Boat Works of Alaska

Connor Ross

I have had two bad experiences with this company and I don’t intend on making it three. Both instances include being charged more than I was initially quoted for and providing poor service. My most recent experience involved a diagnosis for a no-start issue. I provided a very detailed description of how to replicate the no start issue (which involves submerging the entire stern drive in water) and before I dropped the boat off, they assured me, they have the ability to replicate it using their test tank. Upon completion of the diagnosis (which they invoiced me almost $100 more than what they quoted me at), their diagnosis was that one of my batteries won’t hold a charge and needs to be replaced. This is NOT the source of the no start issue. I asked if they had done the steps necessary to replicate the no start issue and they told me their test tank is not deep enough to submerge the entire stern drive (the exact opposite of what they told me when I dropped the boat off). They were willing to honor the original diagnosis quote but I still paid $250 for a diagnosis of something I did not ask for and they did not provide any insight as to why my engine won’t start in the water. This service was worthless to me. I walked away wishing I had not paid them and I am more frustrated than before.

Alaskan Amber

These folks are amazing! Our gym needed new handles for our battle ropes and nobody else would touch them! Rob didn't hesitate! Even though the job was way out of their normal scope, he told us he'd take care of it! There's been great communication and he's paid close attention to what we needed, even ordering special materials and testing them to make sure they'd hold up through the extensive use we're going to put them through! We don't even have a boat! The best type of people work here so go! If you go somewhere else you're going to miss out!

Diana Swenk

I agree with all the negative comments here. I just got hung up on as well because they didn't like what I had to say about the poor service I got here over the past 4 months trying to sell my boat. Oh, and I'm adding a picture of what my boat looked like sitting on their lot "ready" to sell. REALLY! Can't argue with that professionalism and the "secretary" who claims nothing is her job! What is you job Laura? Rob doesn't take any accountability either. He had the nerve to ask if was going to pay them to set it up for me. What have I been paying you $150 a month for? You actually told me you would do that for me early on.

Michael Hendricks

My boat started to make a noise from the jet unit and so I sought out their services to diagnose and repair the issue. Now I understand that this was the busy season for them and that it might take a little time to get the repair done. I dropped the boat off at the end of April and was told they would get the boat diagnosed and an estimate provided for the repairs. May 5th I get a call that they have figured out the issue, and they have emailed the estimate and an apology for taking so long to get the estimate done. They quoted me $2,566.13 for the repairs, $400 of which was parts. I call the next week and they are waiting on parts to arrive from Washington. Another week goes by and still we are waiting on the parts. At some point during this timeframe it is suggested that the cutlass bearing be replaced as well seems how they are in there already, to which I agree because it makes sense. At no point was the cost of these parts brought up. Another week goes by, so I call and a parts shipment has arrived but they are not sure if my parts are in this shipment. I am told I am number one on the list for service at this point and as soon as my parts are there they will get to work on my boat. I called the next day to see if they sorted through the parts that arrived the previous day to see if my parts had arrived, they did not. Memorial Day weekend is approaching and so I call to see if the boat will be ready by then. I am told they can rush it and they can have it done by Friday. I told them not to rush the job, and I actually have more work for them to do on the boat. I needed a second oil pressure guage installed on the motor for confirmation of good oil pressure and so I brought the new gauge for them to install. I call the following week on Wednesday to see how my boat is coming along as I was under the impression that they were working on it being they offered to rush the job to complete it by Friday the week before. I am informed that they haven't started the work on my boat yet but I am first in line to get repaired. Again, how could it be rushed and completed the week before, especially when I am number one on the list, if the repairs have not been started? That Friday they call me and tell me that my boat is done but there is an additional $1,149.98 in parts that they had to order and install. Although I talked to them weekly, sometime multiple times, and although they had ordered the parts weeks before it wasn't until the payment was due that they tell me about the additional cost. This brings the total to $4,203.66. I pay the charges although I am not impressed with the communications they have shown. I get the boat in my possesion and do a look-over before running the boat. In the engine compartment I find oily rags, cut wires from unknown sources, cut zip-ties, wads of electrical tape, and other trash that was left behind. Then I notice that although the oil pressure guage is located good, the hardware they used to install it looks old and used, and is chewed up with what looks like visegrip teeth. The boat seems to function as it should although I only ran it for 30 minutes at this point. For the time that they had the boat and the amount of money that was paid I expected a lot more. But they assured me that they were doing everything they could to do me a favor and that they were not making any money on my boat. I would suggest keeping close tabs on your boat if you take it to them and look over their work before using your boat as they like to leave fire hazards in the engine compartment and the visual quality of their work leaves something to be desired.