I am completely new to boat ownership and have no idea of what to look for in a boat yard. I do know that I want to do most work myself. I am wondering what you folks find important.
(I tried searching with the keywords yard and choice. Should I have tried other keywords?)
Choice of a Yard
Moderator: Jim Walsh
-
Joe CD MS 300
- Posts: 995
- Joined: Jul 5th, '05, 16:18
- Location: Cape Dory Motor Sailor 300 / "Quest" / Linekin Bay - Boothbay Harbor
If you plan to do most of the work yourself, then look for a yard that even allows that, some dont. And some which do allow it, actually charge you extra to work on your own boat! Look for a yard also that allows outside contractors to come in. My best yard experiences have been at small mom & pop yards with very little in the way of services, they tend to cater mostly to do it yourselfers and are very laid back. Plus when the time comes that you do want to hire a contractor, since they dont have their own in yard contractors, you actually get to pick who you want to do the job, rather then get stuck with the yards guy who might have a bad repuation.
My worst experiences have been at the glitzy expensive yards that offer everything under the sun, they tend to look down on do it yourselfers, you might get treated poorly, charged for working on your own boat and since your stuck with their guys, you have little flexability.
Small mom & pop yards are the way to go.
My worst experiences have been at the glitzy expensive yards that offer everything under the sun, they tend to look down on do it yourselfers, you might get treated poorly, charged for working on your own boat and since your stuck with their guys, you have little flexability.
Small mom & pop yards are the way to go.
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
-
Neil Gordon
- Posts: 4367
- Joined: Feb 5th, '05, 17:25
- Location: s/v LIQUIDITY, CD28. We sail from Marina Bay on Boston Harbor. Try us on channel 9.
- Contact:
Once you've narrowed down your choices, see if you can chat with some of their customers. Find out what the quality of their service is and also the quality of their promises.
I agree with the prior post... it's best to be able to work on your boat yourself, particularly for no skill jobs like waxing and painting. For where you might actually need talent, it's nice to be able to use someone independent of the yard. On the other hand, if they have a good reputation for service, price, etc., then maybe you're okay even with a monopoly.
I agree with the prior post... it's best to be able to work on your boat yourself, particularly for no skill jobs like waxing and painting. For where you might actually need talent, it's nice to be able to use someone independent of the yard. On the other hand, if they have a good reputation for service, price, etc., then maybe you're okay even with a monopoly.
Fair winds, Neil
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
s/v LIQUIDITY
Cape Dory 28 #167
Boston, MA
CDSOA member #698
Which side? Deltaville is worth looking into, I know there is a couple good yards there that fit the description I gave above.minke wrote:Our thoughts center on the lower Chesapeake, perhaps the middle neck.Joe CD MS 300 wrote:What body of water are you going to be on?
Russell
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
s/v (yet to be named) Tayana 42CC
s/v Lady Pauline Cape Dory 36 #117 (for sale)
Russell wrote:minke wrote:Joe CD MS 300 wrote:What body of water are you going to be on?
Our thoughts center on the lower Chesapeake, perhaps the middle neck.
Which side? Deltaville is worth looking into, I know there is a couple good yards there that fit the description I gave above.
Actually Deltaville is where we were looking. When I first posed the question I was looking for abstractions or characteristics to look for. Obviously actual recommendations are even better. Thanks!
-
Al Levesque
- Posts: 295
- Joined: Feb 6th, '05, 09:00
- Location: Athena CD33 #94 Salem MA
Some yards charge contractors
Some yards allow you to bring in contractors but, in compensation for using their facilities, charge the contractors a percentage of the work being billed. Check that out before hiring a contractor on your own. The yard may also insist the contractor is insured.
-
Troy Scott
- Posts: 1470
- Joined: Jan 21st, '06, 01:23
- Location: Cape Dory 36 IMAGINE Laurel, Mississippi
be Careful
Minke,
Yards which allow folks to work on their own boats usually charge a fee for that. That's reasonable, because they use water, electricity, etc., and often get in the way. I should know..., as I am a proud DIYer. Once a boat owner has paid the fee he often feels like he is entitled to do whatever he wants, and often the owner of the marina looks the other way. For example, my boat was in a well known marina for a complete bottom job and topsides polish, all to be done by the yard. But they allowed a DIYer to actually spray paint on his boat just a few feet from mine. (This was AFTER the polish work...) When I discovered what was happening I pointed out the obvious problem to the yard manager (I shouldn't have had to point this out) but he did not intervene. You might want to ask what other activities will be happening alongside your yacht!
Yards which allow folks to work on their own boats usually charge a fee for that. That's reasonable, because they use water, electricity, etc., and often get in the way. I should know..., as I am a proud DIYer. Once a boat owner has paid the fee he often feels like he is entitled to do whatever he wants, and often the owner of the marina looks the other way. For example, my boat was in a well known marina for a complete bottom job and topsides polish, all to be done by the yard. But they allowed a DIYer to actually spray paint on his boat just a few feet from mine. (This was AFTER the polish work...) When I discovered what was happening I pointed out the obvious problem to the yard manager (I shouldn't have had to point this out) but he did not intervene. You might want to ask what other activities will be happening alongside your yacht!
Regards,
Troy Scott
Troy Scott