If you have decided to turn your house boat into a long-term living situation, then there are several things to consider. One of the key things to consider about long-term houseboat living is finding the right boat mechanic for your needs. Here are three tips on finding the right boat mechanic for your house boat and what you should know about each tip to help you get off on the right foot.
Service Turnaround Times
The first thing you want to look for is the service turnaround time. You may find that some boat mechanics only work within certain hours while others work 24 hours with an increase in fees on holidays and weekends. If you are living on your boat, you need someone that can be other there when you have an emergency and can fix the boat as soon as possible. If you have to wait long, you could be loosing food and a roof over your head depending on how bad the situation is.
Multiple Skills Available
Since you are living on your boat full-time, you don't want to have a mechanic that only can handle engine repairs. You ideally want a boat mechanic that has a background with house boats and can help with most of the repairs that you may run across. This may be help with a motor, help with fuel tank issues or help with the inner operations of the boat that allow you to have a daily life. For this reason, you should check with the boat mechanic and ask about their background with house boats and what services they provide to house boat owners.
Routine Services
Just like with any other vehicle or recreational vehicle, you will need to have routine service performed on the boat. This means oil changes, inspections and more depending on the make and model of your boat. You need to find a boat mechanics that not only offers repair and emergency services, but also offers routine services at a fair price and with a quick turnaround time or with a scheduled option.
If you think you have found the right boat mechanic for your long-term stay houseboat, consider having them come out on a routine maintenance call. You can get to know the boat mechanic and see how well they deal with your particular boat and the set-up of that boat for long-term living. This will also let you ask any questions you may have and feel more at ease for when you do need the boat mechanic during an emergency.
