I agree, just because someone is cheaper does not mean they do poor work. At the same time just because someone charges a lot surely does not mean they are better. I remember when I was sixteen I hit a tree in my 16 footer, It left me with a fourteen inch long crack where the floor meets the side. I finally managed to find a guy to weld it. He says " I get ten dollars an inch". I was floored. This was my only choice? (pre internet search days). I ponied up and got it fixed. I asked him why he charged so much. He said cause he was the only one in town that could do it. A set of pod involves about 8 feet of welding, I weld them all the way around tight. Why, because if there is a hole in the transom anywhere inside the area the pod covers good luck fixing it once the pod is installed over it. Another reason I weld the entire perimeter is strength. When you slide over a stump the entire weight of the boat, you and your gear are focused on a very small area. If the pod ends up on that stump it is putting a lot of pressure on the weld and can tear. I have already had to repair one of those as well. That one had three one inch welds across a sixteen inch seem. Of course not all lakes are full of stumps, Your guy may do a fine job and it will work just fine. Adam Webb