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  1. #11

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    This is a bit of a long shot, but you can get all the Cat parts you need, plus manuals, from T&S Marine in Crisfield, MD. They might be willing to help you out on the phone if you buy parts from them. These guys are VERY experienced on 3208s of all years.

  2. #12

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by jim rosenthal View Post
    This is a bit of a long shot, but you can get all the Cat parts you need, plus manuals, from T&S Marine in Crisfield, MD. They might be willing to help you out on the phone if you buy parts from them. These guys are VERY experienced on 3208s of all years.
    Thanks!

  3. #13

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by krush View Post
    I hope you can find somebody affordable and realistic. But that is the problem with owning these boats...you either know how to do the work yourself (or at least manage the work well) or you have deep pockets to pay others.

    If you buy a modern equivelent of our old boats, you will spend 1.5million or more. An old boat requires the same maintenance costs as a new multi-million dollar boat.
    Thanks!

    I don't think owning a boat means one has to pay $500 for someone to drive 20 miles in addition to the $1000 for just looking at it. Clearly Caterpillar is not interested in individuals as much a corporations and businesses. With a little effort and help from The Hull Truth, I have the guy who literally wrote the book on 3208's and used to work for Caterpillar. Same city. Doesn't charge $500 to drive to my boat.

  4. #14

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Hello, very glad to hear that you were able to find the help you need. I know how frustrating it is to need help, go to a shop or dealer to ask only to find that they are not even interested in job. My CO2 cylinder sat at a fire supression shop for four months and it hadn't moved from the place that I had sat it down. Now my first question when I walk into a shop is can you do it or not, tell me now and I won't waste any more of your time.

    Good luck
    Walt Hoover

  5. #15

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by Dwiggmd View Post
    Thanks!

    I don't think owning a boat means one has to pay $500 for someone to drive 20 miles in addition to the $1000 for just looking at it. Clearly Caterpillar is not interested in individuals as much a corporations and businesses. With a little effort and help from The Hull Truth, I have the guy who literally wrote the book on 3208's and used to work for Caterpillar. Same city. Doesn't charge $500 to drive to my boat.
    I own a bunch of Cat equipment at a quarry. They charge me just as much. So, no, they don't care about corporations either. Its all crazy expensive.
    Sky Cheney
    1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
    ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI

  6. #16

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Caterpillar. Turning cast iron into gold by painting it yellow since 1925.
    --- The poster formerly known as Scrod ---

    I want to live in Theory, everything works there.

    1970 36C375

  7. #17

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by Avenger View Post
    Caterpillar. Turning cast iron into gold by painting it yellow since 1925.
    Exactly.

    But Volvo, Deere, and Terex are all about the same. It seems the parts business is no longer about keeping you running, but about making you want to buy new because it costs so much to have a machine out of warranty.
    Sky Cheney
    1985 53EDMY, Hull #CN759, "Rebecca"
    ELYC on White Lake--Montague, MI

  8. #18

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by SKYCHENEY View Post
    Exactly.

    But Volvo, Deere, and Terex are all about the same. It seems the parts business is no longer about keeping you running, but about making you want to buy new because it costs so much to have a machine out of warranty.
    Volvo and Deere turn cast iron into cash by painting it green. I'd guess Terex paints their stuff yellow. Point is there is a reason that these are multi-billion dollar corporations and we are all struggling to pay our taxes.

    There's a reason West Marine is the biggest retailer. I guess I need to triple my prices. I just need to figure out how to find the suckers who believe that the more they pay the better they're getting.
    --- The poster formerly known as Scrod ---

    I want to live in Theory, everything works there.

    1970 36C375

  9. #19

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    Quote Originally Posted by Avenger View Post
    There's a reason West Marine is the biggest retailer.
    Wasn't it because they bought out and then euthanized the competition?
    1978 53' Motor Yacht "LADY KAY V"
    Hull number 524
    Chesapeake Bay

  10. #20

    Re: Looking for Caterpillar 3208 mechanic in New Orleans area

    It s not just Cat. It s most technicians these days. Clock start when they leave the shop. Actually once an air con shop said the clock starts when the tech starts loading the van. And the guy stopped for Bfast on the way too. That was a $50 breakfast on me ...

    You need to find an independent cat specialist, or a good diesel guy experienced with cats. The local cat dealer here in sofl screwed me once by charging a “flat fee lol change” on a pair of C32s. $4200. Oil and filters are about $1200... so labor was $1800 for 6 hours of work. Now I use an independent cat specialist ....reasonable and knows his stuff.

    Ask around at your marina.
    Pascal
    Miami, FL
    1970 53 MY #325 Cummins 6CTAs
    2014 26' gaff rigged sloop
    2007 Sandbarhopper 13
    12' Westphal Cat boat

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