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March 2024 by Jeremy Curran
The owner is a total douchebag, is very unprofessional, rude, and after giving it some real thought about what happened in my encounter communicating with him yesterday I believe he’s a criminal who is out to scam people. Don’t be fooled by the 5 star reviews, his actions immediately off the bat in his interactions with me were very bizarre and far from the norm of how a boat repair service shop would normally behave interacting with a new potential client. He avoids communication over the phone except only via text without giving potential new customers any indication of whether he’s capable of even performing a job that needs to be done. He refuses to even tell you ahead of time whether or not he can perform a job without bringing the boat to him for an estimate first which another reviewer on here said he charges for so that right there is a scam. His vague text messages telling clients to just bring their boats to him for an estimate but his refusal to tell a prospective new client whether he even is able to offer a service to do the type of repair that needs to be done without seeing the boat first is his method to lure customers into his scam. But that’s not all. If you start asking him legitimate questions that any service shop should be able to answer in advance which he refuses to answer and if you threaten to leave negative feedback on Google and decide to go elsewhere he will post your text conversation to his business’s public Facebook page and take what was said out of context to defame you. This is exactly what he did to me but he failed to mention I called and left a message asking for a call back and there was no call back nor any introduction conversation that a potential new client would expect from a legitimate boat repair shop before going to this place for an estimate. Regardless, not only was his post of my private text conversation with him to Facebook an act of defamation, it’s against Illinois Privacy Law. Illinois is a 2 party consent state when it comes to disclosing a private conversation to the public and he had no right to post that conversation which Facebook rightfully removed. As a business he has every right to ask for the customer to come in for an estimate, which I don’t have a problem with, and refuse to do the job but the customer has every right to call ahead of time to verify what services are being offered, the labor rate and costs to make an educated decision about whether to go here or not. However, he is very in the wrong to post a private conversation on social media to defame a customer. What kind of business does this that is a legitimate business? I can’t think of any that do but that’s what criminal actors do when they are backed into a corner. They do whatever they can to defame the person who is questioning what does not sound right to turn it around and make the good guy the bad guy to get the pressure off of them. This guy is very shady and he tries to defame potential customers who are smart enough to pick up on his bullshit. I don’t know about those 5 star reviews which lured me to inquire about taking my boat to this place but I’m telling it like it is how bad my experience was before he even had a chance to get my boat in his shop. Thankfully, I’m very glad I noticed immediately how odd and fishy that first text and encounter with him over text was that I decided to cut it off right away and go somewhere else. You will regret taking your boat to this place if you go here.PS: His response below is so full of crap, nowhere on his website does it say his estimates are not free but that’s more a reason to verify he actually can do the work before I go to avoid a waste of money and time. It’s so laughable that he thinks my legitimate questions to him he refused to answer are harassment and verbally abusive. And by the way my reviews never got taken down, it’s what’s called you are only allowed one review per business so I edited my review after thinking through more clearly what he was trying to do to me yesterday. Clearly he’s a liar and is making this up.
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June 2023 by sandy ledbetter
Too Notch Repairs
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May 2023 by mark burlison
Quarter size damage above the rub rail. All 3 colors of metal flake in the damaged area. 1st shop shot me 3500.00……Bottoms Up quote was very reasonable. Outstanding repair with 3 colors involved. Highly satisfied customer, very reasonable rate, done in a timely fashion. Highly recommend this shop!Service: General repairs & maintenance
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November 2022 by nanners a
A sad day..... Putting our boat, "Baby" in storage for her winter slumber..... But boy, she went in looking her best thanks to Bill at Bottoms Up boat Repair. I had several scratches which I couldn't stand looking at from docking at a bad dock. He is a true artisan. He not only did a beyond superb job on those scratches but went over the entire boat to make it look it's best. Nobody's going to put this Baby in the corner!!! Thanks Bill!!!!!!Services: General repairs & maintenance
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July 2022 by Jeff Boncosky
Our boat was damaged in February 2021 when the roof collapsed on the building where it was in winter storage. The boat was substantially damaged to where it would miss the 2021 boating season. After a local marina decided the work was beyond their ability, I was directed to Bill and Bottoms Up.Bill did a great job not only repairing the boat, but thinking out of the box in regards to fixing parts that were no longer available, being an advocate for us with parts suppliers for the windshields ordered by the initial marina, being an advocate for us with the insurance surveyor, keeping us updated, and explaining how he would go about fixing everything that was damaged. Bill was patient with us as we waited, and waited, and waited for the windshields to arrive so that the job could be completed. A shout out to his daughter for her help and Mary Pope Custom Sewing for her incredible job with all new canvas as well. Definitely recommend Bottoms Up for boat repairs!Service: General repairs & maintenance
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October 2021 by Shawn Bergfalk
Bill is a great resource and has helped me on a number of fronts. He has gone up and beyond when helping repair our boat. Texting is best means to communicate.
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June 2021 by Mike Staes
Have used Bottoms up several times over the years and have always had great results and service. Just had some scratches fixed in my gel coat and they came out beautiful! The work was completed quickly and I was kept informed the whole time my boat was at the shop. Highly recommend!
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June 2021 by Timothy Hicks
asked if he did estimate to replace railing said he did then4 days later said he wanted 250 dollars to investigate price of parts
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October 2020 by Country Boy
Nice guy
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August 2020 by Bill B.
Honest and reliable boat repairs... No B.S, no hard sell- just a reliable boat and motor repair. Gelcoat and Fiberglass repairs also
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July 2020 by M Bate
Bill and Bottoms Up Boat Repair are fantastic. One of those rare people that truly cares about his craft and goes above and beyond. Fantastic service. HIGHLY recommended!!!!!!!
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March 2020 by Tim Schaap
Thank you Billy from Bottom’s Up Boat Repair from Prospect High School Bass Fishing Team. The coach bought a boat for the high school bass fishing team and it ended up needing some serious repair because the wood under the fiberglass had rotted out. Billy said he would love to teach the students to repair the boat. He has been coming to the school once a week for the past few months teaching and coaching the students on how to repair the boat. Now the boat is at Bottom’s Up Boat Repair and the students have been taking field trips to the shop to learn how to replace the rotten wood. This experience has opened the student’s eyes to several new career pathways, and given them an awesome learning experience.
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July 2019 by Peter Lesny
If you're having problems with your boat, Bill is the guy! Great price and great service!
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June 2019 by Jeff Karg
Bill is easy to work with and does great work. By far best place for gelcoat repair. Great work, great price and in a timely manner. Won’t use anyone else!
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November 2018 by Dr F
Brought my boat elsewhere first on a referral from a friend for a "good deal" on a boat repair. After less than 1 season on the water, same issue arose. Brought it to Bill and he explained what was done to repair and how it SHOULD have been done. Short story, all fixed and 4 seasons later still holding with no signs of problem returning. "Once and Done" beats a "good deal" every time!
