Do you use the services of a boatyard? What's you experience been? Are they prompt and careful, with accurate billing and decent rates? Or do you find yourself keeping one hand firmly on your wallet? Is your time in the yard an exciting time of boat improvement, or a necessary evil? Tell us about your boat yard experiences then vote in the Quick Quiz on the home page.
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Like a comfortable old shirt
I've been at Tolchester Marina in Maryland for over six years. It's a family-run organization; an older property, a little bit run down, but well-run by an owner who's always there. They have a very capable staff, an excellent reputation, very good equipment, and offer a full range of services. Unlike many other marinas in the area, you're encouraged to do your own work if you wish as long as it doesn't involve an outside mechanic or vendor. They'll give you advice, lend you tools, but pretty much stay out of your business unless asked to participate. Kids and dogs pretty much run free, and there are few, if any, real rules unless you bother another slip holder or cause a problem. Then, you may be quietly asked to move your boat to another marina. It's not for everyone, but the place fits my style very well.
I've been at Tolchester Marina in Maryland for over six years. It's a family-run organization; an older property, a little bit run down, but well-run by an owner who's always there. They have a very capable staff, an excellent reputation, very good equipment, and offer a full range of services. Unlike many other marinas in the area, you're encouraged to do your own work if you wish as long as it doesn't involve an outside mechanic or vendor. They'll give you advice, lend you tools, but pretty much stay out of your business unless asked to participate. Kids and dogs pretty much run free, and there are few, if any, real rules unless you bother another slip holder or cause a problem. Then, you may be quietly asked to move your boat to another marina. It's not for everyone, but the place fits my style very well.
Barely bareable is a good way to say it!
We have the typical "big city" boat-yard here. I'm always present whenever anything is done to my boat - whether hauling out, launching, or mast-stepping.Too many horror stories have come out of this boat-yard to trust them to do anything without supervision. Bill on STARGAZER
We have the typical "big city" boat-yard here. I'm always present whenever anything is done to my boat - whether hauling out, launching, or mast-stepping.Too many horror stories have come out of this boat-yard to trust them to do anything without supervision. Bill on STARGAZER
The Beachcomber on Dog River
is a good, informal boatyard. We have dealt with Trey for several years. Caboose (trey's father-in-law, I think) has been there for many years. I have had nothing but good experiences with them regarding my Hunter 30(except for the 4th of July weekend several years ago when the Admiral and I looked like smurfs after spending several days sanding off the blue anti-fouling paint), and my brother and my neighbors report good experiences on sailboats and powerboats. They will allow you to do your own work, or they have the facilities, equipment and experience to take care of most problems. The Beachcomber is not a fancy yard, does not have the ship's store or laundromat or restaurant of some other local yards, but Trey gets all my business.
is a good, informal boatyard. We have dealt with Trey for several years. Caboose (trey's father-in-law, I think) has been there for many years. I have had nothing but good experiences with them regarding my Hunter 30(except for the 4th of July weekend several years ago when the Admiral and I looked like smurfs after spending several days sanding off the blue anti-fouling paint), and my brother and my neighbors report good experiences on sailboats and powerboats. They will allow you to do your own work, or they have the facilities, equipment and experience to take care of most problems. The Beachcomber is not a fancy yard, does not have the ship's store or laundromat or restaurant of some other local yards, but Trey gets all my business.
Third time lucky!
Our first marina experience ended in a catastrophic breakdown in the middle of Lake Michigan, followed by a three year lawsuit in which we received full compensation. Second experience was at the opposite end of the spectrum, good work but exorbitant pricing. Third and current experience is a compromise.....nice facilities, pleasant staff and an admitted lack of capability to work on sailboats, but excellent power boat craftsmen. Hence we are now do-it-yourself'ers where-ever possible.
Our first marina experience ended in a catastrophic breakdown in the middle of Lake Michigan, followed by a three year lawsuit in which we received full compensation. Second experience was at the opposite end of the spectrum, good work but exorbitant pricing. Third and current experience is a compromise.....nice facilities, pleasant staff and an admitted lack of capability to work on sailboats, but excellent power boat craftsmen. Hence we are now do-it-yourself'ers where-ever possible.
My experience is...
...a good relationship of 14 years, fostered by on-time payments and giving them some work that I don't know how to do or don't have the time to do it right. Unfortunately, after 14 years, I am leaving them this summer to relocate my boat 200 miles away. But they are good to me and have always been there for perfect advice when I ask for it.
...a good relationship of 14 years, fostered by on-time payments and giving them some work that I don't know how to do or don't have the time to do it right. Unfortunately, after 14 years, I am leaving them this summer to relocate my boat 200 miles away. But they are good to me and have always been there for perfect advice when I ask for it.
Tidewater @ Havre de Grace.....
.. has been one of the easiest yards that I have ever delt with. Had some bad experiences with work not being complete, or done correctly at yards in Rock Hall, MD, and elswhere on the Chesapeake. Tidewater has always given me accurate estimates before the work and accurate invoices after the work was completed. They have helped with ideas that would save some of the expense, and have done excellant work! I will say that they are not the least costly yard that I have dealt with, but they stand behind their work and complete things whne promised. That is worth something to me. Some yards have been tough to get an estimate from, and then the actual cost was nothing like the estimate, or there was more work required at additional cost to correct the problems that they left. I would reccomend them to anyone in the bay area looking for good work at the price quoted.
.. has been one of the easiest yards that I have ever delt with. Had some bad experiences with work not being complete, or done correctly at yards in Rock Hall, MD, and elswhere on the Chesapeake. Tidewater has always given me accurate estimates before the work and accurate invoices after the work was completed. They have helped with ideas that would save some of the expense, and have done excellant work! I will say that they are not the least costly yard that I have dealt with, but they stand behind their work and complete things whne promised. That is worth something to me. Some yards have been tough to get an estimate from, and then the actual cost was nothing like the estimate, or there was more work required at additional cost to correct the problems that they left. I would reccomend them to anyone in the bay area looking for good work at the price quoted.
Seven Seas Marina Port Orange FL
I have done two haulouts now at Seven Seas, it is a DIY yard but has great people and very fair rates... I always enjoy my time working on the boat there and the owners and staff are like old friends, very much a nice place and very cruiser freindly, both the owners being old hands at cruising under sail.
I have done two haulouts now at Seven Seas, it is a DIY yard but has great people and very fair rates... I always enjoy my time working on the boat there and the owners and staff are like old friends, very much a nice place and very cruiser freindly, both the owners being old hands at cruising under sail.
Boat Yard Experience
I use Independent Boat Haulers' yard in Eliot, ME. It's DIY yard with excellent access to water and power for my work. The yard staff are tremendously helpful and good to work with. They step the mast, launch, recover, unstep the mast, and transport to the yard for a fixed fee that is very reasonable. If I need specialty help, they have relationships with a bunch of independent contractors in whatever area I need. It could not be a better arrangement.
I use Independent Boat Haulers' yard in Eliot, ME. It's DIY yard with excellent access to water and power for my work. The yard staff are tremendously helpful and good to work with. They step the mast, launch, recover, unstep the mast, and transport to the yard for a fixed fee that is very reasonable. If I need specialty help, they have relationships with a bunch of independent contractors in whatever area I need. It could not be a better arrangement.
Cape Marina. Cape Canaveral FL
Just had the boat hauled. We were allowed to do our own work No one questioned what we were doing. Very happy the the experience.
Just had the boat hauled. We were allowed to do our own work No one questioned what we were doing. Very happy the the experience.
The Boat yard
We always have good luck with the yard. We use Clear Lake Marine Center, they have great contractors and DIY. Since my husband is a contractor we know all the best guys for any job we need done. We do custom graphics, names and stipes, seems every one has a special field when it comes to boats.
We always have good luck with the yard. We use Clear Lake Marine Center, they have great contractors and DIY. Since my husband is a contractor we know all the best guys for any job we need done. We do custom graphics, names and stipes, seems every one has a special field when it comes to boats.
It is what it is
I've been held hostage and other times ignored. The rebuild of my mast I was definitly a hostage and motored out on questionable terms. Other than that my present marina dosen't care what I do. On the other hand, where I'm at, after last nights wind storm, we spent the day retieing loose boats as they don't have the staff to handle a bad night. I was lucky with minor rub rail damage but alot of others not so much. I saw at least 3 - $400,000 worth of damage and my phone never rang saying "hey get down here and check your boat". It's kind of wierd. You have to get to understand how you're perticular marina operator thinks. Does he actually care about boats? Does he have investors that are looking for a return? Was it his Dads so he took it over when he passed? There is alot to understand in having any good relationship.
I've been held hostage and other times ignored. The rebuild of my mast I was definitly a hostage and motored out on questionable terms. Other than that my present marina dosen't care what I do. On the other hand, where I'm at, after last nights wind storm, we spent the day retieing loose boats as they don't have the staff to handle a bad night. I was lucky with minor rub rail damage but alot of others not so much. I saw at least 3 - $400,000 worth of damage and my phone never rang saying "hey get down here and check your boat". It's kind of wierd. You have to get to understand how you're perticular marina operator thinks. Does he actually care about boats? Does he have investors that are looking for a return? Was it his Dads so he took it over when he passed? There is alot to understand in having any good relationship.
Boat yards
Two years ago, I got real foolish and dropped out of the yacht club I had been a member of for eleven years, and decided to rent a mooring at a local boat yard in that area. To make a long story short, I wound up paying more money for less than I had bargained for, and was treated poorly by the unscrupulous owners who ran this boatyard. Needless to say, I pulled my boat out early in the boating season and brought it home. I later rejoined the yacht club toward the end of the year and chalked up that whole unfortunate incident as,-- "lessons Learned."
Two years ago, I got real foolish and dropped out of the yacht club I had been a member of for eleven years, and decided to rent a mooring at a local boat yard in that area. To make a long story short, I wound up paying more money for less than I had bargained for, and was treated poorly by the unscrupulous owners who ran this boatyard. Needless to say, I pulled my boat out early in the boating season and brought it home. I later rejoined the yacht club toward the end of the year and chalked up that whole unfortunate incident as,-- "lessons Learned."
Marina Shipyard
larry w> Marina Shipyard in Long Beach CA has been pretty good to me over the years. We've gone there in the past but have since heard, from several sources, that they won't work on Hunters anymore. Some haulout accident?
larry w> Marina Shipyard in Long Beach CA has been pretty good to me over the years. We've gone there in the past but have since heard, from several sources, that they won't work on Hunters anymore. Some haulout accident?
Boatyard stories
Royal River Boatyard We have known the Dugas family for over thirty years and have used their boat yard for over fifteen years with the best results. They are very customer friendly, the service is very good. In the Spring on the weekends the owner is at the main office cooking burgers on the grill for anyone working on their boats in the yard. There is easy reach to Electricity and water throughout the yard, they are just incredible and I couold not even think of using another boatyard, no wonder there is always a fall waiting list to store boats.
Royal River Boatyard We have known the Dugas family for over thirty years and have used their boat yard for over fifteen years with the best results. They are very customer friendly, the service is very good. In the Spring on the weekends the owner is at the main office cooking burgers on the grill for anyone working on their boats in the yard. There is easy reach to Electricity and water throughout the yard, they are just incredible and I couold not even think of using another boatyard, no wonder there is always a fall waiting list to store boats.
Final results
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending May 18, 2008: The boat yard I use is... 43% Totally professional 41% Good enough 14% Barely bearable 07% Where's my lawyer?
Final results for the Quick Quiz ending May 18, 2008: The boat yard I use is... 43% Totally professional 41% Good enough 14% Barely bearable 07% Where's my lawyer?
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