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Main location717 NE Northlake Way Seattle Washington 98105 US(206) 547-2477
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Wheelchair accessible entranceWheelchair accessible parking lot
I have used Gallery Marine in the past and have recommended them many times to my boating friends. NEVER AGAIN!
I took my boat to them after it sat indoors for two years for preventative maintenance at the beginning of the 2015 boating season and then took the boat to Priest Lake Idaho. I told them to check all fluids, drain and fill if necessary, replace the impeller, and that I thought the tune-up parts were OK. They reported to me that the tune-up parts were indeed OK but the carbruetor needed rebuilding. I OK'd that work and all seemed fine. My bill from them was roughly $3000.
Shortly after arriving at Priest Lake the impeller housing cracked and filled the bilge with water. Shortly after that the main water pump failed and needed replacement. The engine ran very rich and easily flooded upon starting. I took the boat to CCBMarine at Priest Lake who I have used before. The cost to repair excluding the carbruetor problem was roughly $1000.
CCB told me that when replacing the impeller they always replace the entire kit including the plastic housing because of wear patterns created by the rubber impeller and plastic housing. Gallery said they were trying to save me the extra $50 (first discussion) and later that replacing only the rubber impeller was "standard marine service procedure". CCB told me that they had never heard of that term.
CCB told me that the water pump failed because the oil that lubed the shaft was not changed and that because of design gas gets into it and dilutes the oil. Gallery said they never heard of changing that oil (first discussion) and later explained that one time they saw the problem and that gas had diluted the oil. They sent me an on-line copy of the owner's manual for my engine pointing out that there was nothing said about changing that oil. I pointed out that the diagrams clearly show the fill and drain plugs on the pump and that the owner's manual would not show all of the details that a certified mechanic would have at his disposal.
Gallery told me the flooding and running rich problem was probably the choke on the carbruetor and that they probably would have caught it if they had water tested the boat. I told them that was their decision and the result was the outcome of cutting corners.
I have since talked with certified Mercruiser mechanics that backed up CCB's side of this event.
To Gallery's credit they did reimburse $300 of my $1000 expense. In my opinion it should have been more and I told them so. I suggested that they go to their own web site and read "Why Choose Us". I doubt they even bothered.
I left my boat at CCB for the winter where the carb problem will be solved. They said on that engine there is a plastic part in the linkage that likely has become "sticky" and needs replacing and they had seen that problem before.
Through all of this I was not treated as a customer let alone a repeat customer but rather someone trying to take advantage of them. In the end they have lost a good customer. I will never use them or recommend them again.
Beware.
I have used Gallery Marine for many years; Don and Erwin have been very helpful with parts, repairs, and information concerning my 1987 Catalina 36 sailboat.. I have had one problem with Gallery Marine over the years relating to a replacement mixing elbow/riser that failed prematurely. To their credit, Gallery Marine has accepted responsibility for this faulty unit and has agreed to reimburse me for a new unit.
I have recommended them to friends and will continue to do so in the future (and use them myself).
Had Gallery Marine do a diesel inspection. They showed up late, was at the boat less than one hour and charged 2.5 hour labor. I called them and they gave multiple excuses for the extra time. They padded the time and gouged me on the cost. I have used Gallery Marine for parts and have been happy in the past, but they have lost me as a service customer.
