Glen Justice

   I set out to find a new boat yard, which is never an easy task. First, you need recmmendations. Then, you have to inspect the places. It all adds up to a day or more of work – and that's before the haggling begins.

For the last few years, I have had the boat hauled out at the same facility where I bought it. This had some advantages, the most obvious of which was that the staff there knew the boat. They sold the boat and they serviced the boat. They did a great deal of work on Anonymous Source, most of which was well done, and I felt I was in capable hands.

But there were drawbacks too. At a dealership, the priority is always on sales, and I found that I was constantly taking a back seat to new customers. For example, I ordered parts on several occasions only to have my requests go unanswered. The final blow came when I asked them to replace a VHF that had broken and was still under warranty. After two visits and five phone calls, I still had no radio (and of course, I still don't – I'm getting by with a hand held on the upper deck).

I understand the pressure on those guys to get new boats ready for sale, but I decided to look for a new yard just the same.

THE SEARCH

I started by reading up. I pulled articles on choosing the right boat yard and sling safety. I had read them before, but I wanted to bone up on the details.

I'll say up front that I wasn't up for a major search. I wish I had time to look at 3 or 4 places, view the facilities, get competative quotes and make an informed decision. But that just wasn't realistic. What I wanted to do was find a responsible, capable and affordable yard with a minimum of effort.

I decided that this should be a date, not a marriage. If I checked the place out and I liked it, I would have the boat hauled, painted and maybe waxed. If that all went well, they would become my new yard. If not, I'd try again.

I called my mechanic and got a recommendation. Then I contacted the yard, got some information about scheduling and prices (I'll share these later), and went down for a visit. I wanted to get a look at the sling that would haul the boat out, inspect the boats in the marina, talk to the staff, ask about the navigating channel that leads to the marina – no small deal in an area known for shallows – and get a general sense of the place.

THE INSPECTION

What I found was a typical Chesapeake Bay area outfit, which means some good and some bad.

Sitting in the yard, too big to miss, was a brand new beautiful sling. I was told it was just a few months old. I watched a few boats go up and down, and the staff appeared to handle all with great care. The boats in the marina were small, but well cared for. And there were a few large boats on the hard, some bigger than my 40-foot trawler.

When I asked for a written estimate for hauling, paint and wax, they obliged a day later, though they wanted to see the boat before weighing in on the cost of making some gell coat repairs. Fair enough.

Of course, there were also things that gave me pause. Some of the buildings on the grounds were in serious disrepair and no longer used, though in fairness there were others that looked just fine. In the yard, I noticed that the crew did not tie the straps together when hoisting a boat and that the braces used the block up the boats on land were not chained together. Oddest of all was a tidbit I caught when inquiring about the procedure for bringing the boat in: the facility did not monitor any VHF channels. I have never encountered a marina that did not use a radio, but it was good to know.

Along those same lines, my inquiries about the channel paid off. While chatting with an owner who was painting his trimaran, I asked about the approach and he immediately tipped me off to a severe dog leg at the marina entrance. I walked up a nearby hill and there they were: channel markers indicating a 90-degree jog to starboard, probably to avoid some severe shoals. Again, good to know.

I decided that, on balance, this place was worth a try. I booked some sling time and made a plan to move Anonymous Source a few days later. The yard seemed to be serious about boats and reasonably well run, and the sins on display were of the common variety. In short, it was worth of a date.

Glen JusticeThe sling was new, just a few months old. The staff did not tie the straps together, but that is a fairly common oversight. The straps were also much wider than those I've seen on older lifts.

Glen JusticeOne thing I was looking for was boats larger than mine. This means the water is deep and the sling is capable. This big boy is much larger than Anonymous Source. And there were others.

Glen JusticeIdeally, stands would be chained together to avoid problems with wind and vibration.

Glen JusticeThere were some rustic furnishings, like this barnacle-covered pram left for dead. I'm a sucker for these little scenes -- as long as it's not my boat that ends up in the brush

Glen JusticeAn old marina building still stands dockside. Other buildings were in much better shape.

Glen JusticeThere were some interesting boats, most of which appeared to be shipshape.