$100 bucks an hour is a good rule of thumb.

 

Its gotta be right around there to cover overhead and insurance...

 

The funny thing that I have noticed about service work, and correct me if you think I am wrong, is that when you take your boat to a "certified" shop, only one guy there is actually certified. Chances are the one who works on your boat probably isnt. Granted its nice to have that certified guy there to answer questions. Here in Havasu, if you take it to a "shop" you will probably pay $95 an hour.

 

I think you are on the money.

 

It has a lot to do with what shops you take it to and how big are they on service and if they are set up for service or not. mercruiser dealers that are a permiere dealer will be a little more money becouse they are requiered to have certin tools and everybody that works on boats has to go to there schools at some point in time. And more then most shops that can hold people worth holding, Do want to and do end up sending them to service schools. Also keep in mind it takes some time to get some one certified, And there is a lot of people out there that are not certified but have been to a lot of schools over the years same with some of the car guys I would think. Now a days you need to do a lot of home work and take tests over the computer and pass it before you can even go to a mercruiser school and the ???'s they ask you are [crazy] or hard I should say to get them right even with a book and a disk you need watch becouse you do need to understand how there systems and there theorys work. So if the guy is new that ends up in your boat chances are he is working on getting to the point of knowing your engine system one way or another, And most of the shops will have them work with some one for a while till they get the hang of the basics service jobs. From what I have seen the labor rate in CA for most bigger dealers is any where from $110 up to $150.00 and avarage $120.00-$130.00, But at the same time alot of other types of services always seems hi when you really are in need of them also. Just my 02 cents of it.