A good boatyard is worth its weight in gold; a bad one can make boating a nightmare. Before selecting a boatyard, do a little preliminary investigation.
Cost should not be the sole criteria for your selection, but you will, of course, take it into consideration. Labor costs vary, sometimes coming in higher or lower based on the area in which a boatyard is located. A cheaper rate is not necessarily the better deal if the quality of repair is not up to scratch. So, too, a higher rate doesn't guaranty the best work. Look at the rest of the picture, too.
Talk to fellow boaters, those at your marina or perhaps members of local yacht club. You're looking for recommendations, preferably by those who have had work completed recently and on a boat similar to yours. Some boatyards are particularly good at some types of repairs, but not others. So, again, talk to others about the types of repairs they've had on their boats.
Once you've zeroed in on a few boatyards, pay them a visit. What is the general appearance of the yard itself, the equipment and the personnel? Is equipment well maintained or rusted and ill-used? Is it kept in an orderly fashion? Is the yard clean, neat and well maintained or does it house dilapidated-looking boats or docks?
Check out training and certificates of employees. You want to see evidence of continuous training and updating of training. Systems change and the technicians need to be knowledgeable of the latest techniques. Check out both the experience level and the average length of employment. What you're looking for, here, is stability.
Find out if the boatyard is a member of any professional associations. Be sure the boatyard you select follows the standards set forth by the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) for recreational boats or is willing to do so.
What about location? Is the yard in a secure area? Is it in a high crime area? The latter may not be such a good deal, even if the technicians are good and labor costs are cheaper.
Just as you want a surgeon who has a lot experience in the type of surgery you are planning, so too, do you want a boatyard that services a lot of boats that are of the same type as yours. If your boat is a cruiser and 90 percent of the boats in the yard are sail boats, it might be better to look elsewhere.
Finally, ask the boatyard to show you a copy of a bill. Are the figures broken down in such a way that it is clear what is being done and how much it will cost? Are materials and labor itemized? Ask, also, if the yard gives quotes or estimates. If a boatyard is wishy-washy about how they arrive at a bill or can't give you a general idea of costs before the work is done, you are taking a big chance with your wallet.
– Linda Hoff
