Short answer: Harbor Marine repairs and services boat engines at our shop at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, and at docks and driveways around town. Call or text (770) 967-8495.
An engine shop right in Buford
Our shop is at 6516 Lanier Islands Parkway in Buford, near Lake Lanier Islands. We moved here in January 2026. For Buford boaters that means engine help close to home and close to the south end of the lake, whether your boat lives on a trailer in a 30518 driveway or in a slip a few minutes from the shop.
Drop it off on the trailer
If your boat is on a trailer, the simplest route is to bring it in. Buford is easy to reach from I-985 (exit 4) and I-85 (exit 115), so owners across the Gwinnett and Hall sides of the city, and from farther afield, can drop off without a long haul. Call ahead at (770) 967-8495 and tell us what the engine is doing so we can plan before it arrives.
Common engine jobs for Buford boats
- Seasonal service: oil and filters, belts, hoses and a full look-over.
- Cooling: raw-water impellers, thermostats and housings.
- No-start and rough-running diagnostics: fuel, ignition and charging.
- Generators: service on boats that have one.
Weekend boats that sit between trips tend to have battery and fuel issues. Boats run hard on long summer days tend to wear cooling parts. Either way, we start with diagnostics so you only pay for what the engine actually needs.
Boat in a slip near Buford?
If the boat stays in the water, our mobile boat service in Buford can often handle oil changes, impeller checks and diagnostics without moving it. If the job needs the shop, ask about boat transport in Buford.
Before you call
- Note the engine make and model, and the hours if you know them.
- Describe the problem: when it happens, how long it has been going on, any alarms.
- Tell us where the boat is: driveway, storage lot, slip or lift.
That is enough for us to recommend shop or mobile service on the first call.
Seasonal timing in Buford
Spring is the busiest time for engine service as everyone gets ready for the lake at once. If you can, book your pre-season service in late winter, before the rush. In the fall, combine the last oil change with winterization so the engine sits through winter with fresh oil instead of a summer's worth of used oil.
Small problems worth a call
A slow crank, a temperature gauge that reads a little higher than it used to, or a belt that squeals on startup are easy to ignore. On a boat, they tend to get worse at the worst time. A short diagnostic visit costs much less than a tow back to the ramp.
Batteries and charging
Batteries are one of the most common reasons we get called out. A boat that sits in a Buford driveway or slip between weekends slowly drains its battery, especially if something small is drawing power. Charging systems also wear. If the boat cranks slowly or the battery keeps dying, we test the battery, the charging output and any parasitic draw to find the cause, rather than just replacing the battery.
What affects an engine job
Pricing is set when you call for a quote. These are the things that change the size of the job:
- Whether it is routine service or a diagnosis of a problem.
- The engine type and how easy it is to reach.
- Parts that turn up worn once we look.
- Whether the work happens on site or in the shop.
More for Buford boaters
Sterndrive boats should have the drive looked at too. See sterndrive repair in Buford. Before winter, book winterization in Buford. Everything we do in town is on our Buford boat repair page.
Boaters up the road can see engine repair in Sugar Hill or Flowery Branch. Our main boat engine repair page explains our approach. Contact us anytime.