It is not often on these pages that I read such utter uninformed rubbish
I quite agree A&C....
See this is the difference between the USA and the UK, in the USA GA doesn't have to be expensive, in the UK it seems that it does or people doen't believe it. You don't have to be JAR approved to be able to do up nuts, screws or even, god forbid use an EZ out....... Its not rocket science, though I'm sure JAR would have you believe it is. So long as your work is supervised by an FAA mech and they're happy to sign it off then why can't an owner help with their own annual? This wouldn't happen under JAR though, as jobs for the boys and all that.
Interestingly many mechanical failures or incidents tend to happen after an aircraft has come out from maintenance, so I think I'd rather do my own annual, or at least supervise the mechanic.
Same with boats, buy "Marine" Epoxy at £35 per tin, or car body filler for £15 per tin, same ****. Buy a boat in America for £10,000 and the same thing here costs £20,000, and there is only 3% import tax...so who gets the rest of the money?
We're used to being ripped off in the UK and accept it.....
EA