Commencement Bay Marine Services

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Shannon
5 days ago
Spent over 2,000 for boat maintenance service and it was returned with bird feces covering the canvas. Emailed the manager march 27th and included photos. Waited until April 10th to follow up as I did not receive any kind of response. At first was told manager was not available but somehow they ended up finding her after I complained about my phone call and email not being followed up on. She stated she forgot to get back to me. Her solution was I could bring it back to have my canvas hosed off. My husband was early to pick up boat and it was sitting uncovered so it very obviously was being kept outside not in the warehouse at all times. Very disappointing because our boat is kept garaged we do not store it outside. The follow up and customer service makes the situation even worse. Will not return.

  Eric Wolf
3 days ago
Took boat in for starter problems and ended up spending OVER $4300.00. including OVER $700.00 IN "EXTRAS" & unexplained "LABOR" that they couldn't justify. As a retired mechanic I know when I'm getting burnt and they got me. But on their side they did knock the bill down nearly $800.00 for charging me twice for putting the starter in twice due to bad products. But they got me in without a wait

  Deckhand Todd
a year ago
These folks were rude everytime I called. When I first walked in and spoke with the lead mechanic and Secretary they quoted me a price to fix my shifter cable on my boat. Right now I'm struggling financially and can't afford the pull out and repair. When I called back to find out exactly what the estimate covered exactly they said they would call me back. Hours later no call back so I called and all the sudden they don't work on boats 1990 or older. They never mentioned that in the beginning. I think they just flat out don't want to help me. I'm a veteran and I don't expect much from anybody but considering my situation with my boat stuck at the guest moorage dock at Foss Waterway Seaport you'd think they would work with me. Nope.not even close.Then you guys should have mentioned that when I came in and talked to you. Plus your President of the company Tom I had explained to him everything that was going on and I didn't even get to finish explaining what happened nor did I ever get to ask the questions I wanted to ask before he immediately cut me off and said quote on quite" IF THE HARBORMASTER OUT OF THERE THAT BADLY YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM PAY TO GET IT OUT, SORRY WE CAN'T HELP YOU YOUR ON YOUR OWN"!! WOW IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

  David Roberts
7 years ago
I've been suffering with poor customer service and even worse mechanical technical expertise for the last three years elsewhere. I recently had my boat serviced at Commencement Bay Marine and they were fantastic! Vonnie was very responsive to my requests and kept me well informed (how refreshing - I didn't think this was possible in the Marine industry). Jeff and the rest of the team figured out why my boat had not been running well in just a few hours (something the shop near my boathouse wasn't able to do in 2 years and over $4k invested fixing things that were not the issue). Jeff called personally and provided a detailed list of the diagnostics that he had performed, what was wrong with the engine, and next steps. I had my boat back a week later and it now runs better than it has since we bought it. They really are a great shop and will be my first choice for future service.

  Shelly Prost
10 years ago
CBMS did a great job working with me and the manufacturer to make the impossible happen. They also took very special care of my boat while pulling out the engines and putting everything back in very good working order. To really understand this you need to know me. I am very obsessive about keeping my boat very clean and nearly scratch free. This fall I had the annual service done on both new drives and everything was in perfect working order!

  Nadine Roberts
7 years ago
These guys and gal have been fantastic. Vonnie is the best! Her customer service skills exceeded our expectations. Her proactive communication with us and great attention to detail, seemingly taking down every word that came out of my husband's mouth, and passing them on to the mechanic, took away an immense amount of stress (as our experience with Aaron's Marine Service was the exact opposite). The icing on the cake was when Jeff, a very experienced Mechanic, called my husband to give him a detailed rundown of what work exactly they needed to do and what was unnecessary. Dan, another Mechanic, who performed part of the necessary fixes, made contact with us while we were hooking up the boat to the truck and offered his assistance. Then he chatted with my husband about the work he performed. All around a fantastic experience! Thank you CBMS!!!

  Dante Renner
10 years ago
I found the first person in the marine business that delivers what they promise. Vonnie takes care of my boats better than I do. He cares and is fair. Serendipity happened and not only am I a happy customer, but I have a great place to talk shop and get repairs done. If you have a boat and care about it, take it to Commencement Bay Marine Services in Tacoma.

  Michael Zumwalt
2 years ago
I've been in the marine industry for over thirty years and this is the smoothest running service yard I've ever experienced. If I was paid to make up a CON... well I wouldn't be able to.PRO'S all the way around.100% GREAT service.

  Larry Stevenson
5 years ago
Performance Marine fixed a botched Job by Performance Marine at Dagmar's. Shift Linkages were installed wrong, incorrect distributor would not work with my OMC Cobra. The folks at Commencements Bay Marine took me in after having it towed to them, they went to work and fixed my Boat so it runs GREAT. I recommend them, fare pricing and Fantastic repair knowledge and ability to fix another shops screw up.

  ken bartenhagen
7 years ago
My experience started out well, the mechanics are knowledgeable and helpful. After the first time I returned the boat with a new issue that was just "coincidence" even though the work was in the same area, and they charged me full price, I let it go. After the second time I had to return the boat (3 times in the water), with water in the outdrive after new seals and reassembly, same story. It was just coincidence that the part they just replaced failed again. They held the boat hostage and would not let me leave without paying the bill, even though I requested to be billed via mail. I don't blame the tech, sometimes things happen, but the management's unwillingness to stand behind their product and adversarial business practices is disappointing, especially since a good Volvo-penta service shop is hard to find in this area.

  Peter Goldman
10 years ago
Vonnie (formerly with Olympic Boat Centers) was very kind and helpful! I called to get my boat winterized and she went thru several different packages and advised me of the best package to fit my needs. The service was done in a timely manner and everyone was FANTASTIC! I have found my new service center!

  Ariel Hitchcock
6 years ago
We thought it started out so positive and we had such high hopes but then they literally screwed us over at every turn, can't keep to thier qoutes, replaced with wrong parts and said thats our responsibility to rebuild the boat to fit thier new parts they chose without calling/asking/letting us know till after installation (the original part is easily found with a quick google search) , doesn't call when they say they will, didn't tune before calling it "finished" which is the whole reason we took it to the shop instead of doing it ourselves. Sent it home so dirty and with the dirty, oily parts tossed in straight on the carpet. Didnt finish what we were billed for, because he was "already over on time so he had to make his money back some where" and because he was "being a nice guy." (Quotes from the lead mechanic on why he didnt do the oil change we were quoted and paid for.) He also said he "did extra work he did not have to do" this work was not asked for,bid for, authorized or, recorded on the reciept. So we do not know what exactly was done to our boat. I usually only post positive reviews but I don't want more good people to get screwed over.

  Malcolm Russell
9 years ago
Proceeds from your marine repair/service business with Commencement Bay Marine Services (and marine fuel purchases at the Tacoma Fuel Dock) help to support the Tacoma Sea Scouts and other youth boating programs at the Tacoma Youth Marine Center. Do some good while getting your marine fuel and great service at CBMSI

  Russ Randall
3 months ago
Good shop snd great crew!

  Billryalls
a year ago
Can't speak to their skills but tried three times to get service and NEVER got a reply even after talking personally to TWO different people there. Guess they are busy enough.

  Larry Carron
6 years ago
Jeff and Vonnie have been tremendous help in solving the problems with my SeaRay . Always courteous and informative.Thanks very much.Larry

  David Reilly
11 months ago
Very good work done on boats.very freindly.give them a try.

  Lee Cohen
6 years ago
Jeff is the only person I will bring my boat to in Pierce County for maintenance for past 10 years. The best.

  Lee Swanson
2 years ago
Great place to get fuel or pump out the waste tank. Dock attendant is always helpful.

  Patrick Medina
11 years ago
We had no appointment the day we went but were totally accommodated to load our boat a day early.

  Trevin Anderson
3 years ago
Great yard. Very competent mechanics and friendly staff.

  Ryan Heathers
4 years ago
Great people. Great service. Jeff & Joe are awesome to work with..

  N Albert
6 years ago
worked on the remodel. So it is newly remodeled.

  Kehlil Cpt. Key Hatcher
2 years ago
Very good people here.