| James "Doc" Lewis | | | | Engine controls, compass, life jackets, flare |
| | | | kit, and a first aid kit ARE part of the |
| As the owner/operator of a full service boat | | | | boat. Knick-knacks, fishing tackle, cutesy |
| detailing- yacht maintenance business I can't | | | | wall plaques, and half full paint cans are |
| help but chuckle sometimes at seeing the | | | | NOT part of the boat-and look tacky. A few |
| extremes that otherwise bright, intelligent, | | | | cleaning supplies, in their own locker is |
| successful, people will go to in a misguided | | | | probably all right as long as they're kept |
| attempt to save a few dollars. | | | | neat and clean.g) Make a list of things that |
| | | | need attention, and get it taken care of. A |
| One of the biggest mistakes that we see is | | | | few dollars spent now will pay back in spades |
| that people will decide to sell their boat | | | | when the time comes to show your boat. |
| without first having her completely detailed. | | | | Anything that isn't right will stick out like |
| | | | the proverbial sore thumb, be noticed and |
| According to Rob Scanlan, a well known and | | | | start the price spiraling down. (if it |
| respected Master Marine Surveyor; | | | | doesn't just send them scurrying off shaking |
| | | | their heads) |
| "Detailing a boat is the single most | | | | |
| important investment of time, energy and | | | | Hint: If you are not a woman reading this and |
| money a seller can make because a clean and | | | | don't have a wife of your own, ask your |
| shiny boat sells faster and for a lot more | | | | mother or sister, or see if a friend will |
| money. I strongly recommended that a seller | | | | loan you his for a few minutes. For some |
| enlist professional assistance to do a | | | | reason women can smell things that a man |
| quality (Email) (Web site) | | | | would never notice. You may think that men |
| | | | buy boats but in my experience they buy the |
| We at BoatDocs1, do a lot of work here on the | | | | boats their women like. |
| Emerald Coast with local yacht brokers and | | | | |
| know what the standards are for a "ready to | | | | Along this same line, pay particular |
| show" boat. These professionals know that | | | | attention to the cabin and heads. |
| the cosmetic appearance says everything to | | | | |
| the prospective buyer as to the overall care | | | | 3. Prioritize the Job |
| and maintenance that the previous owner has | | | | |
| given the yacht. Add to that the universal | | | | With your list you are in good shape to |
| wisdom about first impressions and it's not | | | | decide what needs to be done and whether or |
| hard to see the importance of this vital | | | | not you want to do the work yourself or have |
| first step. | | | | it done by a professional. |
| | | | |
| Even if you intend to do most of the work | | | | Most of the professional yacht maintenance |
| yourself we can offer the expertise to assure | | | | companies we are familiar with, would be |
| that your time and money are spent wisely. | | | | happy to take a look and give you an estimate |
| Our trained eyes will often pick up the | | | | of what it will cost to have the work done |
| little details that only a prospective buyer | | | | right. We can do part of the job, for |
| would notice and likely balk at. | | | | example the compounding/polishing and will |
| | | | gladly help you choose the best wax to finish |
| Here is an outline of the standard procedures | | | | the job yourself. |
| we use when preparing a yacht to be put up | | | | |
| for sale: | | | | What about those little chips and dings in |
| | | | the gelcoat? |
| 1. Thoroughly Wash and Dry the Boat | | | | |
| | | | Many books have been written on fiberglass |
| Note: For this part, pay attention to | | | | repair and it isn't the intent of this |
| everything you see and unless your memory is | | | | article to cover the subject in any depth but |
| a lot better than mine, make notes on a piece | | | | many small repairs are well within the reach |
| of paper for later. | | | | of a fairly skilled do-it-yourselfer. Like |
| | | | anything else though, if you have never done |
| - Wash and chamois-dry your boat top to | | | | it before, "consult an expert." |
| bottom including transom. | | | | |
| | | | I've been building and repairing in |
| - clean Isenglass and other ports/windows | | | | fiberglass since I was 14 and while the first |
| | | | wooden boat I glassed was water tight and |
| - wipe down and dress all aluminum/stainless | | | | lasted a good many years, it was far from |
| | | | pretty. The small investment you lay out for |
| - clean and dress vinyl seats | | | | expert repair now will pay big dividends when |
| | | | your boat sells at the price you want. |
| - wipe down fly bridge and cockpit | | | | |
| | | | In the Emerald Coast region the standard fees |
| - vacuum exterior carpet | | | | for compound/waxing run between $15.00/ft. |
| | | | and $18.00/ft. for the topside (rub-rail up) |
| - clean and dress nonskid | | | | which includes a thorough cleaning and |
| | | | treatment of the vinyl, windows, isenglass, |
| 2. Stand Back and Survey the Boat | | | | and metal. In other words, for the price of |
| | | | doing the "hard" part we'll detail the entire |
| Note: Bring your list and organize it with | | | | topsides and leave it in "ready-to-show" |
| the following outline | | | | condition. Hulls (rub-rail down) run about |
| | | | $8.00/ft. but, of course, the boat must be |
| - Put yourself in the buyers shoes, be | | | | out of the water in order to do it. (This |
| critical, the buyer will.a) Is it shiny? It's | | | | walking on water with a hi-speed electric |
| the first thing most people notice.b) What | | | | buffer in hand is still beyond me, but I'll |
| about the smell? People have a way of getting | | | | let you know;-) |
| used to almost anything. Get a second | | | | |
| opinion and see the hint below.c) Is all | | | | Fiberglass repair runs from $45.00 to $65.00 |
| hardware intact and presentable? Just because | | | | per hour and in general as with most |
| you've used that broken table for years and | | | | everything else, one gets what one pays for. |
| are rather fond of it, to anyone else, it's | | | | The up side to this is that when approached |
| just a broken table.d) What about dings, any | | | | in a professional manner the dents and dings |
| damage to the fiberglass? Aside from the fact | | | | of ten years hard use can be repaired and |
| that broken gelcoat can let water into the | | | | made to look like new in an amazingly short |
| core of the lay-up and delaminate the | | | | time. |
| fiberglass, it just plain looks BAD.e) What | | | | |
| about rust? You are probably thinking right | | | | All too often we have seen people save |
| now; (what's a little rust on a boat?) Let me | | | | $300.00 or $400.00 on a detail only to loose |
| tell you. A little rust on a boat is a sure | | | | $Thousands$ on what their boat could have |
| sign that the owner let's little things go by | | | | sold for. Then too, our local marinas are |
| unnoticed and if there is one thing there are | | | | clogged with many examples of boats with "For |
| always more. What about oil changes? I | | | | Sale" signs which were never given the least |
| wonder if he flushed out the outboard after | | | | bit of attention to make the passer by want |
| use? The object of this little exercise is to | | | | to stop and think, "Hey, I wonder what it |
| make the boat look like you are conscientious | | | | would be like to call that boat mine." Some |
| and a stickler for having everything | | | | of these boats have sat for years when all |
| perfectly "SHIP SHAPE."f) One more little tip | | | | they ever really needed was a little T.L.C. |
| that you have probably already thought of. | | | | |
| Take a look around the boat and remove | | | | I remember, years ago, someone saying |
| EVERYTHING that isn't part of the boat. | | | | something about being penny wise and pound |
| | | | foolish? Let's not let them be saying that |
| EXAMPLE: | | | | about us. |
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