Frequently Asked Questions

How mobile marine service works, what it costs, and what to expect — answered. Still have a question? Reach us through the contact form or book right in the app.

Scope & where service happens

What is Executive Mechanic?

Executive Mechanic is a mobile marine service. Instead of hauling your boat to a shop and waiting, you open our mobile app to book a vetted marine technician who comes to your boat and does the work on-site. You stay in your schedule; the mechanic comes to you.

What kinds of boats and engines do you work on?

We're a dedicated marine service — outboards, inboards, sterndrives, and marine diesel engines, plus the routine maintenance and repairs that keep them running. If it's a boat engine, it's what we do. Marine work is our entire focus.

Do I have to trailer my boat anywhere?

No. The whole point is that you don't move the boat — the mechanic comes to it. No trailering, no boatyard drop-off, no waiting list for a lift.

Where does the mechanic meet me?

Wherever your boat is: a marina slip, a dock, your driveway, or a storage facility. You tell us the location when you book, and the technician shows up there.

What areas do you cover?

We serve a growing list of coastal and lake markets across the country. The fastest way to know if we cover you is to enter your ZIP on our website — it checks live for available technicians near you. If we don't have someone in your area yet, it'll let us know there's demand there.

Where is Executive Mechanic located?

There's no storefront to drive to — we're a mobile service that comes to you. Rather than one shop in one town, we operate across the areas our technicians serve, so the “location” that matters is yours.

Booking & how it works

How do I book a service?

Booking happens in the Executive Mechanic app (free on iPhone and Android). You describe the issue or service you need, get an estimate specifically for your boat, pick a time, and you're scheduled. We collect half of the estimate when you book, and the other half when the service is completed.

Can I just book through this contact form or over the phone instead of the app?

The web form is for getting in touch — it's not the booking system. Scheduling, your estimate, mechanic messaging, and job updates all live in the app, which is why we point you there to actually book. It keeps everything (your appointment, your tech, your service records) in one place instead of scattered across emails and calls.

What happens after I book — how does the whole thing work?

We find a certified mechanic in your area and confirm the date/time work for both schedules. We send a message once the mechanic has accepted your work order. Your mechanic shows up and performs the service you booked and documents any additional findings he or she finds in the app for you. When the work order is marked completed, you'll receive an email asking for feedback on the mechanic/service. That information informs us of any changes needed or to give your mechanic an extra pat on the back.

How soon can a mechanic come out?

It depends on technician availability in your area, but this is scheduled service — you book a time that works for you, the same way you'd book any quality trade. It isn't an instant, drop-everything dispatch. Parts take time, so we try to schedule work orders ~2 weeks out to account for normal industry shipping delays.

Do you offer emergency or same-day service?

We're built around planned and scheduled marine service rather than roadside-style emergencies. If you need something urgent, book in the app and note that you need help ASAP for whatever reason. We'll do our best to accommodate any special requests.

Pricing & payment

How much does a service cost?

It depends on what you need. For maintenance, every service has a defined scope and a set price based on your specific boat — once you add your engine setup in the app, you'll see upfront pricing before you book, with no surprises. If something's wrong and you're not sure what, that's a diagnostic visit: a flat $350 for a certified mechanic to come out, find the problem, and quote the fix. Either way, you know the number before we start.

Why can't you just give me an exact price on the website?

Because an honest price depends on what your setup is. Prices vary by engine type (inboard, outboard, gas, diesel, etc.) and the number of engines determines how much time it'll take. That's why we developed the app: so we can provide upfront pricing specific to your boat.

Is there a charge just to come out and look at what's going on?

Only when you need us to diagnose something. If you already know the maintenance service you want, there's no separate fee to come out — it's built into the service price. But if something's wrong and you need us to track it down, that's a diagnostic visit: $350 for a certified mechanic to come assess it. If it's a quick fix (under an hour), they'll knock it out on the spot. If it needs parts or more time, they'll quote you the repair — and we credit half the $350 toward that repair when you move forward.

Do I pay a deposit, and is it refundable?

When you book, we collect 50% of the work order, with the balance due when the job is done. That deposit holds your spot and reserves your mechanic's day. If your plans change, rescheduling is almost always the better move — give us 48 hours' notice and there's no fee, and any parts we've already ordered for your boat carry over to the new date. If you need to cancel outright: 3–14 days out, you get a full refund minus any parts already ordered specifically for your boat (those can't be returned); within 48 hours, we keep 25% of the labor as a cancellation fee plus any boat-specific parts already ordered, and refund the rest of your deposit; same-day or no-show, we keep 50% of the labor plus any boat-specific parts, and refund the rest. Parts ordered for your boat are non-refundable, but we'll always credit them toward a rescheduled job. Executive Mechanic doesn't profit on a cancellation — that fee goes to the mechanic whose day was reserved.

How and when do I pay?

Half the work order is due when scheduling, and the balance is due when the job is complete.

Who buys the parts — me or the mechanic?

Executive Mechanic will take care of any parts ordering needed. If you'd like us to install a self-purchased part on your boat, our work (labor) will be warrantied; but we cannot warranty any part that we were not involved in its sourcing/purchase.

What if the mechanic finds extra problems once they start?

If something turns up outside the agreed scope — corrosion, seized hardware, a prior repair gone wrong — the technician stops and gets your approval before doing any additional work. No work you didn't sign off on.

Trust & standards

Are you insured?

Yes. Executive Mechanic carries liability insurance covering the work our technicians perform, so your boat is protected while we're on the job. That coverage sits with Executive Mechanic — it isn't something you arrange, and it doesn't vary from one technician to the next. It's one of the real differences between booking through us and hiring an unknown solo mechanic: the protection is built into the platform, not left to chance.

Are your mechanics qualified and background-checked?

Yes. Technicians carry marine certification, at least 5 years of real experience, and pass a background check before they're activated. The people doing the work are the heart of Executive Mechanic, and we vet them accordingly.

What if I'm not happy with the work? Is there a warranty?

After every job you rate your experience, which directly affects how the technician is paid — so quality is built into the model, not an afterthought. Executive Mechanic warranties all work for 90 days. Parts are warrantied for 1 year.

Ready to book a certified marine technician?

Download the app, describe your boat, and see upfront pricing before you confirm.