America's Finest Boatyards

When it comes to taking your ride in for service, finding a yard that is not only savvy in your particular boat's make, but one that is also sensitive to your schedule, makes all the difference when examining the bottom line

- Marlin

No one particularly likes going to the boatyard, but it's a necessary evil if you expect to maintain a multimillion-dollar investment properly. It's time-consuming, messy and a downright pain, and you probably have better things to do with your time. However, boatyard visits come with the territory of boat ownership, and it's much easier to face repairs head-on than to chase gremlins all season long.

Maintaining a fish-chasing battlewagon is a huge responsibility, and the sooner you come to terms with that obligation, the easier your job will be. And the sooner you find a trusted service center, the better your rapport with it will also be. Developing a solid relationship will net you plenty of gains, including good communication, a fair price and a timely turnaround. Your loyalty to a particular yard definitively allows both you and your vessel to perform at the highest level. The days of dropping off your boat with a punch list and then expecting to pick it up after hunting season simply isn't the case anymore. While modern boatyards do provide project managers and service writers to consult and assist in the scheduling of projects, no one knows your boat like you do.

For captains, the amount of knowledge when it comes to boat-maintenance intervals and problem awareness is wide-reaching, and the more experience he has, the more likely a yard trip will come off without a hitch. However, for new boaters or even owner-operators, finding an independent project manager who is experienced in the inner workings of the boatyard, in general, will help to ensure that your project, no matter big or small, is being looked after in your best interest, especially when it comes to being on time and on budget.