' thats very differant to actually finding the little things that can bugger you up ( like corroded wires ) .......

I'll stay on the fence ....

[whisper]

Originally Posted by PeterM

While all the lists I am sure have something like 'visually inspect the engine' thats very differant to actually finding the little things that can bugger you up ( like corroded wires ) .......

I'll stay on the fence ....

Were you impressed that we found the problem in a few mins because I know my boat

I guess for me the more I do the more I learn

[AJ.]

I really am sucking my teeth over this one.

I suppose the for of having it serviced at the approved dealership is people new to the game would have more confidence in buying if they see a complete manufacturer service book.

The flip side is that there are good and bad service centres such as in the car industry my local Audi garage caught a guy ordering service parts but not putting all the bits on the cars as he was keeping them for his foreign work.

A knowledgable person of boats might see as PeterM suggested the engine being maintained better by the owner who knows what he is doing and proactive rather than reactive. The flip to this is you would have to find out during the sale if the owner knows what he is talking about and not a numpty!

[mitchc]

Dealer, independent & DIY servicing all have their place in our world.
However it is exactly the same as when you sign up for a boating instruction lessons; it SO MUCH depends on the instructor.
It's exactly the same with servicing cars/bikes/boats. Although the guy works in a main dealer does he really know ( or care) as much as the independent mechanic in he workshop next door ( and of course vice versa)
You should choose your service man on recommendations and reputation rather than "it's a main dealer so it must be better"
DIY service is also great if you have the knowledge/skill and nowadays the tools to do the job right.

Just my 2p's worth.

[whisper]

Originally Posted by AJ.

I really am sucking my teeth over this one.

I suppose the for of having it serviced at the approved dealership is people new to the game would have more confidence in buying if they see a complete manufacturer service book.

The flip side is that there are good and bad service centres such as in the car industry my local Audi garage caught a guy ordering service parts but not putting all the bits on the cars as he was keeping them for his foreign work.

A knowledgable person of boats might see as PeterM suggested the engine being maintained better by the owner who knows what he is doing and proactive rather than reactive. The flip to this is you would have to find out during the sale if the owner knows what he is talking about and not a numpty!

The trouble is there are not that many ribs for sale, so if you want an RC585 the decision is really should you buy the one you are looking at or not.

Originally Posted by mitchc

Dealer, independent & DIY servicing all have their place in our world.
However it is exactly the same as when you sign up for a boating instruction lessons; it SO MUCH depends on the instructor.
It's exactly the same with servicing cars/bikes/boats. Although the guy works in a main dealer does he really know ( or care) as much as the independent mechanic in he workshop next door ( and of course vice versa)
You should choose your service man on recommendations and reputation rather than "it's a main dealer so it must be better"
DIY service is also great if you have the knowledge/skill and nowadays the tools to do the job right.

Just my 2p's worth.

Well put

[PeterM]

If your selling AJ..I'll give you £2k less than you paid...and I don't care if it's ever been serviced ;-)

[TRevor Lawson]

Servicing on most things these days consists of mainly visually inspecting things ( you some times see what you want /bothered to see), 2 strokes plugs, leg oil change should be able to do your self poss impellors, take in to service agent to check timming and check set up oil pump flow ? any damadge to prop, engine, wiring etc you should spot when checking over /cleaning after trip, 4 strokes a bit more complext with cam belts and engine management systems, but as said do as much as you can yourself and keep reciepts and records and find a trustworthy marine engineer for the rest, if i was happy that boat/ engine had been treated to a good life i would not be concerned with a main dealer book stamped, ( you can buy rubber stamps with any name on )

[whisper]

Originally Posted by TRevor Lawson

( you can buy rubber stamps with any name on )

Sorted

[clydeoutboards]

Hi
If you service it yourself how do I know the engine has the hours claimed? No diagnostics! you could though get this done on the last service before you sell it or just pay to get that done but either way I would like more than just the sellers word (if possible) on the hours it has worked and even better at what revs etc.

dave

[whisper]

Originally Posted by clydeoutboards

Hi
If you service it yourself how do I know the engine has the hours claimed? No diagnostics! you could though get this done on the last service before you sell it or just pay to get that done but either way I would like more than just the sellers word (if possible) on the hours it has worked and even better at what revs etc.

dave

If you switch the ignition on the rev counter flips up to the hours its done and then goes back to zero.

I know that doesn't give you the revs etc.

Is it worth it for the diagnostics?

[AJ.]

Originally Posted by whisper

Is it worth it for the diagnostics?

It gives you the cumulative so I suppose only when you are selling it, not required on each service unless I am wrong?

[whisper]

Originally Posted by AJ.

It gives you the cumulative so I suppose only when you are selling it, not required on each service unless I am wrong?

But does it tell you stuff about faults that have occurred even intermittent ones etc

[AJ.]

Originally Posted by whisper

But does it tell you stuff about faults that have occurred even intermittent ones etc

See attached have dug an old one out

[AJ.]

Page 2

[whisper]

Originally Posted by AJ.

See attached have dug an old one out

Your cylinder temp is a little cold..... Brrrrrrrr