For yacht owners one of the more stressful things about owning a boat can be dealing with trades. Whether it's for routine maintenance, a vital repair or even an upgrade you've been looking forward to, finding the right yacht services company or tradesman with a strong work ethic, good attention to detail and high quality results can be difficult at times.
Based on what I've learned over the past few years here's five tips for having trades or suppliers you don't know work on your boat, to protect you and your asset.
1. Record your instructions
When you first speak to a tradesman about the scope of work and specifics of what you want done, make sure those instructions are recorded either in writing or with an audio or video recorder on your phone. You don't need to be sneaky about this and we often offer the person a copy so they can refer to it too.
If there's an aspect of the job that has gone wrong, more often than not the blame is placed back on the customer giving the wrong instructions. We've found this especially true when dealing with a staff member who doesn't want to admit a mistake to their boss. Being able to refer back to those original instructions to prove what was asked just simplifies things, instantly resolving any questions about how the job was meant to be done.
Tips for giving instructions to yacht repairers
Let the person know you are recording the instructions to avoid any later confusion and offer a copy for their own reference.
If you're providing original drawings or paperwork make sure you have a photo or scan in case the hard copy accidentally goes missing or gets damaged.
Be aware of language barriers - if you're concerned the person didn't understand it can be helpful to have them explain it back to you in their own words. That way you can check whether your explanation has been interpreted the way you meant it, and clear up any misconceptions early.
2. Keep records of quotes
When getting a quote for a job make sure that quote is in writing. Verbal quotes or quotes with no detail or tie back to the company mean nothing, and could get you in trouble at the end of the works.
Here are some things you may want to confirm or specifically check are included in the quote or accompanying written communications, even if it's just a Whatsapp message or text.
Confirm the quote currency
In some countries, businesses working on foreign yachts may choose to charge in a stronger foreign currency rather than the local currency. For example, Turkish marine companies may charge in Euros, and Trinidadian company may prefer US dollars. This in itself isn't a problem, unless you don't realize it. If the currency is not listed on the quote it can be worth checking to save you a potentially nasty surprise down the line.
Confirm if tax is included
Quotes don't always include VAT or local government taxes which is frustrating to discover after the job has been negotiated and work started. If there's no mention of tax on the quote then clarify if it's included or will be applied when the final bill is issued.
Confirm payment options
It's worth checking what payment options a business can accept. We've run into a few situations where we were only able to pay using a method that either wasn't available to us or added so many banking fees that it made a noticeable difference to the price.
Confirm the scope of work
When doing the quote you want to make sure the scope of work is clear so you know exactly what you're paying for. If there's the potential for the job to be bigger than expected or if the quote is indicative, you may want to have an agreement about maximum costs or advanced notification of any additional charges.
3. Confirm the materials
The quality of a yacht repair can have major implications for the safety and structural integrity of the vessel, so you want to know that the materials being used are fit for purpose.
Depending on the type of work you may also want this listed in the quote or work agreement. One example coming to mind is a friend who was able to end an argument about an antifouling job when he produced the original paperwork proving the brand and product type had been specified.
Tips for confirming yacht repair materials
Regarding fiberglass boats, clarify and agree on the compatibility of locally available materials. For example, ensuring the gel coat is an appropriate marine gel coat or that VE resin is being put in between epoxy repairs and gel coat. Using inappropriate materials can result in the repair failing, costing you time and money.
Ensure any stainless steel sheet metal or fixing used is Marine Grade 316.
If you're dubious about a material make sure you ignore comments like "This is what everyone uses" and look up the data sheets and product information from the manufacturer yourself. This will give you a definitive answer about whether the material is fit for purpose or not.
If there are specific materials you want used, have it put in the quote. This way there's no room for discussion down the line.
4. Document the work area
Before work starts, use a video camera to document the areas of the boat the tradesmen will be working in or accessing, specifically showing all pre-existing damage. This way if there's any accidental damage or spots you're not sure of, you have records of what the area looked like before they started.
If the work is a larger or critically important repair it can also be worth taking photos and videos as it's being completed, documenting the process in case there's any questions about how something was done later. In our experience, marine tradesmen who are confident in their skills, knowledge and ability don't care if you record their work, and are often happy to discuss how or why they do something. When someone is secretive or doesn't want you around, that can be a cause for concern.
5. Be firm in your expectations
From the very start of the job be exceptionally clear about your expectations for the outcome. As it progresses stay firm (within reason), and if you're asked to compromise or accept some aspect of the work then it's a good idea to stop and analyze why. Don't be led into accepting something to your detriment because it's easier for someone else or someone made a mistake that's time consuming or expensive to rectify.
Leaving a review
At the end of the job, no matter how it went, make sure you leave a fair and honest business review online. Highlight anything that went well and if you had an issue, explain the facts of what happened and how the company went about addressing it. Doing this can help future cruisers decided where to take their work, with companies that try their best and work hard to provide high quality yacht repairs for customers being rewarded with a positive reputation.
Dealing with marine trades
Reflecting on our boat ownership journey there's been some tradesmen who've been absolutely excellent, demonstrating skill and professionalism every step of the way. Then there's been others who've left much to be desired. By keeping these tips in the back of your mind you can use them as needed to help keep things as clear as possible, hopefully leading to a positive outcome for everyone involved.
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