Do I need an appointment to drop off a boat for service?

Yes. We schedule service drop-offs by appointment so we can have a bay ready and a work order prepped. Book through hbw.wiki/service with your motor serial number, year, and a description of the issue. Same-day walk-ins don't work for us, we want to give your boat focused time, not squeeze it between two other jobs. If you have an emergency (motor died at the cottage, overheating on the water), call 905-342-2153 and we'll triage. But for routine service, book ahead.

How long does typical Mercury service take at HBW?

Routine annual service, oil change, impeller, gearcase lube, general inspection, typically takes 1-2 business days if no surprises. Most GTA customers drop off on a Saturday morning and pick up the following weekend. Diagnostics and repair work depends on what we find. Repowers are scheduled in advance and typically take 3-5 business days from drop-off to handoff, assuming the motor and rigging kit are in stock. We don't promise same-day turnaround because 'same day' usually means rushed work. We'd rather do it right and call you when it's ready.

Can I pay you remotely so I don't make two trips?

Yes. We take payment over the phone by credit card, or we can email you an invoice with a secure payment link. Many GTA customers pay in advance and send a friend or family member with the trailer for pickup, or we coordinate the pickup for their next cottage weekend. You don't have to drive back just to swipe a card. We call 1-2 days ahead with the final total and pickup window either way.

Do you do pickups from my marina or home?

Not routinely. We're a marina-based shop, not a mobile service. All service, repower, and storage work happens at our facility in Gores Landing. The drive-in model is how we keep costs reasonable and quality high, our techs work in a fully equipped bay with every Mercury tool and diagnostic computer on hand. If you absolutely cannot trailer your boat, we can recommend local towing services, but the economics usually favour renting a trailer for the day or asking a friend with a hitch.

What if I have a long-weekend emergency and can't drive my boat to you?

Call us first, 905-342-2153. We'll ask a few questions and may be able to talk you through a safe limp-home or temporary fix. If the motor is truly dead, your best option is usually to leave the boat at your cottage marina and trailer it to us when you're back in the city. We don't do house calls, but we've talked a lot of customers through enough diagnostics over the phone to get them through a weekend. If it's under warranty, don't let a non-Mercury shop touch it, that can void coverage. Document everything and bring it to us.

Is there overnight parking if I drop off on Friday and pick up Saturday?

Yes. Our lot is fenced and monitored. If you need to leave your tow vehicle overnight while the boat is in for service, that's normal for our GTA customers. Just confirm with the service desk when you drop off. We don't charge for overnight vehicle parking during an active service or storage booking. If you're leaving a vehicle for an extended period (storage season), that's a different conversation, but for a Friday-to-Saturday service window, park it and go.

Can I leave the boat with you between service jobs (mini-storage)?

Yes, and many customers do. If you're doing a multi-stage job, say, diagnostics now, parts order, then repair in two weeks, we can store the boat on our property between appointments. It's not free, but it's cheaper than trailering home and back, and it means the boat is already here when the parts arrive. Ask about short-term storage when you book the initial appointment. For longer gaps, our regular storage rates apply.

What's the catch, why is this not common in the GTA?

There is no catch, but there's a reason. Most GTA marinas are seasonal, dock-focused operations. They do launches, hauls, and basic oil changes. When a job needs Mercury-specific diagnostics, warranty paperwork, or a full repower rigging, they send the motor out to a specialist shop, sometimes hundreds of kilometres away, and mark up the price. We're that specialist shop, but we're on the water instead of in an industrial park. The 'catch' is that you have to drive 60-90 minutes. The trade-off is that the work gets done by a Premier dealer on the same property where your boat can be stored, winterized, and launched. For most Mercury owners, the math works.

Toronto to Rice Lake: How HBW Drive-In Service Works

Quick answer: Most GTA boaters trailer to Harris Boat Works in 60-90 minutes via Highway 401 east to the Port Hope exit, then 15 minutes north to Gores Landing. Book the service slot first, drop the boat with us, and head home the same day for routine work. For larger jobs...

Mercury Premier Dealer·Family-owned since 1947·Mercury dealer since 1965·Gores Landing, ON·Quote builder available

Quick answer: Most GTA boaters trailer to Harris Boat Works in 60-90 minutes via Highway 401 east to the Port Hope exit, then 15 minutes north to Gores Landing. Book the service slot first, drop the boat with us, and head home the same day for routine work. For larger jobs (repower, full diagnostics, winter storage) we plan a single drive, drop-off and pickup, so you're not making the trip twice. Quote and service requests at hbw.wiki/service.

Why GTA boaters drive to Rice Lake

Most GTA boaters have done the math: 90 minutes of highway vs. 6 weeks of "we'll have to send it out" at the city shop. The drive wins.

HBW is the closest full-service Mercury Marine Premier dealer east of the GTA. For boats with Mercury motors needing real service, the trade-off is straightforward. Repowers, warranty work, and SmartCraft diagnostics specifically benefit from a Premier-tier shop on the same property where the boat can be stored, winterized, and launched.

We're not asking you to drive farther because we like making you work. We're asking because the alternative, a shop that changes oil but sends every real job out, costs you more time and money in the long run. At least that's what our GTA customers tell us after their first visit.

How far is it, really? Drive times from major GTA cities

From	Drive time to Gores Landing	Best route
Downtown Toronto	~90 min	401 east → Exit 461 Port Hope → County Rd 28 north
Markham	~75 min	407 east → 401 east → same exit
Pickering / Ajax	~60 min	401 east → same exit
Oshawa	~50 min	401 east → same exit
Mississauga	~110 min	401 east → same exit
Vaughan	~95 min	407 → 401 east → same exit

No ferry. No locks. No backroads. Avoid the 407 and there are no tolls. The 401 is boring, but it's predictable, and it's the same highway most GTA boaters already take to get to the cottage.

Before you leave: the call ahead

Book the service appointment at hbw.wiki/service with your motor serial number, year, and what's wrong. Confirm drop-off date and time. If towing a boat that won't make the trip running, dead motor, overheating, whatever, tell us upfront. We'll plan for trailer-only delivery and pickup. Include any service history you have.

The more we know before you arrive, the faster drop-off goes. A 10-minute phone call saves 30 minutes of paperwork and diagnostic guessing on the day.

What to bring

Motor serial number (if not already provided)
Trailer in road-legal condition, working lights, working straps, tire pressure checked
Boat title or registration (especially for first visits)
Any prior service records
Keys. Lots of customers leave keys at home. The boat isn't going far without you, but we can't move it in the yard without them.
PCL (Pleasure Craft Licence) sticker visible on the hull

The drive itself: practical tips

Avoid 401 rush hour. East-bound from Toronto is worst before 7:30 AM and 4:00-6:30 PM. Aim for 8:00 AM departure or a later evening drop.
80-90 km/h max with a boat trailer is the smart speed regardless of what the sign says. Your trailer bearings, your straps, and your nerves will thank you.
Last reliable fuel stop before Gores Landing is Port Hope or Cobourg. Fill up there if you'll need it for the return tow.
Cell service holds up all the way to Gores Landing. You won't lose navigation.
If you've never towed long-distance, do a parking-lot reverse practice once before the trip. The HBW yard is spacious, but confidence helps.

You can build a live CAD quote for your repower online at Mercury Repower Centre.

At HBW: what drop-off looks like

When you arrive in Gores Landing:

Pull straight up to the service drop area. Signage is on the building.
Park, find the service desk.
We confirm the work order, do a walkaround with you, and note any cosmetic concerns.
Sign-off, hand over keys, you're free to head home.
Typical drop-off takes 15-30 minutes if there's no surprise diagnostics on the day.

If you want to see the shop or talk through the work plan, ask. We're not a secret operation. But most GTA customers are in a hurry to beat traffic home, and we respect that.

One-trip vs two-trip planning

One trip or two? Plan your HBW service visit

The right schedule depends on the job. Here's how most GTA customers handle it.

Routine service

Annual maintenance, impeller, oil change, inspection
Drop off Saturday morning, head home same day
We call when ready; pick up next weekend
Two total trips (drop-off + pickup)

Drop and go, pick up next weekend

Larger jobs + storage

Repower, full diagnostic + repair, off-season service
Drop off in fall, pick up in spring
One drive. Everything happens while the boat is stored.
Zero summer downtime

Single drive, store and service together

When in doubt:If the job takes more than 2 days, bundle it with storage and do one trip.

Storage + service combined is the most efficient option for GTA customers. Drop the boat off for winter storage, we do all maintenance during the off-season, and it's ready to launch in spring. You don't burn a summer Saturday sitting in the service bay.

What if my boat won't run?

Trailer it in. We routinely take boats that have failed at the cottage and need a tow. Don't try to nurse a sick motor home, let it ride on the trailer. We've never refused a boat because it wouldn't start.

If the motor is seized, leaking, or making noises that scare you, stop running it. Every minute of operation on a damaged motor makes the repair bill bigger. Trailer it, call us, and we'll sort it out when it gets here.

Coming back for pickup

Same drive in reverse. We typically call 1-2 days ahead with the pickup window. Payment can be done on pickup or in advance. Have the trailer ready, working lights, working brakes.

Most customers pick up on a Saturday morning and are on the water by afternoon. If you're storing with us through winter, pickup happens in April after spring commissioning. The boat is running, tested, and ready to launch, not wrapped and parked.

Ready to price it out? Build a live CAD quote for your repower online at the Mercury Repower Centre.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need an appointment to drop off a boat for service?: Yes. We schedule service drop-offs by appointment so we can have a bay ready and a work order prepped. Book through hbw.wiki/service with your motor serial number, year, and a description of the issue. Same-day walk-ins don't work for us, we want to give your boat focused time, not squeeze it between two other jobs. If you have an emergency (motor died at the cottage, overheating on the water), call 905-342-2153 and we'll triage. But for routine service, book ahead.
How long does typical Mercury service take at HBW?: Routine annual service, oil change, impeller, gearcase lube, general inspection, typically takes 1-2 business days if no surprises. Most GTA customers drop off on a Saturday morning and pick up the following weekend. Diagnostics and repair work depends on what we find. Repowers are scheduled in advance and typically take 3-5 business days from drop-off to handoff, assuming the motor and rigging kit are in stock. We don't promise same-day turnaround because 'same day' usually means rushed work. We'd rather do it right and call you when it's ready.
Can I pay you remotely so I don't make two trips?: Yes. We take payment over the phone by credit card, or we can email you an invoice with a secure payment link. Many GTA customers pay in advance and send a friend or family member with the trailer for pickup, or we coordinate the pickup for their next cottage weekend. You don't have to drive back just to swipe a card. We call 1-2 days ahead with the final total and pickup window either way.
Do you do pickups from my marina or home?: Not routinely. We're a marina-based shop, not a mobile service. All service, repower, and storage work happens at our facility in Gores Landing. The drive-in model is how we keep costs reasonable and quality high, our techs work in a fully equipped bay with every Mercury tool and diagnostic computer on hand. If you absolutely cannot trailer your boat, we can recommend local towing services, but the economics usually favour renting a trailer for the day or asking a friend with a hitch.
What if I have a long-weekend emergency and can't drive my boat to you?: Call us first, 905-342-2153. We'll ask a few questions and may be able to talk you through a safe limp-home or temporary fix. If the motor is truly dead, your best option is usually to leave the boat at your cottage marina and trailer it to us when you're back in the city. We don't do house calls, but we've talked a lot of customers through enough diagnostics over the phone to get them through a weekend. If it's under warranty, don't let a non-Mercury shop touch it, that can void coverage. Document everything and bring it to us.
Is there overnight parking if I drop off on Friday and pick up Saturday?: Yes. Our lot is fenced and monitored. If you need to leave your tow vehicle overnight while the boat is in for service, that's normal for our GTA customers. Just confirm with the service desk when you drop off. We don't charge for overnight vehicle parking during an active service or storage booking. If you're leaving a vehicle for an extended period (storage season), that's a different conversation, but for a Friday-to-Saturday service window, park it and go.
Can I leave the boat with you between service jobs (mini-storage)?: Yes, and many customers do. If you're doing a multi-stage job, say, diagnostics now, parts order, then repair in two weeks, we can store the boat on our property between appointments. It's not free, but it's cheaper than trailering home and back, and it means the boat is already here when the parts arrive. Ask about short-term storage when you book the initial appointment. For longer gaps, our regular storage rates apply.
What's the catch, why is this not common in the GTA?: There is no catch, but there's a reason. Most GTA marinas are seasonal, dock-focused operations. They do launches, hauls, and basic oil changes. When a job needs Mercury-specific diagnostics, warranty paperwork, or a full repower rigging, they send the motor out to a specialist shop, sometimes hundreds of kilometres away, and mark up the price. We're that specialist shop, but we're on the water instead of in an industrial park. The 'catch' is that you have to drive 60-90 minutes. The trade-off is that the work gets done by a Premier dealer on the same property where your boat can be stored, winterized, and launched. For most Mercury owners, the math works.

Harris Boat Works · 5369 Harris Boat Works Rd, Gores Landing, ON · (905) 342-2153

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