I can not speak for any surveyor but will certainly consult this thread when I am in the need of one. I recently had my raw water valve fail, fortunately in the closed position. I did not want to take any unnecessary chances when replacing it. It has been three years since Zealous’ (Ericson 32 hull #250) bottom has been painted (at KKMI by the PO). I also knew I needed a new cutlass bearing as reported in the survey three years ago. My stuffing box has been a problem, as well as its boot, and I’m just too old to get down in the bilge to repair it. It was hard enough just to get down there and tighten it. So I looked into having her hauled, cleaned and her bottom given two coats of Interlux. Svedsen and Grand Marina both quoted $2,000 minimum, depending on the condition of the bottom. Both said the wait was about two weeks and the season was going to get even busier. This was on March first. Then I checked with British Marina which is very near my berth in Oakland North Marina. British Marine is next door to Quinn’s Lighthouse across from Coast Guard Isle. Brian quoted me $1,376 for the bottom job, including hauling. I could start the next day and not have to pick it up right after it was done. I was planning on being out of town. Well, the final cost for the bottom paint was $1,677 but that included a complete sanding of the bottom and raising the the boot stripe. I did not like the color of the old one. While she was being painted I had two of my boating mentors stop and take a look. They both were impressed with the work being done. While she was on the hard, he (actually Jim) removed the shaft, replaced the stuffing box with a dripless pss shaft seal, replaced the cutlass bearing and the raw water valve. In reassembling the prop, a Maxprop 3 blade folding, Brian noted it had previously been assembled with the blades reversed. Brian consulted with Maxprop and got the correct settings, Jim cleaned up the prop and installed it after painting it with Pettits antifouling zinc paint (my request). All the parts and labor for everything but the bottom job was another $1,000. This included a 10% discount for being a BoatUS member. I could not be more pleased. I had never been able to steer Zealous in reverse and could only back and fill. Now I can steer like a car in reverse and must have added 2 knots to my top speed. So, if your shopping around, check out British Marine at 11 Embarcadero Cove, Oakland. They told me that they will pick up and deliver from and to any marina in the Bay Area.
