Outboard Inboard Marine Repair

I took my boat in as it wouldn’t start. After a few days I got a call from inboard outboard telling me that my boat was ready to pick up and it started and ran like a champ. After I paid for it I went out to the parking lot and tried to start it. It wouldn’t start. I returned to the shop and asked for help. When Joe came out and saw that I hadn’t lowered the engine to start it, instead of helping me, he ridiculed and embarrassed me and told me he doesn’t have time to teach people how to start boats. Taking his word for it that it would start I left and tow’d the boat to Idaho for a fishing trip. I couldn’t get it started there either. I then took it to a boat shop in Idaho where they found my fuel pump wasn’t working. They also informed me that the engine had not run for quite sometime and whoever told me it ran like a champ lied to me.
I’m extremely disappointed in Joe’s philosophy of how he runs his business and taking advantage of people and will never return to this shop again.

Beware!!!
I purchased a used Vortech 4.3 engine from Jim.
I was told it had 50 hours on it,
And was assured that the motor was practically new and in perfect running condition.
(Cutting to the chase, the motor was absolutely no good, was put in my boat,
And within 20 minutes blew up throwing a connecting rod and other engine parts out the side of my block creating a hole the size of a softball)!!!
Individuals with a mechanical aptitude or interest in hearing the rest of the story please Read on.
I brought the motor to my mechanic.
(Who has been used and found to be honest and trustworthy for over 20 years By some of my closest friends).
I got a call from my mechanic
The next day expressing his concerns,
He told me that everything down to the freeze plugs and rear main seal had been pulled out of the motor and he thought it was possibly a core motor,
(no good, to be sent in for a rebuild)
He proceeded to do a compression check
and found very low compression on one cylinder,
I then called Jim, he was very convincing and assured me that the motor was good but he had his floor cleaned and it may have gotten a little water in the top of the motor, and that it was nothing to worry about, that a valve might be stuck open, and that my mechanic should know enough to take the valve cover off and tap on the valves with a hammer!
I remained respectful and calm and told Jim that I didn’t feel comfortable having my mechanic hit the hit the valves with a hammer.
Jim however was again very convincing and said it was common practice and that if my mechanic knew what he was doing he should’ve already tried pulling off the valve covers and tapping on the valves with a hammer, when I suggested that we shouldn’t have to do that because I was assured that the motor only 50 hours on it and it was good, Jim became irritated and started to belittle my mechanic for not knowing what he was doing!
I didn’t feel like I had many options (I had already paid him cash for the motor)
so I asked Jim if I instructed my mechanic to dig further to try and resolve the problem
And it couldn’t be resolved easily if he would refund my money, he assured me, absolutely!
My mechanic then did a leak down test,
And found that none of the valves were stuck open, they were all opening and closing properly.
I put in another call to Jim, and also asked my mechanic to call Jim to see if he could come to a resolution.
At this point Jim started to accuse my mechanic of not knowing what he was doing,(once again)
He went on to say that it was probably just a ring on the piston sticking, and that putting some magic Marvel oil down in the cylinder would resolve the problem and my mechanic should know that.
I asked Jim if I could bring the motor back and get a refund, at this point he became borderline belligerent, even accusing my mechanic of switching out the engine block!
Hoping against all odds and because I didn’t have anymore money to invest having paid a lot of money for a motor from Jim,
I asked my mechanic if it was possible that water, as Jim had said could’ve caused the problem, he said yes a ring could possibly be sticking and it might work itself out by running the motor for a while, but he advised me against it and told me unfortunately I may have to cut my losses and find a good motor.
Out of money and options I crossed my fingers and told him to put the motor in
Because Jim obviously was not going to make good, and I didn’t have any money for another motor.
My mechanic put the motor in,
I went and picked up the boat and put it in the water.
Within 20 minutes of running it out on the Delta, taking it easy as my mechanic had instructed, keeping the RPMs down etc. I heard a loud bang!
Lifting up the rear deck lid I saw lots of oil in the bottom of the boat and lots of metal, closer inspection revealed a softball sized hole in the side of the engine!
Steer clear of the shop! Please, please, please do your research, read Unilocal reviews
Whatever you have to do so you don’t end up in my situation.

Great service, great knowledge, very friendly and honest

I took my boat to Jim to have worked on. The upper housing was broke and overall the vessel was not running well at all. Jim fixed the housing issue as well as identifying some other issues. He was very understanding and took the time to speak with me. This boat has never run better. I will only be taking my boat to him and telling everyone I know with a boat that this is the place to go!!! I really appreciate everything he did as well as feeling like I didn’t get overpriced, or taken. Very honest great guy!!! Very reasonable turn around time.
Thanks Jim!!! Jessica was awesome too, super nice, and extremely knowledgeable, and great communication!!!

Excellent small local shop. Service is great and quick. Prices are very reasonable and honest. I will be taking my boat there again in the future. This shop is a great find thru Unilocal

As good as it gets!
If you need any kind of marine repair or service you need to contact them. Looking at all these other reviews I see I am not the only one who feels this way. Great customer service, friendly & very knowledgeable. Jim took a 40 year old motor and made it run like new. What else can I say?

The BEST boat repair shop in the Bay! Jim and Jessica know their way around all types of watercraft and they get the job done right and quick! Their prices are very fair for the quality of work done! I travel all the way from Antioch for their great service!

Outstanding service! This small, intimate shop is just the place to get great quality work done on any boat or jet ski! I have been bringing my boats and jet skis for the yearly tune-​ups with outstanding results. My 15 year old Tige is running like it is brand new!

Great place. Honest, quick and reliable. Brought my boat in thinking I needed a new part and instead, they got the old one working. It’s good to have a new boat mechanic to use from now on

Blew up my motor on July 4^th weekend. Jim told me where to get the best deal/​motor and had me order direct with no extra charge. Then installed the motor very quickly and reasonably.
Took a bad experience and turned it into a positive for me.
Great guy/​great service. Very reasonable and honest a rare mix.

I took my boat in for some engine work (new roller rockers) & I was very happy with the results.
Initially, I had called another shop in Milpitas & they said that they weren’t comfortable jumping in the middle of someone else’s motor rebuild. I explained to them that I only wanted the new rocker arms adjusted, but they still said no. In the hunt for a new marine repair shop on-​line, I found this place.
Great customer service, friendly & very knowledgeable. Also got some great recommendations for other modifications in the future as well. I will be going there for all my future boat service needs. It’s nice doing business with people with experience. I was able to drop off the boat & pick it up in the afternoon with the requested work done.

Helpful & kind when I didn’t have a clue what I needed to do. Gave me good honest advice.

I met jim after purchasing my boat in june of 08. I was looking for a boat mechanic and put an add in craigslist. I was immediately emailed by 3 different people telling me to call jim if I needed a great mechanic and great prices. I decided to call jim and bring my boat to him. Im very happy with his work and prices, my boat ran great all season, another great thing is he is out at the lake with his toys so if you run into him make sure you have a cold one on ice.

I have no need to find me another mechanic…
Ask yourself this question have you ever gone boating and felt like you always had to worry about something breaking down… your answer should be yes… Mine was unit I met Jim from Outboard Inboard Marine Repair. Jim great job on my boat and thank you for a great job im glad I can get on the water and not have to worry if my boats gonna break down or if my boat is safe enough for my kids and I… again thx Jim for your proffessional, prompt and honest job done on my boats.
Mahalo

Jim is a great guy to work with, he has your boat in and out in a day or two. He has fixed my bent shaft on my yamaha wakeboard boat just in time for memorial day and does my annual services fast. He has done my parents jet skis service and had them back the same day for less than the dealers. O/​I marine is the best!

Nina is a genious ~ took in my ’89 650 and TS that were in desperate need of repair ~ put them in the water last weekend and fell right off the 650 as the enhanced performance shocked me! Love it!